Friday, September 20, 2019

The Bamboo And Construction With Bamboo Biology Essay

The Bamboo And Construction With Bamboo Biology Essay The world is at the jaws of crisis in many sectors in the near future. One of the most important of them is the availability of timber. World is becoming more and more urbanized. There must be some sort of solution which can give some relief to the hunger towards the need of timber. We need to look for a solution which must have few characteristics such as A product which can substitute wood in the widest range of purposes of uses.. A product which doesnt have negative environmental impact or is eco-friendly.. A product which can be made in a rural environment to assist in reducing the pressure of urbanization in the current world. A product whose production scale must be such that it shouldnt displace the rural people from its reach. A product which is very much meaningful in the activity. Bamboo is definitely one such solution we got for the near future. Bamboo products can substitute wood-based products in a very wide range. The cultivation and maintenance of bamboo is very easy in comparison with wood. Bamboo can be grown as clumps in most soils and is very cheaper which makes it a feasible material for poor people and in rural regions. More and more people can be involved in this process to make them aware of the possibilities with bamboo. Bamboo based industries must be encouraged by maximum villager involvement as it even requires very low capital. Bamboo based industries can therefore provide the time and space for evolutionary development of the rural economy. 1.2 THE PROBLEMS (1) The world produces 3.5 billion tons of wood from roughly 3.5 billion hectares of forest. Approximately half of that is used as firewood. In the developed world, less than one billion people consume an average of approximately 1 ton per capita per year, hardly any of it as firewood. The richer the country, the higher this amount (in the USA it is 2.3 tonnes). Thus, in the poorer parts of the world, people consume far more firewood than industrial wood (by a factor of at least three to one). The overall objective of world development is that standards of living should rise. At the present, Chinas annual per capita wood consumption is only 0.16 m3 much lower than the global average of 0.65 cubic meters (China Daily, 13 April 2000). Will the developing world start to consume wood in a manner similar to the developed world as it becomes richer. The evidence is not clear but South Korea has seen a quadrupling of its per capita consumption between 1950 and 1990. Although Chinas per cap ita lumber consumption remains much lower than the global average, its demand for lumber has increased drastically over the last few years, while its supply has remained steady or decreased slightly (China Daily, 13 April 2000). Will new technology (email and Internet) reduce the amount of paper used? Again the evidence is not clear but there seems to be no strong trend as yet. The consequences for world wood consumption are therefore very serious if rising standards of living lead to an accelerated usage of wood products [10]. If the world population (six billion now trending towards eight billion in 25 years time) moved to consume wood in a pattern similar to the more developed countries (e.g. 1 m3 / capita in Germany [11]) the consumption of industrial wood (excluding firewood) would need to at least quadruple (as it did in South Korea). It is unlikely that the wood currently consumed as firewood could assist much, for well-known technical reasons (it is often dead wood, small si zed and sparsely distributed). (2) The area of forest is being reduced by continuing deforestation. This is compounded by a growing consciousness that forests have values over and above their timber value (for carbon retention mature forests may not actually sequester extra carbon-for biodiversity shelter and for soil, water and air quality values). Thus the supply of timber-producing forest is decreasing, through preservation, in such diverse economies as the USA, Australia, New Zealand, India and China. (3) In the last two centuries, improving standards of living have been preceded by large increases in population and increasing urbanization. It is paradoxical that the population appears to increase rapidly before gains in living standards appear and that steeply rising population can threaten to cancel out those gains. Developing countries are following along the pattern first established in Britain 250 years ago but with some differences. The English population rose from 6 million in 1750 to 40 million in 1900 but would have increased to over 60 million were it not for the huge outward migration to the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Even with that safety valve, small villages like Birmingham increased from populations of only 4000 in 1680 to 400 000 in 1881, as people left the countryside for the towns. They had little choice. There was not enough free land in the countryside for farming. Living conditions for most of the population in these cities were very poor and their working conditions dehumanized. Todays developing countries do not have the possibilities of overseas migration; they face the same pressures towards urbanization but do not wish to reinvent the dark satanic mills of the 18th and 19th century. It would be good if sufficient employment could be found in a rural environment to reduce the pressure towards urbanization. (4) Studies in both the developed economies and the developing economies have come to the conclusion that people work best in small to medium size firms/enterprises where they can see the impact of their own efforts and where they feel that they can have an effect on decision-making. These conclusions find their expression in the general concept of participation. -IAN R.HUNTER, 2002, Bamboo and Rattan, Vol. 1, No.2, pp.101-103, Available at: www.vsppub.com Its not like bamboo can be the only solution for all these issues outlined above but experiences in few places indicate that bamboo can make some meaningful contribution. 2.1Bamboo as a wood substitute The bamboo culm, reduced to its finest parts, is an excellent industrial fiber. As such it has been shown, both in the laboratory and in practice, to be an excellent substitute for wood fiber in such things as paper, medium density fiber board and veneer. There are very few technical difficulties in utilizing normal wood-working machinery to work with bamboo. One difference that does need to be accommodated is the higher silica content of bamboo which can dull cutting edges. With good physical and mechanical properties, low shrinkage and average density of 0.7 g/cm3, bamboo is well suited to replace wood in several applications, especially in panel form. Bamboo mat board and bamboo strip board have been exploited on an industrial scale, and products marketed for various end uses such as flooring, roofing, and other housing components, furniture, packing cases, etc. At present, in China, over 1,000,000 m3 of panels of various types are produced annually in some 200 mills, whereas in India, industrial-scale production of panels is confined to bamboo mat board with about 2000 m3 board by seven mills. The global use of paper is reported to be increased by 5% annually. Today, Asia, and mainly India and China, make the most use of bamboo for pulp and paper. India uses about 3 million tons of bamboo per year in pulp manufacture and China about 1 million tons, and both are set to increase their use of bamboo for paper pulp manufacture (China targets 5 million tons per year). Bamboo pulp is also processed into incense paper in the Philippines for export. Brazil is presently the only American country that uses bamboo for making cellulose and paper. However, bamboo has certain characteristics that are superior. It has a high surface hardness such that laminated bamboo flooring is equal in wear to the hardest American hardwoods. Many of the products