Solar Energy Incentives - 999 Words

Subject: Financial Incentives to Expand Solar Power Adoption in the United States Recommended Action The lack of a nationwide solar power policy, alongside significant technical hurdles, hinders the progress of renewable energy across the United States of America. Strengthen national policies by introducing financial incentives for research, development, and manufacturing that tackle technical challenges to the growth of renewable energy. Incentives such as tax breaks, low interest rate loans, and grants will allow the renewable energy sector to implement cost-effective solutions and be and competitive against traditional energy sources. Issues The U.S. Department of Energy should implement a federal renewable energy policy of†¦show more content†¦In addition, expanding the solar energy industry will spur job growth. Consumers want to adopt solar energy because its price is less vulnerable than many other energy sources, like petroleum, to global politics. Limited solar energy storage technologies present the main technical challenge of solar. Current battery capacities are inadequate to store captured solar energy. Moreover, seasonal variability in solar radiation and power demand peaks require the provision of adequate storage to make solar power a practical, large-scale energy source. It is also difficult to connect solar energy to the current grids in America. The regulatory challenges involve governing access to the power grid, creating and implementing legal structures for local ownership, and protecting local owners against larger utility companies concerned with their market share. By focusing on grid parity and technical challenges through financial incentives, the United States will increase its usage of and benefits derived from solar energy usage. The financial incentives support both consumers and suppliers to adopt and develop solar energy. If the new solar energy supplies cost the same or less than previous energy because of these incentives - achieving grid parity - then consumers will have fewer reasons not to switch to solar energy. If suppliers can provide theShow MoreRelatedSample Resume : All Energy Solar956 Words   |  4 PagesAll Energy Solar Review Availability - 4 states, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin Contract Length - can t find Payment Options - Loan, 1/4 Online Monitoring: †¢ Production - yes †¢ Usage - yes Mobile App Ratings: †¢ Google Play - na †¢ Apple App Store - na Warranty : yes, but don t give details †¢ Workmanship (roof) - can t find †¢ Manufacturers (panels) - can t find †¢ Inverter - can t find Time in Business - 2009, 7 years BBB - Accredited, A+, http://www.bbb.org/minnesota/business-reviRead MoreNanosolar Is A Developer Of Solar Power Technology Founded1165 Words   |  5 Pages Nanosolar is a developer of  solar power  technology founded in 2002 by Martin Roscheisen and Brian Sager. Nanosolar focuses on thin-film panels as they serve as a cheaper alternative due to the fewer amount of raw material they use, which in turn makes them lighter weight and therefore easier to transport (Nanosolar, 2). Although thin-film panels are cheaper, they are less efficient and this becomes another matter to address in addition to where Nanosolar will go to market. With this, Nanosolar wouldRead MoreEssay on The Negative Effects of Fossil Fuel Usage1417 Words   |  6 Pagesworking today to clean up the environment do help some, but as I see it they are not showing results.   There efforts are a feeble attempt because pollution levels keep rising and they could never keep up.   According to Hayes the former director of the Solar Research Institute under President Jimmy Carter of Earth Island Journal, â€Å"In 1993, President Clinton pledged to reduce US CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000.   Instead, the nation’s CO2 emissions are now projected to rise at least 13 percentRead MoreGroggs Peak Brewing Company Memo Essay1088 Words   |  5 Pages our recent meeting regarding the issue of maximizing energy efficiency has interested me into researching wind turbines and other sustainable practices. As a manager and colleague, I believe it is not in the company’s best interest investing into wind turbines at this time and also due to Carbondale’s low average wind speed. However, I believe there are alternative energy-saving options that could be implemented to lessen Groggs peak energy expenses and specifically reduce the company’s dependenceRead MoreThe Problem Of Solar Energy905 Words   |  4 PagesI. In this world built on the cheapest , easiest conveniences of energy, a majority of us are blind to the other solutions available. It is no question that we are totally dependent on the use of fossil fuels. It’s continual use causes pollution which is getting harder and harder to clean. We are getting past the point of no return and some experts say we were only have 40 or 50 years of fossil fuel left. 40 or 50 years doesn’t sound like a lot of time. With the Earth’s population surpassing 7 billionRead MoreWe All Rely On Some Sort Of Power Source For Our Household1748 Words   |  7 Pagesatmosphere and gradually disrupts nature and pollutes the air. Now imagine a reliable alternative source of energy that can fix this issue. Solar energy is the answer. We cannot reverse the devastating damages caused by fossil fuels, but we can take a step forward in the right direction by switching the power in our homes to a solar panel system. Ask yourself why you have not switched to solar panels yet. It is possibly due to misconceptions such as it being too expensive, uncertainties of its performanceRead MoreIndia s Growth And Popularity Of The Solar Energy1159 Words   |  5 Pagesone of the abundantly available renewable energy resources in