Saturday, August 31, 2019

Analysis of The Masque of the Red Death Essay

Writer’s Name Professor’s Name English 101 14 November 2013 Chasing Time Edgar strikes fear in the eyes of the reader as the adventure of The Masque of the Red Death takes one through the life cycle from the beginning to death. A terrible disease stormed through the country, killing anyone in it’s path. Not only was it madly gruesome, but dreadfully fatal. With only half of the kingdom left alive, Prince Prospero decided to take the route of a coward. He let the kingdom fend for themselves, while he gathered a thousand of his favorite knights and ladies and had a never-ending party, â€Å"When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to is presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court† (Poe 3). Once the last guest entered the gate doors, no one came in, and no one gets out (seeing as the Prince welded the gates shut). After a few months the prince decided to throw a breathtaking masquerade ball. As instructed, the guests wore elaborate costumes and masks. The party took place in a strange design and setup. A series of 7 rooms lead you from the beginning to the end of the party. Throughout all of the rooms, every single one was a bright and cheery color, all but the last room. Black dark and terrifying, what more could one want the 7th and final room to be? Poe takes the reader through a fearful Journey, never letting you sit down to have a cup of tea, never letting you feel at home. He wants to put the reader on their toes, awaiting a pop-up scene at any moment, awaiting the â€Å"Red Death†. Although his guests loved all of the light and youthful rooms, only the brave and adventurous stray away to the depressed gloomy last and final room. The final room contained numerous clocks that ring and ring every hour, with each ding the partiers stop and pause till the clocks are done. As the clocks struck midnight, everyone noticed a new guest, a very gruesome guest, â€Å"there were many individuals in the crowd who had found leisure to become aware of the presence of a masked fgure which had arrested the attention of no single individual before† (Poe 7). The Prince did not find any humor in the fact that the guest was dressed up as the â€Å"Red Death†. With that, the Prince ran after the guest. Prince Prospera ran furiously through the rooms slowly reaching the last and final room, death. Prince Prosperds party showed Poe’s amazing ability to bring symbolism and themes together to form a piece of literary artwork. As the reader visualizes the party, you see 7 rooms moving from east to west. Each room essentially is a different ‘stage’ of the human life. Every room has a different color, which suggests that stage of human life. What first gave away that the suite was set up to be viewed as a life cycle, was the arrangement of rooms from east to west. How brilliant it was to connect this life cycle of a human with the life cycle of a day. East is usually associated with beginnings and birth seeing as its the beginning of a new day. On the contrary, as the sun sets in the West, people usually associate that with the end and death. sense of rebirth. The color suggests the unknown from which a human being arrives into this world. Following that, the purple room proposes the idea of beginnings of growth, and green being the â€Å"spring† of life. Orange represents the summer and autumn of life, while white suggests aging. In the end violet, shadowy and dark, prepares you for the last room, death. Almost all but a few partiers stay clear of the black room, and why is that? It symbolizes their fear of the unknown, there fear death. â€Å"But in the western or black chamber the effect of the fire- light that streamed upon the dark hangings through the blood-tinted panes, was ghastly in the extreme, nd produced so wild a look upon the countenances of those who entered, that there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all† (Poe 5). As the ‘Red Death’ walks from the blue room to the black room, Prospero follows it and they walks the course of life, flowwing from birth to death. He rushes from the blue room to the black room, where he eventually dies. His party guests also run into the black room to unmask the Red Death, and also die. The course the characters walk in the story is both literally and metaphorically the course from life to death. â€Å"And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night. And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall† (Poes 10). It was no coincidence that Poe wrote ‘like a thief in the night’ as an ending for his short story. This piece of scripture is one of the most famous lines from the Bible. The line derives from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians 5:4, where he refers to the last judgement. According to Paul, Jesus or God will appear when the world is least expecting it, and Judge all sinners for all ages. Poe uses Paul’s phrase and relates it to he Red Death. In the story, the Red Death might seem like an â€Å"apocalyptic† figure, something that symbolizes the end of the world. Like the sinners in the scripture, the Prince and all of his friends stupidly ignore the inevitability of death. Instead they take in all of â€Å"lifes pleasures†, and in the end they pay the price. The only difference is that instead of a Judgement day, and giving everyone a fair chance, the Red Death happily massacres everyone. The clocks in the story symbolizes life ticking away directly in front of the partygoers faces. They stop each hour to hear the long ding-dong of the large ebony locks, â€Å"And then, for a moment, all is still, and all is silent save the voice of the clock† (Poe 6). The clock stopped ticking with the last guest’s death, and it was like the clock represented the countdown to death and the people knew it. Poe’s main goal in The Masque of the Red Death is to spawn a growing sense of horror and dread in his reader. Throughout the story the guests of Prince Prospero fear the black room almost as much as they fear death itself. The guests of the party not only give the reader the experience of the cycle of life, but an insight on Poe’s insightful use of Bible verses.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Plastic money Essay

Plastic money is a term that is used predominantly in reference to the hard plastic cards we use every day in place of actual bank notes. They can come in many different forms such as cash cards, credit cards, debit cards, pre-paid cash cards and store cards. Introduction: A slang phrase for credit cards, especially when such cards used to make purchases. The â€Å"plastic† portion of this term refers to the plastic construction of credit cards, as opposed to paper and metal of currency. The â€Å"money† portion is an erroneous reference to credit cards as a form of money, which they are not. Although credit cards do facilitate transactions, because they are a liability rather than an asset, they are not money and not part of the economy’s money supply. Plastic money is the alternative of cash or the standard ‘money’. Plastic money is used to refer to the credit cards, debit cards that we use to make purchases in our everyday life. Plastic money is much more convenient to carry around as you do not have to carry a huge some of money with you. It is also much safer to carry it along or to travel with it as if it is stolen one can consult the bank whose service you are using and get it blocked hence saving your money from getting stolen or even lost. Plastic money or polymer money, made out of plastic, is a new and easier way of paying for goods and services. Plastic money was introduced in the 1950s and is now an essential form of ready money which reduces the risk of handling a huge amount of cash. It includes debit cards, ATMs, smart cards, etc. Nowadays even developing countries like India are encouraging the use of this plastic money more than cash due to these reasons. Furthermore these credit and debit cards also have plastic used in their making and that is where the name ‘plastic money’ has originated from. Anonymous In today’s materialistic world, every one is running behind money or you can say that the whole world is running behind money. In addition, these days, things have become costlier and with out hard cash it is difficult to make any outright purchase, if you are an impulsive buyer. Nevertheless, with ‘Plastic Money’, i.e. Payment Cards, you can do it without carrying any money on you. There is no burden of carrying a bunch of notes, no fear of loosing or forgetting the wallet at home. Welcome to the age of ‘Plastic Money’. Different Types of Plastic Money. Cash Cards – A card that will allow you to withdraw money directly from your bank via an Authorized Teller Machine (ATM) but it will not allow the holder to purchase anything directly with it. Credit Cards – Again this card will permit the card holder to withdraw cash from an ATM, and a credit card will allow the user to purchase goods and services directly, but unlike a Cash Card the money is basically a high interest loan to the card holder, although the card holder can avoid any interest charges by paying the balance off in full each month. Debit Cards – This type of card will directly debit money from your bank account, and can directly be used to purchase goods and services. While there is no official credit facility with debit cards per se, as it is linked to the bank account the limit is the limit of what is in the account, for instance if an overdraft facility is available then the limit will be the extent of the overdraft. Pre-paid Cash Cards – As the name suggests the user will add credit to the card themselves, and will not exceed that amount. These are usually re-useable in that they can be ‘topped up’ however some cards, usually marketed as Gift Cards are not re-useable and once the credit has been spent they are disposed of. Store Cards – These are similar in concept to the Credit Card model, in that the idea is to purchase something in store and be billed for it at the end of the month. These cards can be charged at a very high interest rate and can are limited in the places they can be used, sometimes as far as only the store brand that issued it. Advantages: You don’t have to carry cash. You can have your job’s check directly deposited into the bank. You can buy what you want without having the money right then to buy the item as long as you do not go over the card’s limit. In unexpected financial emergencies, cards can be used to pay for what you need. Wise use is beneficial to your credit report. Disadvantages: They encourage overspending You can get in too much debt, leading to filing bankruptcy. Cards often have extra or hidden fees and high interest rates. Using credit and debit cards puts you at higher risk of identity theft than using cash. Cards might be lost.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Management plan in the case of a security Essay

Management plan in the case of a security - Essay Example The information of such clients should be accorded due protection and security deserved. There should be several policies, rules and regulations put in place to govern the information (Einbinder, 2010). These rules, policies and regulations should ensure maximum security and confidentiality of the information of such clients. Moreover, the websites and databases where such information is contained should be protected with secure passwords to prevent cases of hacking. This is important in ensuring that the information of each client in kept free from access by unwanted or unauthorized parties (Clarkson et al, 2012). However, in cases involving breach of security of such information, it is highly likely that unauthorized persons may get access into the client’s information. This is very dangerous since the people may use the information of the clients in several bad ways (Blyth, 2008). As such, the right to privacy of such clients will be compromised. This may lower their trust with such organizations. The leakage of the privacy of such clients may destabilize them psychologically, mentally and socially. This should always be discouraged at all costs by putting in place severa l restrictions, policies and rules governing the safety, security and confidentiality of such information. It is important to note that the scenario experienced in the administration at St. John’s Hospital depicts a breach of security of information of the clients. The fact that the cleaners could get access to the information of the clients when tidying up the place was vivid evidence that the people responsible did not take proper care in keeping the client’s information. This was negligence in the part of the people involved in the security section of the information. The discarded printouts should always be kept safe or assigned specific individuals within the organization to always access and dispose of them professionally. However, it