made from bamboo can be and are made in small factories with very limited capital requirements; hence these factories can be distributed around the country-side close to their raw material. Bamboo also has a unique role to play in constructing strong light-weight houses. It has been known for a long time that light weight timber frame construction houses offer the greatest safety against earthquakes and also greater safety on earth slips. Lightweight timber framing housing is the norm in New Zealand. In 1987, the small town of Edgecombe in the northern part of the North Island of New Zealand was shattered by force 7 earthquakes. The force of the earthquake was sufficient to tip a railway engine on its side. Yet no-one was killed and all of the houses remained standing. There are two technologies utilizing bamboo that can be adapted to provide similar kinds of houses. In one, bamboo poles can be used in a similar way to timber studs to provide a similar space-frame construction. Work needs to be done improving the joins before the result is as strong as a timber frame house. In the other, a bamboo frame or hurdle can be woven out of split bamboo and plastered on either s ide. The bamboo hurdle effectively reinforces the concrete plastering. This second style of building produces a result which is more culturally familiar in many countries and possibly therefore more acceptable. 2.2 Properties of Bamboo: 2.2.1 Tensile strength: The bamboo fibers run axially. outer zone constitute of highly elastic vascular bundles, which have a high tensile strength. The tensile strength of these fibers is higher than that of steel, but to construct connects which can transfer load axially is merely impossible. 2.2.2 Shrinking: Bamboos shrinks a lot more tan wood when it loses whole of its water. Nodes are very vulnerable during this shrinking. Bamboo shrinks in the cross section 10 to 15% 2.2.3 Fire resistance: Due to the presence of the high content of silicate acid it offers a very good resistance towards fire.. Filled up with water, it can stand a temperature of 400 ° C while the water cooks inside. 2.2.4 Elasticity: Bamboos enormous elasticity makes it a very good building material in earthquake prone zones. Its is very light in weight and can be easily worked on. -Bamboo as a building material, 2002, available @ www.bambusnewengreportsbuildingmaterialbuildingmaterial.html 2.3 Bamboo for construction: There is a substantial role of bamboo in the construction field as it grows naturally, it has strength, flexibility and versatility and is very suitable material in every part of a house when treated and is used properly. Not only there are technical advantages with bamboo but it is very economical as it is a local product in many places of the country and is amongst the cheapest materials available. Recently there are hikes in the prices of bamboo but with proper cultivation and increased production these inflations in the fields of bamboo can be handled. Cultivating of bamboo properly gives high yields. Moreover bamboo can replace usage of timber in many areas. It can contribute towards the solution for the deforestation which is a very major concern in the world. 2.3.1 Roofing: Bamboo shingles whose lengths are almost as long as rafters. The bamboo canes are first halved along their diaphragms and are bisected. Then they are threaded as alternative facing units and are tied. They are held in the supports by their own weight. 2.3.2 Trusses Fabrication of roof trusses is about the most promising use of bamboos. Literally, any span of truss is possible, and as indicated in Section 5, a Fink truss of about 8.5m span can be carried by three workmen and installed by about 5 workmen. The property of lightweight with strength and stiffness is manifested here. Also, substantial savings in the non-use of heavy lifting equipment. (ii) Scaffolding (iii) Disaster Mitigation The lightness of bamboo, wide availability and possibility of building shelter from modular units lends it for use for post-disaster shelter. A project is in the offing by the UNHCR where temporary shelters are fabricated from A-shaped bamboo support frames with horizontal members at the apex and at mid-heights of the A-frame. A water-proof sheet is draped over this frame for cover. 2.3.3 Bridges Bridges attempted consist of: (a) Footbridges: Simple cross-braced frames with the walkway formed at the crutch. Culms of 50-75mm diameter are bound by bamboo lashings. They are suited to rivers with muddy or sandy bottoms where the height above bed does not exceed 5m. A typical crossing might be 20m long. (b) Handcart Bridge: The construction is more elaborate with abutments and pilings. The abutments are formed from pairs of culms staked to the ground. A pair of horizontal culms forms the pile cap and diagonal braces stabilize the assembly. To form the roadway, three longitudinal bamboo beams of 100mm Ø are lashed to the caps and tied together at the center of each bay with a cross-member. 22.3.4 Scaffoldings Bamboo can be used for the construction of safe scaffoldings for very tall buildings because of the favorable relationship between the load-bearing capacity and weight. Bamboo has been used for centuries as scaffolding in Asian countries and, despite competition with many metal scaffolding systems, remains one of the most preferred system in both China and Hong Kong (Fu, 1993). Owing to its high adaptability and low construction cost, it can be constructed to any layout to follow various irregular architectural features of a building within a relatively short period of time (Chung, et al., 2003). They are used in construction sites to provide temporary access, working platforms for construction workers and supervisory staff, and to prevent construction debris from falling on passers-by. In Hong Kong, they are used as Single Layered Bamboo Scaffolds (SLBS) for light work and Double Layered Bamboo Scaffords (DLBS) for heavy work (Chung and Sin, 2002). Bamboo scaffolding, like any other, must possess integrity and must be laterally stable. The foregoing is ensured by the provision of bracing. The bracing is by two pieces of bamboo fixed in an X shape and at an angle of 60o-70o over the section of bamboo to be braced. For multi-storey structures it is required to tie the scaffolding to the building often through 6mm dia mild steel bars (putlogs) pre-fixed to concrete at every floor. A prop is also required between the building and the scaffolding to prevent the leaning of the scaffolding towards the building. The canes are not treated even at their connections and only lashed joints are used. The cane extension is carried out by lashing the cane ends together by using several ties. The ties are arranged in such that force acting vertically downwards wedges the nodes in the lashing. By tightening the ropes between the canes the friction can be increased to the maximum. The vertical and horizontal canes used for scaffolding are joined using soft lashing. This technique has a great advantage that the joints can be tensioned to the right degree without difficulty and even released quickly. -Dunkelberg, Klaus: Bamboo as a building material, in: IL31 Bambus, Karl Krà ¤mer Verlag Stuttgart 1992. 3.1 Mechanical and Structural Properties Bamboo, being a circular, hollow structure has certain mechanical and structural advantages and disadvantages as compared to a rectangular solid timber of the same cross-section. These advantages/disadvantages are, in other instances, complemented or accentuated by the cellulose fiber make-up of the bamboo. These comparative analyses are tabulated in Table 1.0. Some rules of thumb for the relationship between the mass per volume of bamboo and some mechanical properties have been derived by INBAR and Janseen (1991). These are given in Table 2.0. Also, various tests for strength and mechanical properties and design rules have been put forward by INBAR (ISO-22156, 22157, ISO/DTR-23157.2). Comparative Mechanical Properties of Bamboo and Rectangular Lumber (Janssen, 2001) Table 1.0: Comparative Mechanical Properties of Bamboo and Rectangular Lumber (Janssen, 2001) Property Bamboo Rectangular Lumber Assumptions 1. Moment of Inertia, I I = 0.40A2 I = 0.16A2 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ For most bamboos, d = internal diameter = 0.82D à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ For timber, mostly h = 2 x b 2. Optimum Material Use, EI 4900A2 2240A2 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Cellulose = 70,000N/mm2 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ E fiber = 35,000N/mm2 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ 50% of cross- section of fiber is cellulose. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Eà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€ 350x% of fibers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ In bamboos, fiber is 60% on outside and 10% on inside, hence E outside = 35060 = 21,000N/mm2 and E inside = 35010 = 3500N/mm2 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Edahoma = 14,000N/mm2 Bending à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Compression stress during bending may result in transverse strain in fibers of top face of culm. Lignin in fibres is weak in strain. Coherence in cross- section is lost and EI drops dramatically. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If load removed culm returns to original straight form. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Timber will not regain original length when load is removed. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Poisson coefficient for bamboo = 0.3. 4. Shear à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Shear in neutral layer = 1.3x shear for timber à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Smaller thickness to resist shear. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Larger forces on bolt fasteners at joints. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Advantage of not having a ray structure is nullified by hollow nature. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Larger thickness to resist shear. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Has rays. Rays are mechanically weak. Hence, timber material is weaker in shear than bamboo material. 5. Torsion à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Better torsional resistance due to circular shape. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Poorer torsional resistance because of sharp corners. Table 1.0 (Contd) Property Bamboo Rectangular Lumber Assumptions 6. Wind Resistance à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Bending stress due to wind is constant over height of culm. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ At top (near skin) vessels decrease and cellulose replaces vessels, leading to increase resistance to bending stress. 7. 8. Compression Density à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Because of hollow nature and thus greater distance of solid mass from center, longitudinal shortening is greater and thus greater the likelihood of lateral strain in lignin. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Friction due to clamping at top and bottom of culm reduces lateral strain. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Amount of lignin deter- mines compressive strength not cellulose. 700 800kg/m3 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Solid nature makes for better compression resistance and reduced lateral strain. 850kg/m3 Table 2.0: Rules of Thumb Factors for Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Air-dry bamboo Bending Compression Shear E 0.14 0.094 0.021 24 Green bamboo 0.11 0.075 Ultimate stress (N/mm2) = Factor x mass/volume (in kg/m3) 1 Allowable stress à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€  7 x Ultimate stress JANSSEN, J.J.A., 2000. Designing and Building with Bamboo. INBAR Technical Report No.20, page no. 18-23 3.2 Earthquake Resistance Bamboo, being lightweight and hollow, makes it naturally highly resistant to earthquake (because it has high stiffness in relation to its weight). That, it does not shatter at failure means that when the earthquake is over the building can be left standing with relatively minor damage; providing shelter whiles the damage is being repaired. In a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in April, 1961, in Costa Rica, 20 bamboo houses were left standing near the epicenter (Janssen, 2000). 4.1 Problems related to Bamboo. 4.1.1 Structure The available bamboo tends not to be very straight, have variable diameters, culm thickness and show marked tapering. These attributes have a costly effect on preliminary attempts at construction in bamboo, as will be indicated later. 4.1.2 Insect and Fungi Attack More than anything else, the problem with bamboo is pest and fungi attack. Insect attack is through the relatively softer tissues in the inside wall of the cavity wall and at the budding points in the nodes. Fungi attack is severe when the bamboo is exposed to damp conditions. Various methods exist for prevention of these attacks (Jayanetti and Follet, 1998). They range from the sophisticated modified Boucherie process, through immersion in a boric acid/borax mixture in water, injection and painting with creosote, to hanging in a flowing stream immediately after harvesting for at least a week for the sugary ingredients to be washed out. Traditional preservation methods also exist such as curing, smoking and lime-washing. The real effects of such traditional methods are not known since they have not been documented and quantified. 4.1.3 Fire risk 4.1.4 No standardisation possible: no 2 culms are alike 4.1.5Maintenance 4.1.6Difficulty of making the junctions of the culms 4.1.7 No construction skills with bamboo culms in non-bamboo available countries 4.2 Measures to be taken 4.2.1Treatment of the surface For small parts this information about bleaching and dyeing are determined for kite-constructions. though it can ´t support enough weight. Bleaching and dyeing possibly can change the structure of the bamboo that far, nevertheless these methods should be introduced. 4.2.2 Bleaching: For removing traces of resin or wax bleaching in hydrogen peroxide can be done. The bamboo will get perished if it stays long. 4.2.3 Dyeing: There are different traditional styles of bleaching in different countries. In principle: 1. The color can ´t penetrate into the bamboo if at all the wax is removed. 2. The color will become more regular if it is bleached before dying. 3. Fix the color in a solution of vinegar after dying. 4.2.4 Other methods: In Japan, the surface will be peeled off, hydrochloride acid is put on the bamboo and the canes are put in an oven. The canes get a brown color. treating the canes with copper sulfate will give a green color to the bamboo and protects it from mold. These methods only dye the surface of the bamboo. To get a through and through dyeing, the bamboo can be carbonized. The bamboo is put into a boiler and is incubated with a pressure of 5 kg/cm ³ and a temperature of 150 ° C for 20-30 min. After that, the bamboo will be brown through and through. -K. A. Solomon-Ayeh,USE OF BAMBOO FOR BUILDINGS, Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI), page no 5-7

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Masculinity and Evolutionary Psychology Essay -- Gender Roles