Asia Pacific regions, solar energy market is growing at a pace with tremendous potential. The increasing focus on sustainable development along with the motto of reducing carbon and green house gas emissions is primarily acting as an impetus for the adoption of solar energy Over years solar energy has remarkably changed from being an alternative source of energy to a form of mainstream energy source used for power generation in IndiaRead MoreSolar Energy Farm Installation : 1 Essay1481 Words   |  6 PagesContents Solar energy farm installation: 1 Executive summary: 1 Vision and goal: 1 Value proposition: 1 Risk management: 1 Resource use: 2 Socio economic benefits: 2 Policy incentives: 2 Key resources: 3 †¢ Natural resources 3 †¢ Human resources 3 †¢ Network resources 3 Key partners: 3 Cost Structure: 4 Human resources cost 4 Facility cost 4 Production cost 5 Revenue stream: 6 Customer segments: 6 Customer Relationship: 7 Channels: 7 Solar energy farm installation: Executive summary: This part of theRead MoreThe Power Of Solar Energy1640 Words   |  7 PagesPower Use Solar power or what is commonly referred to as solar energy is the energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. This form of energy is the cleanest and most abundant since it is almost everywhere in the world. It is also renewable and hence through modern technological advancement it be harnessed into a wide range of uses such as electricity generation, lighting or indoor use, water heating, machine driving and other commercial as well as industrial applicationsRead MoreSolar Energy Technology And Its Policies1385 Words   |  6 PagesSolar Energy Technology and its Policies Increased energy consumption in the world today is a growing concern. Most of the energy consumption today comes from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels mainly consist of oil, coal, and natural gas as the most commonly used ones. These products are non-renewable sources meaning that one day it will be all used up. But the issues with fossil fuels extend past its eventual finish, the burning of them leads to greenhouse gas emissions and in non-producing countries there

Violence Numbers in the Middle East - 808 Words

While the rest of the world appears to be seeing decreasing levels of violence, it appears the Middle East has yet to experience this same trend. The past couple of decades have seen either a decrease in violence and types of violence that the West has not experienced for a time. This then brings the questions, is the Middle East more violent or is nothing more than Islamophobia. One way to answer this question is to look at the numbers. In Pinkers, The Better Angels of our Nature, he compares the number of interstate conflicts with the number of Islamic conflicts. By this graph, it can be clearly seen that since the 1990s, the number of interstate conflicts has been decreasing, but the number of Islamic conflicts has not. With the use of this data, he shows that the Middle East has not been following the trends of less violence as compared with the rest of the world. However, is this data alone to say that the Middle East is more violent? There are a number of issues need to be lo oked at besides conflict. These include other types of violence. A type of violence that can be quantified is homicide rates. In comparing homicide rates from the Middle East with other areas of the world like Western powers of the United States, Canada, and England an interesting set of date emerge. Data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) from the years 1999-2011 will be used. United States 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rate 5.6 5.5Show MoreRelatedEssay on Will There Be Peace in the Middle East1461 Words   |  6 Pagesin the Middle East? This question weighs heavy on the minds of many individuals and international players. Turmoil and conflict in the Middle East not only affects the people inhabiting this region, but also has global consequences. To answer this question, one must analyze the sources of conflict in the Middle East, historically, currently, and in the future. The limited amount of natural resources in this region has arguably served as the most major source of conflict in the Middle East. OtherRead MoreIsis Is A Terrorist Organization Made Up Of Shi1745 Words   |  7 PagesIsis is a terrorist organization made up of Shi’ite Muslims yearning to create an independent Islamic state in the Middle East. These terrorists go to any extent of violence in hopes of connecting the holy lands throughout Middle Eastern countries. Isis members are fighting for religious purposes hoping t o secure land where the Muslim religion would dominate. Isis brings danger throughout the world with its political history, the military tactics it employs, and its attraction to foreign membersRead MoreWomen And The Middle East Essay1449 Words   |  6 Pagesthat the image of women in the west differ from the east or that is what have been known for years. The image of women in the west is outgoing, free, and equal to men. While in the east, women as published in media, news, etc is dying of poverty, sexual violence, and being overpowered by men. In my research paper, I will state the difference between how Islam views women and how men in middle east view women. Also, explain how men in middle east misunderstand the Islamic view on women and fail toRead MoreThe Arab-Israeli Conflict Essay1092 Words   |  5 Pages The Arab-Israeli conflict has been ongoing for many years and so far a peaceful solution to the violence has not been reached. The peace process aims to find a just, fair and lasting peace solution to the conflict in the Middle East. The USA in particular has been very active in looking for a peace solution. This is because Israel