Social Determinism And Its Power Over People s Perception...

Often people find themselves captivated by the small, fabricated details in a story and that tends to make it difficult to decipher the actual meaning behind the story. In Tim O’Brien’s â€Å"How to Tell a True War Story,† this is the case as he demonstrates the influence of storytellers’ tone and the mood they create on people’s understanding of a moral in a story. By the same token, in Malcom Gladwell’s â€Å"Power of Context† and Karen Ho’s â€Å"Biographies of Hegemony,† the two authors explain the ideology of social determinism and its power over people’s perception of the truth. The power of inducements play a big role in the way people are able to understand reality. The complexity of the truth can often alter the way people perceive things because there are so many different meanings that people interpret from the context of stories and situations. There are certain qualities of context such as inducing wo rds and a plethora of meanings that obscure the true actualities, making truth very complicated. People often undermine the influence of words on people’s perceptions of the environment. When Gladwell describes the prison experiment in which people assumed the role of prisoners and guards, he mentions how the patients were told who they are and what role they had to undertake. He tells how one of the prisoners began to assume their role to the point where they felt like that was truly who they were. One of the prisoners mentions, â€Å"I was 416. I was really my number and 416 wasShow MoreRelatedEpistemology And The Pursuit Of Knowledge Essay1356 Words   |  6 Pagesaccomplished by examining the social character of knowledge and how an individual s reality is shaped via testimony. Testimony, a declaration or proposition which an individual claims to be true and fact, is key to social epistemology. With certainty, some individuals claims, beliefs, and opinions are converging, whereas others are diverging. There are differences between subjective reality, influenced by the aforementioned factors of influence from objective truths that exist and can be knownRead MoreBuddhism, The Practical, Theatrical, And Its Social Aspects Of Buddhism1224 Words   |  5 PagesThere are three main ideas behind any religion, the practical, theatrical, and its social aspects. Practitioners of Buddhism practice in many varying ways based off their geographical and social conditions.The real practice of any Buddhist is to concern themselves with their spiritual attitude that affects themselves and their community. Meditation is used to refocus the mind to develop a greater mental state. Buddhism can be defined as:the path, and livelihood to practice the spiritual developmentRead More The Free Will Debate Essay2989 Words   |  12 Pageswill refers to an individual’s ability to choose his or her route of action. However, animals also appear to suit this measure, further adding to the debate because free will is typically thought to only be possessed by human beings (Broad 1990). Over the years, there has been an extended running controversial debate as to whether free will truly needs an agent to encompass a definite ability of will, or whether the term â€Å"free will† is simply a term used to describe other features that individualsRead MoreEssay about Gay donor or gay dad3350 Words   |  14 Pagesï » ¿ Do we have free will or our live determined? too many people It’s obvious that we are free. many people are convinced their actions are their own good or bad and even if we feel pressured into a decision we still feel we could have chosen a different path. we can choose coffee over tea ,accept a marriage proposal take a job across country ,how important is this feeling of freedom do we have alternativesRead MoreAlternative media as an alternative to mainstream media† Explain and evaluate making use of appropriate examples.2543 Words   |  11 Pagesï » ¿Student Number: N0359348 Name:HAOYI WU Alternative media as an alternative to mainstream media† Explain and evaluate making use of appropriate examples. People generally see everyday involve mainstream media. It disseminated the largest distribution channel. Such as: broadcast in an evening or the prime time newscast in television; tabloids, the variety of magazines; news portals. Therefore the mainstream media represents the majority of media consumers are preferredRead MoreUnderstanding Organisations Essay3612 Words   |  15 PagesSHAUN VICTOR PICKERING | | Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 2 PART 1 - Modernist Analysis 3 1.1 Environment 4 1.2 Social Structure 6 1.3 Technology 8 1.4 Culture 9 PART 2 - Symbolic Interpretive Critique 11 2.1 Environment 11 2.2 Social Structure 12 2.3 Technology 13 2.4 Culture 14 PART 3 - Postmodern Critique 15 3.1 Environment 16 3.2 Social Structure 17 3.3 Technology 18 3.4 Culture 19 CONCLUSION 20 REFERENCES 21 INTRODUCTION Ford Australia is one ofRead More7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Book Review)4230 Words   |  17 PagesHabit 1: Be Proactive According to Stephen Covey, the unique trait that we, people, are separated from animals is the ability to think about our very thought process or what we call, â€Å"self-awareness†. In the social mirror, it was stated that seeing our own selves is like facing the crazy mirror room in the carnival. Our reactions are based on the opinions, perceptions, and the paradigm of others about us. But self-awareness enables us to stand apart and examine even the way we â€Å"see† ourselvesRead MoreEssay on Analysis of George Orwells 19844218 Words   |  17 Pagesreligion, and the social class system. 1984 is more than a work of fiction. It is a prediction and a warning, clothed in the guise of science fiction, not so much about what could happen as it is about the implications of what has already happened. Rather than simply discoursing his views on the social and political issues of his day, Orwell chose to narrate them into a work of fiction which is timeless in interpreta tion. This is the reason that 1984 remains a relevant work of social and philosophicalRead MoreDescartes And The Mind Body Dualism2479 Words   |  10 Pagesclosely related to the philosophy of Rene Descartes. Descartes identified the mind with consciousness and self-awareness and distinguished this from the brain. He believed that the brain was the seat of all intelligence. This lead to a great debate over the mind and body. So, ultimately, what is the nature of the mind and consciousness and its relationship to the body? Descartes’ Meditation 6 explains the distinction between the mind and body. He explains that he is confused as to why his mind isRead MoreSocial Movements And Collective Action Essay8585 Words   |  35 Pagesregarding social movements and collective action are precisely significant and valuable. They allow us to describe and explain such movements- how they form and organize, their agendas, the extent to which mobilization or counter-mobilization process succeeds or fails in different situations, and how they evaluate strategies and policies in the light of specific outcomes. Self-evidently, the terms and perceptions and the dialogue that we bring to bear must be in coherence with the particular social movement

Collapse of Enron - 4178 Words

THE COLLAPSE OF ENRON August 11 2008 [Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.] FROM PERSPECTIVE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE NO. Introduction 3 Background of Enron 3 Enron Business Model 4 Summary of transactions Partnerships 5 Corporate Governance Issues 8 Post-Enron Governance Reforms 12 Conclusion 13 INTRODUCTION The secret of success is honesty and fair dealing, Mark Twain, once said. If you can fake these, you ve got it made.†¦show more content†¦Enron went a step further. It entered into separate contracts with both buyers and sellers in a contract, making a profit on the difference between the two quotes. The general lack of federal controls and monitoring of energy trading enabled Enron to keep its books shut. Of the three sides involved in energy-trading contracts, only Enron knew both sets of prices. Over time, Enron began to design more complex contracts - essentially derivatives purportedly aimed at hedging risks arising out of uncertainties in interest rates or currency fluctuations. Since Enron s collapse, it has been revealed that the company employed a battalion of doctorates in mathematics, physics and economics to manage these complex contracts. Between 1996 and 2000, Enron s sales increased from $13.3 billion to $100.8 billion. These were far above revenues generated by other large American companies such as Microsoft, General Electric or Exxon Mobil. Enron was described by an analyst as a giant hedge fund sitting on top of a pipeline. While its revenues were boosted through innovative accounting practices, its operating margins were rather thin - about 5 per cent in 2000 and 2 per cent in 2001. Its return on capital in 2001 was just 7 per cent - rather low in the highly risky business of hedging. Consequently, while revenues were successfully inflated by ingenious accounting devices, Enron s profitability was never as high. Wall Street analysts, tuned to theShow MoreRelatedEnron