Company Study British Petroleum - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2537 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Marketing Essay Type Analytical essay Level High school Did you like this example? Company Study: British Petroleum The study examines BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s global operating environment through a detailed PESTEL analysis. It then goes on to analyze its competitive environment with the help of Porterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s five forces. A detailed SWOT analysis is then performed to assess BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s internal strengths and weaknesses, the threats it has to face and the opportunities that lay in front. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Company Study: British Petroleum" essay for you Create order Finally, it summarizes the analysis in the form of conclusions. Introduction Company Overview British Petroleum (BP) is one of the largest vertically integrated oil and gas companies in the world. Headquartered in London, its operations expand over six continents in about 100 countries. Its principal operations include Refining and Marketing, Gas, Power and renewable, exploration and production of gas and crude oil, construction, manufacturing and transportation. Key focus of refining and mining is on oil supply and trading, as well as, refining and petrochemicals manufacturing and marketing. BP also has a network of subsidiaries engaged in the chemicals, power and renewable energy sectors. The Group operates in the United Kingdom, the Bahamas, Australia, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, the United States of America, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Spain. (British Petroleum, 2007) Financial Performance The company recorded revenues of $265, 906 million during the fiscal year ended December 2005, as compared to $252,168 in 2005. The companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s replacement cost profit was $22,253 million during fiscal year 2006, an increase of 15% over 2005. Net profit rose from $32,682 in 2005 to $35,158 in 2006. Return on average capital employed on a replacement cost basis was 22%, compared with 20% in 2006. (BP Company Reports, 2006) Q1. PESTEL Political Political turmoil in Middle East, extremist threats in countries like Saudi Arabia and strikes in Nigeria and recurring geopolitical tensions (Eg. Iranà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s dismissal of suggestions that Tehran might suspend uranium enrichment as a way of easing the deadlock with the west over its nuclear ambitions) have made the operational and investment climate very uncertain. Governments in countries like UK, Alaska, US and Venezuela (where BP has major operations) have increased tax rates to take advantage of the high price environment. (Jason, 2007) This may lead to higher costs. Oil and gas play a major role in the dynamics of economies worldwide which has made governments increased their presence through regulations, observations and support. Environmental regulations are enforced at potentially great cost to companies. (Joanne, 2007) Economic BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s major economic concern is the rise in finance costs and increase in corporate tax expense. Finance costs increased by $102 in 2006 million as compared to 2005. The increase primarily reflects higher interest costs, offset by higher capitalized interest. The increase in corporate tax reflects the impact of the increase in the North Sea tax rate enacted by the UK government in July 2006. (BP, 2006) BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s high exposure to gas prices could affect it adversely as traditionally gas prices have lagged the sector. While prices of crude oil have been very strong, gas prices have remained slightly weaker which could reflect on BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s share price as well. Although world economy is slowing, but prospects for the oil and gas sector as a whole are good. Demand for oil is forecasted to remain firm which gives BP a chance to capitalize on the demand. Although rising demand in some countries may open up new avenues for BP, but BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s recent new ventures such as the giant Thunderhorse field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico have had slower than expected start-ups. (BP, 2006) The advent of sustained high oil prices presents new and different demands for the development of BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s business over the long term. High prices also mean that it will be advantageous for BP to sell more rather than purchase. Technological With competitors looking to expand and increase their capital investment across the industry, BP is lagging behind for resources. It has limited number of skilled contractors and equipment available. BP has the reserves in place; it just cant round