Fracking in Wayne National Forest

 

The implementation of any technology requires the consideration of the safety of life and property. Also, engineers are bound by a code of ethics in their operations. Hydraulic fracturing is one of the technologies that raise safety concerns. This technology, also known as fracking, is used to obtain fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas from deep underground. It involves the drilling of wells deep underground of up to 7000 feet. Veins are then drilled horizontally from the main vertical well, followed by pumping of water and chemicals at extremely high pressure. The result is fracturing of the rocks which lead to the release of the natural resources from the rock pores. Such activities have been ongoing at the Wayne National Forest located in Ohio, US. However, they were halted after an earthquake struck the area, raising further safety concerns. I intend to argue that hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, should not be restarted in Wayne National Forest.

Fracking in Wayne National Forest is harmful to the Forest ecosystem and creates a potential hazard for the people in the area. Research has shown that a single fracking operation uses 80-330 tons of chemicals contained in the pumped water. Some of these chemicals are carcinogenic. Much of this fluid is not removed after use. There is, therefore, a great chance of it sipping into groundwater hence contaminating it. The result is contaminated wells and springs which residents obtain water from. The drilling also disrupts the ecosystem of the forest. Hence, fracking violates the ethical principle of non-maleficence. This principle requires that operations do not bring any harm (Van de Poel 678). Furthermore, it obligates that precautions be taken against any possible risks. In terms of approaches to acceptable risks, hydraulic fracturing advantages do not outweigh the risks (van de Poel and Royakkers 233). The argument put forward by the proponents is that fracking in the forest has led to an economic boom in surrounding towns. The risk of carcinogenic chemicals sipping into the water is, however, a greater risk. By all reason, the safety of human lives outweighs any economic gains. Thus, such a risk is unacceptable. Hence, to avert such harm, fracking in Wayne National Forest should not be restarted.

My second argument is that there are better alternatives to hydraulic fracturing. The mining and use of fossil fuels have for a long time being criticized. This is especially in light of increased global warming. Proponents support fracking by stating that Natural gas, one of the major resources obtained through fracking, emits 45% less Carbon dioxide (CO2) after use. While this is true, there are renewable energy sources that emit 0% CO2 such as wind energy (Lawlor and Morley 1433). Considering the ethical principle of beneficence, any technology is required to ‘do good’ and prevent harm (Van de Poel 681). Given that this is the case, then hydraulic fracturing is obligated to give way to a better alternative such as renewable energy. Additionally, when it comes to acceptable risks, one of the approaches is to seek the best alternative technology (van de Poel and Royakkers 233). Since renewable energy alternatives are well known, they should be considered.

Given my arguments, hydraulic fracturing should not be restarted in Wayne National Forest. The harmful effects of this technology on both the forest and the residents are unacceptable. Also, there are better alternatives to this technology such as renewable energy. Hence, the risks of fracking are not acceptable and the ethical violations cannot be ignored.

 

Works Cited

Lawlor, Rob, and Helen Morley. “Climate Change and Professional Responsibility: A Declaration of Helsinki for Engineers.” Science and Engineering Ethics, vol. 23, no. 5, 2017, pp. 1431-1452.

Van de Poel, Ibo. “An Ethical Framework for Evaluating Experimental Technology.” Science And Engineering Ethics vol.22, no. 3, 2016 pp. 667-686.

van de Poel, I. R., and L. M. M. Royakkers. Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2011.

Classical and Contemporary Liberal Views

 

Introduction

All liberals desire to promote the liberties of all individuals. This is the common goal that has united liberals since the establishment of capitalism in the 18th century. However, during the industrial revolution, several issues came to light that left the liberals divided. It became apparent that a free society without enough intervention by the government led to the oppression of some groups while others benefited. This division gave rise to a new liberal view that cared about the welfare of every society member. Other supporters of the liberal ideology stood firmly behind earlier liberal interpretations. This is referred to as the classic liberal view. There are several key differences between classical and contemporary liberal views.