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Manegerial Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Manegerial Finance - Essay Example On the other hand management accounting is expected to provide information for analysis and use by internal uses of an organization like the senior executives and managers. Different data and financial data are required by different user groups. External users are more interested in the financial status of the company and they analyze the financial information presented with the general economic trend and the conditions of the industry in which the organization operates. Financial accounting makes information available on the financial transaction that have taken place in the past and this information is analyzed by the investors and creditors to assess overall performance of the company in which they have staked their funds. The internal users of the financial information require different types of information which they use to assess the internal performance of the company in various disciplines. The internal users also need non-financial information like the movements of competitors, levels of customer satisfaction which are assimilated and analyzed to help the growth of the company in the proper direction. As against the scope of financial accounting which deals more with historical data, management accounting deals with both past and present data. ... ation and rely on them, the financial accounting is made subject to the regulations of governing bodies like Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). In contrast the management accounting is not subject to any regulatory measures being presented by any agencies. The reason for absence of regulatory control is that management accounting prepares information only for the internal users and therefore is not subjected to any regulations. Since there is involvement of any public interest no need to protect the information has been felt. Periodicity of Reporting Financial accounting bases its reporting on the basis of historical data and therefore there is the necessity for making periodical reports. The financial reporting is done for different periodicity like monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting. Management accounting reports on the other hand are made for continuous periods so that the internal users would be able to evaluate the past and present performances of various functional divisions and departments. There may be some urgent needs of management accounting reports to evaluate a capital expenditure project or some other investment decisions. Forecasts about the future prospects and growth of business of the organization also need management accounting reports. Therefore there is the continuous need of the management accounting information by the internal users. (Edmonds et al, 2006) The differences in financial accounting and management accounting can be summarized in the following table: Criteria Financial Accounting Management Accounting Primary users External Internal Primary organization focus Whole organization Parts or subsections; specific areas Information characteristics Must be GAAP; based

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Innovation and Partnership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Innovation and Partnership - Essay Example Innovation is the process involved in the making of improvements by introducing new ideas, or the act of introducing something new (The American Heritage Dictionary). It is "the process of translating new ideas into tangible actions with societal impact." (Krisztina Holly, Vice Provost, University of Southern California, and Executive Director of USC Stevens Institute for Innovation), or a creative idea that is realized. (Frans Johansson. Harvard Business School Press, 2004). Innovation can also be seen as any new element introduced in a network, which has the ability to create a change, even if the change is momentary, and involves the costs of transactions between two or more actors, elements or nodes, in that network. In business, economics, or government policy, innovation must be substantially different, and must have a significant amount of change. In economics, such innovation or change must increase producer value or customer value. Innovations are aimed at improvement, and the whole economy grows as a result of a succession of innovations. The term innovation may also refer to both incremental and radical changes to existing processes, products or services, and the goal of any innovative process is to find solutions to problems. Innovation is a vital topic in the area of economics, business, sociology, engineering and technology. Innovation is also considered to be a major driver of any economy, and so the factors, which lead to innovation to be implemented, are also considered to be crucial to policy making. In an organizational context, innovation can be linked to growth and performance through improvements in, productivity, quality, efficiency, market share, and competitive positioning. Every organization has the capacity to be innovative, including organizations like universities, hospitals, and even local governments. Although innovation adds value, it can also have negative or destructive effects on the economy, due to the fact that new developments might change or dispose of older or previous organisational practices. Organisations that fail to implement innovation in an effective manner may end up being destroyed by those that have better innovative tendencies.Therefore, innovation typically involves a certain amount of risk. A key challenge in the process of innovation is the ability to maintain the right degree of balance between the process and product innovations, in a situation in which process innovations are likely to involve a business model that may lead to shareholder satisfaction through improved effectiveness, while the innovation of products develop customer support, but with a risk of some costly R&D that could damage shareholder returns. Talk of industry innovation rarely brings the tourism industry to mind. Social and economic research focuses most of its attention on such innovation industries as the Pharmaceuticals, IT, Biotechnology, Instrument, and materials industries. Thus the occurrence of innovation with wide economic impacts (Dosi, 1982: OECD, 2000). In recent years the concept of innovation has been increasingly linked to the services sectors, mostly for the hospitality and tourism industry (Metcalfe et al., 1999), with projects

Monday, August 26, 2019

Research Chinese culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Research Chinese culture - Essay Example For instance, â€Å"We appreciate your business† is preferable in every case to â€Å"I appreciate your business.† Time sensitivity In Chinese business, deadlines and meeting times are treated more like suggestions. In American business, deadlines and meeting times are strict guidelines. That is, concern is not expressed if a meeting begins late or a deadline is pushed back by a couple days. This is often misunderstood by American communicators.ii Communication addressed to cultures that are less focused on the absolute concept of time should reflect a lesser emphasis on the importance of meeting times and deadlines. Although this may be frustrating, some cultures do not respond well to such demands. For that reason, communications should embrace a fuzzier view of timed projects. For instance, using the sentence â€Å"The meeting will start around 1pm† as opposed to â€Å"The meeting will start at 1pm sharp† is more likely to win over employees. ... This means not using language that could be interpreted to dispute or argue directly for something opposite to what was decided by the higher levels of hierarchy. By doing this, Westeners will remain respectful and avoid awkward situations. Audience Profile Sheet Job Sought: _Regional Sales Manager______________________________________________ Reader's Name: Kathryn Harold Reader's Job Title: Senior Sales Associate Kind of Reader: Primary __X___ Secondary ______ Reader’s Level of Education: Bachelors of Arts Degree Reader’s Professional Experience: 1 year as Sales & Marketing Intern 2 years as Junior Sales Associate 4 years as Senior Sales Associate Reader’s Job Responsibilities: A senior sales associate organizes and manages a company's sales force. Senior sales associates hire and train other salespersons, assigning territories and helping develop leads. Reader’s Personal Characteristics: She is a personable employee with strong leadership and interperso nal skills. She has shown compassion on the job. She has expressed interest in gaining more experience in an overseas sales position and desires a promotion. Reader’s Cultural Background: Caucasian American of Polish and German descent Reader’s Attitude Toward the Writer (you): She is a friendly acquaintance. She admires the work that her coworkers and superiors are doing. Reader’s Attitude Toward the Position you’re applying to: She views the position as an opportunity for personal and professional growth, a chance at a higher pay, and experiences in a new working environment. Reader’s Expectations for an employee in that position: She expects an employee in that

Sunday, August 25, 2019

High frequency trading Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

High frequency trading - Research Paper Example Another disadvantage that faces the average investor is the ability to withdraw and initiate thousands of trades at multiple pricing points within the same period. This makes it difficult to understand what is or is not legit (Petajisto 273). Further, the ability of these programs coming up with the upper buy range and lower sell range can create security for one individual and insecurity for the other. It becomes very difficult to have the average investor coming up with a substantial amount because the investors privy with HFT could sell below the limit forcing an individual to pay more compared to normal circumstances. The fact that they attain the information seconds earlier allows them to have an edge that disadvantages the investors, exposing them to risks (Aldridge 65; Kirilenko, Kyle, Samadi & Tuzun 25). Many will look at this from the angle of having more to do with one’s trading sessions, but the unleveled playing field makes it worse. The securities exchange should rein on such behaviors and provide the investors with a fair chance of meeting these ideals. Regulations are necessary in this sector. Investors need to operate within similar platforms as a way of encouraging them to make better use of the skills present. One thing that can be done is creating stronger controls that will create safety nets around the trading options (Aldridge 67). This will enable the government to provide the stock exchanges with the required platforms that will help reduce the market instability through the proper utility of the incentives provided. Markets will also benefit a lot if information was not disseminated before hand, allowing all traders to benefit from what they possess, rather than generate new platforms that do not define the market as a whole (Petajisto 274). Ideally, the traders will have to get clearing before some of the tools can be used, something the government needs to pay great attention to. By limiting the risks, it is very

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Write a 1.5 page memorandum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Write a 1.5 page memorandum - Essay Example Each author employs, in his own right, extremely ridiculous scenarios and/or ironic character development which ultimately serves to belittle and criticize the society in and about which they were written, in this case early 18th century Britain. In A Modest Proposal, Swift, in order to criticize and make public the English crown’s shameful policy and practices towards Ireland, employs irony. So as to address the rampant and widespread poverty of Ireland, he sagaciously proposes that England ought to begin eating the children of mendicant women so as to alleviate the need to feed them. That is, Swift declares that cannibalism is the answer to solving poverty. â€Å"....[A] young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout† (Swift 1949, p. 883). Swift is counting on the reader to be so disgusted by the idea that he/she will find solace in the criticism he makes of the English landed gentry, which is in fact the true intent of the work. He writes, â€Å"I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they ha ve already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children† (Swift 1949, p. 883). The proposal is ridiculous only to make a point: the aristocrats, having exploited the poor, would not mind also enjoying the â€Å"benefit† of their offspring. In similar fashion, John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera employs satire for the purpose of social criticism. Opera, for the most part, has traditionally been the preserve of the well-to-do. Gay, knowing that his audience would include many members of the upper classes, creates characters and settings which highlight the abject poverty in which much of England’s poor lived. It opens with the narrator, intentionally chosen to be a beggar, stating â€Å"If

Friday, August 23, 2019

Dr Martin Luther Kings I have a Dream Speech Assignment

Dr Martin Luther Kings I have a Dream Speech - Assignment Example It seeks to redeem the promise for the Negroes of America to also equally enjoy the â€Å"riches of freedom and the security of justice†. The speech became very effective that it became one of the greatest speech of all time because it effectively used the rhetorical devices of pathos, ethos and logos. The speech began by agitating the audience through the use of ethos or emotion by first mentioning the broken promise of the Emancipation Proclamation which should have freed the Negro slaves and yet the Negro is still enslaved. They are still being discriminated against not only in the buses and restaurants but also in opportunities which America had promised to give everybody an equal access. He elaborated the plight of the Negro as he languished in poverty and misery which his audience could relate. Further, he fanned this flamed emotion (ethos) by appealing to their desires to be free and equal by the speech’s main theme of his dream which is also the dream of every Negro. As Dr Martin Luther King enunciates his dream, he called for restraint and unity as they struggle for equality with everybody. This sobriet y despite mass support reinforced his ethos or integrity of character. He could have called for a revolution and with his popularity, his supporters and people would have heeded. But Reverend King chose to protest and air his grievance peacefully. It has to be remembered that Luther King is a Pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Being such, Dr King is highly respected and embodied the ethos of his speech. His speech, while it calls for activism when he mentioned â€Å"now is the time† supports the loftiness of his character as he pursue that dream of his saying â€Å"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places plains and the crooked places will be made straight, and before the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together†.  The Logos or the logic of the speech is undeniable.  