up the people, rigs, steel, and the rest to develop them as fast as it might like. (Reed, 2007) With capital investment up across the industry, its now jockeying with its competitors for the limited numbers of skilled contractors and equipment available. (Reed, 2007) In the wake of dwindling oil reserves, technological developments can help BP increase efficiency in existing fields. This provides an opportunity to BP to tackle the issue of low reserves to an extent. Social Social spotlight is on oil companies and there is a clamor for oil companies to behave in a socially responsible manner. Corporate Social responsibility groups have campaigned against activities like exploring and digging places by oil companies. Eg. Shellà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s oil exploration and production operations in Nigeria was brought to publicà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s attention for not only violating environmental laws but also tribal peopleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s land rights. (National Petroleum News, 2007) BP has been accused of violating safety and compliance issues in the explosion at the Texas City refinery in the US (the explosion killed 15 people). It has been accused of having an à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"unsafe cultureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ and not being socially responsible. Besides the Texas debacle, BP has had other operational and security issues such as leaks and shutdowns in Alaska due to which it has suffered a loss in reputation in terms of safety. Environmental Increasing concerns about global warming has led to more stringent environmental regulations. The introduction of Kyoto Protocol in 2005 for reduction of greenhouse gases and a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢clean air interstate ruleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ (CAIR), issued by US environmental protection agency (EPA) in 2005 has added to BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s cost and concerns. (Bruce, 2006) Traditionally, BP has had a weak record in environmental matters and a further introduction of these stringent regulations may impose new liabilities or increase operating expenses, either of which could result in a material decline in profitability. Other external environmental factors which have added to BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s woes are Asian Tsunami and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. Both turned out to be major disasters for all oil majors. They buffeted BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s offshore and onshore facilities, impairing production and distribution. (Cliff, 2006) Its production is still recovering from storm damage at the end of last year. Legal Strict corporate governance regulations in response to high profile corporate scandals and failures had made BP adopt IFRS fair value accounting system which analysts believe could batter the revenues of BP the tune of more than $400m. (Jetuah, 2007) Porterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Five forces (Analysis of the competitive environment) Competitive Rivalry Competitive rivalry is very intense in all the regions. BP competes with ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron Texaco, Total and ConocoPhillips in the global market. Mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas sector will add to competition. Energy companies are trying to strengthen their global presence by industrial and financial consolidations. Fierce competition means nature of modern production requires access to markets and raw materials throughout the world and possession of enormous amounts of capital. (Jones, 1998) Barriers to entry Threat of new entrants is very low There are high barriers to entry in the oil and gas market with low number of new entrants. This makes the oil and gas market relatively consolidated. Declining reserves, reliance on outside sources, political instability, high competitive rivalry and environmental regulations deter new entrants to a large extent. Entering oil and gas sector is very capital intensive, requires specialization and a deep understanding of the industry and its requirements. It requires the ability to manage both the local and global environment in which extraction take place and the ability to keep pace with the change and volatility of markets.