is their ally. There are several million Jews in the USA and many send money to support Israel. Also the Arabs used oil as a very successfulRead MoreViolence, Religion, Or Past Experiences1158 Words   |  5 PagesCulture violence intersect in many different situations both through direct and indirect contact. The two can be observed in multiple settings but I am going to focus on the violence that occurs within Intimate Relationships, particularly between a man and woman, and how women assume the role of the ‘submissive’ partner. I will talk about how different cultural feelings, religions and exposure to intimate partner violence can be an example of culture and violence intersecting by observing the threateningRead MoreThe Sunni Shia Conflict Essay1341 Words   |  6 PagesMuhammad and how Muslims should be governed. This conflict has caused tensions and violence to flare up throughout Islamic history. This conflict has carried into modern times and has becoming a rallying point for Muslim people calling for change with their government and across the Middle Ea stern region. The Sunni Shia conflict is major division within Islam that has and continues to shape Islam and the Middle East. History of the Conflict The Sunni Shia conflict can trace its roots back to 632Read MoreDomestic Violence And Sexual Harassment1645 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Violence is an ever growing problem across the globe. In particular, violence against women is at an all time high. Although many cases of violence against women are reported, it is in statistical data that half of all cases are not reported. Some are not reported because of fears, relationship severances, and other unknown reasons. The main types of abuse on women are domestic and sexual harassment (Nosheen, 2011). Follow this paper carefully while it takes you on an expedition ofRead MoreThe World Without The Islamic State1089 Words   |  5 Pagesthe middle east, especially ISIS. A world without the Islamic state would be great for us and the middle east, but what kind of other consequences would it bring if we were to kill them all off today. Some of the consequences might be more national debt, other enemies could rise underneath us, or there will be a lot more deaths than previous wars. A U.S. ground war against ISIS would be deadly and could increase slavery, it would be co stly, and we would need other countries in the middle east to helpRead MoreHistory Of The Middle East1535 Words   |  7 Pages The United States first became involved with the Middle East during World War II. In the 50 years that followed, tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union tightened over political and economic aspirations in the Middle East. Eventually, most of the countries in the Middle East adopted a new idea of government that was based off of extreme Islamic views. When this happened, the United States’ involvement with the Middle East lessened, but they stayed present as they were a prime sourceRead MoreKurdistan: Kurdish Statelessness653 Words   |  3 PagesKurdish Statelessness The Kurds are a large group of people who are from Kurdistan. Kurdistan is a large area of land in the Middle East that makes up land throughout Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Although the Kurdish people have lived in Kurdistan for centuries, their land has never been declared a state. Therefore, the Kurdish people are a stateless population. The Kurds mostly live throughout Iran, Turkey and Iraq. Also, some of them can be found living in Syria, Russia, Lebanon and Germany. Kurdish

Servuction System free essay sample

This model used to illustrate factors that influence service experience, including those that are visible and invisible to consumer. Invisible component consists of invisible organizations and systems. It refers to the rules, regulations and processes upon which the organization is based. Although they are invisible to the customers, they have a very profound effect on the consumers service experience. Visible part consists of 3 parts: Serviscape (inanimate environment), contact personnel/service providers, and other consumers. Servicescape- It refers to the use of physical evidence to design service environments. It consists of ambient conditionssuch as music, inanimate objects that assist the frm in completing is tasks, such as furnishing and business equipment. All non-living features present during service encounter. Contact personnel: :Employees other than primary providers that interact with consumer. Service Provider: Primary provider of core service, such as dentist, physician or instructor. Recipient of bundle of benefits created through service experience and customer B : Other customers who are part of Customers A’s experience. We will write a custom essay sample on Servuction System or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Servuction model demonstrates consumers are an integral part of service process. The Slevel of participation may be active or passive, but always there. Managers must understand the interactive nature of services and customer involvement in production process. The four components of the servuction model combine to create the experience for the consumer and it is the experience that creates the bundle of benefits for the consumer. A model to illustrate the factors influencing the service experience †¢Includes those factors that are visible to the customer and those that are not †¢Visible component is of three parts: inanimate environment, contact personnel / service providers and other customers †¢Invisible component consists of the invisible organisation and the systems †¢Demonstrates that consumers are an integral part of the service process, through either active or passive participation.