And The Collapse Of Enron1254 Words   |  6 Pagesbelow one dollar. This happened to shareholders of Enron. The total debt amounted to over $ 16 billion, which was the largest corporate bankruptcy in American history. Shareholders lost 60 billion dollars within a few days, 4500 employees lost their jobs, and the employees lost billions in pension benefits. I had never heard the name of Enron nor Enron’s scandal until I watched a film, â€Å"Enro n: The Smartest Guys in The Room,† but I realized the Enron scandal affected the whole of the business in theRead MoreEnron And The Collapse Of Enron1303 Words   |  6 PagesEnron, a company which originated in Huston, Texas, was one of the largest American energy trading corporations in the nation. Although it was one of the most well known companies, it was also one that crashed and burned the fastest, shocking many people when it did. Not only did it end fast, the company caused quite a scandal which is still being discussed and reviewed in today’s world. Enron’s bankruptcy scandal was so widely known because of the many people who associated themselves with the companyRead MoreThe Collapse Of Enron And Enron1736 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract Fortune used to rank Enron as the most successful business in the United States. The collapse of Enron was shocked the whole world energy trading market. It caused significant losses to investors. In this paper shows analysis reason of factors that lead to Enron demise and also lessons can be learnt from Enron case study. The approach which have used in this paper to respond, the case study question are the background of the case organization and how business structure had been use by theRead MoreEnron : The Collapse Of Enron1644 Words   |  7 PagesEnron was once one of the world s leading energy companies by reshaping the way natural gas and electricity were bought and sold. They filed the largest corporate bankruptcy in American history in 2001. Enron Corporation was an energy company running out of Texas that was started when two companies, Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth, merged together in 1985. By 1992, Enron became the largest seller of natural gas in North America and began to offer other services like wholesaler trading and riskRead MoreThe Collapse Of Enron And Enron1365 Words   |  6 PagesTwo organizations that will live on in infamy in the business world are World Com and Enron. These names are synonymous with the largest corporate scandals in US history. Their failure to live by ethical and moral codes resulted in bankruptcy, large financial losses to employees and shareholders as well criminal penalties. Additionally, these deviations from ethical behavior from several related parties shined a light on the accounting profession and resulted in several changes in the industryRead MoreEnron And The Collapse Of Enron1718 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION Enron, one of the most influential and profitable companies in utility, paper, and communications for numerous years, came crashing down and filed for bankruptcy in fall 2001 (Bottiglieri, Revile, and Grunewald 1). Houston National Gas and InterNorth fused together and created Enron in 1985. The company faced initial problems of debt and loss of exclusive rights to pipelines (Thomas 1). This accounting method allowed Enron to log entire profits from the life of a contract in the yearRead MoreEnron : The Collapse Of Enron2469 Words   |  10 Pagesscandal of Enron in 2001 lead the company to the bankruptcy. Enron is the largest bankruptcy reorganization in American history at that time. Undoubtedly, Enron is the biggest example of the audit failure. It is ever the most famous company in the world, but it also is one of companies which fell down too fast. In this paper, it describe the reason why Enron became an admired company in the world, the story of Enron s rise and fall, the iss ues of internal and external auditing in Enron, the breachesRead MoreFinancial Collapse : The And Enron1320 Words   |  6 PagesOneTel and Enron were huge technology companies, dominating the competition that they faced although - everything changed. Both of these companies operated in the same era, coincedently both suffering financial collapse. The reasons were mainly because of the failure to follow major accounting principles, lacking morals and lacking strong work ethics. If even a major corporation can fall into this â€Å"trap†, then avoiding doesn’t sound easy, although accountants can easily avoid scandals by followingRead MoreThe Collapse Of Enron Corporation1547 Words   |  7 Pagesdownfall of the Enron Corporation and how the collapse of Enron Corporation consequence affected the United states financial market. Enron Corporation was the seventh largest company in the United States, and had the biggest audit failure. In this Research paper, it describes the reason of Enron Corporation collapse, including details of the internal/ external management, accounting fraud, and conflict of interest. Enron is the largest bankruptcy in America history! The Collapse of Enron CorporationRead MoreThe Collapse Of Enron Corporation1787 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"When a company ascends to the number seven spot on the Fortune 500 and then collapses in weeks into a smoking ruin, its stock worth pennies, its CEO, a confidante of presidents, more or less evaporated, there must be lessons in there somewhere.† -Daniel Henninger, The Wall Street Journal The collapse of Enron Corporation has created many discussions about the structure of corporate governance. The question of this essay first calls to examine some of the strengths and weaknesses of the

The Declaration Of Independence Is The Founding Document...

The Declaration of Independence is the founding document of American history and has been included among one of the best documents to be written in the history of the United States of America. This declaration basically has five parts though not distinctively labeled. These parts are the introduction, preamble, the Indictment of King George III, the denunciation of the British people and the conclusion. The writers of this document are able to pass their message across through the use of language and rhetoric devises. Under language, the diction or word choice, sentence structure or syntax and figurative language is used. Imagery is used in the first paragraph where the image of colonists throwing off the bands with which they have been connected to their mother country is drawn. A reader can see the detachment taking place. What the writers mean here is that the laws and nature of God have been taken away from the people. Personification is also another figurative language used where prudence is personified to emphasize that the writers are prudent indeed. Metonymy is also used where â€Å"candid world† is used to mean the world community will be honest and open enough to see the justice of the colonists’ position. The parallel sentence structure is seen in the first paragraph and it creates a rich sonorous cadence. When the writers are stating the truths in which their democracy is based, all the clauses begin with â€Å"that†; â€Å"†¦that all men areShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of the Declaration of Independence Essay1040 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson was made in order to give the colonists a way to break free from the shackles of King George. This document has affected the building blocks of the United States and is one of the most important documents in U.S. history. The Declaration of Independance was the foundation of what this country was based on. However, what Jefferson and the other signers might not have expected is the strech, the firmRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence : What Shaped And Provided The Freedom The United States Of America1030 Words   |  5 PagesAbstract The declaration of Independence is what shaped and provided the freedom the United States of America has today. The Declaration of Independence today is looked at a symbol for America to reflect on as it paved the way for most of the rights we have today. This document has been fundamental to american history longer than any other text because it was the first text to use â€Å"The United States of America† and in a sense the Declaration was the birth certificate of the American nation. ItRead MoreEssay about Declaration Of Independence1591 Words   |  7 Pagesthirteen colonies assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Not knowing the full significance of what was about to take place that day,the delegates would do something that would forever change the course of the American people. Throughout history, only a few documents have changed the way we as a nation view politics and carry out our everyday lives. The document mentioned above was the Declaration of Independence. It changed the course of history because it granted America itsRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence, By Edmund Burke, John Locke, And Alexis De Tocqueville964 Words   |  4 PagesThe Declaration of Independence, arguably the most important document to have been written in the history of the