(AMEC Annual Report, 2005) Threat of substitutes Threat of substitutes looms large over BP and oil and gas industry in general. Substitutes such as nuclear energy and renewals are gaining ground which coupled with rising energy costs have the potential to reduce demand. Eg. France relies on nuclear sources for much of its energy supply. Canada recently recognized that it no longer had the large natural gas resources once thought, so oil sands producers are considering building coal or nuclear plants as substitute energy sources to replace natural gas. (Hirsch et al., 2005) Focus on green marketing, global warming and corporate social responsibility has led to much research on bio-fuels as another substitute. Biofuels are supposed to be significantly less carbon neutral than other forms of renewable energy and it is widely believed that they can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. There are active developments and research done to try to produce bio-fuels to replace oil and natural gas. ( Zwirn, 2006) Buyer Power Buyer power is very low in the oil and gas and associated industries. With the volatile price of oil and gas, most oil companies are not hedged against these price rises. This means that they are finding themselves exposed to spot prices for immediate supply and as a result are facing hefty gas bills. (Chris, 2006) BP takes out a fixed price electricity and gas purchase contract when an existing one ends. This helps it to mitigate the immediate risk to an extent but leaves it vulnerable to price risk in subsequent years. As a result, the buyers are at the mercy of external sources. (Chris, 2006) Supplier Power Supplier power is relatively high. With oil resources in Europe and US not able to meet global demand, BP and other oil companies have to rely on supplies from Middle-East countries and countries like Algeria and Russia in order to meet existing demand. Political instability in some regions mean more reliance on other outside oil producing regions which raises the supplier power even higher. Q2. SWOT Analysis Strengths BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s vertical integration with both upstream and downstream oil operations gives it operational efficiency related advantages. It helps BP have control over the entire value chain giving it significant competitive advantage in the global oil market. BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s revenue is spread across 100 different regions. Diversified revenue helps in lowering the risk as it is not dependent on any one market. Dominant market position and good brand image gives BP a significant bargaining power in the global oil market. Weaknesses Declining Crude oil and gas reserves may have an adverse impact on BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s operating margins. Both crude oil and gas reserves declined by 2.7% and 6.4% respectively between 2003 to 2005. (BP, 2006) Competition in downstream operations has made BP lose out on financial performance and capital efficiency. The companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s net income per marketed barrel basis is the lowest as compared to its competitors, reflecting the relatively small refining component within its downstream business. (Data monitor Report, 2006) Opportunities Demand for natural gas driven by demand for LNG and high fuel prices is expected to grow significantly. Global consumption of natural gas is projected to increase by nearly 70% between 2002 and 2025. (Data monitor Report, 2006) Rising demand for refined products and petrochemicals in China and increasing demand for aviation fuel are good market expansion opportunities for BP. By 2010, the European oil and gas market if forecasted to grow by 5.7% by market value and 8% by market volume. (Datamonitor Report, 2006) Threats Political risks and instability in major oil producing regions such as Middle-East, and Nigeria may pose BP with significant concerns. Renewed emphasis on Global warming may affect BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s operations leading to new government regulations and subsequent cost increases. Market Reports have predicted fall in oil prices from later half of 2007 which may have an impact on BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s top line growth. There a strong and growing demand for oil and gas in Europe but very few reserves to cater to that demand. The results were arrived by doing an in depth study from secondary sources. Qualitative secondary information from a variety of sources were gathered like BP Case Studies, BP Web page , Reference books , Journals , Online journals, Newspaper and Magazine Articles , Taped interviews , Business news channel views , Research Agency (e.g Mintel) databases . Quantitative data from BP Company Reports and other oil majors are collected and analyzed to compare and contrast the effect the competitive and external have had on their performance. Conclusions were only reached after case studies of other oil majors like Exxon-Mobil, Chevron-Texaco were analyzed. BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s performance and internal strengths were analyzed in both absolute and relative terms. Objectives After analyzing BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s micro and macro environment, a set of objectives for BP can be formulated. BP has to make sure that it is fully protected against price rises as the near future can some volatility in oil prices. The objective should be to guard itself against price volatility. Although, strong demand and escalating