Crosby Manufacturing Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Crosby Manufacturing Corporation - Essay Example This led to the appointment of another project leader, Tim, who was found capable of handling the raised issues and solving the problems (Harold Kerzner, 2009). The selection of Tim Emary was not a wrong decision. It is evident the company had been having limitations in achieving competitiveness constraints with the prevailing management cost control system in place. The company erred in sourcing their project managers from only one department, the EDL department. To inject new ideas in solving the crises, the company needed an outsider away from the EDL department. Over emphasising in sourcing a manager from this department led to having a non performing manager, on the basis that s/he is from the trusted EDL department. This may have been the reason why the performance of the company in the past had been below standards (Harold Kerzner, 2009). Getting Tim Emary from a different department largely brought about change as far as recruitment of the project manager was concerned. This approach offered members from other departments a chance to exercise their leadership abilities. It also increased the number of candidates yearning for the position, creating room for competitive vetting, which led to the appointment of the person with the highest qualifications and abilities. This approach contributed to improvement in competence of members in the respective departments (Landau, 1994). Secondly, even though Tim Emary was not knowledgeable as far as computers were concerned, he had the skills and knowledge of designing schedules and accomplishing the tasks assigned. This was an essential tool needed for effective management of management-cost-control system project (Harold Kerzner, 2009). Bearing in mind that reforms were being carried out in the department to put things back in order, a talented person was needed to lay foundations and offer new insights in the department. Thus, the right

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The Handsomest Drowned Man Essay Example for Free

The Handsomest Drowned Man Essay That was how they came to hold the most splendid funeral they could ever conceive of for an abandoned drowned man. Thesis  The author uses magical realism such as everyone worshiping a stranger this helps the reader understand reality because sometimes we treat the dead better than we do the living. The people of the town pampered him, treated him like a god and adjusted there lives around him even though he was dead. Conclusion The people of the town pampered the strange good looking dead man, treated him like a god and adjusted there lives around him even though he was dead. They treated the mysterious drowned man like royalty even though he was a stranger. Magical Realism They secretly compared him to their own men, thinking that for all their lives theirs were incapable of doing what he could do in one night, and they ended up dismissing them deep in their hearts as the weakest, meanest and most useless creatures on earth. The reader gains a better understanding about reality because it shows that sometime we base too much off looks The magical realism reveals the authors argument by showing more bluntly how we think better of the living than of the dead Later, when they covered his face with a handkerchief so that the light would not bother him, he looked so forever dead, so defenseless, so much like their men that the first furrows of tears opened in their hearts. This quote helps readers gain a better understanding of reality because they started thinking badly of the ones who were living. The author supports his argument because it shows how much the people care for this strange myth like man. It gains a better perspective of reality because they have treated him better than there own family and sometimes we dont appreciate our family The author argued in this quote because they held the best funeral they have ever held for a dead man they had only just come across!

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Environmental Impacts Of Oil And Gas Environmental Sciences Essay