Key Differences between the Classic and Contemporary Liberal Views

Differences between the classical and contemporary liberal viewpoints partly stem from the definition of ‘freedom’. Classical liberalists in the 18th and 19th centuries viewed freedom as the lack of restraint. In the wake of the industrial revolution which saw the rapid expansion of industrialization, classical liberals demanded economic freedom (Ball et al. 67). This meant that they expected the nobles to abolish restraints against trade by the middle class. A free market driven by capitalism would benefit the common citizen and society as a whole. In comparison contemporary liberals interpret freedom as both the lack of restraint and the empowerment of individuals (Ball et al. 76). Nevertheless, liberals from both views agree that the government has a role to play in ensuring these liberties. However, classical liberals believe that the government has a lesser role to play whereas contemporary liberals believe the opposite is true. Therefore, classical liberals define freedom differently from contemporary liberals.

Classical Liberals

Classical Liberals believe that the government should provide resources that promote economic freedom as a means of ensuring basic individual liberties. These include infrastructure, lack of economic restrictions, free trade between countries, defense from foreign invasion, and the promotion of justice and order through property rights. Infrastructure such as roads, harbors, railways, and waterways are meant to boost trade through the easy transport of raw materials and finished goods. Classical liberals also demand that the government reduce the restrictions against free trade between countries (Ball et al. 67). In a classical liberal’s view, these resources are enough to guarantee that citizens’ rights are safeguarded.

Contemporary Liberals

Contemporary liberals expect the government to provide resources that empower individuals to promote basic freedoms. Such resources include public schools, hospitals, aid to the needy and disadvantaged, regulations regarding working conditions, and affirmative action programs. Furthermore, resources should be allocated to help the deprived find equal opportunities in society and to regulate economic competition (Ball et al. 77). As mentioned in above, this class of liberals also believes that the rights of the needy and disadvantaged cannot be ignored. Finally, affirmative programs allow for the empowerment of previously discriminated groups (Ball et al. 84). These resources ensure that the basic rights of individuals are not infringed upon.

The Human Nature and Society Between Classical Liberalism and Contemporary Liberalism

 Liberalism views human beings as rational individuals. This is the perception that underpins the ideology (Ball et al. 48). Unlike conservatism, liberals believe that people can act with self-restraint when dealing with their desires and passions. However, there are slight differences that set various liberals apart in regard to human nature. Classical liberals believe that if people are not bound by restrictions, they will thrive as individuals, which will result in a successful society. However, contemporary liberalism challenges this ideology as it results in unfair competition. Hence, it advocates for a society where everybody has an equal chance to be successful. This can only be achieved by allowing more power to a government that provides social amenities such as hospitals and schools (Ball et al. 76). According to contemporary liberals, this is the true definition of freedom.

Political Liberty

The understanding of human nature and society is different for contemporary and classical liberals. This can be deduced from their respective definition of human rights. Classical liberals view people as being driven by self-interest and passion. This is the mindset that drove Adam Smith (1723-1790) to promote the view of capitalism (Ball et al. 67). Together with the other intellectuals of his time, Smith argued that if people are left to trade privately, they can improve their wellbeing. Later, it emerged that such rights only favored the middle class while the working class was exploited. Classical liberals justified this approach by dubbing it as mere ‘natural selection’ as expounded by Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Those who followed this line of thought believed that human beings were meant to freely compete. In such a scenario, only the strongest would emerge successful. Consequently, classical liberals such as Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) believed that the government should not interfere with the free market (Ball et al. 75). In contrast, contemporary liberals view human beings as social beings who rely on each other. Therefore, they work to promote the welfare of all citizens, including minority groups and the disadvantaged. These differing views of human nature are portrayed in the definition of basic human rights. Classical liberals understand political liberty differently from contemporary liberals. Indeed, both schools of thought believe in political liberties as characterized by great political movements such as the French revolution (Ball et al. 63). However, their views on human nature factor into their different perspectives about political liberty. Classical liberals aim to reduce the powers of the government. In contrast, contemporary liberals seek to increase the powers of the government. Therefore, contemporary liberals believe that the administration should have much power to improve the welfare of every citizen. To realize this goal, people must actively participate in the government in order to make it a true democracy. Therefore, political liberty plays a bigger role in contemporary liberal ideology than in classical liberal ideology.