United States, testified to the sovereignty given by the Founding Fathers to King George III and the whole of Great Britain which ultimately established the Thirteen Colonies as autonomous and free. The ideas perpetuated in the pages of this great document are compelling and genuine. However, they did not appear out of thin air. Therefore, it is appropriate to assert that these conceptsRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Great Britain882 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists are three significant documents that played a major role in the founding of our nation. The documents are important on their own as they cut ties with a large country, establish a new country, and enforce the rights of its citizens. However, they are just important as a set as they show the growth and strength of a nation in its infancy. The Declaration of Independence The DeclarationRead MoreInfluence Of The Magna Carta789 Words   |  4 Pagesanyone else it set fourth more clauses that benefitted the lives of the barons that those lives of the peasants. Many years later, the Magna Carta had a significant role in influencing the founding of the United States. The Magna Carta inspired our Founding Fathers to draft our Constitution centered around these same ideas seen here. The Magna Carta influenced many ideas of English justice and law. These same ideas in the Magna Carta influenced the Amendments to our US Constitution. The amendmentsRead MoreRespecting The Founding Fathers919 Words   |  4 PagesSince the establishment of our nation, the founding fathers have been looked upon with veneration. The numerous monuments throughout the country dedicated to these courageous men demonstrate their lasting dignity in our society. These men were exceptional leaders who played a substantial role in American history and tremendously shaped our country for the better. They gave us some of our most beloved documents, led the way to our freedom from Great Britain, and provided us with the foundationsRead MoreRacial Identity : Early America n History1440 Words   |  6 PagesAustin Dubble Professor Carol Jenkins Politics of Identity 7 September 2014 Racial Identity in Early American History The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines identity as â€Å"the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others† (MWD). In other words, the characteristics which makes a person unique is the identity that they associate with. Black, white, Indian or Latino; gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight; man, woman or transgender; young, middle aged or old; ChristianRead MoreWhy the ratification of the constitution was a good thing1595 Words   |  5 Pages1787 followed the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The U.S. Declaration of Independence, as the precaution of the U.S. Constitution, is a historical document in which the British colonies in the North America declared the independence from Great Britain, which was unanimously adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The principles that are proclaimed by the Declaration of Independence were the best interests of the nationalRead MoreA comparison of the United States Constitution And The Declaration of Independence712 Words   |  3 Pagesand The Declaration of Independence are two of America s most famous documents that laid the foundation for it s independence as a nation and separation from British rule. The following paper will compare these two documents and decipher the difference of the two. While both Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution contain important information regarding America s independence they are also different in many respects. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of is Independence

Basketball Game Descriptive Essay - 1025 Words

As my alarm clock startled me from sweet dreams, I grinned realizing game day had come upon us. I leapt out of bed in excitement as I skipped to the bathroom. I filled the bathroom with â€Å"Today’s Hits† on Pandora, sprang in the shower, and danced while scrubbing my hair. After showering, I brushed my teeth, gave the mirror a cheesy smile, and headed to my room. I slipped into my Crestwood Girls Basketball long sleeve and a pair of jeans. I combed through my hair and decided to let it air dry. I gulped down my breakfast in three bites, grabbed my book bag, and zoomed out the door. After an exhilarating start to the day, I anticipated tonight’s basketball game would bring more delight to that wonderful day. â€Å"Good luck tonight, Shannon,† my†¦show more content†¦locker and trotted towards my school locker to get my books for first hour. â€Å"Hi Shannon!† Ellie screamed from down the hall. â€Å"Good morning, Ellie! HAPPY GAMEDAY!!† I shouted from the other end of the hall. In the seventeen hours of not seeing each other, Ellie and I hugged like the reunion of a mother and her daughter after a year of college. â€Å"I will see you fourth hour in Spanish,† I shrieked to Ellie over my shoulder, dashing to my first hour class. â€Å"Our favorite class of the day,† she sarcastically uttered under her breath. I parked myself in my chair as the clock struck eight fifteen a.m. â€Å"Ooofuda, made it just in time,† I whispered, skeptically looking around the room to see if anyone noticed my superwoman powers. First hour zoomed by in the blink of an eye. Each hour after that went slower than the last. I stared at the clock as each hour ticked-tocked ever so slowly. I cocked my head back and forth as I watched the hands of the clock move at a snail pace. I slugged to every class. My tolerance level shortened every hour until sixth, seventh, and eighth hour. As the end of the day approached, I lost focus, only thinking of the game that would happen in a short few hours. Eighth hour arrived and I watched as each minute occurred slower than the last. As the final minute came to a countdown, three†¦.two†¦one†¦. â€Å"Now remember kids to finish---,† I did not hear a word my teacherShow MoreRelatedThe Harlem Globetrotters, An Exhibition Basketball Team1490 Words   |  6 PagesSearching for the perfect topic in any essay is always tough. So when I began to think about a research topic, I had no idea what to write about. I started to think about all the things that I love doing and have a passion for such as, hunting, fishing, and sports. Although with this research paper I wanted to pick something that is intriguing to me, but I don’t know a whole lot about. When it comes to hunting and fishing, I’ m pretty well informed. Although in sports, there are endless opportunitiesRead MoreThe Task Of Composing A Descriptive Essay1310 Words   |  6 PagesRecently, my Composition I teacher assigned the class the task of composing a descriptive essay. This led me to the question, â€Å"what is a descriptive essay?† What topic could I possible write about for three whole pages? What have I done, seen, or experience that could fill these three long pages? My life thus far has been quite sheltered, so this has created quite the dilemma for me. Being that I am supposed to be descriptive, I feel the need to describe the stress that this has created for me. My physicalRead MoreSport and Football Essay1468 Words   |  6 PagesLeeander Ragland Prof. Milne Eng 101-25 29 February 2012 Respect Athletic Sports have come a long way since basketball was played with milk crates and flat balls in the alleys of the poor and rich alike. One may ask, why should I be concerned with the senseless sweating and hours of practice of those who enjoy sports? The answer is one that will open your eyes to the fulfillment sports can bring whether recreational or competitive. Sport activities offer a variety of lifelong qualitiesRead MoreNananna1497 Words   |  6 Pagesboat deckhand (Stewart et al 237), articulates how professional hockey has evolved over his lifetime. He laments how a game he was enamoured with no longer captures his complete attention and is not as relevant in his life as it once was. However, Bowling admits he still has a sheepish curiosity for the latest news and highlights (238), is still â€Å"mildly attracted† (239) to the game for its grace, beauty, and skill (239), and yearns for a Stanley Cup Final with two Canadian teams; most importantly aRead MoreAfrican Americ ans : The Treatment Of Minority Athletes1433 Words   |  6 Pagespast slavery. According to Schultz, â€Å" despite the many acts of pervasive and systematic discrimination thrown against them, the team of African American basketball players had pressed to play a continuing game, and also a significant role in every area of American history† (Shultz, 207). The starting five of the Texas Western College Basketball Championship team underwent a day to day battle on and off the court due to their coach, coach Haskins’ courageous, yet frightening decision to make themRead MoreDescriptive essay: Adrian Peterson1060 Words   |  5 PagesDionte Richards English Comp1 3/20/13 Descriptive essay Adrian Peterson is known as a running back for the Minnesota Vikings. He is a role model who shows pride and courage in every down he plays even through all of his trials and tribulations he faced. This phenomenal man is an exciting player who gets people excited, ecstatic, or whatever type of joy you could possibly have when you see him run the football. He just makes you want to watch the game of football. The people who followed or knewRead MoreSummer1866 Words   |  8 PagesSUMMER (Descriptive Essay)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Everyone has a comfortable place to escape to for relaxation.   