Environmental Impacts Of Oil And Gas Environmental Sciences Essay Oil and gas companies have been conducting exploration projects worldwide for years in an attempt to find and extract the extremely valuable global resource known as petroleum (BERA 2006). Oil and gas exploration encompasses testing subsoil, using sophisticated technology and is not without any environmental damage. A major challenge in exploration of oil and gas is the ecological significance of repeated exposures to very low-level releases of various chemicals, the removal of vegetative cover, impact on fisheries, and biodiversity loss. Most of the developing countries in Africa are desperate for economic success and this is usually the major driving force behind sanctioning any exploration activities in this region. The problem is that most of these countries are inexperienced in the oil industry and therefore they take into consideration very few environmental implications. In lieu of this, it becomes very prominent that ignoring the immediate and long-term impacts of Ghanas oil and gas exploration activities will have a damaging effect on the surrounding biodiversity and ecosystem. In 2007, Ghana confirmed that an estimated 800 million barrels of oil was found in the southern coast of the Gulf of Guinea by Tullow Oil. Tullow Oil is a Uk based company and is involved in oil exploration in Ghana. The people of Ghana were instantly excited and looking forward to reap the benefits of the discovery but unfortunately the potential detrimental issues associated with exploration were overlooked. The economic benefits associated with this discovery had been prioritised over environmental considerations. The good thing is that Ghana does not have to look far to learn lessons of the past. Nigeria being a few miles away from Ghana is a prime source of information to learn from. Potential impacts refer to both the negative and positive effects on the quality and quantity of the biotic and abiotic factors of the physical environment. In this study, the accentuation is on the negative effects of oil exploration activities on the ecosystem of the coast. The boundary limits for a coastal area is between 50 metres below mean sea level and 50 metres above tide level from the shore. It includes coral reefs, intertidal zones, estuaries, coastal aquaculture, and seagrass communities (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2003:54). Considering the associated environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration, it is clear that practicable environmental regulations are critical in controlling and minimizing environmental impacts. The areas for oil and gas exploration in Ghana include the Nzema East Municipal, the Secondi Takoradi Metropolitan, the Ellembelle, the Ahanta West, the Jomoro, the Agona West District Assemblies. The surrounding communities are cape three points, half Assini, Ellembelle, Princes Town, Axim, Discove, Busua, Miamia, Akwidae,Wotera, Sekonde, Eziama, Nkroful and Secondi-Takoradi. These areas will most likely be affected by oil and gas exploration activities. GhanaWestCoastMap Figure : Coastal line of Ghana C:UsersJoseph Addo-YoboDesktopghana-offshore-oil-map.jpg Figure : Ghanas offshore oil fields OBJECTIVES The objectives of this project are: To analyse the environmental impacts from oil and gas exploration on the coastal ecosystem and biodiversity in Ghana. To determine the various levels of water quality parameters such as colour, conductivity, total dissolved solids, potassium content, calcium content, magnesium content, phosphate content, lead and arsenic content. To determine the concentrations of oil/grease in water samples that have been collected and use concentrations as indicators of pollution from oil exploration. To compare levels of oil/grease in water samples with that of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ghana Environmental Protection Agency ( GEPA). To make recommendations to help manage the associated environmental impacts. Research Questions: What are the environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration on the coastal ecosystem? The thesis begins with the examination and analysis of potential environmental impacts that will probably arise from oil and gas exploration. According to the EP Forum/UNEP Technical Report (1997) the potential impacts may depend upon many other things among which include: The stage of the process, the size and complexity of the project, the nature and sensitivity of the surrounding environment, the effectiveness of planning and migration techniques. Such impacts include atmospheric, aquatic, terrestrial and human impacts. What recommendations will help manage the associated environmental impacts from oil and gas exploration in Ghana? It is not enough to just identify the likely hazards from exploration without recommending measures to cope with or minimize the possible dangers. Recommendations become more essential in view of the fact Ghana is very inexperienced in the industry and legislations are not fully formulated to cope with the environmental hazards that accompany any exploration activity. The thesis gives explicit recommendations based on the findings as lessons from similar studies elsewhere. METHODOLOGY An attempt was made to determine some of the impacts from oil exploration on the Jubilee field area and the environmental coastline by a series of random sampling and by comparing results. An overview of the environmental baseline and ecology is given. This was based on the six oil districts in Ghana and the Jubilee field area. The impacts are categorized into minor, moderate and major. Exploration activities at each phase are presented. Random sampling techniques were carried out to determine whether there was pollution in the water from the exploration activities. A review of the current legislation frameworks in Ghana to cope with these issues. Short term and long term recommendations made to help minimize the impacts. ORGANISATION OF REPORT This report is divided into six chapters. The structure is as follows: Chapter one gives a brief introduction and objectives for conducting this research. The background to the setting and methodology are also included. Chapter two entails the literature review. The location for the oil exploration activities and general approach to oil and gas exploration are described. Chapter three includes what this research comprises of and is discussed in the scope such as the possible impacts on the environment. Chapter four reviews the results of the study presented and are analyzed. The final chapter ends with recommendations, both short term and long term to help minimise the impacts and talks about the current legislation frameworks in place in Ghana to cope with the impacts reviewed in this research. The main conclusions are also presented and further recommendations for further studies made to help address pertinent issues recognized under this study. Presented below is a summary of the research structure: Research Objectives Research Questions Literature Review Methodology Literature Reviews Potential Impacts Observations Results and Analysis Discussion Conclusion Recommendations CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Overview of oil and gas exploration activities on the coastal zone of Ghana Oil and gas exploration involves prospecting surveying and exploration drilling. The prospecting surveying starts with a review of geological maps to identify major sedimentary rocks basins. This may be followed by an aerial photography to identify promising geological formations such as faults and anticlines. A field assessment is done to gather more detailed information. The three methods used for surveying include seismic, magnetic or gravity method. Exploration drilling involves drilling exploration wells to confirm the presence of hydrocarbons. In Ghana, mobile offshore drilling units (MODU) are used. Hydrocarbon exploration in Ghana dates back to 1986 when oil seeps were found in the offshore Tano basin. This eventually led to drilling of exploration wells in the vicinity of Half-Asini (GNPC, 2012). A total of 10 discoveries have been made and about 79 exploration wells drilled in Ghana. None but the Saltpond field, discovered in 1970 and located approximately 100km west of Accra. Currently, Exploration activities are ongoing in Ghanas four sedimentary basins namely the Tano basin, central basin, keta basin and voltaian basin (GNPC, 2012). The most promising discovery so far is the Jubilee field which was discovered in 2007. The Jubilee Unit area covers part of the Deepwater Tano and West Cape three points license areas. Kosmos Ghana HC, an exploration company drilled the Mahogany-1 well in the West Cape Three Points block. Ghanas oil and gas exploration activities do not come without environmental challenges. These challenges may arise from one or more of the following: project footprint, operational discharges, air emissions, waste management and risk of a blow-out during drilling. 2.1.1 Surveying Stage In the first stage of exploring for rock formations bearing hydrocarbons, geological maps are reviewed in desk studies to identify major sedimentary basins (EP Forum/UNEP 1997). Desk study indentifies areas with favourable geological conditions. No potential requirements are needed on ground to do this study. The area is identified based on relief and physical geographical analysis. Based on the results and assumptions from the desk study, if favourable landscape features are revealed, then low hovering aircrafts are used to do aerial survey. The low-flying aircraft over the study are provides overview and peripheral information. A seismic survey is mainly used in hydrocarbon (oil and gas) exploration to investigate the Earths subsurface structure. This method uses the principles of reflective seismology to acquire and interpret seismic data, which allows the estimation of the Earths composition (Morgan, 2003). The seismic method is heavily dependent on differing reflective properties of sound waves to identify hydrocarbon bearing rocks in the earths subterranean zones. An energy source transmits a pulse of acoustic energy into the ground which travels as a wave into the earth (EP Forum/UNEP, 1997). At each point where different geological strata exist, a part of the energy is transmitted down to deeper layers within the earth, while the remainder is reflected back to the surface (EP Forum/UNEP, 1997). Here it is picked up by a series of sensitive receivers called geophones or seismometers in onshore, or hydrophones submerged in water offshore. The signals are transmitted by cables, amplified, filtered, digit alized and recorded for onward interpretation. Figure : Offshore seismic activity 2.1.4 Exploration drilling Drilling of exploration wells are activities that come after seismic data have been interpreted and also after the volume and area of oil and gas resources from potentially productive geological formations been quantified. If oil/gas is discovered, then there will be a need to drill some development wells. Once in position, a series of well sections of reducing size are drilled from the rig. A drill bit, connected to the drill string suspended from the rigs derrick, is rotated in the well. Drill collars are connected to add weight and drilling fluids are distributed through the drill string and injected through the bit. The fluid has a variety of functions that it performs. It imparts hydraulic force that assists the drill bits cutting action, and it cools and lubricates the bit. It eliminates cuttings from the wellbore and protects the well against high formation pressures. When each well section has been drilled, steel casing is run in hole and cemented in place to prevent well failure. When the total reservoir depth is reached the well may be completed and tested by running a production liner and equipment to allow for the flow of hydrocarbons to the surface to establish reservoir properties such as porosity and permeability in a test separator. Any unwanted gas that is produced may be flared. 2.1.5 Appraisal Stage Appraisal is carried out after a successful exploration drilling to determine if the reservoir is economically feasible or viable. It helps in determining the extent and nature of the reservoir by drilling several other wells in the same site. The technical procedures applied to exploratory drilling also applies to appraisal drilling (EP Forum/UNEP, 1997). This requires additional drilling sites that could be reduced by directional drilling hence reducing the ecological footprint and the amount of waste generated. 2.2 Environmental Baseline and Ecology This chapter provides a description of the environmental situation against which the potential impacts of the oil and gas exploration can be assessed and future changes monitored. The chapter presents an overview of the aspects of the environment relating to the surrounding area in which the exploration phase will take place. This includes the Jubilee field unit area, the Ghana marine environment at a wider scale and the four Districts of the Western Region bordering the marine environment. The Jubilee Unit area and its regional setting are shown below. This area is approximately 132 km west-southwest of the city of Takoradi, 60km from the nearest shoreline of Ghana, and 75km from the nearest shoreline of Cote dIvoire. http://subseaworldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Jubilee-Field.jpg Figure : Location of Jubilee Field Air Quality The principal source of environmental contaminants from the atmosphere across central Africa is biomass due to the burning of firewood and controlled burning in savannah places for farming. It has been estimated that Africa accounts for almost one half of the total biomass burnt worldwide (Andrae, 1993). The result of this biomass combustion is the emission of carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), non methane hydrocarbons and air particulate matter. Upwelling The term upwelling is used when cold, nutrient-rich, water goes from the ground up to the surface, leading to an in increase in plankton productivity in the surface waters. The considerable upwelling period along the Ghana shore occurs from July through to September/October, while a minimal upwelling happens between December and January/Feburuary. The rise in plankton productivity during the periods of considerable and minimal upwelling attracts pelagic fish species into the upper layers of the water column, thereby increasing the rate of fish capture. Fish Ecology Seasonal upwelling influences the composition and distribution of fish species in the water bodies of Ghana. The transport of cooler, heavier and nutrient-rich deep waters to the warmer, usually more nutrient-depleted surface water during times of upwelling promotes very high levels of primary production in phytoplankton. This therefore leads to an increase in the production of zooplankton and fish. The fish species found in Ghanaian waters can be divided into four main groups, namely: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ small pelagic species à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ large pelagic species (tuna and billfish); à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ demersal (bottom dwelling) species; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ deep sea species. The most important small pelagic fish species, both commercially and as prey for larger fish found in the coastal and offshore waters of Ghana are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ round sardinella; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ flat sardinella; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ European anchovy; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ chub mackerel. Large pelagic seafood stocks off the shore of Ghana consist of seafood and