prices have resulted in the growth of oil and gas market, political instability in regions with large reserves and damage to production by natural disasters were largely responsible for rise in prices. Price are expected to stabilize moving forward leading to a slowdown in the pace of market expansion which might present a challenge to BP. With the renewed focus on global warming and energy efficient fuel, BPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s key objective should be to explore other energy efficient fuel and show some corporate responsibility as an organization. In relation to pricing, Porterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s analysis highlighted the importance of effective risk management practices for BP. In order to reduce exposure, BP needs effective management of underlying energy price risk. Appropriate measures can ensure avoidance of much of the pain caused by increasingly volatile markets. In the wake of rising terrorist activity in some of the major areas where BP has its operations, one of the objectives should be to have a Disaster management plan. One of the other objectives should be to concentrate on its downstream business where it is losing out to competitors. References AMEC Annual Report (2005) https://www.amec.com/annualreport2005/natural_resources.html Date accessed 09/08/2007 BP (2006) Annual Reports, https://bp.com, Date accessed 12/05/2007 BP to Invest $500 Million in Energy Research Center. (2007) Government Procurement, Apr2007, Vol. 15 Issue 2, p12-12, 1/3p Bruce, P (2006) Getting Easier to be Green., Waste Age, Vol. 37 Issue 9, p74-75, 2p; Chris, B (2006) Why risk it?, Utility Week, 13565532, 1/13/2006, Vol. 24, Issue 19 Cliff, S (2006) BPs revamped emergency plan. By: Saran, Cliff. Computer Weekly, 10/31/2006, p60-60, 1/2p, 1c Hirsch et al. (2005) Peaking of world oil production: impacts, mitigation risk management, https://www.powerswitch.org.uk/portal/images/stories/papers/thehirschreport.pdf, Date accessed 10/08/2007 Jason, B (2007)The Kremlins Big Squeeze., Business Week Online, 4/20/2007, p14-14, 1p Jones, S (1998) British Petroleum acquiring US oil producer Amoco, https://www.wsw s.org/news/1998/aug1998/bpam-a13.shtml, Date accessed 10/08/2007 Jetuah, D (2007) IFRS fair value demands batter oil giant BP, https://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/news/2172167/ifrs-fair-value-demands-batter Date accessed 12/05/2007 Date accessed 10/08/2007 Joanna, F (2007)BP Considers Building Hydrocracker Unit for Nerefco Refinery. Global Refining Fuels Report, 4/25/2007, Vol. 11 Issue 9, p23-23, 1p; National Petroleum News (2007) Major Oil takes a slight dip. National Petroleum News, Vol. 99 Issue 3, p6-7 Mandil, C (2003) 4th International Oil Summit, The Oil Market: Competition between oil and other energy sources Oil and Gas in Europe: Industry Profile (2006) DataMonitor Report https://web.ebscohost.com/bsi/pdf?vid=5hid=21sid=a1e2de9c-20b6-479a-ad65-93ee0c7d1bcf%40sessionmgr8 Date accessed 10/08/2007 Reed, S (2007) BP takes it slow and steady; Business Week https://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/feb2007/gb20070206_166806.htm Date accessed Date accessed 10/08/2007 Zwirn, E (2006) DuPont and BP drive future fuels. (cover story) Chemical Market Reporter, 6/26/2006, Vol. 269 Issue 25, p5-5, 1/2p;

I Shall Protect You From The Plague. Alice Mcmurray. Period

I Shall Protect You From The Plague Alice McMurray Period 6 April 21, 2017 Introduction Greetings, my great and powerful king! It is I, Margaret Stone, and I have come to inform you of the troubles of the Black Death. My great great grandfather, Michael of Piazza, was the first to record information on the Black Plague. I am writing this to protect you from ever getting this terrible, terrible disease. We can’t have a king as great as you die from this; it wouldn’t be a death equivalent to your superiority. I, myself, have never gotten such thing, for God has decided to protect me and the rest of my family, for reasons we do not know of. But, one day, I was looking around in my convent and I was deeper in than I had ever imagined I†¦show more content†¦People had many reasons for why this was happening to them, and how it had gone through the Mediterranean. The main cause of this was, of course, God. This plague was said to be one of the signs that the end of the world was coming soon. Others thought that it was because of the heretics, so people went around killing Jews. That wasn’t the only thing they blamed on Jews; they also blamed Jews for poisoning the water in the wells. But that wasn’t all people thought was the cause of the plague. There were numerous rumors that had to do with the movement of planets, volcanoes, polluted air, and plenty more. But, as we all know, God is obviously the cause. Who would believe any of the other ones? The origins and causes of this plague are awfully important if you don’t want the plague to ever come back. Just try not to get on God’s bad side, and if you ever hear anything about a plague in the Middle East and Asia, beware, you can’t be certain that it won’t pass the Mediterranean Sea. The Symptoms My ancestor’s journal talked of this, especially: the symptoms. This is an incredibly important aspect of the Black Death, for, of course, you can’t know to find cures for the Black Plague if you donâ€℠¢t know that that is indeed what you have. In my great great grandfather’s journal, he explains how he helped the sick, and therefore was able to determine the symptoms of the plague. There