When attempting to explain something as intangible and complex as human behavior it is difficult to devise experiments that lead to conclusive results. Sometimes complex problems are easier to solve when they are broken down into smaller pieces or into simpler problems that are more approachable. Using human evolution to explain human behavior is such an example. Evolutionary psychology reaches for the roots of human development when they were in their most basic stages to explain why people behave the way they do. Specifically, explaining human masculinity through science has been a major focus of evolutionary psychology. This paper seeks to explain why masculinity cannot be explained by sociology alone and will present evidence that certain male behavior such as aggression can be explained through evolutionary psychology and sexual selection. When considering the source of human behavior people often argue about how much human behavior is encoded genetically and how much is learned through interaction with society and the environment. This â€Å"nature versus nurture† debate arises frequently when discussing many aspects of human behavior. In an essay entitled â€Å"The Gender Blur: Where Does Biology End and Society Take Over,† Pulitzer Prize-winning professor of journalism Deborah Blum draws the conclusion that both nature and nurture must be taken into account to explain human behavior. Her conclusions are drawn principally from childhood behavior and her discussions with noted scientists. As a parent she observed that her son loved dinosaurs from the early age of two-and-a-half years old. However, she noticed that â€Å"he loved dinosaurs, but only the blood-swilling carnivores. Plant-eaters were wimps and lose... ...odern male behavior. Works Cited Blum, Deborah. â€Å"The Gender Blur: Where Does Biology End and Society Take Over?† Signs of Life In the USA: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. Ed. Sonia Maasik. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. Crawford, Charles and Dennis L. Krebs. Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology: Ideas, Issues, and Applications. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1998. Daly, Martin and Margo Wilson. â€Å"Darwinism and the Roots of Machismo.† Scientific American (2002). Kenyon, Paul. â€Å"Overview of Evolutionary Psychology and Mating Strategies.† Human Behavior and Evolution Society. 2000. University of Plymouth. 4 Apr. 2000 . Peterson, Dale, and Richard Wrangham. Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence. Mariner Books, 1997.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

What Did We Learn from the Vietnam War? Essay -- Vietnam War Essays

â€Å"Teaching the Vietnam War makes one realize how the shape of a narrative determines, and is determined by, its content† (Franklin 246). The Vietnam War was one of America’s most controversial wars. Many of its aspects are still plagued with great uncertainty. Those aspects of the Vietnam War are argued and debated about, they were argued during the time of the war and the arguing has continued. The Vietnam War was indeed a time of confusion. Why did the war start? What was the United States’ real reason for getting involved? What was the objective of the war? What were the American soldiers really fighting, or in reality, dying for? How do you explain a war to someone who has not experienced firsthand, especially if you were not around yourself? There is no real answer. You can give the facts and figures, but that leaves out the true grit of a war. The human perspective must also be given. As with any war, the Vietnam War had many perspective: th e protestors, the politician, and lastly, but most importantly, the soldier (Although there are many other stories that could and should be told). Through the facts and figures and the eyes of those who were there, an individual could learn about the Vietnam War, although how many actually want to understand war is uncertain. The facts and figures are one of the first things that should be learned about the war (Although many would argue the facts). The Vietnamese waged an anti-colonial war against France between 1945 and 1954. They received $2.6 billion in financial aid from the United States to aid their efforts. The Geneva Convention followed the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu, where Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam all received independence. Vietnam was momentarily divide... ...n Vietnamese deaths. Still today, many Americans still ask whether the American effort in the Vietnam War was necessary, a sin, a mistake, or a noble cause, or an idealistic, if failed, effort to protect the South Vietnamese people from the North. In order to truly understand the war you and to determine your own answer to the many questions it is still pending, you must look at the war from every perspective and understand the many facts it produced. Dr. Carl Sagan wrote, â€Å"You have to know the past to understand the present†. The Vietnam War is a large part of America’s past. It is important to know of the Vietnam War and to know of those who experienced, so you may learn of how America came to be as it is today and were it may be heading, of whether or not we learned from our mistakes or if we are destined to repeats those made during the Vietnam War again.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Tesla: Internal Combustion Engine and Electric Vehicle

Situation Analysis Tesla Motors incorporated is recognized as a leader in quality innovation for its electric powertrain engineering, performance and battery technology. Tesla was founded in 2003 with a conceptual thought of a fully electric, lithium ion powered vehicle that is eco-friendly, aesthetic appealing and a premier performance competitor. Their business plan was simple and had three steps. First, develop a high-end performance sports car to prove that electric vehicle (EV) were both cool and feasible and also can product economically.Second, develop luxury sedan/SUV that would compete with high-end brands like Mercedes, Audi and BMW. Third, mass produce low cost electric vehicles to compete in general category. In 2004, the company raised initial venture capital, while designing their first vehicle, the â€Å"Roadster†, later that year. Initially, the company was primarily funded my Elon Musk and other venture capital investors. The pooled funds fell short of the cap ital needed to fund the manufacturing facility and the latest Model S project. In 2009 Daimler bought preferred stock in Tesla for $50M and in 2010 Toyota invested $50M and Panasonic $30M in stock options.Three months after the Model S unveiling the Department of Energy announced in Jan 2010 that it would loan Tesla $465 million to bring the sedan to market as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, other major manufacturer received substantially higher loan amounts, Ford was awarded $5. 9 billion, and Nissan got $1. 6 billion . In 2010 company acquired New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI) factory in Fremont, California, which was developed as joint manufacturing facility between GM and Toyota. It’s a 5. 5 million square feet plant and contains plastics molding factory, two paint facilities, 1. miles of assembly lines, and a 50-megawatt power plant . Tesla Motors Company is trying to transform the future of electric cars by providing new mea ning to fully electric vehicles as not just only eco-friendly but also attractive and fun to drive. Most other companies tried and introduced all electric vehicles in late last century but none was able to mass produce it economically. Tesla Motors has sold over 2300 Roadster across the world, delivered its first Model S in June 2012 and is currently building its electric sedan at a rate of 80 per week rate (Sep 2012).This vehicle completely set itself apart from its competitor with its efficiency, performance and technology breakthroughs. The company plans is to build 5,000 by the end of 2012 and increase its production to 20,000 cars in 2013. Being a small and startup player in electric auto industry, Tesla Motors has freedom to build the sales model from ground zero that’s very untraditional. Forget traditional dealerships, their Tesla’s main sales locations are in malls and their cars are delivered directly to customers. 2. 1 Market Summary Why electric vehicle?Ris ing gasoline prices, depleting oil reserves, growing pollution, increasing environment awareness, is creating the market for clean and efficient vehicles. There’s no doubt in my mind that in near future this will become the preferred mode of transportation across the world. Currently EV technology is at its infancy but commitment from government and manufacturer will soon take it to next level by building the infrastructure for next generation vehicles. 