billfish. These varieties are migratory and take up the outer lining position ocean of the whole exotic and sub-tropical Ocean. They are essential varieties in the environment as both should and feed for sharks, other seafood and sea animals as well as offering an essential commercial resource for industrial fisheries. The seafood varieties are skipjack tuna; yellowfin tuna; and bigeye seafood. The billfish varieties happen in much lower figures and comprise swordfish; Ocean blue marlin; and Ocean sailfish. Trawl surveys have proven that demersal seafood are extensive on the navigator shelf along the whole length of the Ghanaian coastline. The demersal varieties that are most essential over the counter (in terms of capture volumes) are cassava croaker, bigeye grunt, red pandora, Angola dentex , Congo dentex and Western Africa goatfish. Over 180 species of fish are believed to take up the deep sea, including 51 different species that are associated with the bottom and a further 106 are listed as bathypelagic (1000 to 4000m). The remaining species are usually regarded to take up depths to 1000 m but may venture into further water during part of their lifecycle. A total of 89 species are likely to be discovered in Ghanaian water bodies within the depth range in the Jubilee field (1,100 and 1,700m). Water Quality Water column samples were taken at two depths, namely sub-surface and at 100m depth. Water alkalinity (pH) was measured on a subsample. Water samples were collected for metal analyses, nutrients, total dissolved solids and suspended solids (EIA, 2009). Water samples were evaluated for a range of determinants including metals and nutrients and the results were found to be: Mercury (Hg). Most stations had Hg concentrations below the detection limit, ie below 0.2 mg/l). Barium (Ba). Ba concentrations were higher in the surface samples and ranged from 5.96ppb to 5.43 ppb for the surface samples and 5.43 ppb to 5 ppb. Lead (Pb). No Pb was detected in any samples. Phosphorous (P). The concentration levels of total phosphorous were higher for samples from the 100m depth than for samples from sub-surface for all the stations. The highest TP concentration recorded for the sub-surface samples was 0.0192 mg/l and the lowest concentration was 0.0145mg/l. Seabirds and Coastal Birds Ghanas seaside swamplands and lagoons form an environmentally essential environment, offering providing, roosting and nesting sites for thousands of migratory and local wildlife. Eight of these seaside wetlands: Keta Lagoon, Songor Lagoon, Sakumo Lagoon, Korle Lagoon, Densu Delta, Muni Lagoon, Elmina Salt Dishes and Esiama Seaside, qualify as globally essential swamplands under the Ramsar requirements of assisting 20,000 waterfowls or 1% of the population of a waterfowl species. Of these only Esiama Seaside falls within the position at most chance of experiencing an oil spill and has an exotic beach believed to back up over 10,000 wildlife. However, there are several other lagoons and swamplands such as Domini Lagoon, Amunsure Lagoon, Ankobra (Ankwao) Estuary, Kpani-Nyila Estuary and the Ehnuli Lagoon which are essential for fowl feeding and reproduction places. They consist of considerable amounts of waterfowls such as typical tern, egret, typical sandpiper, ringed plover and greyish plover. As a whole, the stretch of coastline west of Cape Three Points is regarded as extremely delicate for seaside fowl species. Direct death rate of wildlife in the event of an oil spill is often the most widely recognised danger. While impacts to birds can happen offshore in the marine environment, the more noticeable impacts are often experienced if oil gets to the coastal waters. Oil spills impacting coastal waters near major bird colonies during the reproduction period can be particularly severe since birds are feeding intensively and often dive through the surface oil to feed on fish. Birds are affected by oil pollution in the following three key ways. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Stains of oil on the plumage may destroy the insulating and water repelling properties which may ultimately cause the death of the bird. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Toxic effects after the ingestion of oil during preening, ingestion of oiled prey, inhalation of oil fumes or absorption of oil through skin or eggs. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Indirect effects resulting from destruction of bird habitats or food resources. Coastal bird species and habitats in Ghana are regarded as highly sensitive to potential impacts resulting from an oil spill that reaches the coastline. Marine Mammals Ghanas offshore areas are known to support significant marine mammal populations such as certain protected and sensitive species. Examples being the humpback, fin whales and Atlantic spotted dolphins. While the periodic distribution of these species is not well understood it is likely that during the months of September and October a variety of species of whale and dolphin s pass through these areas. Marine mammals are usually less sensitive to oil spills than seabirds as they will tend to identify the position around a surface oil slick and avoid any breaching or feeding behaviours that may bring them into immediate contact with oil. However, marine mammals are still delicate to results from oil spills, and in particular from the hydrocarbons and chemicals that escape from the oil, particularly in the first few days following a spill. Although it is likely that certain species of marine mammals happen to be in the area offshore Ghana, they are regarded as less sensitive (compared to turtles and birds) to any impacts resulting from an oil spill as they will usually avoid the affected area. CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY Magnitude of Impacts This is the degree of change brought about in the environment. An attempt is made to quantify the magnitude of impacts to the natural and social environment. The magnitude of impacts covers all areas of the environment and is discussed as follows: The nature of the change in the environment including what resources or receptors have been affected and how; The spatial extent to which the area has been impacted and what proportion of the population or community has been affected; The temporal extent such as duration, frequency and reversibility of impacts; The probability of impacts occurring as a result of accidental or unplanned events. Table : Magnitude Definitions Impact Magnitude Spatial Scale Temporal scale An assessment of the magnitude of impacts is provided that takes into consideration all dimensions of the impact described above to determine whether an impact is low, medium or high magnitude. Sensitivity of Resources and Receptors The significance of an impact of given magnitude depends on the sensitivity of resources and receptors to that impact. For ecological impacts, sensitivity can be assigned as low, medium or high based on the importance of habitats and species. For habitats, these are based on naturalness, extent, rarity, fragility, diversity and importance as a community resource. Table : Species Value/ Sensitivity Criteria Value / Sensitivity High Criteria Not protected or listed and common / abundant; or not critical to other ecosystem functions. Not protected or listed. A species that is common globally but rare in Ghana; important to ecosystem functions; or under threat or population decline. Specifically protected under Ghanaian legislation and/or international conventions. Listed as rare, threatened or endangered. The magnitudes of impact and the sensitivities are looked at in combination. This is to evaluate whether an impact is, or is not significant and if so its degree of significance defined as either Minor, Moderate or major. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ short-term disturbance directly to the seabed (eg from sediment suspension), with secondary impacts on the benthic and demersal community, during installation of subsea infrastructure; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ permanent habitat and associated species loss or damage from coverage of areas of seabed by moorings, well manifolds, well heads, riser bases, flowlines and umbilicals; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ permanent changes to the habitat arising from the physical presence of subsea infrastructure (eg sediment disturbance and reef effects from marine organisms growing on subsea infrastructure). Minor Impacts Impacts from flaring on Birds. Many birds chose to migrate at night to take advantage of the more stable weather conditions which benefit migration, and for some species to avoid daytime predators. Artificial lighting, however, may affect nocturnal movement of birds. Previous research has found that migrating birds (especially songbirds, waders and ducks) may circle around offshore lit structures including offshore platforms. The effects are reported to be pronounced during periods of low cloud and fog, when there is poor visibility. Erickson et al. (2001) suggested that lighting was a critical attractant, leading to collision of birds with tall structures, and recent research appears to support the role of lighting. Ongoing research in the Dutch sector of the North Sea for NAM (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij) suggests that the red end of the spectrum components of conventional platform lighting affect birds, and that the use of green spectra could significantly reduce the effects on the populations of those species most at risk (Bruinzeel 2009). Birds which are drawn to lit platforms often circle around for prolonged periods resulting in fatigue. They sometimes land on the platforms, or collide with the structures, and if there is little food or water for them on the platform, this can result in their death. There are Important Bird Areas (IBAs) along the coastline of Ghana and the Ivory Coast which support migratory bird species known to use the East Atlantic Flyway. Such species occur along the west coast of Africa, including red knot (Calidris canutus) and sanderling (Calidris alba). (Boere and Stroud 2006). Detailed information about African bird migration routes is less well understood and is the subject of ongoing research (Birdlife 2009). Whilst there is a risk of migrating birds encountering the platform, many of the effects described above are based on research undertaken in the North Sea, and similar weather conditions in the location of the Jubil ee field are not expected. Research in the North Sea also found that in more stable conditions when skies were clear and there was little cloud, few birds responded to lights (NAM 2007). It is also likely that some of the bird species which are migrating through this area will do so during the daytime, and hence should be less affected by lighting. The Jubilee joint venture partners have had drill rigs deployed in the area for over 2 years and have not reported unusual bird attraction or congregation. The risk of impacts on birds from flaring is considered to be low and not significant. As part of the routine reporting from the FPSO the presence of significant bird landings during the year and/or records of any bird deaths will be recorded to inform any future mitigation strategies. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Impacts from flaring on Turtles. There is the potential that turtles will be attracted to the platform at night where hatchlings could be subject to increased predation by birds and fish that also are attracted to these structures. The risk of any impacts on turtles and turtle hatchlings from lights is considered to be low and not significant. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The impacts to marine mammals and turtles from vessel collision and marine debris. Collisions have been known to occur worldwide and also in West Africa (Fà ©lix and Van Waerebeek, 2005; Van Waerebeek et al., 2007) and increased marine vessel traffic between the Jubilee field and Takoradi port will increase the risk of collisions. The increased risk of collision is considered to be low however given the relatively low volume of project related traffic and the speed that they move at (typically moving at less than 12 knots). Marine mammals and marine turtles are most sensitive in areas with fast moving vessels which frequently change direction and are more able to avoid the large, relatively slow moving support vessels associated with the project. Disposal of solid waste to sea will not occur from the FPSO, MODUs or support vessels, with the exception of treated kitchen waste and treated sewerage, which will be macerated. Discharges during the previously permitted wel l drilling operations, including drill cuttings discharges, are addressed in Annex B. The risks to marine mammals and marine turtles from vessels collisions and damage from marine debris associated with the project are considered to be small and are assessed as not significant. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Impacts from noise. Activities in the Jubilee field will be located approximately 60 km offshore, away from any sensitive noise receptors. Onshore noise at the port in Takoradi from the project is assessed as not significant as activities will be within an existing busy port. Noise on the FPSO will be controlled for occupational exposure reasons so that workers in open areas will not require to wear hearing protection (the WHO standard is 85 dB without hearing protection). A 85 dB noise source (measured at 10 m from source) will have attenuated to 45 dB at 1,000 m. Fishermen and other marine users not associated with the project will be outside the 1,000 m exclusion zone centred on the turret and therefore at least 500 m from the FPSO. The risk of noise exposure above the 85 dB standard is therefore extremely unlikely. Noise from helicopter flights to and from the Air Force base at Takoradi and the Jubilee field has the potential to cause disturbance. Careful flight p lanning to avoid sensitive areas will avoid significant impacts. This includes a minimum flight height of 2,300 feet (710 m) above the Amansuri Wetland IBA to avoid disturbance to wildlife. 3.2 Impacts from physical structures 3.2.1 Impacts from flaring on Birds. Many birds chose to migrate at night to take advantage of the more stable weather conditions which benefit migration, and for some species to avoid daytime predators. Artificial lighting, however, may affect nocturnal movement of birds. Previous research has found that migrating birds (especially songbirds, waders and ducks) may circle around offshore lit structures including offshore platforms. The effects are reported to be pronounced during periods of low cloud and fog, when there is poor visibility. Erickson et al. (2001) suggested that lighting was a critical attractant, leading to collision of birds with tall structures, and recent research appears to support the role of lighting. Ongoing research in the Dutch sector of the North Sea for NAM (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij) suggests that the red end of the spectrum components of conventional platform lighting affect birds, and that the use of green spectra could significantly reduce the effects on the populations of those sp ecies most at risk (Bruinzeel 2009). Birds which are drawn to lit platforms often circle around for prolonged periods resulting in fatigue. They sometimes land on the platforms, or collide with the structures, and if there is little food or water for them on the platform, this can result in their death. There are Important Bird Areas (IBAs) along the coastline of Ghana and the Ivory Coast which support migratory bird species known to use the East Atlantic Flyway. Such species occur along the west coast of Africa, including red knot (Calidris canutus) and sanderling (Calidris alba). (Boe