Lou Gehrig Essay Example For Students

Lou Gehrig Essay Lou Gehrig was born and raised in New York City, the son of German immigrant parents. His full name was Henry Louis Gehrig. After graduating from high school, he attended Columbia University where he became a football and baseball star. Lous father directed him to becoming a pro baseball player. He became sick and needed on operation, but there was no money for doctors and hospital expenses in the family budget, so young Lou quickly capitalized on his baseball skills. He accepted an offer from a scout to sign a contract with the New York Yankees, for $ 1,500 in cash as a bonus. Lou dropped out of college to play in the minor leagues and gain some experience until the Yankees needed him. Gehrig was 22 when he became a big league rookie. He sat on the bench until one day in June in the 1925 season when he finally broke into the Yankees line up as a first baseman. It happened because the teams veteran first baseman couldnt play because of a sever headache. He stayed first baseman for fourteen seasons, five thousand eighty-two playing days, he played a total of two thousand, one hundred and thirty major league games. It was a record that will never be broken or even equaled. To create that unbelievable endurance, feat, strong and powerful Lou Gehrig nicknamed The Iron Horse, played in every one of the two thousand, one hundred and thirty consecutive games, even though he was beaned three times, had fingers broken ten times, suffered fractured toes, torn muscles, a wrenched shoulder, a back injury, chipped elbows, and the pain of several lumbago attacks. Yet, in every contest of that incredibly long playing period he played with all the enthusiasm of a kid breaking into the big leagues. During that streak of 2,130 consecutive games The Iron Horse performed other astonishing feats. He became the first in the 20th century to hit four consecutive home runs in a nine-inning game. Only he in major-league history hit 23 grand slam home runs for 13 years in a row he drove in one hundred runs, topping 150 RBIs seven times and setting the American League record of 184 runs batted-in during the 1931 season for twelve seasons in a row he hit more than .300, and he m ade 1,991 runs, scored 1,888 runs, and walked 1,510 times. He won the coveted Triple Crown of the majors, the Most Valuable Player award, made 2,721 safe hits for a life time batting average of .340.His magnificent playing helped the Yankees win seven pennants and six World Series championships. Though he had begun in the big leagues as a clumsy, poor-fielding first baseman, Larruping Lou, as he also came to be known, over came his faults through perseverance, patience, tireless practice and hard work, and blossomed out into a smooth and skillful a first baseman as ever lived. More than all this, though he never was flamboyant nor spectacular, and never sought the headlines, clean-living Gehrig of exemplary habits became an idolized and inspirational hero to many boys throughout America. Ironically, The Iron Horse, the strongest and most durable big-league player of his time, became a victim of cruel fate. When Gehrig was 36 and still in his prime, he was felled by a mysterious disease that robbed him of his strength, power, and coordination. Puzzled doctors diagnosed this illness as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of paralysis affecting the spinal cord. It is now referred to as Gehrigs disease. On a May afternoon in that 1939 season he benched him self as the Yankees first baseman because he could no longer help his team. He wept when it happened and never played again. On a July 4th afternoon of that memorable season more than 75,000 loyal fans flocked into the vast Yankees ball park to pay homage to Gehrig and bid him farewell. Although the fabled Iron Horse knew that he was dying, he stood at home plate and told the huge hushed throng:Fans they tell me Ive been given a bad break. But Ive got wonderful parents, a wife who loves me, and Ive played baseball wi th the greatest teammate a ball player could ever hope for. Ive had my share of good things in life. With all the good Ive had, today, I consider myself to be the luckiest man on the face of this earth.Less than two years later Lou Gehrig was dead at age 38. A nation mourned for him. Baseballs Hall of Fame immortalized him. His locker in the Yankees club house was turned into a shrine. No Yankee ever again wore Gehrigs famed number 4 on a baseball uniform. .