They go there when they need to be alone and not with people to disturb them.   My place is nature in the summer.   The summer time relaxes me like no exact place could.   Nature, in the summer, relaxes me with its naturedness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I love sitting in the grass and listening to the nature sounds around   me while its summer.   One of the sounds I tune to first is the sound of the birds singing and chirpingRead MoreSports17369 Words   |  70 Pagesfirsts,† and the essays in Exercise 2.4 have suggested inclusions for answers. If you are interested in doing survey scholarship, there are two examples here: Exercise 4.5 offers directions on how to get information on audiences for the Olympic Games, along with a sample and coding forms, and Exercise 5.8 gives you a good background for interviewing sportscasters. In the hope that you use soft drinks, as suggested, you should enjoy Exercise 5.6, â€Å"The Brent Musburger Drinking Game†Ã¢â‚¬â€ another way toRead MoreSports17363 Words   |  70 Pagesfirsts,† and the essays in Exercise 2.4 have suggested inclusions for answers. If you are interested in doing survey scholarship, there are two examples here: Exercise 4.5 offers directions on how to get information on audiences for the Olympic Games, along with a sample and coding for ms, and Exercise 5.8 gives you a good background for interviewing sportscasters. In the hope that you use soft drinks, as suggested, you should enjoy Exercise 5.6, â€Å"The Brent Musburger Drinking Game†Ã¢â‚¬â€ another way toRead MoreTEFL Assignment Answers23344 Words   |  94 Pagesmemorization exercises. It is essentially learning through vast amounts of repletion. If you do something repeatedly, you will acquire it. If you compare this concept to â€Å"muscle memory† in the sports arena, the principle mores more understandable. The basketball player shoots 100 freethrows everyday, so that the muscles â€Å"memorize† how to shoot the shot. The idea is the player doesn’t have to put much thought into the shot because it has just become second nature. Again, if time were an issue---I believe

A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-nine Free Essays

Sansa Sansa rode to the Hand’s tourney with Septa Mordane and Jeyne Poole, in a litter with curtains of yellow silk so fine she could see right through them. They turned the whole world gold. Beyond the city walls, a hundred pavilions had been raised beside the river, and the common folk came out in the thousands to watch the games. We will write a custom essay sample on A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-nine or any similar topic only for you Order Now The splendor of it all took Sansa’s breath away; the shining armor, the great chargers caparisoned in silver and gold, the shouts of the crowd, the banners snapping in the wind . . . and the knights themselves, the knights most of all. â€Å"It is better than the songs,† she whispered when they found the places that her father had promised her, among the high lords and ladies. Sansa was dressed beautifully that day, in a green gown that brought out the auburn of her hair, and she knew they were looking at her and smiling. They watched the heroes of a hundred songs ride forth, each more fabulous than the last. The seven knights of the Kingsguard took the field, all but Jaime Lannister in scaled armor the color of milk, their cloaks as white as freshfallen snow. Ser Jaime wore the white cloak as well, but beneath it he was shining gold from head to foot, with a lion’s-head helm and a golden sword. Ser Gregor Clegane, the Mountain That Rides, thundered past them like an avalanche. Sansa remembered Lord Yohn Royce, who had guested at Winterfell two years before. â€Å"His armor is bronze, thousands and thousands of years old, engraved with magic runes that ward him against harm,† she whispered to Jeyne. Septa Mordane pointed out Lord Jason Mallister, in indigo chased with silver, the wings of an eagle on his helm. He had cut down three of Rhaegar’s bannermen on the Trident. The girls giggled over the warrior priest Thoros of Myr, with his flapping red robes and shaven head, until the septa told them that he had once scaled the walls of Pyke with a flaming sword in hand. Other riders Sansa did not know; hedge knights from the Fingers and Highgarden and the mountains of Dorne, unsung freeriders and new-made squires, the younger sons of high lords and the heirs of lesser houses. Younger men, most had done no great deeds as yet, but Sansa and Jeyne agreed that one day the Seven Kingdoms would resound to the sound of their names. Ser Balon Swann. Lord Bryce Caron of the Marches. Bronze Yohn’s heir, Ser Andar Royce, and his younger brother Ser Robar, their silvered steel plate filigreed in bronze with the same ancient runes that warded their father. The twins Ser Horas and Ser Hobber, whose shields displayed the grape cluster sigil of the Redwynes, burgundy on blue. Patrek Mallister, Lord Jason’s son. Six Freys of the Crossing: Ser Jared, Ser Hosteen, Ser Danwell, Ser Emmon, Ser Theo, Ser Perwyn, sons and grandsons of old Lord Walder Frey, and his bastard son Martyn Rivers as well. Jeyne Poole confessed herself frightened by the look of Jalabhar Xho, an exile prince from the Summer Isles who wore a cape of green and scarlet feathers over skin as dark as night, but when she saw young Lord Beric Dondarrion, with his hair like red gold and his black shield slashed by lightning, she pronounced herself willing to marry him on the instant. The Hound entered the lists as well, and so too the king’s brother, handsome Lord Renly of Storm’s End. Jory, Alyn, and Harwin rode for Winterfell and the north. â€Å"Jory looks a beggar among these others,† Septa Mordane sniffed when he appeared. Sansa could only agree. Jory’s armor was blue-grey plate without device or ornament, and a thin grey cloak hung from his shoulders like a soiled rag. Yet he acquitted himself well, unhorsing Horas Redwyne in his first joust and one of the Freys in his second. In his third match, he rode three passes at a freerider named Lothor Brune whose armor was as drab as his own. Neither man lost his seat, but Brune’s lance was steadier and his blows better placed, and the king gave him the victory. Alyn and Harwin fared less well; Harwin was unhorsed in his first tilt by Ser Meryn of the Kingsguard, while Alyn fell to Ser Balon Swann. The jousting went all day and into the dusk, the hooves of the great warhorses pounding down the lists until the field was a ragged wasteland of torn earth. A dozen times Jeyne and Sansa cried out in unison as riders crashed together, lances exploding into splinters while the commons screamed for their favorites. Jeyne covered her eyes whenever a man fell, like a frightened little girl, but Sansa was made of sterner stuff. A great lady knew how to behave at tournaments. Even Septa Mordane noted her composure and nodded in approval. The Kingslayer rode brilliantly. He overthrew Ser Andar Royce and the Marcher Lord Bryce Caron as easily as if he were riding at rings, and then took a hard-fought match from white-haired Barristan Selmy, who had won his first two tilts against men thirty and forty years his junior. Sandor Clegane and his immense brother, Ser Gregor the Mountain, seemed unstoppable as well, riding down one foe after the next in ferocious style. The most terrifying moment of the day came during Ser Gregor’s second joust, when his lance rode up and struck a young knight from the Vale under the gorget with such force that it drove through his throat, killing him instantly. The youth fell not ten feet from where Sansa was seated. The point of Ser Gregor’s lance had snapped off in his neck, and his life’s blood flowed out in slow pulses, each weaker than the one before. His armor was shiny new; a bright streak of fire ran down his outstretched arm, as the steel caught the light. Then the sun went behind a cloud, and it was gone. His cloak was blue, the color of the sky on a clear summer’s day, trimmed with a border of crescent moons, but as his blood seeped into it, the cloth darkened and the moons turned red, one by one. Jeyne Poole wept so hysterically that Septa Mordane finally took her off to regain her composure, but Sansa sat with her hands folded in her lap, watching with a strange fascination. She had never seen a man die before. She ought to be crying too, she thought, but the tears would not come. Perhaps she had used up all her tears for Lady and Bran. It would be different if it had been Jory or Ser Rodrik or Father, she told herself. The young knight in the blue cloak was nothing to her, some stranger from the Vale of Arryn whose name she had forgotten as soon as she heard it. And now the world would forget his name too, Sansa realized; there would be no songs sung for him. That was sad. After they carried off the body, a boy with a spade ran onto the field and shoveled dirt