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Gibbs reflective cycle

Gibbs reflective cycle Gibbs’ reflective cycle has 6 stages. They are usually given the following headings: 1. Description 2. Feelings 3. Evaluation 4. Analysis 5. Conclusion 6. Action Plan As part of my Overseas Nurse program, I am required to make a reflective essay. This essay is based on my experience in clinical placement in the Operating Theatre. The aim of this essay is to discuss my learnings about the importance of team briefing, principles of asepsis, and Surgical Handscrubbing, as well as experiences throughout my placement. I have come to select the Gibbs reflective framework for this for I feel that through this framework I can better express in a systematic manner the describe the incidents, feelings, and how I was able learn. Learning Outcome 1: Team Brief and WHO Surgical Safety Checklist In June 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) implemented a second Global Patient Safety Challenge, ‘Safe Surgery Saves Lives’, to reduce the incidence of surgical deaths across the entire world. The initiative was developed to strengthen and improve the commitment of clinical staff to address safety issues within the surgical setting. This included improving anaesthetic safety practices, ensuring correct site surgery, avoiding surgical site infections and improving communication and teamwork within the team. The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist is a core set of safety checks, identified for improving performance at safety critical time points within the patient’s intraoperative care pathway. It is for use in any operating theatre environment, including interventional radiology with the expectation that it can be adapted to fit local practice. The three steps in the checklist (sign in, time out, sign out) are not intended as a tick box exercise, but as a tool to initiate meaningful and purposeful conversation between relevant members of the clinical team to improve the safety of surgery. According to the National Patient Safety Agency, NHS, there are five steps to safer surgeries. Namely Briefing, Sign in, Time out, Sign out and Debriefing. During my placement, I was assigned to circulate in theatre two. One of the five running theatres that our hospital has. The there was only one case. Patient Keiser (not the real name). 63 year old male consented for a Primary Total Knee replacement under general anesthesia using a Zimmer â€Å"NexGen† Knee system. I was nervous because it was a major case and I needed to be quick with my actions and be focused. I did my reading a day before so I had an idea of about the sequence of the operation. Before the patient was escorted to the theatre, the surgical team together with the anesthesia team had a team brief. In the briefing the patient details, laterality of site were confirmed as well as medication allergies, number of staff and availability of implants were all discussed. Everything went smoothly. The patient was then escorted to the anesthetic room and additional checks, verifications, and the sign in was done in the anesthetic room. The patient claimed that he had a nickel allergy and that he would get mild rashes when in contact with the metal property. The ODP (Operating Department Personnel) the person who is responsible for assisting the anesthetist and initiating the WHO Checklist was fully aware of this metal allergy as it was also reflected in the care plan and preassessment. The incident happened when the ODP and anesthetist failed to inform the scrub team about the specific allergy because they thought a nickel allergy had no significance. They were only conc erned with medication allergies. So they continued and put the patient to sleep with propofol and other anesthetic agents. The patient was then brought in the theatre with use of the trolley and placed safely on the Operating table. The scrub team on the other hand was almost done preparing the field and assembling equipment needed for the operation. When everything was ready. Being the circulating nurse, I then continued the WHO checklist and initiated the Time-out. The consent, patient verification and allergies were then reviewed but this time the ODP informed the team about the nickel allergy. The surgeon went ballistic! And ordered that the patient be woken up. There was a heated discussion between the surgeon and anesthetist and it they eventually had to wake the patient up. It was then explained to us by the surgeon that the System and implants to be used during the operation had a very small percentage of nickel present in its components which could cause a reaction if used to the patient. He was angry because it was the second time it happened to him and he did not want to go through all the paper works again. The patient was brought to recovery and woke up in a few minutes. The surgeon then explained the incident and unfortunately the operation was cancelled. The opened sterile instruments, supplies, and consumables were all put to waste. As I analyzed what happened, the mistake clearly rooted back to the team brief. There were vital information that the anesthetic team knew about the patient that was not shared to the scrub team because they did not see it as important. I personally think every allergy, be it medication, metal or objects should be taken into consideration. It was a major case and the team had to know everything relevant. I realized how important the team brief was. Often I would observe other teams not taking the team brief seriously. They would just breeze through it as if was just some unimportant routinely work. After the incident I learned a lot and the view I had on the team briefing and the importance of the WHO checklist drastically changed. It is a very important tool in ensuring a safe, effective and successful operation. I now plan to practice a thorough team brief as well as executing a proper WHO checklist. You never know, missing out on one important fact could mean a life of a patient. Learning Outcome 2: Principle of asepsis: Asepsis can be defined as the absence of pathogenic microorganisms that cause disease. It then can also be referred to as clean technique (Phillips, 2013). However, elimination of infection is the goal of asepsis, not sterility. (Ayliffe et al. 2000) suggest that there are two types of asepsis: medical and surgical asepsis. Medical or clean asepsis reduces the number of organisms and prevents their spread; surgical or sterile asepsis includes procedures to eliminatemicro-organismsfrom an area and is practised byhealth care workersand nurses in operating theaters and treatment areas. There are several principles of surgical asepsis. Although all are equally important, I have come to be more cautious and alert of specific principles more often than others. One principle I have chosen to share with is a principle stating that People who are sterile touches only sterile items or areas. (reference) It may seem as a very simple principle to follow but it could be at times difficult to imbed in our system. May it be a scrub role or circulating role this is one of the key things one should always keep in mind. I had one incident during placement relating to this. It happened during an early shift of a busy Friday. There were 52 operations to be done that morning. Everyone was on the go. For some time now I have been with an orthopedic team but this time I was assigned with my mentor to assist a list of over 6 cataract extractions with ocular lens implantation. She was to scrub and I was to assist with the circulating role. Coming into this list I had not assisted a cataract extraction in the last 4 years. My knowledge was very minimal although I knew the purpose and roughly the length of time needed to finish the procedure in general but I did not know much about the fine instruments needed, supplies and set up of the Centurion Vision. Everything was new to me and I felt much pressured to deliver and I was uncomfortable knowing I could make mistakes. As the operation began my mentor scrubbed in and she was too busy to guide me thoroughly at the moment. The surgeon and scrub started asking me to position the machine according to the surgeon’s preference. I was reprimanded for being slow and hesitant since the surgeon was ready to start. After finally connecting the plugs, foot pedals as well positioning the Centurion Machine above the patients head, the surgeon placed sterile plastic covers over each of the handles of the machine. These sterile plastic handles where used as a sterile field so that the surgeon can hold the machine. Like the principle states, only sterile people should touch sterile things and the other way around for unsterile. Already being reprimanded I was nervous that I would make another mistake and unfortunately I did. The surgeon wanted me to reposition the machine yet again to his preference but this time I unconsciously forgot my principles and touched the sterile handle and I compromised the sterility of the field. The surgeon requested for another sterile handle and the case was delayed. I felt very bad knowing that I knew the principle but still it just slipped my mind and I committed an error which compromised the operation someway. After the incident I knew what I needed to do and how to position the machine efficiently and quickly. I already knew the preferred position and supplies needed. I just needed to be more focused, less anxious and hesitant and be more confident this way I would not make mistakes of that degree. The first case finished and I was able to effectively circulate on the remaining cases with carefulness, confidence, focus and efficiency. Learning outcome 3: Surgical Hand scrubbing Microorganisms transfer from the hands of health care providers to patients; this is an Important factor with regard to health-care associated infections (i.e. nosocomial). Skin is a major source of microbial contamination in the surgical environment. Although the scrubbed members of the surgical team are wearing surgical gloves and gowns, their hands and forearms are to be cleaned preoperatively to significantly reduce the number of microorganisms (AORN 2006) According to the WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care, Surgical hand scrubbing is the surgical hand preparation with antimicrobial soap and water performed preoperatively by the surgical team to eliminate transient flora and reduce resident skin flora (2009, World Health Organization). There are two methods of scrub procedure. One is a numbered stroke method, in which a certain number of brush strokes are designated for each finger, palm, back of hand, and arm. The alternative method is the timed scrub, and each scrub should last from three to five minutes, depending on facility protocol (Deborah Gardener 2011). In the operating theatres there are three most probable routes of infection transmission between successive/sequential surgical patients are via the air, from instruments, or from environmental surfaces. Journal of Hospital Infection (2002) I have always felt and understood the importance of keeping our hands clean even since I was a little boy. This was a practice taught to me by my parents. As I studied nursing in my country I got to know more about it and how it was properly practised in the wards and theatre settings. During my placement I would always observe my mentor thoroughly before gowning and gloving. I knew the importance of this. She would use repetitive strokes on the hands and arms to further remove any microorganisms. She would be very meticulous and patient while stroking her hands and arms with soap and an antimicrobial agent but as Ive observed, along with most of the scrub nurses, together with my mentor did not use brushes when doing surgical hand scrubbing despite brushes being available just at the side of the scrubbing area. This made a big question mark in my head and I was really confused. I wanted to know why they didn’t bother to use the brushes. So I decided to research about it. There was a study that compared surgical hand scubbing with and without the use of brushes. Two groups were involved during this study. One group to scrub without a brush and another group to scrub with brushes. According to Life Science Journal 2014, the result showed that the group which used brushes had slightly higher bacterial counts, this could mean that brushes traumatize the skin creating an environment where bacteria thrived. Whereas using no scrub brush resulted in no skin damage and significantly lower bacterial count. (AORN journal, 2004. 79: p. 225-30). Based on this research, I was amazed on how the United Kingdom healthcare setting applied evidence based practice. I applied this research findings to how I scrub. I learned more about because of research and from that moment on I have been scrubbing without using a brush. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the second to third most common site of health care associated infections. When providing health services, it is es sential to prevent the transmission of infections at all times. (Engender Health 2001). I applied this research findings to how I scrub. I learned more about because of research and from that moment on I have been scrubbing without using a surgical brush.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Essay --