Planning Proposal

It is very important for people, irrespective of their being normal or with disabilities, to have access to recreational activities. Unfortunately, people with certain disabilities have to come across certain hurdles in order to take advantage of the available recreational activities (Harris Survey, 1998).Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Planning Proposal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There may be scores of reasons for this situation e.g., knowledge deficiency pertaining to the available facilities, unapproachable facilities, absence of proper guidance from the facilities providers, and absence of recreation paraphernalia that may be customized for the handicapped people. A survey conducted on Americans suffering from disabilities suggested that almost 69% people suffering from some or the other disability felt that their disabilities thwarted their efforts of socializing (Harris Survey, 1998). It is even m ore appalling to note that people with disabilities, living in rural areas, face more of such hurdles (Rowley, 1999, p. 6). Even the mindset of people in the society has been molded in a manner that they don’t visualize people with disabilities taking part in any recreational activities such as swimming, games, etc. But has anyone ever thought why it is so intricate for people with disabilities to involve themselves in recreational activities. Why is it that only a few instances can be found where customized recreational facilities are available for the disabled people? Why can’t the people with disabilities choose their favorite recreational activities? Why do people with disabilities have to commute to distant places in order to avail their selective recreational activities? All these questions, and many more, demand answers from the society and the government. It is estimated that, â€Å"Between 1990 and 2000, the number of Americans with disabilities increased 25 percent† (Disability Stats and Facts, 2012, para. 2). Another estimate claims that, â€Å"There are 36 million people who have at least one disability, about 12 percent of the total US population† (Latest US Disability Statistics and Facts, 2011, para. 4). In order to minimize the sufferings or disadvantages of the people with disabilities, various steps are advisable. First of all, it is very crucial to spread general awareness about the available recreational resources and the advantages linked with taking part in the recreational activities. â€Å"An increase in awareness is often the first step to an increase in recreation participation† (About the North Carolina Recreation Resource Guide, n.d., para. 1).Advertising Looking for proposal on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is observed that people with disabilities usually desist from taking part in such activities. The partaking rates of such people should be increased. It should be understood that simply increasing the partaking rates will not solve the problem. The recreational activities should be reachable to all and at all places (Participant Sports and Recreation Facilities, 2001, para. 22). Even the number of customized recreational equipments should be increased so as to enable the people with disabilities to choose from. There should be certain guidelines for the recreation facility providers to impart proper and required information about the equipments. Their objective should be to cater to the needs of the local people (Managing Facilities, 2008, para. 3). The society should also be more committed towards the sustenance of such projects. This project will be executed by the ‘National Public Charitable Trust’ (NPCT). NPCT is a charitable organization engaged in the resurgence of the disabled people. NPCT has, in the past, made its presence felt in many developing countries. The trust has effectively executed various development ventures based on grants. As an initial step towards starting the project, it is proposed that a community resource mapping will be conducted. On an average, 40 resources will be spotted in every community. The surveyors, from among the society, will gather the required data from the providers of recreational facilities. Such data will be compiled and used as a resource index by way of a website. In accordance to the data, the required training will be provided to the providers. In addition to the awareness about disability, the training will also include information about the various acts pertaining to the disabled people. After the completion of the training, such providers will be shortlisted who show commitment towards utilizing the funds provided to them, in the required manner. Such providers will also have to give an undertaking that they will keep on giving access to people with disabilities.Advertising We will write a custom pro posal sample on Planning Proposal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More All the information pertaining to the community mapping, distribution of grant, available recreational facilities, and other details will be made accessible to people by installing a computer at each community centre. The project