Response to Affirmative Action

The issue of affirmative action is opposed by classical liberals as they do not believe in any interference with people’s rights, except to safeguard them. Affirmative action favors certain discriminated minority groups. This is not acceptable to a classical liberal and the bias was the center of discussion during the 19th century. Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’ (1859) fueled the conversation by claiming that nature dictates the survival of the fittest and natural selection (Ball et al. 75). Therefore, classical liberals believe in equal opportunities at school or work.

Contemporary liberals advocate affirmative action. The welfare of the majority is at the heart of such freedom. In society, cases arise where a certain group is discriminated against. Such collectives include, for example, women whose rights are violated, certain races, and certain religions. Another common example is the discrimination faced by the black population in the US. To compensate for such past injustices that may have left such groups far behind, contemporary liberals maintain that they should be given preference in job hiring and slots in institutions of learning (Ball et al. 84). Other groups who have been discriminated against include the special needs people such as the handicapped as they are not in a position to compete fairly with other able-bodied citizens. To correct this, a contemporary liberal would support affirmative action.

Conservatism

Conservatism seeks to preserve certain aspects of society such as culture or religion. It is a political ideology that is based on the concept that human beings are imperfect (Ball et al. 94). Furthermore, these flaws make humans erroneous and incapable of always doing good deeds. Therefore, a system of government that will ensure that the people act with self-restraint is required. Different conservatives disagree on what the requirements are to be considered as a conservative. For instance, conservatism in the United States was built on issues that Europe considered liberal (Ball et al. 106). Such differences have led to divisions among proponents of this ideology. The result is four different thoughts about conservatism. These include traditional, individualist, neoconservatism, and the Religious Right (Ball et al. 113). Traditional conservatism views society as a fabric where individuals are interdependent from each other. Unlike individualist conservatism, this ideology requires the government to keep competition in check and to curb self-interest. Neoconservatism focuses on cultural conservation. It also supports the ideals of welfare liberalism provided that the people are uplifted so as to be independent of the government. Finally, the Religious Right calls for the conservation of morality in society (Ball et al. 117). Although there are differing views among conservatives, the fact that the ideology has persisted over the centuries shows that it is powerful and popular.

Conclusion

The aim of all liberals, both classical and contemporary, is to promote individual freedom. However, the means of achieving this objective differs between the groups. This is due to the two views defining freedom differently.

 

Work Cited

Ball, Terence, et al. Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal. Taylor & Francis, 2016.

 

The French Revolution

Summary of the Documentary: The French Revolution

The French Revolution is phenomenal in that it abolished the French monarchy and ushered in the French republic. The documentary titled ‘The French Revolution’ aims to describe this historic period vividly by recreating the events in a detailed manner. The scenes are accompanied by an eloquent narration of the occurrences that inspired the revolution, its achievements, and its challenges.

France was a monarchy up to the 18th century. The monarchy’s troubles began after King Louis XIV lost the ‘Seven Year War’ in North America. The war drained France’s finances, a situation that had not been remedied by the time King Louis XVI took to the throne. Being a young king, Louis XVI described as indecisive, lacked in many leadership qualities. Rather than taking steps to improve the country’s economy, he decided to send troops to North America to fight in the American war of independence. This decision further strained France’s resources. The country’s population was growing rapidly due to reduced deaths from diseases hence more people to feed.

The French revolution was inspired by two major factors: the age of enlightenment and hunger. The age of enlightenment informed people that they could think for themselves. They didn’t have to rely on the authority for information. This undermined the monarchy. It wasn’t long before lawyer Maximilien Robespierre leveled charges against the royals for overspending despite the few resources in the country. The strained resources affected one major aspect, food security. At the heart of Frances agriculture was flour. People heavily depended upon bread. The documentary states that ‘bread was the measure of existence’ and that ‘flour was the essence of life.’ A harsh winter made matters worse with flour prices skyrocketing. There was hunger in the country. The hunger soon turned to rage which culminated in riots.