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 , .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 .postImageUrl , .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 , .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18:hover , .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18:visited , .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18:active { border:0!important; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 { display: block; transition : background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18:active , .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-bor der-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left: 18px; top: 0; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18 .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0ef8e970d8836eccc4323452b2520b18:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Romeo And Juliet (823 words) Essay

Pantheon Essays (681 words) - Domes, Pantheon, Rome, Pantheon

Pantheon Pantheon, temple dedicated to all the gods. The Pantheon of Rome is the best-preserved major edifice of ancient Rome and one of the most significant buildings in architectural history. In shape it is an immense cylinder concealing eight piers, topped with a dome and fronted by a rectangular colonnaded porch. The great vaulted dome is 43.2 m (142 ft) in diameter, and the entire structure is lighted through one aperture, called an oculus, in the center of the dome. The Pantheon was erected by the Roman emperor Hadrian between AD 118 and 128, replacing a smaller temple built by the statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in 27 BC. In the early 7th century it was consecrated as a church, Santa Maria ad Martyres, to which act it owes its survival (see Architecture). The term pantheon also refers to a building that serves as a mausoleum or memorial for eminent personages of a country. The most famous example is the Church of Sainte Genevi?ve in Paris, designed (1764) in the classical style by the French architect Jacques Germain Soufflot. It was later secularized, renamed the Pantheon, and used as a temple to honor the great of France. Built in Rome, AD c.118-28, in the reign of Emperor Hadrian, the Pantheon is the best preserved and most impressive of all Roman buildings. It has exerted an enormous influence on all subsequent Western architecture. The Pantheon asserts the primacy of space as contained volume over structure in the most dramatic fashion. From the time of the Pantheon onward, Roman architecture was to be one of spatial volumes. The Pantheon was designed and built by Hadrian to replace an earlier temple established by Agrippa (the misleading inscription in the entrance frieze refers to this earlier edifice). The existing structure is an immense round temple covered by a single dome, fronted by a transitional block and a traditional temple portico of eight Corinthian columns carrying a triangular pediment. Originally, the awkward juxtaposition of these three sections was softened by a rectangular forum in front of the temple. The temple is deceptively simple in appearance, consisting of a circular drum carrying a hemispherical dome with an inside diameter of 43.2 m (142 ft). The proportions are such that, if extended to the floor, the curve of the inner surface of the dome would just "kiss" the floor; thus, a perfect sphere is contained, a symbolic reference to the temple's dedication to all the gods--pan ("all") plus theos ("god")--in the sphere of the heavens. The drum and dome are of solid monolithic concrete, reinforced with bands of vitrified tile. The vertical gravity loads are collected and distributed to the drum by relieving arches incorporated in the concrete. The wall of the drum, 6.1 m (20 ft) thick, is hollowed out by a series of alternately rectangular and curved niches or recesses. Thus, the drum is transformed into a series of massive radial buttresses, lessening its deadweight without decreasing its strength. The weight of the upper sections, and thus the magnitude of the thrusts, was reduced by varying the density of the filler in the concrete, from pumice in the upper dome to tufa in the middle sections and dense basalt in the foundations. The visually compressive effect of the dome on the inside is lessened by deep coffers (indentations) radiating down from the central oculus ("eye")--9.1 m (30 ft) in diameter--the only window in the building. Because the oculus is open to the sky, the floor is slightly concave with a drain at the center. The building was converted into a church dedicated to Mary (Santa Maria Rotunda) in 609, and therefore it escaped destruction. It is the only Roman building to retain its marble revetments, mosaics, and stuccowork. The huge bronze doors (7 m/24 ft high) are the largest Roman doors to survive in place and remain in use. Leland M. Roth Bibliography: Boethius, Axel, and Ward-Perkins, J. B., Etruscan and Roman Architecture (1970); MacDonald, William L., The Pantheon (1976); Ward-Perkins, J.B., Roman Imperial Architecture (1981).