over the spot where he had fallen, to cover up the blood. Then the jousts resumed. Ser Balon Swann also fell to Gregor, and Lord Renly to the Hound. Renly was unhorsed so violently that he seemed to fly backward off his charger, legs in the air. His head hit the ground with an audible crack that made the crowd gasp, but it was just the golden antler on his helm. One of the tines had snapped off beneath him. When Lord Renly climbed to his feet, the commons cheered wildly, for King Robert’s handsome young brother was a great favorite. He handed the broken tine to his conqueror with a gracious bow. The Hound snorted and tossed the broken antler into the crowd, where the commons began to punch and claw over the little bit of gold, until Lord Renly walked out among them and restored the peace. By then Septa Mordane had returned, alone. Jeyne had been feeling ill, she explained; she had helped her back to the castle. Sansa had almost forgotten about Jeyne. Later a hedge knight in a checkered cloak disgraced himself by killing Beric Dondarrion’s horse, and was declared forfeit. Lord Beric shifted his saddle to a new mount, only to be knocked right off it by Thoros of Myr. Ser Aron Santagar and Lothor Brune tilted thrice without result; Ser Aron fell afterward to Lord Jason Mallister, and Brune to Yohn Royce’s younger son, Robar. In the end it came down to four; the Hound and his monstrous brother Gregor, Jaime Lannister the Kingslayer, and Ser Loras Tyrell, the youth they called the Knight of Flowers. Ser Loras was the youngest son of Mace Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South. At sixteen, he was the youngest rider on the field, yet he had unhorsed three knights of the Kingsguard that morning in his first three jousts. Sansa had never seen anyone so beautiful. His plate was intricately fashioned and enameled as a bouquet of a thousand different flowers, and his snow-white stallion was draped in a blanket of red and white roses. After each victory, Ser Loras would remove his helm and ride slowly round the fence, and finally pluck a single white rose from the blanket and toss it to some fair maiden in the crowd. His last match of the day was against the younger Royce. Ser Robar’s ancestral runes proved small protection as Ser Loras split his shield and drove him from his saddle to crash with an awful clangor in the dirt. Robar lay moaning as the victor made his circuit of the field. Finally they called for a litter and carried him off to his tent, dazed and unmoving. Sansa never saw it. Her eyes were only for Ser Loras. When the white horse stopped in front of her, she thought her heart would burst. To the other maidens he had given white roses, but the one he plucked for her was red. â€Å"Sweet lady,† he said, â€Å"no victory is half so beautiful as you.† Sansa took the flower timidly, struck dumb by his gallantry. His hair was a mass of lazy brown curls, his eyes like liquid gold. She inhaled the sweet fragrance of the rose and sat clutching it long after Ser Loras had ridden off. When Sansa finally looked up, a man was standing over her, staring. He was short, with a pointed beard and a silver streak in his hair, almost as old as her father. â€Å"You must be one of her daughters,† he said to her. He had grey-green eyes that did not smile when his mouth did. â€Å"You have the Tully look.† â€Å"I’m Sansa Stark,† she said, ill at ease. The man wore a heavy cloak with a fur collar, fastened with a silver mockingbird, and he had the effortless manner of a high lord, but she did not know him. â€Å"I have not had the honor, my lord.† Septa Mordane quickly took a hand. â€Å"Sweet child, this is Lord Petyr Baelish, of the king’s small council.† â€Å"Your mother was my queen of beauty once,† the man said quietly. His breath smelled of mint. â€Å"You have her hair.† His fingers brushed against her cheek as he stroked one auburn lock. Quite abruptly he turned and walked away. By then, the moon was well up and the crowd was tired, so the king decreed that the last three matches would be fought the next morning, before the melee. While the commons began their walk home, talking of the day’s jousts and the matches to come on the morrow, the court moved to the riverside to begin the feast. Six monstrous huge aurochs had been roasting for hours, turning slowly on wooden spits while kitchen boys basted them with butter and herbs until the meat crackled and spit. Tables and benches had been raised outside the pavilions, piled high with sweetgrass and strawberries and fresh-baked bread. Sansa and Septa Mordane were given places of high honor, to the left of the raised dais where the king himself sat beside his queen. When Prince Joffrey seated himself to her right, she felt her throat tighten. He had not spoken a word to her since the awful thing had happened, and she had not dared to speak to him. At first she thought she hated him for what they’d done to Lady, but after Sansa had wept her eyes dry, she told herself that it had not been Joffrey’s doing, not truly. The queen had done it; she was the one to hate, her and Arya. Nothing bad would have happened except for Arya. She could not hate Joffrey tonight. He was too beautiful to hate. He wore a deep blue doublet studded with a double row of golden lion’s heads, and around his brow a slim coronet made of gold and sapphires. His hair was as bright as the metal. Sansa looked at him and trembled, afraid that he might ignore her or, worse, turn hateful again and send her weeping from the table. Instead Joffrey smiled and kissed her hand, handsome and gallant as any prince in the songs, and said, â€Å"Ser Loras has a keen eye for beauty, sweet lady.† â€Å"He was too kind,† she demurred, trying to remain modest and calm, though her heart was singing. â€Å"Ser Loras is a true knight. Do you think he will win tomorrow, my lord?† â€Å"No,† Joffrey said. â€Å"My dog will do for him, or perhaps my uncle Jaime. And in a few years, when I am old enough to enter the lists, I shall do for them all.† He raised his hand to summon a servant with a flagon of iced summerwine, and poured her a cup. She looked anxiously at Septa Mordane, until Joffrey leaned over and filled the septa’s cup as well, so she nodded and thanked him graciously and said not another word. The servants kept the cups filled all night, yet afterward Sansa could not recall ever tasting the wine. She needed no wine. She was drunk on the magic of the night, giddy with glamour, swept away by beauties she had dreamt of all her life and never dared hope to know. Singers sat before the king’s pavilion, filling the dusk with music. A juggler kept a cascade of burning clubs spinning through the air. The king’s own fool, the pie-faced simpleton called Moon Boy, danced about on stilts, all in motley, making mock of everyone with such deft cruelty that Sansa wondered if he was simple after all. Even Septa Mordane was helpless before him; when he sang his little song about the High Septon, she laughed so hard she spilled wine on herself. And Joffrey was the soul of courtesy. He talked to Sansa all night, showering her with compliments, making her laugh, sharing little bits of court gossip, explaining Moon Boy’s japes. Sansa was so captivated that she quite forgot all her courtesies and ignored Septa Mordane, seated to her left. All the while the courses came and went. A thick soup of barley and venison. Salads of sweetgrass and spinach and plums, sprinkled with crushed nuts. Snails in honey and garlic. Sansa had never eaten snails before; Joffrey showed her how to get the snail out of the shell, and fed her the first sweet morsel himself. Then came trout fresh from the river, baked in clay; her prince helped her crack open the hard casing to expose the flaky white flesh within. And when the meat course was brought out, he served her himself, slicing a queen’s portion from the joint, smiling as he laid it on her plate. She could see from the way he moved that his right arm was still troubling him, yet he uttered not a word of complaint. Later came sweetbreads and pigeon pie and baked apples fragrant with cinnamon and lemon cakes frosted in sugar, but by then Sansa was so stuffed that she could not manage more than two little lemon cakes, as much as she loved them. She was wondering whether she might attempt a third when the king began to shout. King Robert had grown louder with each course. From time to time Sansa could hear him laughing or roaring a command over the music and the clangor of plates and cutlery, but they were too far away for her to make out his words. Now everybody heard him. â€Å"No,† he thundered in a voice that drowned out all other speech. Sansa was shocked to see the king on his feet, red of face, reeling. He had a goblet of wine in one hand, and he was drunk as a man could be. â€Å"You do not tell me what to do, woman,† he screamed at Queen Cersei. â€Å"I am king here, do you understand? I rule here, and if I say that I will fight tomorrow, I will fight!