In an attempt to improve the economy, King Louis XVI introduced taxes that burdened the poor while the nobles didn’t pay. This further made the king unpopular. This gave people more reason to riot. To improve his image, the king appointed a finance minister, Jacques Necker, who was popular with the people. Necker proposed that the estates’ representatives meet to try and solve the economic disaster to which the king obliged. In 1789, the representatives were meeting for the first time in 175 years. They represented the three social classes, the clergy, nobility, and peasants. Lawyer Robespierre seized this opportunity to stand before the representatives and speak for the third estate. He demanded that the clergy and nobility also pay taxes. Such utterances led to Robespierre and his company being silenced. They moved to form the national assembly. Although the assembly was only declared on paper at the time, it was the first institution in the move to introduce a constitutional monarchy. The riots had turned into a revolution.

On the ground, the people were attacking the most hostile prison in Paris, the Bastille. They were able to seize weaponry and gun powder from the fortress. One of the guards is said to have reported this rebellion to the king who in turn asked: “is it as revolt?” and was answered, “no, it is a revolution.” The national assembly led by Robespierre penned the charter known as the declaration of the rights of men. They demanded that social classes are abolished and all men considered equal. More rebellion was marked by the ‘October march’ when in October 1789, the women from the marketplace marched to the palace to complain about the shortage of bread. They demanded that the royal family move back to Paris, where he was a prisoner of the people although still regarded as the king. By 1791, France was a constitutional monarchy.

King Louis XVI’s powers continued to decrease. He decided to make a run for Austria where he would join with allies to overthrow the monarchy. This plan was foiled by the rebellion guards. He was returned to Paris and considered as a betrayer. He lost his power completely to the revolutionaries. This power was then used to spread terror across the country. Anyone who was against the rebellion was sent to the guillotine, a machine designed for decapitation. The king and the queen are also sentenced to death and also sent to the guillotine.

The reign of terror ended with the same man who began it, Robespierre. He was sent to the guillotine after the deputies who once stood with him turned against him. They viewed him as a man who was drunk with power and declared him an outlaw. Five years later, power was consolidated at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte who became Emperor of France. Although the revolution had achieved its goal and there were equality and adequate bread, some say it continued into the nineteenth century. It was a revolution that inspired many nations to rise for liberties, from Russia to Latin America.

YouTube, YouTube, 3 Mar. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3AbMUQXft4.

WHY FROG CHOOSES KATAGIRI

  1. Jackson Brown said, “Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.” This wise quote overlooks other outward qualities such as strength in favor of the principles that one holds dear. Stories of men who lacked good character have been told in various fields such as religion and folktales. Their end is always disastrous. On the other hand, people of character are always admirable. A study of Haruki Murakami’s short story “Super-Frog Saves Tokyo” reveals the importance of character. It tells the heroic story of a giant frog who is on a mission to save Tokyo from a deadly earthquake. The frog’s mission will involve a fierce battle that requires only the best participants. However, as the story unfolds, it is revealed that the battle does not only require strength, but also good character. The story “Super-Frog Saves Tokyo” shows that moral character is more valuable than physical strength by holding the protagonist, Katagiri, up as a model of good behavior.

One of the qualities Frog values Katagiri for is courage. Katagiri is a collection officer for the Tokyo Security Trust Bank, which is not a job for the faint-hearted. It involves getting his hands dirty in the field as he pursues defaulters. To make matters worse, he has to collect debts within the dangerous neighborhood of Kabukicho, which is rife with violence[1]. Despite such a harsh working environment, Katagiri is not shaken, even after he receives death threats. His courage inspires Frog to choose him to fight the deadly battle with Worm. Frog realizes that this battle requires courage, something that even he, Frog, lacks when he admits that he is frightened.

Another reason that informs Frog’s decision is the deep respect he has for Katagiri. He reveals that he has been keeping an eye on Katagiri as he goes about his daily activities. Through the years, he has seen him readily undertake the most dangerous tasks without much appreciation from his colleagues or superiors[2]. Despite that, Katagiri has never complained. He has also extended the same qualities to his family as shown by his sacrifices to raise his two siblings single-handedly and educate them. Despite all this, the two who are now grown-up show no respect for their selfless benefactor. Even so, Katagiri has no complaints about their behavior. Frog finds such a selfless character respectable and is proud to go to battle with Katagiri, since the fight with Worm will provide no glory to either himself or Katagiri.

