Role of Natural Resources in the Politics and Economy of the Middle East Essay Example for Free

Role of Natural Resources in the Politics and Economy of the Middle East Essay For the last 60 years oil has been of major importance for the economies of the Middle East. The region has about one-half of the world’s oil reserves and approximately one-quarter of global supplies of natural gas. Middle East oil has been an intermittent preoccupation for western governments and business, particularly throughout the dramatic 1973-4 and 1979 oil price rises, as these had a most important impact on the world economy. Within the region itself, oil production has accounted for a considerable proportion of national product and been the main source of government finance. The earnings produced from oil have not merely contributed to development funding in the oil-exporting states however have as well flowed into the non-oil economies through inter-government assistance, remittances and, to a lesser extent, private investment flows. (Marc J OReilly, 1999). Oil and gas exports are likely to stay vital for the economies of the Middle East for the predictable future, regardless of the price reductions since the mid-1980s. The price of oil has had a major impact on past development trends, as well as the region’s economic prospects cannot be assessed without some predictions of future price changes. The determinants of oil prices are as a result of very important interest as far as Middle East development is concerned. NATURAL RESOURCES The Middle East holds considerable quantities of natural wealth in forms other than oil reserves—for instance, the phosphate deposits of the Maghreb, which contain nearly half of the worlds known reserves of that mineral. In the area at large, extensive mineral surveying has taken place in the past decade, as firms and governments have searched for new sources of prosperity and for the means to greater economic diversification. Despite these efforts, petroleum remains of such overwhelming economic and geopolitical importance that other mineral resources are relatively insignificant. The development of the Middle Eastern oil industry began in 1901 with the granting of a concession by the Persian government to William Knox DArcy, a British engineer. In exchange for the rights to search for and exploit petroleum resources in Persia, excluding the northern provinces where Russian influence was strong, the terms of the concession required the operating company or companies to pay the Persian government ? 20, 000 in cash and ? 20, 000 in stock. In addition, the Persian government was to receive 16 percent of annual net profits, plus a small annual payment of about ? 4,000. (R. K. Ramazani, 1998). The British government took an interest in the search for oil from the beginning. At that time, it was determined to convert the Royal Navy from coal to oil, but the British Empire lacked a secure and adequate source of petroleum. In 1907, Great Britain reached an agreement with Russia whereby the latter was awarded a zone of influence in northern Persia and Great Britain was recognized as the dominant foreign power in the south. A neutral zone was left in the center. The Admiralty arranged for financial support of DArcys search activities, and oil was struck in 1902. In 1909, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) was formed, and a refinery was built in the Gulf on the island of Abadan. In 1914, the British government moved to acquire 51 percent of the APOC stock (outstanding). These events established the precedents of petroleum exploitation through concessions granted by host countries to foreign enterprise, equity participation and profit sharing by host countries, and the participation by the concessionaires home government in Middle Eastern enterprise. (Sheikh R. Ali, 1986). During the interwar years, oil operations spread around the northern end of the Gulf into Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. In this period, the industry was controlled by the major international companies, often referred to as the â€Å"seven sisters. † By 1976, more than 104 billion barrels of crude oil had been lifted in the area since the inception of the modern industry. The enormity of Middle Eastern reserves can be gauged from the estimation that more than three times this amount remained to be lifted. At the 1976 annual rate of production of 9 billion barrels, the Middle Eastern proved reserves/output ratio shows that production could last another 39 years. (Sheikh R. Ali, 1986). Although it is a commonly used indication of production potential, the proved reserves/output ratio is not an accurate indicator of how long oil production actually will continue. For one thing, prospective or probable reserves are not included in the numerator, and new additions will continue to be made in the proved reserves category for years to come. Furthermore, variations in worldwide economic activity cause shifts in demand and current output. A short-term decline in output can cause a temporary rise in the reserves/ output ratio, as happened in 1975. Other things being the same, the assessment of reserve life made during a recession year could give a different impression from one made during a boom year. Finally, states sometimes revise their reported proved reserves because of research findings or for political reasons. Saudi Arabia, for example, abruptly cut its estimated reserves for January 1976 from 148. 6 billion barrels to 107. 8 billion barrels only to restore the estimate to 151. 4 billion barrels in 1977. This resulted in substantial variations in the reserves/output ratio for the whole Middle East. For these reasons, the reserves/production ratio should not be used in forecasting without suitable qualifications. Although the ultimate size of reserves and the duration of production in the Middle East are imponderables, there is greater certainty now about relative costs of production. The incremental unit cost of Middle Eastern crude, including finding, developing, and operating costs, are the lowest in the world. In the 1980s, per barrel necessary costs in 1972 dollars are expected to range from 15 to 20 on the Arabian Gulf. In contrast, North Sea oil is expected to cost $1. 50 to $2. 00 per barrel, and in the United States, medium-cost oil is forecast at $3. 30 to $6. 70 per barrel. Since per barrel prices for Gulf oil have risen to 60 to 80 times operating costs, economic profits at the lifting stage of the production process are exceptionally large for oil from this source. (Nora Bensahel, Daniel L. Byman, 2003). Oil reserves are providing the exporting countries with levels of income far in excess of those that otherwise would have been achieved. Petroleum resources thus are serving to compensate for deficiencies in agricultural resources and human skills. The relationship among resources, income growth, and economic development is complex, however, so that, in certain cases, growth based on the exploitation of natural resources can occur without commensurate economic development.