† Everyone was staring. Sansa saw Ser Barristan, and the king’s brother Renly, and the short man who had talked to her so oddly and touched her hair, but no one made a move to interfere. The queen’s face was a mask, so bloodless that it might have been sculpted from snow. She rose from the table, gathered her skirts around her, and stormed off in silence, servants trailing behind. Jaime Lannister put a hand on the king’s shoulder, but the king shoved him away hard. Lannister stumbled and fell. The king guffawed. â€Å"The great knight. I can still knock you in the dirt. Remember that, Kingslayer.† He slapped his chest with the jeweled goblet, splashing wine all over his satin tunic. â€Å"Give me my hammer and not a man in the realm can stand before me!† Jaime Lannister rose and brushed himself off. â€Å"As you say, Your Grace.† His voice was stiff. Lord Renly came forward, smiling. â€Å"You’ve spilled your wine, Robert. Let me bring you a fresh goblet.† Sansa started as Joffrey laid his hand on her arm. â€Å"It grows late,† the prince said. He had a queer look on his face, as if he were not seeing her at all. â€Å"Do you need an escort back to the castle?† â€Å"No,† Sansa began. She looked for Septa Mordane, and was startled to find her with her head on the table, snoring soft and ladylike snores. â€Å"I mean to say . . . yes, thank you, that would be most kind. I am tired, and the way is so dark. I should be glad for some protection.† Joffrey called out, â€Å"Dog!† Sandor Clegane seemed to take form out of the night, so quickly did he appear. He had exchanged his armor for a red woolen tunic with a leather dog’s head sewn on the front. The light of the torches made his burned face shine a dull red. â€Å"Yes, Your Grace?† he said. â€Å"Take my betrothed back to the castle, and see that no harm befalls her,† the prince told him brusquely. And without even a word of farewell, Joffrey strode off, leaving her there. Sansa could feel the Hound watching her. â€Å"Did you think Joff was going to take you himself?† He laughed. He had a laugh like the snarling of dogs in a pit. â€Å"Small chance of that.† He pulled her unresisting to her feet. â€Å"Come, you’re not the only one needs sleep. I’ve drunk too much, and I may need to kill my brother tomorrow.† He laughed again. Suddenly terrified, Sansa pushed at Septa Mordane’s shoulder, hoping to wake her, but she only snored the louder. King Robert had stumbled off and half the benches were suddenly empty. The feast was over, and the beautiful dream had ended with it. The Hound snatched up a torch to light their way. Sansa followed close beside him. The ground was rocky and uneven; the flickering light made it seem to shift and move beneath her. She kept her eyes lowered, watching where she placed her feet. They walked among the pavilions, each with its banner and its armor hung outside, the silence weighing heavier with every step. Sansa could not bear the sight of him, he frightened her so, yet she had been raised in all the ways of courtesy. A true lady would not notice his face, she told herself. â€Å"You rode gallantly today, Ser Sandor,† she made herself say. Sandor Clegane snarled at her. â€Å"Spare me your empty little compliments, girl . . . and your ser’s. I am no knight. I spit on them and their vows. My brother is a knight. Did you see him ride today?† â€Å"Yes,† Sansa whispered, trembling. â€Å"He was . . . â€Å"Gallant?† the Hound finished. He was mocking her, she realized. â€Å"No one could withstand him,† she managed at last, proud of herself. It was no lie. Sandor Clegane stopped suddenly in the middle of a dark and empty field. She had no choice but to stop beside him. â€Å"Some septa trained you well. You’re like one of those birds from the Summer Isles, aren’t you? A pretty little talking bird, repeating all the pretty little words they taught you to recite.† â€Å"That’s unkind.† Sansa could feel her heart fluttering in her chest. â€Å"You’re frightening me. I want to go now.† â€Å"No one could withstand him,† the Hound rasped. â€Å"That’s truth enough. No one could ever withstand Gregor. That boy today, his second joust, oh, that was a pretty bit of business. You saw that, did you? Fool boy, he had no business riding in this company. No money, no squire, no one to help him with that armor. That gorget wasn’t fastened proper. You think Gregor didn’t notice that? You think Ser Gregor’s lance rode up by chance, do you? Pretty little talking girl, you believe that, you’re empty-headed as a bird for true. Gregor’s lance goes where Gregor wants it to go. Look at me. Look at me!† Sandor Clegane put a huge hand under her chin and forced her face up. He squatted in front of her, and moved the torch close. â€Å"There’s a pretty for you. Take a good long stare. You know you want to. I’ve watched you turning away all the way down the kingsroad. Piss on that. Take your look.† His fingers held her jaw as hard as an iron trap. His eyes watched hers. Drunken eyes, sullen with anger. She had to look. The right side of his face was gaunt, with sharp cheekbones and a grey eye beneath a heavy brow. His nose was large and hooked, his hair thin, dark. He wore it long and brushed it sideways, because no hair grew on the other side of that face. The left side of his face was a ruin. His ear had been burned away; there was nothing left but a hole. His eye was still good, but all around it was a twisted mass of scar, slick black flesh hard as leather, pocked with craters and fissured by deep cracks that gleamed red and wet when he moved. Down by his jaw, you could see a hint of bone where the flesh had been seared away. Sansa began to cry. He let go of her then, and snuffed out the torch in the dirt. â€Å"No pretty words for that, girl? No little compliment the septa taught you?† When there was no answer, he continued. â€Å"Most of them, they think it was some battle. A siege, a burning tower, an enemy with a torch. One fool asked if it was dragonsbreath.† His laugh was softer this time, but just as bitter. â€Å"I’ll tell you what it was, girl,† he said, a voice from the night, a shadow leaning so close now that she could smell the sour stench of wine on his breath. â€Å"I was younger than you, six, maybe seven. A woodcarver set up shop in the village under my father’s keep, and to buy favor he sent us gifts. The old man made marvelous toys. I don’t remember what I got, but it was Gregor’s gift I wanted. A wooden knight, all painted up, every joint pegged separate and fixed with strings, so you could make him fight. Gregor is five years older tha n me, the toy was nothing to him, he was already a squire, near six foot tall and muscled like an ox. So I took his knight, but there was no joy to it, I tell you. I was scared all the while, and true enough, he found me. There was a brazier in the room. Gregor never said a word, just picked me up under his arm and shoved the side of my face down in the burning coals and held me there while I screamed and screamed. You saw how strong he is. Even then, it took three grown men to drag him off me. The septons preach about the seven hells. What do they know? Only a man who’s been burned knows what hell is truly like. â€Å"My father told everyone my bedding had caught fire, and our maester gave me ointments. Ointments! Gregor got his ointments too. Four years later, they anointed him with the seven oils and he recited his knightly vows and Rhaegar Targaryen tapped him on the shoulder and said, ‘Arise, Ser Gregor.’ â€Å" The rasping voice trailed off. He squatted silently before her, a hulking black shape shrouded in the night, hidden from her eyes. Sansa could hear his ragged breathing. She was sad for him, she realized. Somehow, the fear had gone away. The silence went on and on, so long that she began to grow afraid once more, but she was afraid for him now, not for herself. She found his massive shoulder with her hand. â€Å"He was no true knight,† she whispered to him. The Hound threw back his head and roared. Sansa stumbled back, away from him, but he caught her arm. â€Å"No,† he growled at her, â€Å"no, little bird, he was no true knight.† The rest of the way into the city, Sandor Clegane said not a word. He led her to where the carts were waiting, told a driver to take them back to the Red Keep, and climbed in after her. They rode in silence through the King’s Gate and up torchlit city streets. He opened the postern door and led her into the castle, his burned face twitching and his eyes brooding, and he was one step behind her as they climbed the tower stairs. He took her safe all the way to the corridor outside her bedchamber. â€Å"Thank you, my lord,† Sansa said meekly. The Hound caught her by the arm and leaned close. â€Å"The things I told you tonight,† he said, his voice sounding even rougher than usual. â€Å"If you ever tell Joffrey . . . your sister, your father . . . any of them . . . â€Å" â€Å"I won’t,† Sansa whispered. â€Å"I promise.† It was not enough. â€Å"If you ever tell anyone,† he finished, â€Å"I’ll kill you.† How to cite A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-nine, Essay examples

The Benefits of Physical Activity for Heart Disease Essay Sample free essay sample