Frog finds Katagiri’s kindness admirable, which is one of the reasons he chooses him. Katagiri’s selflessness in raising his siblings at the expense of his time and income proves this virtue. This kindness costs him his marriage prospects, and yet, he goes ahead and arranges for his siblings’ marriages. No appreciation is accorded to him despite such praiseworthy actions[3]. Frog knows that the battle with Worm requires such a level of selflessness. It is a battle without glory; one that requires them to put their lives on the line without anybody knowing that they have done so. Thus, selflessness is required virtue in the one chosen for the battle.

Frog believes that Katagiri can offer the encouragement that he needs to fight Worm. He makes it clear that he does not expect the middle-aged, inactive Katagiri to fight the battle. Frog is prepared to do all the fighting. However, given that the battle is tough and scares him, he knows that he needs someone to keep cheering him on to fight the good fight. Katagiri fits this description. He is identified as a man who has a passion for justice and everything right[4]. Over the years that he has worked for the bank, he has performed his duties diligently, unafraid of threats from loan defaulters. He is not shaken by the hardcore criminals of Kabukicho. Frog hopes that Katagiri can extend this passion into the fight, and thus help him win it.

Katagiri has earned Frog’s trust. Out of the millions of people, Frog has identified him as the most trustworthy person[5] in Tokyo. His resolution is not made merely by guesswork but rather by thorough observation of Katagiri’s life through the years. To defeat Worm, Frog acknowledges that he does not only need a fighting partner, but also a person he can trust to have his back. He recognizes the importance of mutual trust as is shown by his actions. He does not merely convince Katagiri to join him in the fierce battle; rather Frog assists him in collecting a debt that has proven a headache for his new friend. This earns him Katagiri’s trust, which is essential for the fight.

Although Katagiri lacks physical strength, he possesses other qualities that lead Frog to choose him for the battle. These include Katagiri’s courage which has been proven through effective discharge of his duties despite the harsh working environment that exposes him to grave dangers. Also, Frog has a deep respect for the unappreciated debt collection officer who carries out difficult duties without thirsting for recognition. Katagiri’s kindness to his siblings further amazes Frog. Despite being strong, Frog needs encouragement in the battle. He believes Katagiri can provide this due to his passion for justice and all that is right. Out of all the people in Tokyo, Frog trusts Katagiri the most as his fighting partner against Worm, which proves that a good moral character transcends great physical strength in the world of the story. Considering this, there is need for each person to evaluate their character. For instance, most of the global crisis we experience can be solved if people emulate Katagiri’s traits. Furthermore, one does not need to have great strength or powerful influence to make our world better. Instead, all one needs is to stand firm for justice and all that is moral.

 

Bibliography

Murakami, Haruki. “Super-frog saves Tokyo.” In After the quake: Stories (2002): 111-140.

Welch, Patricia. “Haruki Murakami’s Storytelling World.” In World Literature Today, 79, no. 1 (2005): 55-59.

 

[1]. Murakami, Haruki. “Super-frog saves Tokyo.” (After the quake: Stories, 2002), 115.

[2]. Welch, Patricia. “Haruki Murakami’s Storytelling World.” (World Literature Today 79, no. 1, 2005), 59.

 

[3]. Haruki, “Super-frog saves Tokyo”, 117

[4]. Ibid., 118

[5]. Ibid.

JetBlue airlines’

Unit VIII Project

Introduction

            In business, it is crucial to strike a balance between obtaining high revenues and charging affordable prices. Cheap prices are mostly associated with low revenues. It is, therefore, commendable when a business manages to offer affordable and quality services while maintaining high-profit margins. This is the case with JetBlue Airways Corporation. The airline has managed to be a low-cost airline while still being the sixth-largest based on the number of passengers flown (David and David, 2016). Attaining this feat in the face of stiff competition associated with the industry requires proper management and employees guided by a strong mission. A look at the internal and external issues shows the challenges that the corporation deals with as well as the factors that contribute to its success.