director will be responsible for maintaining the budgetary requirements, hiring people, marketing the venture, preparing news articles, addressing the audience, arranging training schedules, organizing the various reports, and other things that might be required from time to time. The remuneration for employees will be as follows: Designation No. Hourly rate in US $ Number of hours for the first year Number of hours for the second year Total hours for each person Amount in US $ Project Director 1 Full time Full time Full time Full time 60,000 Consultant 1 35 400 200 600 21,000 Training Coordinator 2 20 300 100 400 16,000 Surveyors 5 15 500 100 600 45,000 Total (1) 142,000 Table 1: Salaries In addition to the salaries, other expenses (for two years) are as under: Account head @ Amount in US $ Training schedules 30 schedules 700 each schedule 21,000 Travelling expenses 9375 miles $0.64 per mile 6,000 Office supplies, including postage, printing, etc. 5,000 Computers for community centers 3 nos. 700 each computer 2,100 Telephone charges 1,000 Recreational equipments 100,000 Total (2) 135,100 Table 2: Other expenses References About the North Carolina Recreation Resource Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.telability.org/affiliates/ODH+Recreation+Resource+Guide.pdfAdvertising Looking for proposal on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Disability Stats and Facts. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.disabilityfunders.org/disability-stats-and-facts Harris Survey. (1998). Americans with disabilities still face sharp gaps in securing jobs, education, transport and in many areas of daily life. Retrieved from http://www.cew.wisc.edu/nidrr/press_releaseexecutive_summary.htm Latest US Disability Statistics and Facts. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/census-figures.php Managing Facilities. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/managingfacilities Participant Sports and Recreation Facilities. (2001). Retrieved from http://idea.ap.buffalo.edu//udny/section4-2c.htm Rowley, T. (1999). Rural telecommunications: Why your community isn’t connected and what you can do about it. Retrieved from http://www.rural.org/publications/Rowley99-1.pdf This proposal on Planning Proposal was written and submitted by user Delaney U. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Greatest Quotes From Sex and the City

Greatest Quotes From 'Sex and the City' The hit TV show Sex and the City has beautifully captured the turmoil of modern women stuck in a fast paced city. When you read Sex and the City quotes, your first thought may be: Is this how life in NYC is like? Read and decide for yourself. Carrie: Everywhere I looked, people were standing in twos it was like Noahs Upper West Side rent-controlled Ark.Samantha: Oh sweetie, forget about him. You are gonna be on the side of a bus. 10 million men are gonna be drooling over you every morning on their way to work. Its the best personal ad Ive ever seen in my life.Carrie: Samantha has a particular knack for turning a desperate situation into a hopeless one.Carrie: Lets be honest. Sometimes there is nothing harder in life than being happy for somebody else. Like lottery winners. Or extremely successful people who are 27. And then theres that hell on earth that only your closest friends can inflict on you the baby shower.Carrie: When Charlotte really liked a guy, she said his whole name it helped her to imagine their future monogrammed towels.Miranda: Maybe its time I stopped being so angry.Carrie: Yah, but what would you do with all your free time?Samantha: Until he says I love you, youre a free agent.Carrie: What is this? The Rules According to Samantha?Samantha: See? Im more old-fashioned than you think.Samantha: Look at his robe. So Robin and his Merry Men.Carrie: Here. Swear. Swear on Chanel.: Oh my God were gonna have to ice skate home. Hell just froze over.Carrie: I thought I had come to terms with my looks the year I turned thirty, when I realized I no longer had the energy to be completely superficial.Samantha: Normal is the halfway point between what you want and what you can get.Samantha: Heres what I think. Round up all the divorced men and keep them in a pound. That way, you get their whole history before you take one home.Miranda: I love how they say until recently, the bride worked.Carrie: Yeah, meaning she quit her job as soon as she found her soul-mate-slash-investment-banker.Charlotte: Listen to this: sometime in the ten years before menopause, you may experience symptoms including all-month long PMS, fluid retention, insomnia, depression, hot flashes or irregular periods.Carrie: On t he plus side, people start to give up their seats for you on the bus. Carrie: Our affair, like our hotels, had gone from elegant with crystal to seedy with plastic cups.Miranda, : Why would that cheer her up? Does she look like a 22-year-old frat boy? Sex and the City Quotes Miranda: Men- wait, let me rephrase that- some men... Jerry Jerrod Sex and the City Quotes Sex and the City Quotes

The History of Black Videos Aired on MTV