2. 1. 1 Market Demographics a)Geographics Tesla Motors is a California based company that currently operates in Northa America, Europe, and Japan.All sales are handled through its headquarters in North America, with brokerage service centers located in major metropolitan areas, such as Paris, London, Munich and Tokyo. Tesla has a minute number of stores, when compared to other automobile competitors. A large portion of Tesla’s sales are handled online, which minimializes costs, and adds to the company’s overall e fficiency. Shopping malls, in upscale city centers, in addition to affluent regions of the country that with have a high technological demandappreciate the latest technological developments, are among a few other key points the company considers when entering a new market.With gas prices continuing to move upwards, Tesla’s sale centers will most likely spreadfan to less populated regions as the demand for more economically efficient vehicle increases. b)Demographics Targeted customers are educated affluentrich males who are early adopters in their 30s, 40s, and 50s+ who are in market for performance sports car with pricing range $50,000 and up . c)Psychographics Environmentally conscious customers who want great performance car with zero tailpipe emission manufactured and assembled in U. S. d)BehaviorsModel S will provide customers the option who want alternative to traditional gasoline engine sports performance car with next generation technology. 2. 1. 2 Market Needs Electr ic Vehicle (EVs) technology presents a ready, viable and clear way to reduce our emissions. also tTheir design is very simple compared to other conventional gasoline power automobiles as they don’t need traditional drive shafts and gear box to transform the power from engine to wheel. EVs have electric motor directly coupled to drive wheels, which is powered by rechargeable battery packs.EVs have some key advantages over internal combustion engines . †¢Electric vehicle efficiency is 3. 75 times that of internal combustion engine. †¢Eco-friendly as no tailpipe gases output. †¢Very smooth operation due lack of gear box. †¢Quiet driving experience. 2. 1. 3 Market Trends In 2011, the total sales of electric vehicles reached 18,000, with the help of GM’s Volt and Nissan’s Leaf. When comparing the 2011 U. S. total sales for each electric vehicle manufacturer, with the 2012 sales forecast, the growth potential looks quite impressive.Expectations are assumed to increase upwards to 300% year over year . According to â€Å"Global & United States Electric Vehicles Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2017† the electric vehicle market will witness phenomenal growth in the near future . In 2011 total global revenue from this market was close to 54 Billion USD, showing some promise for environmentally friendly vehicles. For the most part, consumers are cautious when a unique product is introduced to the market. As more electric cars are introduced, consumer confidence will rise, assuming the quality is still maintained.Tesla has a worldwide presence, which means economies, foreign and abroad, need be taken into consideration. The 2013 worldwide trend for auto manufacturing will be incorporating efficiency and connectivity in current and new vehicle models. Electric vehicle design and creation came in third on the auto industries radar. The economic conditions worldwide pose some risk to the automotive industry. When looking at GDP for developed market, aggregately, it has been on a declining more then increasing since 2006.With the contraction, comes a fiscal squeeze to the consumers’ disposable income. In tangentConsequently, inessential items, such as performance electric vehicles, are put lower on consumer demand list. This section should include some information in all the subcategories listed. Demographic trends: Babyboomers have more disposable income than Gen X and Gen Y. There are lots of sources of that. Technological: Include some information about expensive technological innovations consumers have accepted such as iPads, LCD TVs, etc. While many people in the U.S. are suffering from the effects of the recession, others are able to buy expensive technologies for their personal enjoyment. Cultural: Increase in environmental awareness. Lots of articles about that. Regulatory: Tax breaks for electric cars. Economic: Not everyone has been equally affected by the recession. The increase in the co st of gasoline provides an incentive to choose more fuel efficient vehicles. 2. 1. 4 Market Growth All major automakers are preparing to launch electric and hybrid vehicle in wide-range of categories in next five years.The market for electric vehicle will be very competitive and depend upon economy and primarily on gasoline price. Model S fills a void in current luxury market for electric vehicle as currently there’s no real competitive product out in market to compete that could match its performance, style and efficiency. Overall cost of ownership will definitely draw buyers from similar priced gasoline models from BMW, Mercedes and Audi. Model S looks out to be a successful product as company has sold out Model S production orders for 2012 year.Projected market growth for next 4 years. Source: CSM Auto and J. P. Morgan 2. 2 Competition Tesla Model S is designed to position as high-tech luxury sedan car that deliver the sports performance without compromising it efficiency while maintaining zero tailpipe emission. Model S will also challenge the traditional dealership sales model as its based upon Apple retail approach that position the company as independent and innovative. Tesla will compete with all other EVs, hybrid and also gasoline vehicles in automobile market.Overall in current luxury market its competitors will be Audi, BMW and Mercedes. While Tesla has no direct competitors at this time, some prestigious automakers have achieved remarkable levels of fuel efficiency. You need to look at some of the German car makes such as BMW and Audi. You should also see what electric cars are being planned for the future. 2. 3 SWOT 2. 3. 1 Strength’s Tesla is currently one of the only high performance electric vehicles on the market, with exception to the Fisker Karma, allowing for the company to be first in line for consumers as well as investors.Being that it is the first of its kind; the company has attracted a number of young, talented engineers , a highly qualified CEO, and a number of interested third parties. With a Department of Energy loan, helping subsidize its facility, and orders piling up, the company is not short on market orders. Tesla has already established a worldwide presence with dealerships located in many of the major cities. The product itself is fully customizable, allowing each individual consumer to have a hand in the overall process at a price that rivals other premier sports vehicles such as Porsche, Mercedes and BMW. 2. . 2 Weakness’s The company itself is young and thus holds some immaturity in the automobile market today. It has 24 locations in North America and an additional 14 worldwide . It plans to open an additional 10 stores this coming year with costs estimated at $500,000- $1,000,000 depending on the market. One key disadvantage to the automobile maker is its unreliable cash flow. The current roadster model is too expensive for the average consumer, and in the current economic envir onment sales are essential. With additional capital flowing into store construction, future earnings could be affected downward.The low availability of electric charging stations. 2. 3. 