Drew Foster Foster 1 Mrs. Bueno Honors English 14 December 2013 Darrin M. Mcmahon the author of the article, â€Å"In Pursuit of Unhappiness†, was born in 1963. Darrin broke out of the order of saying â€Å"Happy New Year!† and realized they are only expected words that are said without any meaning behind them. Even around the holidays where people are expected to be happy, they think the words â€Å"Happy New Year!† are just words that are supposed to be said. If you think about the words â€Å"Happy New Year†, year does not only mean one day, so the words are meant to wish a whole year of happiness. But instead, people just reserve their happiness only for the holidays. John Stuart Mill, Carlyle's long-time rival who are both philosophers makes a valid statement about those who have their focus set on something other than happiness are only happy. For example, setting your goal on being happy is risking being happy, because when you don't achieve it you lose even more happiness. Thomas Carlyle and John Stuart Mill both have similar concepts on happiness. Carlyle, who is a Scottish Philosopher, notices the wrong idea of religion before 17th century. Many disregarded the ideas of religion that put misery into their lives, but some people recognized God's care very satisfying. Earthly satisfaction, McMahon states, was an attempt to bring heavenly felicity down to the earth. This religious change was to replace the feeling of misery with happiness. John Stuart Mill, who is an English philosopher, explains another way of achieving happiness based off of his personal experience. After suffering from a d... ...for such books is a strong indication that they aren’t working.† Setting your goal and being determined or even being desperate to find happiness is dangerous and is risking your happiness. If and when you do not achieve happiness, you lose all of it and even become unhappy. Focus your mind on something other than your own happiness and you will achieve true happiness. Darrin M. McMahon says to â€Å"...Have dinner with your family or walk in the park with friends...put in some good hours t the office or at your favorite charity, temple or church. Work on your jump shot or your child’s model trains. With luck, you’ll find happiness by the by.† So instead of saying â€Å"Happy New Year†, Darrin M. McMahon says â€Å"‘Don’t have a happy new year!’†, because â€Å"Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness† says John Stuart Mill.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

The 1920’s: a time of autonomy and responsibility Essay -- Essays Pape

The 1920’s: a time of autonomy and responsibility The twentieth century is coming to a close and it has been a time of sorrow, innovation, and progress. The decades have come and gone and with events like the civil rights movement, the world wars, and the roaring twenties this century will be one that is definitely remembered. All of these events questioned peoples values, especially the values of autonomy and responsibility. The event that is to be looked at on this page is the roaring twenties and how the governments and citizens actions reflected these values in both positive and negative ways. The areas of socialness, literature, The Mafia, prohibition, the government, and the economy are all areas that will be focused on to demonstrate these positive and negative reflections. The group members individually looked at these areas and put together information on the actions of the people in these areas and if they were autonomous, responsible, or both. The first area that will be discussed on this page is the social aspects of the 1920’s. Jen Manno specifically chose the areas of music, theater, youth, and the flappers for her concentration. The social aspects of the 1920’s strongly support autonomy and the ability to make your own decisions. The youth were governed by themselves and the "in" thing was to be independent and expressing your own personal attitudes. In the social realm, no one cared about being responsible, all they wanted to do was have fun and do whatever they had to do in order to achieve that. The second area that will be displayed on this page is the literature of the twenties. Liz Sobieski will reflect on George S. Schuler and his play "The Yellow Peril," "The Great Gatsby,"... ... this behavior and questions. If there ever was a conflict between autonomy and responsibility, it came during Prohibition. The whole idea of this period was the illegal shipping, buying, and drinking of alcohol, which reflects many's definition of responsibility and right and wrong. Theodore Roosevelt brought about the Square Deal and fought for what he thought was right therefore, displaying his ability to act responsible. The final topic that we discussed was the economy of the twenties and many invested in the stock market. Many thought that buying stock was there responsibility and the right thing to do however, peoples overconfidence in the reliability of the stock market caused many to lose many material things. The activities of the Twenties are full of right and wrong and through the explanation of the writers of this page that is brought out and proved.

Nutrition for Lean Muscle :: Health Nutrition Pyramid Diet

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As important as it is to exercise, it may be even more important to watch what you eat. It is not so much of what you eat, but how much you eat, when you eat, and how often you eat. If you eat low in calorie snacks between meals, you will not be as hungry during normal meals, causing you to eat less then you would have without the snacks.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eating five or six smaller meals a day, rather than three large meals, is said to increase your metabolism. An increase in metabolism should help you burn calories when you are exercising. A small meal may be a bowl of whole-wheat cereal with one percent milk for breakfast. For a mid morning meal, you could have a cup of cottage cheese. Your whole day continues like this, with small, yet healthy meals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The problem with low protein, low calorie, low fat, low anything diets is that when you are working out, or even performing everyday activities, your body does not have anything to get energy from in order to burn off fat. Foods that are high in protein or calories give your body energy, which is important if you are trying to increase your metabolism. Smoking and drinking don’t help if you are trying to lose weight because they make your body hungry, one because you are not aware of how much you are eating, or two because your blood pressure and pulse increase, and they too need nutrition to keep them down.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If you are careful about what you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat, your muscles should become healthy and lean. It is also important to note that skipping meals does not help you loose weight, but gain weight, because when your body does get food it stores it as fat because it does not know when you ate going to eat again.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Commentary on ‘Testing the Reality’ Essay

This short but powerfully descriptive poem tells the story of a young man who comes to discover just how fragile the boundary between life and death really is. Written in the form of a dramatic lyric, the poem highlights the moment of revelation and reflection as the man realizes his mother hadn’t died; instead she had moved on to another place. The themes of death and abandonment are clearly depicted by the poet through the use of tone, setting, rhythm, symbolism, hyperbole, alliteration and time. Through all these methods, the poet builds a sense of sorrow and feeling of utter reliance the narrator has upon his mother. It emphasizes the man’s lifelong journey, from a young child learning to count to a fully grown man mourning the death of his 70-year-old mother. As he grows in body and matures in mind, he fills his head with knowledge and pushes at the boundaries of his world, â€Å"testing† it. The name ‘Testing the Reality’ arises because the son has to face the reality of life, and the deaths that occur in life. The poem takes place in a church, in a funeral set-up, with flocking birds in the sky. We understand this because of the phrase â€Å"so crammed church roof and belfry.† I can comprehend that it is a funeral because the poet relates the hibernation of the birds to a 70 year old woman. The writer also illustrates a picture of a myriad of birds as he writes â€Å"There must have been 10,000 there or more.† Even though he feels immense loneliness and sadness after the passing on of his mother, he is not yet ready to follow her, and must remain in â€Å"reality,† hence he is â€Å"the last soul still unhatched†. The poem begins in the first person as the poet describes his experiences as a boy. We learn that his mother taught him to â€Å"count to a ragged 20 but no higher†. When he was still a boy, the sheer number of birds perching on the belfry exceeded his counting abilities, â€Å"cramming church roof and belfry, cross and spire†. At this later stage in his life, however, it is not due to his counting skills that he cannot count but due to the sheer immeasurable quantity and their uncontrollable, free nature, unable to be caged or catalogued. Their numbers were so great that â€Å"their final taking off blacked Beeston’s sky†. These birds feature throughout the poem, creating a sense of activity and movement and dramatic symbolism. Here, the black sky symbolises the unfortunate and sad mood. While the â€Å"flocking birds† represent what the man is looking at and his memories of them as a boy, they also have a metaphorical meaning, symbolizing the life and death of his mother. The crossroad of reality and imagery appears in line six with the following alliteration: â€Å"picketed piercingly the passing of each day†. The power of the repeated ‘P’ sound reflects the sound of the birds’ cries. In the poet’s mind, each bird also represents a single day in the life of his mother. In fact, as the second stanza progresses, the birds only exist to measure the accumulated days in the life of the man’s mother. Her attraction towards the birds is completed when they suddenly depart, taking her life with them. The shock of the mother’s death is so deep that the first person used throughout the first two stanzas is obliterated and transformed into the third person in the last stanza, the man suddenly being referred to as â€Å"her son†. The third stanza also dramatizes the metaphorical blend of his mother and the birds. Death becomes the â€Å"wings of night†, her life becomes â€Å"the flocking days†. Her departure from the earth is an effusion, a release, of all her physical experiences which are â€Å"soaring† away. So significant was she to her son that her departing life â€Å"blocked the light†. In the final line the son becomes an unhatched egg/soul left behind â€Å"in the clutch† or the nest. Having come to associate the birds with his mother, his memories of her are immediately summoned whenever he sees them. She may be dead but she lives on in his memories of the birds. At first they â€Å"shrilly hailed the first new light they saw,† greeting the new day in what initially seems to be an irritating way because they are portrayed as having loud, high-pitched cries that are not particularly pleasant to the ears. However, after his mother dies, and they leave too, he comes to see them in a different light, after they â€Å"soared away.† His opinion of them has now changed and he sees them as graceful and elegant creatures. This imagery also successfully implies life after death, and the setting of the poem becomes important when looked at in this light. A church is a place of peaceful meditation, praying and holiness, a place where the boundaries between the physical and the spiritual, the barriers between life and death, merge. For these reasons it becomes the nest that hatches souls into the heavens. Even though the birds, and the man’s mother with them, fly â€Å"beyond all sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch† they do not fly beyond love or memories, instead leaving a path for the man to follow when it is his turn to be â€Å"hatched†. The lesson the mother taught her son began with counting, but ended with a realization of life after death and the possibility of living, in spirit, for infinity.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Brief Summary