The History of Black Videos Aired on MTV When MTV launched in 1981, viewers struggled to find videos featuring black artists. The network so sparingly showcased African Americans in its early days that Rick James and David Bowie publicly took it to task.  Despite the channels embrace of black musicians such as Beyonce,  Jay-Z  and  Kanye West  today,  theres no denying  MTVs  rocky history with  black music. So, how did MTV shift from shutting African American musicians out in the early 1980s to routinely spotlighting their contributions decades later? A brief history of the channel’s progress regarding race helps to answer that question. Did MTV Exclude Black Videos?   When MTV debuted on Aug. 1, 1981, at least one black face on the network was a mainstay. It belonged to J.J. Jackson, the sole African American on MTVs roster of video jockeys, or VJs as they became known. Despite Jackson’s presence on MTV through 1986, the network faced allegations of racism for giving scant airtime to videos featuring people of color. MTV executives have denied that racism was at the root of the network’s â€Å"blackout,† saying that black artists received little airplay because their music didn’t fit the channel’s rock-based format. â€Å"MTV was originally designed to be a rock music channel,† said Buzz Brindle, MTV’s former director of music programming, to Jet magazine in 2006. â€Å"It was difficult for MTV to find African American artists whose music fit the channel’s format that leaned toward rock at the outset.† With so few black rockers, adding African Americans to MTV’s roster proved difficult, according to the network’s co-founder Les Garland, whom  Jet also interviewed. â€Å"We had nothing to pick from,† Garland explained. â€Å"Fifty percent of my time was spent in the early days of MTV convincing artists to make music videos and convincing record labels to put up money to make those videos†¦Ã¢â‚¬  One artist needed no convincing. He’d even made a video for â€Å"Dont Stop ’Til You Get Enough,† a cut from his 1979 album Off the Wall. But when approached by Michael Jackson’s  record label, would MTV agree to play his  music videos? How the King of Pop Changed MTV It took major prodding to get MTV to play â€Å"Billie Jean,† the second track from Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller. Released Jan. 2, 1983, the single would go on to top the Billboard 100 chart for seven weeks, but Walter Yetnikoff, president of CBS Records Group, reportedly had to threaten to remove all other CBS videos from MTV before the network agreed to air the video for â€Å"Billie Jean.†Ã‚   Garland  denied such a confrontation occurred, telling Jet that the network began playing the video on its own. â€Å"There was never any hesitation. No fret,† he said. Based on his account, MTV aired the video the same day that executives screened it. However â€Å"Billie Jean† ended up on the network, there’s little doubt that it changed the course of MTV. The first video by a black artist to receive heavy rotation on the network, â€Å"Billie Jean† opened up the door for other artists of color to be featured on MTV. â€Å"Billie Jean† also paved the way for Michael Jackson to star in the 14-minute music video â€Å"Thriller,† the most expensive music video ever made at the time. â€Å"Thriller† debuted Dec. 2, 1983. It proved so popular that it was released as a home video that  went on to become a record-breaking bestseller. Rock Music Takes a Backseat Black recording artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince and Whitney Houston dominated the pop and RB charts in the 1980s. During the same period, however, another urban art form was commanding the music industry’s attention- hip-hop. The films Beat Street  and Krush Groove  paid homage to hip-hop in the first half of the decade. By the second half, MTV had taken notice. It debuted its hip-hop-centered program â€Å"Yo! MTV Raps† on Aug. 6, 1988. According to USA Today, the show was the first ever to exclusively focus on hip-hop. (BETs Rap City premiered the following year.) â€Å"Yo! MTV Raps†Ã‚  aired on MTV for seven years. The program opened the door for â€Å"MTV Jams,† a program with an urban music focus that premiered in 1996. Although MTV began with a rock format in mind, the popularity of pop music, hip-hop, and RB among the general public left the network no choice but to diversify its playlists. By the late 1990s, rock music received increasingly less airplay on the channel as boy bands, Disney starlets, and rappers gained ground with audiences, and rock music recovered from the death of grunge. Black VJs MTV may have been criticized for failing to showcase black recording artists from the outset, but it has always included African American VJs among its staff, starting with the late J.J. Jackson. Other notable MTV VJs of color include Downtown Julie Brown, Daisy Fuentes, Idalis, Bill Bellamy, and Ananda Lewis. On shows such as the long-running â€Å"Real World,† MTV makes a point to showcase cast members from diverse backgrounds, albeit often stereotypically. Cartoon Controversy Although MTV has made considerable gains in diversity over the decades, the network has suffered race-related controversies in the 21st