3 Opportunities The Model S is the next generation of Tesla Motors incorporated. The lower price point, starting at $49,900, is much more attractive to the average consumer. The Model S has opened additional doors for Tesla; on March of 2012, Athlon Leasing signed an agreement to purchase 150 vehicles for its inventory across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Once acquired, 50% of Athlon’s Model S inventories were immediately put on hold by their consumers .Consumers today are more aware of their individual carbon footprint and are thus in search of a more sustainable option when it comes to vehicles. With future technology being smaller, faster and cheaper, we can expect the charge rate for the lithium-ion technology to improve, becoming more attractive to your dista nt commuter and or additional energy sources to be invented. As of now, there is a 300 mile cap on the new Model S. Assuming our economy continues to rely on foreign oil supply and not up our efforts in North America; the price of gasoline is expected to climb above and beyond inflation. INSERT GRAPH) As the cost of owning a hybrid, and or full combustion vehicle trends upward due to the gasoline variable, you’ll see a shift from these vehicles to full electric due to the foregone opportunity. Tesla is also looking to develop additional models at lower price points. They have and SUV, the Model X, which isn’t cheaper, but on the right track to consumer needs with expanding their inventory. Lastly, Tesla Motors incorporated not only looks to be branded by as an auto manufacturer, but also as a resource to other industry leaders.It currently supplies electric powertrains to other automakers, including Toyota for its RAV4 Electric. It is also working with SolarCity, anoth er company Musk has invested in, to supply batteries to back up WalMart’s solar panels at 90 stores . 2. 3. 4Threats Other companies will be Tesla’s biggest threat. With consumer demand continuing to grow for a low cost, fully electric vehicle option, it’s only a matter of time before major auto manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, Nissan, and Toyota enter the market. With visible market share already present, this poses a huge threat to Tesla’s continued demand and thus bottom line.The comparable expected production from these major automakers will be more expensive than average gasoline fueled vehicles, but all less than the Model S. Elon Musk stated, â€Å"We can show that it's technologically possible to other manufacturers. If Tesla doesn’t make it I hope we have nonetheless served that purpose. I don't want to sound dour but it's definitely going to be a tough six months. † In addition, there are some possible downsides to using a fully electric vehicle. One, being if the Model S is left uncharged for greater than 11 weeks and the battery itself is rendered useless.Not covered under warranty, this could pose some issues for major rental arenas such as airports, who do not have the charging capacity for their entire inventory. Once the battery is discharged, it is rendered useless and would need to be replaced in order for the vehicle to be fully operational. The costs to maintenance in replacing the lithium ion battery can be upwards to $40,000 per vehicle . Two, manufacturing and labor costs, inefficient production and high prices for parts, could shy investor and consumers from the company as a whole.On that note, TSLA shares fell 9. 78%, after possible sale rumors surfaced, and ill production numbers hit for the third quarter 2012 for Tesla Motors incorporated. With this lowered guidance, expected gross margins could be impacted negatively due to the Model S delivery limitations. A total of 2,700 to 3,2 50 units are expected to be produced, down from the previous expectation of 5,000. Consumers may find the inefficient use of capital a point of weakness in the young company, and thus hold off on purchases until Tesla maturity is rendered.

Monday, September 16, 2019

A Review on Lifeboat Ethics Essay

Lifeboat ethics: the case against helping the poor is a famous essay written by Garret Hardin, a human ecologist in 1974. This article aims to re examine the lifeboat ethics which was developed by the author to support his controversial proposal. In the theory, the world is compared to a lifeboat with a carrying capacity of 60. There are totally 50 people on board, representing comparatively rich nations, while the 100 others swimming in the ocean outside the lifeboat stands for the poor nations. To solve the dilemma of whether the swimmers should be allowed to climb aboard at the risk of lifeboat’s safety, Hardin suggested that no admission should be granted to boat, or to interpret it in a straight way, no humanitarian aids should be offered to the poor countries. Regardless of the additional factors which the author took into consideration from the real world in the essay, in my opinion, the basic metaphor itself is questionable. Firstly, the status of the lifeboat is not an accurate reflection of reality. Arguably, natural resources of the earth are finite, however, this does not equal to the scarcity of resources in the control of the rich nations. On the contrary, nowadays in the developed countries, what the rich have used is out of proportion to their actual needs, which not only leads to colossal waste each year but also creates disposal problems. A familiar example is the popularity of losing weight among the western world, which is not solely a way of pursing beauty but also a clear indication of the growing number of obese people who consume food excessively. In contrast, in the third world especially poverty-stricken nations like Ethiopia, millions of people are filled with untold suffering. They drag themselves on the street from day to day, begging for only a slice of stale bread. Due to the unfair distribution of resources caused by the affluent people’s favorable political position, most rich nations currently obtain more than enough resources and they are still casting their greedy eyes on the untapped poor regions. In the light of the facts above, in the lifeboat metaphor people on board actually occupy  more room than normal and the real carrying capacity of a lifeboat is more than 60. With no admission given to those swimmers who are in need, the room is not allocated â€Å"to each according to his needs†, a principle the author cited in explanation of the rationale behind the lifeboat ethics. The second doubtful point is related to Hardin’s computation of conscience. In defense of the survivors’ guilt arising from not helping the poor, he claimed that â€Å"the net result of conscience-stricken people giving up their unjustly held seats is the elimination of that sort of conscience from the lifeboat†. He defined guilty about one’s good luck as a type of conscience and the newcomer’s lack of guilt about the rich people’s loss as conscience drain; but the author deliberately omitted the morality of rich people’s indifference to the poor asking for help. Counting the negative effects on total conscience in the lifeboat if no rescue is attempted, the final solution to the lifeboat dilemma might be changed. Essentially, the author’s negligence of social injustice against impoverished people and the ethical issue indifference is just a result of his bias for the rich countries. To improve the general population quality, the author repeatedly emphasized the necessity of reproduction control in poor nations and increasing the proportion of rich nation’s population. This suggestion in fact is based on the assumption that the people in rich nations are innately superior to their counterparts in poor countries, which is an apparent violation of the creed that everyone is born equal. In conclusion, the poor people should not be the sacrifice of the population growth in the developed regions. Logic and rigorous as the essay Lifeboat ethics: the case against helping the poor may appear to be, the author wrote more on behalf of the countries on board, group of which he belonged to. The author urged people to get rid of sentiment and make rational decisions, but ironically he himself deceived his mind with prejudice and sense of superiority.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Happiest Moment