Physical activity had been observed since the wake of the Second World War because of the widespread cardiovascular diseases impacting people in the West ( Erlichman. Kerbey A ; James. 2002 ) . At the clip. most doctors instructed their patients to prosecute in regular physical actitvities in order to better their cardiovascular wellness. and their patients heeded such calls ( Erlichman. Kerbey A ; James. 2002 ) . Unfortunately. the modern age with all its developments and technological promotions has made people bury the value of physical activity. such as manual labour ( Erlichman. Kerbey A ; James. 2002 ) . Therefore. weight addition is observed in a bulk of the world’s population. particularly in developed and rich states. In 1973. Morris made a important differentiation between light physical activities and vigorous 1s ( Erlichman. Kerbey A ; James. 2002 ) . He observed that while work forces who engaged in light physical activities gained no advantage in footings of less hazard of coronary bosom disease. those who did prosecute invigorousphysical activities did derive a important wellness advantage ( Erlichman. We will write a custom essay sample on The Benefits of Physical Activity for Heart Disease Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Kerbey A ; James. 2002 ) . Therefore. people who are engaged in vigorous physical activities such as cycling. swimming. and hill-climbing. face a significantly lower hazard of coronary bosom disease ( Erlichman. Kerbey A ; James. 2002 ; Saakslahti. et Al. . 2004 ) . These people’s hazard is a mere one tierce of the hazard carried by their sedentary opposite numbers ( Erlichman. Kerbey A ; James. 2002 ) . The ground for the reduced hazard is the stimulation of acute physiological and long-run adaptative responses in the organic structure. caused by physical activity ( Saakslahti. et Al. . 2004 ) . A physically active lifestyle causes a host of long-run benefits such as â€Å"changes in plasma lipoprotein degrees. circulatory maps. blood force per unit area and organic structure composing ( Saakslahti. et Al. . 2004 ) . † This protects adults from coronary bosom disease ( Saakslahti. et Al. . 2004 ) . In ulterior old ages. farther surveies have shown that the same effects can be expected from kids who are physically active ( Saakslahti. et Al. . 2004 ) . Accustomed physical activity allows kids to keep lower organic structure mass indeces ( BMI ) and a lower serum entire cholesterin concentration. which prevents kids from going corpulent and hence at hazard of coronary bosom disease ( Saakslahti. et Al. . 2004 ) . Physical exercising is such a healthy option for grownups and kids likewise. non merely for bosom diseases. but besides for other complaints such as diabetes. Mentions Erlichman. J. . Kerbey. A. L. A ; James. W. P. T. ( 2002 ) . Physical activity and its impact on wellness results. [ Electronic version ] .The International Association for the Study of Obesity. obesityreviews 3. 257–271. Saakslahti. A. . Numminen. P. . Vaino. V. . Helenius. H. . Tammi. A. . Viikari. J. . Valimaki. I. ( 2004 ) . Physical activity as a preventative step for coronary bosom disease hazard factors in early childhood. [ Electronic version ] .Norse Journal of Medicine A ; Science in Sports 14. 143-149.

Legal Aspects of Oil and Gas Industry Management

Question: Examine and evaluate the Legal Aspects of Oil and Gas Industry? Answer: Introduction Discoveries of natural gas and oil resources give nations hope for the future prospect. International oil companies enter into contracts for exploration of natural gas and oil contracts with these nations that are rich in such resources. Though such nations may themselves explore the resources but many-a-times, they do not possess the required skill, expertise and most importantly the financial stability to undertake such a project. Thus, they try to magnetize the participation of the international oil companies. However, before entering into such contracts with the oil companies the governments of the host countries undergo a process of negotiation. These negotiations are very challenging. The said negotiations are all the more challenging because a lot is at stake with these negotiations. When oil resources are discovered in a country, the government acquires right over it notwithstanding the fact that the surface rights are owned by an individual. The nations that have oil resourc es tend to magnetize the participation of these oil companies for the exploration as these companies possess all the required skill, expertise, experience and financial backing to undertake such a project. The oil companies that have experience of negotiating such contracts mostly have the upper hand in the process of negotiation and are motivated to ensure profit maximization. Thus, it is essential for the governments to be extra-cautious in the negotiation process so as to be able to make as much revenue as possible out of these projects. In this paper, we would analyze the various aspects of oil and natural gas negotiation and explore the issues involved. Issues involved in the process of Negotiation In order to give effect to the oil contracts, the government of the host countries and the international oil companies undergo direct negotiation. The attitude of the government during the process of negotiation is mostly very indecisive and such indecisiveness results from lack of technical knowledge, capability of predicting future as regards the oil fields and proper awareness about the oil fields. Thus, in order to be able to negotiate successfully it is imperative that the governments keep these factors in mind while undertaking such negotiation. The changing market for oil, the exploration cost, and the size of the oil field are significant factors that must be considered by the government while negotiating. Most of the time, the governments fail to give proper attention to these aspects and the oil companies end up taking advantage of the ignorance of the governments. The following issues are important for giving effect to a successful contract and therefore they must be given proper consideration; Interest of the Indigenous Communities These oil exploration projects resulting out of contracts between the oil companies and the governments of the host countries affect various other groups of individuals who are not directly involved in the process. These groups are the local communities of the host countries. In fact, these communities are at the receiving end of the adverse effects of such projects. In fact, mostly the surface rights over the oil fields are owned by these local communities and thus they must be compensated by the oil companies for the disturbance and use of their property. Thus, the interest of these groups must be considered by the governments while negotiating the terms of the contract (3 oil gas contracts for Aker Kvaerner, 2007). Transparency The negotiation process must be transparent. These contracts would be accepted by the public if they are transparent. In order to be transparent, the contractual term must be disclosed. However, there are certain aspects that ought not be disclosed. When the negotiation process is transparent, it is possible to avoid corrupt practices that the negotiators might get involved into. If the contractual terms are made subject to public scrutinisation, the negotiators would not insert such terms in the contract that might be criticized by the public (Babusiaux, 2004). Negotiators The government makes up a team to undertake the negotiation process. This team consists of members from different fields. While making up this team of negotiators, the governments ought to be extra cautious. The process of negotiation must not be taken casually. In fact, negotiation is not just a process before entering into a contract but is an art. The negotiators must have the capability of making a distinction between the negotiable and nonnegotiable factors. Having made such a distinction they ought to pay greater attention to the negotiable factors (Bantekas, 2009). They must as well undertake good tactics for negotiation and must proceed on the basis of plans already formulated. The oil companies are far better equipped than the governments to negotiate these contracts so the government should take this negotiation process seriously and employ expert, negotiators. The negotiators must be from different fields, like legal, technical, etc and ought to possess the required skills to make a successful negotiation on behalf of the government. The principle underlying the negotiation is to reach at a mutually agreeable point where the interests of both parties are balanced. Only successful negotiators can achieve this goal. Balancing Conflicting Interests Conflict of interest is a common phenomenon while the terms of these type of contracts are negotiated. The Government, on the one hand, has to act as a business entity, the sole purpose of which is to maximize profits. On the other hand, it has to make the oil companies invest in the resources of the country so that the revenue of the country increases leading to an economic growth of the country (Bhattacharyya, 2009). The Government maximizes profits on the one hand and regulates its conduct on the other. The Government must be able to balance the conflicting interests while negotiating the terms of the contract. Time Time responsive factors are predominantly present in oil contracts. For instance, oil prices keep varying from time to time, the political and social conditions of the country that possesses the natural resources. The drafting of the oil contracts must be made in