The Book of Ephesians †Theology

The Book of Ephesians – Theology Free Online Research Papers In the book of Ephesians it identifies the author as Apostle Paul. Paul intended all those that long for Christ to receive this writing. Enclosed in the book of Ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true sons of God. A study of Ephesians will help to fortify and to establish the believer so one can fulfill the purpose and calling God has given. The aim of this epistle is to confirm and to equip a maturing church. It presents a view of the body of Christ and its importance in God’s economy. There are reasons to believe that this epistle was not designed for just one congregation, but intended to be passed around to several churches in the area surrounding Ephesus. The earliest manuscripts do not contain the phrase in Ephesus (1:1). The epistle itself is in the form of a general treatise rather than as a letter written to a specific church. For example, there are no specific exhortations or personal greetings. It is thought by some that this letter is the epistle that was first sent to Laodicea (Co 4:16), and designed to be shared with other churches, including Ephesus. Ephesus was the leading city of the region, and the main center of Pauls missionary activity in the area (Ac 19:1,8-10), it is understandable why later scribes might have assigned this epistle to the church at Ephesus. Without question it was intended for the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus. (1:1) PAULS MINISTRY Paul first came to Ephesus for a short visit toward the end of his second missionary journey (Ac 18:18-19). Located on the southwest coast of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), Ephesus was one of the great cities in that part of the world. A Roman capital, it was a wealthy commercial center and home for the worship of the goddess Diana (Ac 19:23-41). Though Paul briefly studied with the Jews at the local synagogue and was invited to stay longer, he made plans to visit them again after a quick trip to Jerusalem (Ac 18:20-21). On his third missionary journey Paul made it back to Ephesus for an extended stay of three years (Ac 19:1,10; 20:31). After his initial success in converting twelve disciples of John (Ac 19:1-7), Paul spent three months teaching in the local synagogue (Ac 19:8). Resistance to his doctrine forced him to leave the synagogue, but he was able to continue teaching in the school of Tyrannus for a period of two years. The end result is that the gospel spread from Ephesus throughout Asia Minor (Ac 19:9-10). A disturbance created by some of the local idol makers finally forced Paul to leave Ephesus (Ac 19:23-20:1). Toward the end of his third journey, Paul stopped at nearby Miletus, and met with the elders of the church at Ephesus. Reminding them of his work with them, he charged them to fulfill their own responsibilities as overseers of the flock of God, and then bid them a tearful farewell (Ac 20:17-38). Time And Place of Writings Ephesians is one of Pauls four prison epistles (3:1; 4:1; 6:20; cf. Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). The general consensus is that these epistles were written during Pauls imprisonment at Rome (Ac 28:16,30-31). If such is truly the case, then Paul wrote Ephesians around 61-63 A.D. from Rome. The indication is that the epistles to the Colossians, Philemon and the Ephesians were carried to their destination by Tychicus and Onesimus (cf. 6:21-22; Co 4:7-9; Phile 10-12). Purpose Unlike several of the other letters Paul wrote, Ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate the high goals God has for the church. The letter opens with a sequence of statements about God’s blessings, which are interspersed with a remarkable variety of expressions drawing attention to God’s wisdom, forethought and purpose. Paul emphasizes that we have been saved, not only for our personal benefit, but also to bring praise and glory to God. The climax of God’s purpose, â€Å"when the times will have reached their fulfillment,† is to bring all things in the universe together under Christ (1:10). It is crucially important that Christians realize this, so in 1:15–23 Paul prays for their understanding (a second prayer occurs in 3:14–21). Having explained God’s great goals for the church, Paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. First, God has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace (2:1–10). Second, God has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, Christ having broken down the barriers through his own death (2:11–22). But God has done something even beyond this: He has united these reconciled individuals in one body, the church. This is a â€Å"mystery† not fully known until it was revealed to Paul (3:1–6). Now Paul is able to state even more clearly what God has intended for the church, namely, that it be the means by which he displays his â€Å"manifold wisdom† to the â€Å"rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms† (3:7–13). It is clear through the repetition of â€Å"heavenly realms† (1:3,20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12) that Christian existence is not merely on an earthly plane. It receives its meaning and significance from heaven, where Christ is exalted at the right hand of God (1:20). Nevertheless, that life is lived out on earth, where the practical daily life of the believer continues to work out the purposes of God. The ascended Lord gave â€Å"gifts† to the members of his church to enable them to minister to one another and so promote unity and maturity (4:1–16). The unity of the church under the headship of Christ foreshadows the uniting of â€Å"all things in heaven