Everyday I wake up feeling grumpy . It ‘s a brand new day , but I know nothing new will happen . It ‘s the same old school-house routine and I ‘ve grown tired of it . School can be really boring sometimes . Or maybe most of the time . One day , in one of our group works in school , an outreach program actually , we were asked to visit a home for street children . The group ‘s task was to conduct some sort of a peer tutorial session with the street children in subjects like math and science.We were to teach them just the basics — addition , subtraction , the human body . Stuff like that . In the process , we were also to observe their behavior and how they respond to us . I thought to myself , great . So I ‘ll spend my whole morning with a bunch of street kids . From what I know , street kids are mostly ill-mannered . What a waste of time , I know I won ‘t get anything from it anyway . I might even get into a fight with those kids . But still I went to the home just to comply with the school requirement . I almost dragged my feet when we entered the home.The home supervisor met us at the entrance and led us to a room which she called their play area . When we opened the door , about 20 kids gleefully greeted us , â€Å"Good morning , visitors ‘ I was surprised , and so were my group mates . I saw and felt the excitement of the children knowing that visitors were arriving in their home . Then they all sat down quietly , eager to listen to whatever we will be teaching them that day . My group mates and I introduced ourselves to the children and we started with the lessons right away.Good thing my group mates prepared some games that were related to the s we taught to the kids . I had so much fun , I even found myself cheering on the kids during the relay games . Time passed quickly that morning . Before we knew it , it was already time to go . As we were packing up our things , a kid approached me and said ,  "Thank you ‘ and hugged me tightly . She smiled to me then left to join the other kids who were already in the dining area having their lunch . It was my happiest moment.I ‘ve never appreciated school activities like that before , and I ‘ve never felt appreciated like that before either . Perhaps my grumpiness has always engulfed me . Since that day at the home , I started to notice things that I never minded noticing before . I observed that my mom always smiled at me while she ‘s preparing my breakfast , and that my classmates always greeted me whenever I see them . My teachers praise me when I get A ‘s in my tests . I realized there are so many beautiful things happening around me and I am surrounded with wonderful people . There are a lot†¦

“A Raisin In A Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry Essay

I have a dream†¦ â€Å"A dream deeply rooted in the American Dream.† â€Å"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live without the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"we hold these truths to be self- evident: that all me are created equal.† â€Å"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judge by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.† â€Å"I have a dream that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with white boys and white girls are walk together as sisters and brothers.† Martin Luther King Jr. In the play â€Å"A Raisin In A Sun† by Lorraine Hansberry is essentially about dreams, including the American Dream. The play takes place around the 1950’s in Chicago’s south side, when segregation was still around. In this play you meet a cast of people with dreams of a better life that compares the novel â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† with Martin Luther King’s speech â€Å"I Have a Dream.† It Analyzes the similar themes found in play like racial injustice, socio-economic discrimination, dream fulfillment and the fact that it takes place during the same time. There are many aspects that are discussed in both â€Å" A Raisin in the Sun† and â€Å"I have a dream† speech. Perhaps the most important of those are racial injustice, socio-economic discrimination, unity, and the struggles for the American dream. In this play there are many different dreams, Mama’s dream is to create a better life for her family. The American dream, which is the idea of success that involves owning a house, being able to provide a better life for your family and to attain certain material objects. Mama’s dream is the American dream of moving her family out the small cramped house and into a bigger house, that is perfect for a family of five with a yard children can play and where she can tend a garden. For many African Americans during the 1950’s â€Å"The American dream† was to be treated equally and before that their dream was freedom, an end to slavery.Martin Luther King’s famous â€Å"I Have a Dream Speech† and the play â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† have many similarities. They both have the  desire for black and white equality. They also want to make a change and live the way they feel is right for them to live. They both willing to take chances in doing so and begin to achieve by trying. A Raisin in the Sun and â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech both deal with many issues but none more important than injustice. Racism was the root cause of all the discrimination and injustice African Americans faced. Martin Luther King Jr. speech and Lorraine Hansberry both are examples of the starving freedom of black American and both speak the truth of the realities of life and dreams for the future of all Americans. Even after many years of African Americans being released from slavery and became free Americans, they were still treated the same and that they are not actually free until the people are all equal regardless to skin color. Walter Lee and Martin Luther King Jr. both make the same points because they both have their big dreams and are willing to do anything to make their dreams come true. A dream is to envision another life or characteristic that could be better or worse than what the person already has. In the case of most people it is a dream that is positive. People mainly are selfish dreamers who dream only about themselves but there are some who dream about the world or others such as friends and family. Two examples of these types of dreamers are Mama and Martin Luther King Jr. In Dr. King’s speech he brings up that his dream is not only for him but also for others with the same problem. He is a caring dreamer, one who believes others come first then him. Mama is this type of dreamer because her dreams are for her family and the well being of them. Even though Mama’s dream is not as deep or motivational as Dr. King, it is still a non-selfish dream. Mama’s dream was to get a house that was more suitable to live in then the current house that the Youngers live in. Which was dirty and small. They were cramped up and highly uncomfortable, it was defiantly not a proper house for five people and a baby on the way. Therefore Mama’s dream of having better living qualities was a smart investment. â€Å"Them houses they put up for colored in them areas way out all seem to cost twice as much as other houses. She found a nice house for a good price in a White neighborhood; white neighborhoods had bigger and cheaper homes then black neighborhoods. She found the best deal as she said her self: I did the best I could† (Act 2. Scene 1.93) Mama thinks she chose the best option for the family and she did. This can be related to Marin  Luther King Jr.’s dream as well.He dreamed of a world where black and whites and all races would live in peace. He envisioned that there would be no hate because of skin tone or place of origin. He dreamt that â€Å"We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one† (â€Å"I Have a Dream† by Martin Luther King Jr.) By this line he meant that they should not stop fighting for equal rights until they move out of little suburban areas classified as ghettos. Once again that speech can relate to Walter Lee, when he finally takes a stand in his â€Å"manly hood† and shows his pride in his family. The story ended as him being the head of the family because he took control and became a family man by rejected an offer from a white businessman to stay out of a white neighborhood and to stay with all blacks. When Travis smiles up at his father; this is when Walter Lee has a sudden change of heart. He explains to Mr. Lindner that his family members are plain proud people and how his father worked for decades as a laborer, which his father basically earned the right for his family to move into their new home in Clybourne Park. They have come so far and worked so hard why turned it down, they have earned it, its only fare. Walter realizes and rediscovers his self-worth, Self-respect and self-esteem and he proves this when he said to Mr. Lindner that â€Å"the sixth generation of our family in this country.