In Bernhard analysis, she starts off her essay strong by stating how important Frederick Douglass speech was. In her first paragraph, Bernhard shows readers that Frederick Douglass was credible by stating how he himself was part of the slave trade. Bernhard thesis in her first paragraph that drives the rest of her essay is how she states that, â€Å"Frederick was a huge part of the abolitionist movement,† and that, â€Å"Frederick wanted to show his aversion to slavery and his passionate dedication to see it end. As Bernhard continues with her analysis, she states how Frederick not only talks o abolitionist alike, but to proud Americans. As she continues with her analysis, Bernhard always refers back to her thesis in her first paragraph. She states facts on how Frederick became such a huge part of the abolitionist movement. She shows readers how Frederick had the skill to gain the audiences sympathy and how he made his speeches more important to listeners.In Bernhard fourth p aragraph, she refers back to her thesis on how Frederick wanted to show his aversion to slavery and his passion to see it end. In this paragraph, she continues to show how Frederick appealed to his audience's sense and ride by comparing Americans history of revolt against repression and wrongdoing to slavery.In conclusion, Bernhard whole analysis was to show how Frederick was Important to abolitionist movement; and to show how Frederick wanted to show his aversion to slavery and his passionate dedication to see It end. She backed up her thesis many times In her body paragraphs by showing how Frederick, showed his readers how corrupt American culture really Is. Then Bernhard ends her analysis by showing readers how Fredrick's effort Is now slowly Impacting the movement and caused many to reconsider the state and direction

Thursday, August 15, 2019

The Spaces and Practice of Early Christian Assembly

The most public of spiritual assemblages in the Roman Empire were big jubilations and festivals held in the public temples.† Worshippers believed that propinquity to the Godhead within a temple that is, the comparative distance between oneself and the image or venerated artefact of the Godhead housed within the edifice imbued the person with power† ( Halgren, 1957 ) , the closer 1 could near the God, they believed, the stronger and more auspicious the connection. , accessing infinite nearest the manifestation of the God was restricted to merely a few persons, priests who had been decently educated and initiated in the significances and patterns are allowed by tradition in such a holy topographic point, Access to the temple was besides decreed by tradition and closely regulated by jurisprudence. â€Å"The longitudinal axis of the Judaic temple, for case, ran through a series of dividers and other limits that designated infinites reserved for specific groups—at the outer border of the infinite, Gentiles were allowed ; so, closer in, Judaic adult females and kids ; closer still, Judaic work forces ; and eventually, the priests† ( Richardson, 2002 ) . Religious pattern at this period was non restricted to temples, nevertheless. Smaller meetings frequently took topographic point in sanctuaries and chapels, every bit good as in rented suites. For illustration, at the same clip that the followings of Jesus began coming together, the believers of the God Mithras were besides increasing in figure and by the 3rd century were run intoing takes topographic point in little sanctuaries called mithraeums, suites designed to presume a cave or the underworld. In these irregular infinites, benches lined the two long walls and a little shrine or communion table was arranged at the terminal of the room. â€Å"The ceilings were normally vaulted and decorated with stars to stand for the celestial spheres, In this confidant scene, initiated believers enter the same infinite as the shrine and participated in communalWorship† ( white, 1990 ) . Similarly, by the 2nd century, Jews had an arranged temples and supplication halls in once private houses converted for the intent. One crude illustration, at Delos, had been created through the devastation of a wall that exist two next suites, ensuing in a individual big room. Benches linedthe walls of this assembly room, and a carven marble chair busying one wall provided a focal point. â€Å"No Torah shrine was found in this room, although Torah niches have been found in other early temples, including that at Priene, where another house renovated sometime in the 2nd century was found† ( White,1990:49 ) . Within these infinites, worship patterns were diverse, dwelling of a diverseness of supplications and Holy Eucharists. As members of the Roman Empire began to follow the Jesus spiritual group, they adapted these familiar patterns and infinites for their new intents, inculcating them with new significances. â€Å"The held meetings of the followings of Christ in the first few coevalss after his decease were of three major types, all versions of the patterns of other spiritual groups, peculiarly those of the Jews, for so the followings were Judaic, every bit good as other Roman and Greek faiths. Most of these meetings Involved a shared repast, existent or symbolic, for in the Greco-Roman universe, widening cordial reception by sharing a repast was a cardinal signifier of societal interactThese communal repasts brought Christians together to larn about their religion, to idolize, and to portion experiences, but they besides functioned to make coherence within the new community of Christians† . ( Jeanne, 2008:16 ) , Harmonizing to L. Michael White points out that, communal repasts formed ‘‘the centre of family ( koinonia ) ’’ by bespeaking that a societal relationship existed among those gathered and therefore ‘‘served to specify the worshipping community, the church ( ekklesia ) in family assembly.’’ ( White, 1990 ) . Among these meeting types, the agape repast, or love banquet, was most of import, and although it drew upon Greco-Roman pattern in many ways, it subtitute the imbibing and carousing that traditionally followed Roman banquets with instruction and worship. Those who gathered at a Christian repast would convey some nutrient point with them as an offering for the repast normally bread, wine, or angle merely as many people do today in what is normally known as the potluck supper. Harmonizing to Osiek et EL Balch, eating excessively rapidly upon reaching, nevertheless, would ensue in deficient nutrient for those who arrived subsequently, and therefore Paul adviced the Corinthians that ‘‘when you come together to eat, delay for one another, ’’ promoting those who could non wait to eat to make so at place before they came ( 1 Cor. 11:33–34 ) . Such advice, which counters common Roman pattern, indicates that the emerging Christian pattern was still comparatively flexible and informal, with new etiquette or regulations easy being introduced into the meetings.â€Å"After the repast, those gathered would portion a ceremonial breakage and feeding of staff of life, followed by a approval and sharing of a cup of vino, marking Jesus’ pronouncement for his recollection at the Last Supper† . ( Macy, 2005 ) After this, they would prosecute in a assortment of larning and worship activities, which, harmonizing to historiographer s Carolyn Osiek and David L. Balch, included ‘‘singing, instruction, and prophesying† . The 3rd type of assemblage was the Eucharistic meeting, wer they shared Meal, this was transformed into a symbolic rite focused entirely on staff of life and vino as figure of speechs for the flesh and blood of Christ. The development of the agape and funerary repasts, thath did include a sharing of staff of life and vino in recollection of Christ, most have preceded the outgrowth of Eucharistic patterns, merely when and how the strictly Eucharistic assemblage emerged is ill-defined. Like the agape repasts, these Eucharist repasts took topographic point in private places, but over the 2nd and 3rd centuries important alterations in services indicate they were going progressively formalized both in leading and in activities. â€Å"Justin, in the 2nd century, refers to the individual taking the service as the presider or the president, but by the 3rd century, the organisational Structures of the Christian motion developed into an episcopos, a Grecian term intending ‘‘overseer’’ or, in modern idiom, a bishop ; the term priest besides became popular. The service itself was altering every bit good, described by Justin and his modern-day Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch, as symbo lic or representational, a jubilation of Christ’s forfeit of his ain flesh and blood.† ( Macy, 2005 ) By the 3rd century, the turning popularity of these representational services would necessitate a particular infinite that would suit them, taking to the creative activity of formal assembly suites. ( Mercer, 1985 ) â€Å"The 4th type of early Christian meeting took topographic point out of doors, such as the meeting of the followings of Jesus on the Mount of Olives shortly after his decease, a narrative related in The Letter of Peter to Philip, which was found among other Gnostic texts at Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt.† ( Elaine Pagels, 1989 ) Little is known, nevertheless, about such out-of-door meetings, in portion because they seem to hold been used largely by Gnostic groups, whose beliefs and patterns challenged those of the emerging orthodoxy and were accordingly stricken from Orthodox civilization and paperss. Outdoor worship therefore became associated with dissident groups and fell out of favour. What must be kept in head, nevertheless, is that despite the differences among these early types of worship, early Christian worship infinites and patterns were extremely diverse. â€Å"No individual, original, pure Christian pattern of all time existed.† ( Bradshaw, 1992:30 ) From the earliest period, Christian groups expressed their thoughts about Jesus and God in different ways, and those thoughts, runing from the eventual orthodoxy of the major episcopates in Rome, Antioch, and Carthage to the Gnostic positions of the Marcionites, Donatists, and Montanists, were extremely diverse. Early Christians expressed their spiritual thoughts through a assortment of spiritual patterns ways, merely as modern-day Christians do.2.1.2The infinites and Practice of Early Christian assemblyMost Biblical bookmans, archeologists and classicists, agree that the meeting of Christians, like those of other spiritual groups, by and large occur topographic point in the places of frequenters, that i s, in Greco-Roman houses. The phrase ‘‘meeting from house to house, ’’ found repeatedly in the Gospel texts, good characterized thepractice of early Christians. The physical worlds of those infinites, and the places in peculiar, along with the cultural imposts of the period, strongly influenced emerging Christian pattern. To understand how, it helps to hold some cognition of the physical features of those places Architectural and textual grounds of Greco-Roman houses in the first and 2nd centuries point out that several assortments existed. Give the long, hot summers of the Mediterranean part, the houses of the wealthiest place proprietors were used as worship infinites ; opening into a series of suites arranged around an oasis-like unfastened infinite that brought air and visible radiation into the house. â€Å"Entry into the house was gained through a anteroom or hallway. Within a Grecian house, this led to a room in which the family frequenter conducted concern, and beyond this was the bosom of the house: the courtyard, which was roofless but lined by columns that supported an overhead fretwork that would be covered with flora to protect the residents from the Sun. In a Roman or Latin house, the anteroom off the street by and large led right into an atrium, or unfastened courtyard, which would be unfastened to the sky and incorporate an impluvium ; a shallow pool that gathered rainwater ( fig. 2.1 ) .† ( Osiek et el Balch, 1997:6 ) the private infinites of the place surrounds the courtyard and several closed suites reserved for the members of the family. â€Å"The cardinal parts of antediluvian houses—the anterooms, atria, were considered much more public in character. Such houses, peculiarly those in which the concern of the wealthy was routinely carried out, welcomed the entry of people from the street.† ( Halgren,1957:19 ) .