and on earth† under Christ (1:10). The new life of purity and mutual deference stands in contrast to the old way of life without Christ (4:17- 6:9). Those who are â€Å"strong in the Lord† have victory over the evil one in the great spiritual conflict, especially through the power of prayer (6:10–20; see note on 1:3). The work that went on in Ephesus was magnificent. The Christians there made up a great church. But, in spite of this, Paul warned the elders of this church of a coming apostas y that would corrupt the divinely ordained government of the local church. A generation later, a message from the Lord in the book of Revelation commends them for many wonderful things;nevertheless, the Lord warns them, â€Å"you have left your first love† (Revelation 2:4). They had not maintained the fervor and devotion of the love of their earlier history. If they did not repent and do their first works, the Lord promised that He would repudiate them. The city of Ephesus now lies in ruins and there is no church meeting there. As sad as this is, we are encouraged by the words of the Lord in Revelation 2:7: â€Å"To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.† Consequently, we know that those who obeyed the gospel in Ephesus and remained faithful make up a group that will live eternally in heaven. Research Papers on The Book of Ephesians - TheologyQuebec and CanadaBringing Democracy to AfricaHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoMind TravelAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Analysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Spring and Autumn

Compasiosn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Compasiosn - Essay Example Ruthless style of ruling could be an adequate means through which a person in power remains in power. However, there are other stronger means to keep the same power even without creating fear among the people. Ensuring that one maintains strong allies in leadership can ensure that power remains oriented towards the same person over time. On the other hand, fear instigates and builds up opposition over time, making the situation even worse with time. In fact, gaining the people’s favor can adequately account for power. This is due to creation and development of trust among the involved parties. Machiavelli’s purpose in the text is one-sided. This is due to the fact that the text only highlights the need for a prince to only mind his own concerns in relation to retaining power to himself, as opposed to working for and with the people to gain power. A selfish aspect relating to power and authority is noted in the text. The audience bound to go by the provisions of this text are of dictatorial personality. In other words, the text’s credibility cannot hold in a democratic society that seeks to uphold justice, compassion, rights, and freedoms of the people. Machiavelli’s argument is logical, but unethical to some extent relative to the tone used to present the argument. Aung San Suu Kyi argues that fear to lose power instigates corruption. This text is essentially positioned in the contemporary trends of gaining power and authority. Parties in power go to higher extents in ensuring that they remain in power, and corruption is just but of the realized practices in this line. The thought of losing power serves as the source of myriad evils in leadership. This is due to the fact that leadership roles are accompanied by power and authority. Once power is gained, those in power often get reluctant in giving it up once their term is done. The change of scenario from a party with power to one without power corrupts the minds of many people,

Difference between Mac and PC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Difference between Mac and PC - Essay Example PC, however, was made more for businesses outside of artistic fields, with many people favoring the word processing programs that PC has to offer (Pegoraro, 2006). The other physical aspect is the designs - Macs have only a handful of designs, each based on which model you buy, while PC has dozens of different models and customization options. The real differences can be found within the different computer models. Within a Mac, every component, wire, and chip is manufactured from the same company ("What is", 2009). Within a PC, everything comes from a different company. Less problems are had with Mac, including a substantial lack of viruses, due to the fact that everything is created and programmed by the same people. If something goes wrong with any piece, it just needs to be sent and repaired by one company. With a PC, unfortunately, while the computer can be sent back to the computers brand name company, it will still need repaired by the proper company depending on the damaged component. Due to the fact that Mac is created by one company and PC is created by many, Mac has less software to offer, as it needs to be manufactured by their name company. PC can accept just about any software, given the fact that it is more versatile. This is perhaps one of the reasons why more people do prefer a PC, with the exception of those that are using Mac solely for artistic purposes. As aforementioned, one of the perks about Mac only being capable of using Mac/Apple products is that the computer has a less chance of contracting viruses. Even when it does obtain a virus, it causes less harm than it would to a PC (Pogue, 2005). Furthermore, there are very few programs that are dual-compatible, meaning they work on both systems. These programs are few and far between, and have proven to be damaging to whichever system it is being used on, especially if it had been on the other operating system prior to its second