Revolutionary War Essay -- essays research papers

How the Revolutionary War Begun Following the French and Indian War, or otherwise known as The Seven Years War, Britain was in major debt as with many countries after war. On the other hand the Colonies were thriving from trade and agriculture. At the end of the war the parliament in England had no organized plan to reduce the enormous debt they had bestowed upon themselves. Financing the French and Indian War had almost doubled the national debt. The parliament had stumbled into the beginning of the Revolutionary War without even knowing it. They were looking in an entirely different direction when the colonies exploded with a rage that eventually turned into the American Revolution. The Seven Years War 's outcome also affected the impacted the Revolution by giving soldiers experience that would later help them lead armies and make decisions to win the Revolution. Among these men were the prestigious names of Paul Revere, Ethan Allen, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, Daniel Morgan and the man who is known as our founding father George Washington. During the French and Indian War Washington was assigned a mission which was a success and he was considered a hero which later helped his success in the revolution and the presidency later on . The King's minister were trying to find a way to finance the King's military policy. During the French and Indian Wars England had paid for the defense of the Colonies as well as providing most of the troops and leadership in the war. But, rather than demobilize at the end of the war, King George III decided to keep the army at 3/4 strength. Eighty five regiments were kept on alert in case of renewed hostilities between the British and French. There was still the problem of paying for the regiments though. They could not tax the countryside any more because of current taxes that were already too great. The solution, however, was to station most of the army in Ireland and the Colonies requiring locals to house and feed the soldiers. They also made up the Sugar Act, Stamp Act and the Towshend Duties to cover the Å“359,000 needed yearly to sustain the regiments in the Colonies. The first of all the taxes or Acts was the American Revenue Act of 1784, or called the Sugar Act. It wasn't even a new tax even. It was a change of an old customs duty. In order to stop trade from the West Indies to the Colonies Parliament in 1733 had passed... ...on the outside, that it was for change it was mostly to keep things the way they were. Without having to pay new taxes or having to change to be ruled by England. A leading historian once said, "A salient feature of our Revolution was that its animating purpose was deeply conservative. The colonials revolted against British rule in order to keeps things the way they were, not to initiate a new era." We agree with this completely. Instead of accepting change as it came. Every bit of change from Britain was challenged in America by revolutionists and even Loyalists. All the new taxes no matter if they were good or bad were hated. Then again there is always the taxation without representation saying. That is true but they still did not want to be represented that was the last thing they wanted. They wanted local government and taxation like it was before the Seven Years War. The driving force behind the war was the continuing effort to keep thin! gs that same and not different. But after the war they were not prepared for the drastic changes that would come about. But we still got out independence from England and now have the most powerful, successful country in the world.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstei Essay