such a manner that these factors may be varied accordingly. The terms of the oil contract must be such that they survive the test of time (Bindemann, 2000). The terms should be such that the changes may be made in future on the basis of the future demands, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable. Thus, the oil and natural gas contracts must be responsive to changing circumstances. Norway, for instance, made its tax regime profitable for the oil companies so as to entice their participation to their geographically challenging terrain. Types of Contracts There are various types of contacts that the governments and the international oil companies can enter into for exploration of the oil and natural gas. These contracts may be discussed as follows; Joint Venture Agreement The government and the oil companies may elect to enter into a joint venture for the exploration of the natural resources. But before plunging into such a decision, both parties must be well aware of the goals, interests and mode of conducting business of each other. Since under a joint venture agreement the parties work together, it is essential that they have knowledge about these aspects of each other or else it would not be possible to make the joint venture successful. The parties ought to be consensual on these aspects. As the joint venture agreements are open-ended, nether of the parties are very eager to enter into such contracts. However, these agreements are advantageous for the governments as they can rely on the oil companies for decision making. Moreover, the government shares profits with the companies under this type of agreement (Khannanova, Nizamova and Kantor, 2015). The disadvantage of entering into this type of agreement, from the perspective of the government is that they have to share the risks along with the companies. The government participates directly in the process of oil exploration under this type of contract (Ghandi and Lin, 2014). Production Sharing Agreements (also referred to as PSA) Under this type of contracts, the responsibilities associated with the development and managing of the oil resources lies with the oil companies. Even the risks associated with the exploration process are to be borne by the companies. The government earns signing bonus by giving the oil companies the right of exploration. The operational expenses and the costs of exploration are compensated to the company by the government, and the remaining profit is divided between the parties as per the agreed proportion. The taxes are paid by the oil companies. In order to make this type of agreements successful, the legal framework of the host country must be comprehensive enough. In case, the legal framework is not worth relying on, the terms of the contracts would operate as law (Jennings, 2002). Licensing or Concession Agreements Under this type of contract, the oil companies are given right of exploration for a specified period. During this period, the said oil company would have the exclusive right of exploring, selling and exporting the resources extracted. Generally, right sunder this type of contract is granted by way of auction. The governments draft the terms of the contract and then opens up bidding for the oil companies. The company that emerges to be the highest bidder gets the exclusive exploration rights. The highest bidder amount is paid by the oil company to the government of the host country as licensing fees. Even if production does not take place, yet the government retains the said licensing fees. If production takes place, the host country receives income tax as well as royalty (Mahmud and Russell, 2002). These licensing agreements are the best suited to serve the interest of the host countries. Service Agreements Service agreements are also entered into by the parties along with the above types of agreements. The purpose of this type of agreement is to enable disbursement. However, this type of agreement is not very popular with either party to the contract because they do not turn out to be very useful in the long run. Important Terms of the Contracts The following important terms must be incorporated in every oil and natural gas exploration contract; Description of the premises There must be a complete legal definition of the premises leased to the companies for the exploration work. If there is more than one field to be explored, then two different contracts must be entered into. Limiting the contractual term The contract should explicitly lay down whether the contract is for exploration of oil or natural gas or other minerals. Royalty Clause From the perspective f the government, the most important is the royalty clause. The mode of payment and well as the time of payment of the royalty to the government must be clearly provided in the contract (Marshall, 2003). Post Production Costs Since, post production issues are frequently litigated upon by the parties, it is imperative that the mode of dealing with the post production costs must be clearly laid down in the contract (Tade, 1989). Plan of Work The oil companies have a tendency of delaying and shelving not so profitable projects. Thus, the contract must contain an exhaustive list of circumstances under which a project may be shelved or delayed. It must also be specifically stated that apart from the stated circumstances, a project cannot be shelved or delayed for any other reason (Martin, 2009). Stabilization Clause Governments should refrain from inserting stabilization clauses in the contract because such clauses make the laws of the host country inapplicable to the provisions of the contract. Vision of the Government behind Negotiation The oil companies are very must profit motivated, and they attempt to minimize costs and maximize profits as much as possible. The governments have to consider the development of the country while it negotiates the contractual terms with the oil companies. The Government must have the following as its vision and mission behind the undertaking of such projects; Employment A lot of man power is required to give effect to oil or natural gas exploration project. The Government should try to make the oil companies employ local manpower. This would lead to economic stability in the host country as many people would be employed. In case, unemployment is taken care of then the country would have a good financial standing. The company would also be able to benefit from such an arrangement as it will be spared the expenses of engaging outside labour (Mosburg, 1983). Corporate Social Responsibility (also referred to as CSR) The oil companies must be made to render its CSR during the tenure of the exploration project. The CSR responsibilities borne by the domestic companies may be made compulsory for the international oil company (Oil and gas exploration and production: reserves, costs, contracts, 2005). The rules of CSR which are applicable to the domestic companies could be made applicable to the oil companies. In case, such provisions are not strictly incorporated the companies would try and evade the CSR (Thornton, 1912). Sustainable Development At present sustainable development is an important concept that must be kept in mind by the government while negotiating the terms of oil and natural gas exploration contract. Governments should limit the extent up to which the oil companies may use the resources (OIL AND GAS: New Contracts, 2008). Since these natural resources deplete with continued usage, the usage should be limited so that it gets the time for regeneration. Dispute Resolution Mechanism The contract should lay down the mechanism for dispute resolution in case the parties get involved in a dispute. The parties have various options available for dispute resolution. The traditional mode of dispute resolution is the court proceedings, but the parties may as well decide to go for dispute resolution mechanisms that do not involve the technicalities of the formal court proceedings, like, arbitration. In fact, mostly parties opt for arbitration in case of international contracts as in the case of international transactions problem arises as regards applicable laws (Pongsiri, 2004). As a consequence enforceability of the terms of the contract becomes difficult. Mediation, conciliation may also be modes of dispute resolution. These processes are not very formal, and the parties have a say over a lot of issues, like the place of arbitration, arbitrators, etc. However, in court proceedings none of these factors are within the reach of the parties and thus they cannot mould them as per their convenience. International Commercial Arbitration are adopted by the parties in most cases. The procedures are not very complicated, and the parties have control over a lot of aspects (Razavi, 1989). Conclusion From the aforesaid discussion, we may conclude that the negotiation of oil and natural gas contracts with the international oil companies is a very complicated process that requires through research and proper consideration of several factors. Since the oil companies have a tendency to minimize costs and maximize profits the governments should ensure that they are also able to mobilize maximum profits. 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