Internal Issues

Internal issues within JetBlue Airways Corporation include their organizational structure, vision/mission, finances, and segments. The airline’s structure consists of the Chief Executive Officer who has eight top executives working under him. These include the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, and Chief Information Officer. Other top positions include the founder, David Neeleman, the President, and the Chairman. Additionally, there are Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs) for operations, people, commercial and planning, corporate affairs, and customer experience. The corporation’s mission is to provide superior service in every aspect of their customers’ air travel experience (David and David, 2016). On matters of finance, the company has managed to increase its income considerably. In the financial year 2018 ending December 31, JetBlue managed an operating income after tax of $590 million. However, this was a step down from the previous year, which reported an amount of $658 million after-tax (JetBlue, 2019). The return on invested capital was also commendable at 8.6% for the year 2018. The corporation’s revenue as of 2018 exceeded $7.6 billion, which secured it the 399th spot in the Fortune 500 list of companies–a comprehensive annual list that ranks the 500-largest US corporations based on their fiscal year’s revenue (JetBlue, 2019). Another internal issue is segments. JetBlue has two segments which include revenue from passengers and ancillary amenities. Additionally, the airline introduced baggage fees in 2015, further increasing its revenue.

External Issues

External issues faced by the airline include market segmentation, airline pollution concerns, airline taxes, hoarding cash by airlines, and domination of the industry by mergers. When it comes to segmentation, passengers are generally divided into several groups including coach, first-class, business class, and freight (David and David, 2016). Notably, coach passengers account for up to 80% of the revenue. Another external issue is the hoarding of cash by airlines. It is common for airlines to keep substantial cash balances in fear of economic downturns. Airline pollution is a major concern in light of the increased greenhouse effect. Several measures such as the use of biofuels have been suggested but not fully adopted. Some of the other measures such as baggage fees tend to be costly for the passengers with few results (David and David, 2016). An increase in airline taxes is constantly proposed by various administrations. Such increases are aimed at improving the airline industry and raising federal revenue. However, this tax is passed down to the passengers who bear the burden. Another external issue facing JetBlue is mergers dominating the industry. Such mergers reduce competition and are hence able to raise ticket prices, a great disadvantage to the passengers.

Competition

JetBlue faces stiff competition from other airlines. Although the corporation has managed to grow and increase its revenue, it is still no match for bigger airlines such as American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines, which take a much larger market share. Key metrics used in the comparison of airlines include the number of employees, revenue, the net income, and market capitalization (David and David, 2016). The company uses its financial statements as the tools for measuring success, mainly the statement of comprehensive income and the balance sheet. By comparing the financial results of the current and previous year, the management can make decisions about the future of the company.

The Future Outlook for the Organization

            JetBlue airlines’ management has several plans for the future. The airline has been operating mainly on the east coast of the US. However, they plan to expand services to Europe (JetBlue, 2019). This move will be accompanied by the introduction of Airbuses suitable for the long flight. The airline’s management hopes to take advantage of the market gap created by mediocre services offered by some of the European Airlines. If successful, then this is a move that will see JetBlue rise from the sixth-largest airline in the US to compete with dominators of the industry such as Delta Airlines (David and David, 2016).

Conclusion

JetBlue airlines, has both internal and external issues that it faces. Some of the internal issues include their organizational structure, segments, finance, and vision/mission. External issues, on the other hand, include pollution by airlines, hoarding of cash by major players in the industry, mergers which reduce competition, and airline taxes. Additionally, the corporation faces stiff competition associated with the industry. Despite all these issues, the company has managed to be among the top airlines and headed for a great future.

References

David, F. R., & David, F. R. (2016). Strategic management: A competitive advantage approach, concepts and cases. Pearson.

JetBlue (2019). JetBlue Announces Q4 2018 Results. Retrieved from http://blueir.investproductions.com/investor-relations/financial-information/quarterly-results/24-01-2019