The audience is made to feel that Frankenstein himself is evil, for playing with life and mocking God. The sounds made by the monster are similar to those made by wild animals, but also they sound like the monster is in pain, which would make sense as Frankenstein has just rejected him. We see Frankenstein’s former professor talking through a gate. This signifies the difference of opinion and belief between the two doctors. Sound effects are used very well in the creation scene, especially the non-diagetic musical score that has been added. It is mainly in a minor key, but has drastic changes to a major key when there is extra tension in the frame. It creates a build up, and when there is suddenly a pause with no music, tension is created, then when something dramatic happens, the audience shows a greater reaction. The use of diagetic and non-diagetic sound is very good in this scene, for example when the electrical probes go into the monster’s feet and there is the sound of crunching bone. This is diagetic sound. Music is an example of non-diagetic sound. The sudden silences at some points in the scene allow the audience a chance to reflect upon the immorality and reality of what Frankenstein has done. Camera angles are used to make the scene more effective and more enticing to the viewer. If there is a large quantity of movement and change in camera angles, then the shot is used to create responses in the audience. There are many randomly strange camera angles in the creation scene, and we don’t really ever see the whole of the creature’s body when it comes out of the copper vat, this is because the monster was made of lots of parts and wasn’t really a complete person in the doctor’s eyes. In the creation scene, we experience many different shot types, such as an extreme low angle shot when the monster is being lifted into the air on the body tray. This is to symbolise the life being created and is mocking God. The mis-en-scene of the frame when Victor is running up to the dais in his large billowing coat is very cluttered, which in my opinion represents his mind being a jumble of thoughts. I think there are a lot of shots in the creation scene that represent the stigmata of Christ. For example, when the spikes are driven into the feet and hands of the monster when he is not alive, in the copper vat. And the extreme close-up shot of Frankenstein’s head, then of the creature’s head. The doctor’s head bears no (visible) injury, but his creation has huge scars as if his head had been crowned with thorns. Also, there is the part where the monster is lowered into the copper vat, which looks oddly like a sarcophagus (a type of coffin used to bury Egyptian pharaohs in ancient times), this represents the descent into hell that Frankenstein is embarking on. This is mocking God yet again, and shows the immorality of Victor Frankenstein. When we see the low-angle shot of the monster hanging on the chains, it resembles the crucifixion of Christ. There are violins playing at this point, which symbolises the loneliness that Victor is feeling from the rest of the world. There are many different visual effects used in the creation scene, such as the lighting striking the window behind the monster, when he appears in Frankenstein’s bedroom. Another special effect was the make-up used on the monster’s face to make it look more dramatic and horrifying. There is also the amniotic fluid that the monster is born in, when that spills out the copper vat, it makes the audience feel sick and repulsed. Only diagetic sounds are used at this point, there is no music. When the monster is lifted up to the ceiling, the circle of light around the body represents Leonardo Da Vinci’s â€Å"Vitruvian Man†, which is a drawing that shows the proportions of a perfect human body. This is ironic as most of the monster was made of murderers and criminals- hardly perfect people. The editing in the creation scene is very clever, I have previously mentioned the lecturer being super-imposed over a frame; there is also the part where all the scientific equipment is displayed. One shot dissolves into another, which resembles them being combined together to make the monster. The pace in the scene changes from being very fast when Frankenstein is giving the monster life, to a lot slower when the monster is â€Å"born† and trying to stand up. Overall, I think that Branagh has made the film much more appealing to the audience by using the effects available to him. He uses location, costume, characterisation, dialogue, sound effects, camera angles. Shot types, visual effects, editing, and pace to make a very effective film. I am most impressed by the way he read between the lines of the Mary Shelley novel to give the audience lots to think about. I also liked the way he used discreet blasphemy to show that what Victor Frankenstein was doing was immoral and mocking God. I think that Branagh has more than done justice to the Shelley novel. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mary Shelley section.

The Views On Gay Marriage - 3556 Words

Gay Marriage Tailor Chrisman University of Cincinnati Abstract This paper explores the differing views on homosexual same-sex marriages coming from the views of our governments as opposed to religious groups’ views. It goes into detail to see which religions are opposed, which support and which have no official position on the topic of gay marriage. It also takes into account how the state governments have opposed and supported the legalization of same-sex marriage over the course of our history. Keywords: same-sex marriage, homosexuality, religion, government, gay marriage What Has Been the General Opinion on Gay Marriage Coming From a Political Viewpoint versus a Religious Viewpoint? Gay marriage has been in hot debate for a very long time here in the United States. When it first became an issue, state after state put in place a ban and would not allow homosexual couples the right to legally marry. Many religions also put their metaphorical foot down and declared marriage a sacred covenant between one man and one woman; they thought it was an abomination to let two men or two women marry. Over the years, more bans were put into place, but as we come closer to present day, many states began to lift the laws that prohibited homosexual couples from marrying. Courts all across the country have ruled in favor of gay marriage saying that the bans are unconstitutional. Many states have actually legalized gay marriage; thereby, allowing these couples theShow MoreRelatedThe Views On Gay Marriage2081 Words   |  9 Pagesdon’t fit the â€Å"norm† of everyday people. Gay individuals are looked at with hatred from various cultures, and right now they are stru ggling for the right to legally marry, regardless of what other people’s views. Partner is a term people use for homosexual couples, instead of using wife or husband. 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A comic by Cartoon Arts International shows a man complaining to his wife that same-sex marriage is hurting heterosexual marriage, in which the wife retaliates and makes a comment about divorcing him because of his statedRead MoreEssay on Gay marriage827 Words   |  4 Pages Critical Review - Gay Marriage â€Å"Unnatural† Sheldon L, 1996, Gay Marriage â€Å"Unnatural†, USA Today, USA. Homosexual marriage is one of the old but controversial issues around the world. Compared to the past, it seems to become a more open debate among people. At the same time, people seem to be more swayable than before, but towards the gay marriage, different voices have still been hovering in the air. Gay people and their supporters have been striving for their rights to get married legally, while