century. In 2006, it drew backlash for airing a cartoon that featured black women as canines - tethered, squatting on all fours, and defecating. The networks then-president, Christina Norman, defended the cartoon, calling it a parody of an appearance rapper Snoop Dogg had made with two black women wearing neck collars and chains. Black activists found this response unacceptable. But as they lobbed their accusations of racism and misogyny at the network, they had to take into account one major development at MTV: A  woman of color ran the channel. That’s right; Christina Norman is black. She served as president of MTV from 2005 to 2008. The cartoon controversy reveals that  during Norman’s tenure, MTV still had much-needed lessons to learn about race. But her rise to the top also indicated that the network accused of shutting out black recording artists now welcomed  diversity both on its airwaves and in its boardroom. Programming That Challenges Racial Bias In 2014, through a partnership with David Binder Research, MTV conducted a study of bias among the millennial generation. Soon after, it launched the website Look Different, a resource for young people wishing to fight for greater equality among marginalized peoples.  Ã‚   A year later, MTVs vice president of public affairs, Ronnie Cho, announced that MTV would create and sponsor ongoing programming designed to  change attitudes and behaviors around racial bias.  Included in that programming was MTVs July 22, 2015, premier of the documentary  White People, in which Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas traveled across the country speaking to white millennials about topics like privilege and race relations.

To what extent, and in what ways, has the constant process of Essay

To what extent, and in what ways, has the constant process of enlargement, impacted on the EU politics and policy process - Essay Example The above issue is discussed in this paper; emphasis is given on the value of enlargement as a tool for strengthening the political and economic position of EU; the impact of enlargement on various EU politics and processes is also examined taking into consideration the fact that enlargement is a demanding process requiring a long period of preparation and being related to certain risks – especially because of the different political, social and economic patterns of European countries. It is proved that the enlargement processes developed in the European Union up today have all affected, more or less, the EU politics and processes; however, among them, it is the fifth enlargement process which most influenced EU politics and policies. For the above reason, the fifth enlargement, which developed in two phases, in 2004 and 2007, is extensively discussed in this paper using the literature published in the particular field. When the European Union was first established – in itially, as a European Community – in 1957 (Treaty of Rome), no term was set regarding the development of a Community regional policy (Bache 31). The reference to economic activities, which would be initiated by the entire member states –jointly – could be possibly, regarded as such policy, even not clearly. Through the decades, it was made clear that the achievement of the targets of the Union would be a challenging task. For this reason, the need for its expansion was through to be unavoidable – a practice which was proved particularly helpful towards the development and the strengthening of European Union so that to become a major force in the global market. In its initial form, the European Union had 6 states – today, its members are estimated to 27, as a result of 5 enlargements. The specific processes have been used in order to increase the power of EU within the international community but also in order to promote integration across the Euro pean Union. Among these enlargements the one which is most important is the fifth one developed into two phases: the first phase took place in 2004 and the second in 2007. Through the fifth enlargement – a process that has been characterized as the most important strategic decision of the EU in the 21st century (Europa, Enlargement 2011) – the European Union was significantly expanded acquiring 12 new members (Europa, Enlargement 2011). The criteria and the terms of enlargement – as one of the European Union’s key processes – are included in the ‘article 49 of the Treaty of the European Union’ (Europa, Enlargement 2011). In accordance with the above article, the key priority of the enlargement process is to ensure that the applicant countries are adequately prepared so that to meet their obligations – as stated by the relevant EU rules; of course, the legislative, political and social characteristics of each candidate country ar e taken into consideration when these processes are developed. However, in any case, it needs to be ensured that the candidate countries will be able to respond to their obligations – as members of the Union – and to align their policies/ rules with those of the Union (Europa, Enlargement 2011). At this point, it would be necessary to refer briefly to the history of enlargements