† He finally reclaims his personal pride, defends his family’s historical right to be treated fairly in their country, and to protect his family’s dignity. They both reflect the conditions that African Americans had to go through to get equality from discrimination and segregation.It was clear that in both accounts of dreams that there was a time to strike and in both accounts that time was now. Both the Youngers and black people of the Civil Rights Movement had one common dream hidden by many materialistic desires: dignity, equality, and progress. Dr. King said, â€Å"I have a dream today!† Walter Younger wants to make a business deal that could help him obtain dignity, equalit y, and progress for his family, and the insurance money that Mama will get is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. A rare opportunity, that opens the door to propositions that could help his family acquire those qualities. Both Walter and Dr. King are telling their families and followers that the time for change is now and that change is a now or never deal.While one was real and one was not, the desire, dreams, and struggles mentioned in the speech matched those of the novel perfectly. Martin Luther King and the characters of â€Å"A Raisin In A Sun† had the same ambitions, which included a better life for future generations, liberation from the unfair living conditions of African-American citizens, and the importance on the urgency necessary for making these dreams happen. Both pieces represented a fight, one for a family, and one for a group of millions. As well as wars against inequality, injustice, and unfairness were won.Mama historically represents Rosa Parks because she acts as a leader through out the story. They both spoke up for what they believed in. Mama speaking up gave he courage and wisdom. The courage Rosa Parks had was when she got arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus because of what she believe and in the human rights. Just like Mama when she stood up for her husband, when Walter Lee was not setting an example for his rights. She didn’t not want him to take Mr. Lindner offer of money in exchange of his family not to moving in to its dream house in a white neighborhood because she believed in her and her family’s rights. Therefore she also stood up for what she believes in and the human rights.The Great Migration was a period in American history where blacks moved north to escape the Jim Crow laws and prejudice of the South. The civil rights movement brought enlightenment towards the abolishment of segregation laws. Although the laws are gone, one might ask, â€Å"does segregation still exist? â€Å" Yes it does but our segregation problems now aren’t just about race. They’re about income too, and the web of connections between what it means to be poor and a person of color in the city. Not only are people segregated by race and by income, meaning that people of color are likely to live with other people of color and poor people are likely to live with poor people. For example in East Harlem there isn’t really any healthy places to eat just fast food and the supermarkets are pricy. If you were to go downtown were wealthy people live thru have a variety of healthy places to eat that is affordable as well as their supermarkets like Trader Joes. In today’s society one can agree with Walter Lee that life now is about money, t is now the rich vs. the poor.In the beginning of the play it mentions their dreams being deferred, which means their hope of full equality is postponed.† What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Langston Hughes wrote the poem, and Lorraine Hansberry was inspired by both by the poem and by her own real-life experience to write A  Raisin in the Sun. This play was the first play on Broadway that was written by an African-American woman as well as the first African American to direct a play on Broadway. The play was inspired by Hansberry’s own experience with racism and housing discrimination. Her father was tried to buy a house in a white neighborhood much like the one in the play but he was blocked because in the 1950’s African American could not get housing in good neighborhoods because of the color of their skin. They were still segregated, and many times they were treated violently. They were unable to find good paying jobs as they were overlooked in favor of white people. Often times, they received inadequate medical care, and were made to wait for treatment in hospitals while white folks got treatment first. As a ch ild, Hansberry’s family became one of the first to move into a white neighborhood. When their neighbors rebelled, both with threats of violence and legal action, the Hansberry’s defended themselves; Hansberry’s father successfully brought his case all the way to the Supreme Court. Her father sued and won a partial victory in the US Supreme Court. Lorraine Hansberry used her play A Raisin In A Sun to tell people about her own life struggle with racism and female discrimination. Her play shows us her problems were handled with determination and a will to keep striving for her goal of becoming a writer. Langston Hughes anticipated such an uprising in his poem, just as Hansberry illustrated the effects of a dream deferred by the Youngers. Raisin answers the last line of Hughes’ poem: â€Å"Or does it explode?† Indeed it did, and Raisin became a beacon for a changing nation. Hansberry was also the first black playwright as well as he youngest to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. Since then, the drama about a black family’s dream to move into a white neighborhood in pre-civil-rights-era Chicago has been translated into 30 languages and has been continually produced in church basements, community halls, school auditoriums, and professional theaters.A dream deferred is a dream put off to another time, each character from A Raisin in the Sun had a deferred dream, and their dreams become dried up like a raisin in the sun. Not just dreams are dried up though; Walter Lee and Ruth’s marriage became dried up also. Their marriage was no longer of much importance, like a dream it was post-phoned and it became dry. Their struggle for happiness dried up because they had to concentrate all of their energies on surviving. Their needs seem no longer  to be satisfied by each other. But they both saw a resolution in the insurance check arriving in the mail. The money would let Ruth fulfill her dream of owning her own house and leaving the apartment. Money seemed to get in the way of all of their dreams. It was the force that controlled their lives. The money is like the sun that leaves no choice to the grape but to dry up until a raisin never the less it does not mean that the raisin is no longer good, it is still sweet. Dreams are good to shoot for, but don’t let them ruin your life trying to fulfill them (Robinson). At the end Ruth and Walter Lee reconcile because they still loved each other, Walter took her out a date to the movies, where they finally had some quality time. Ruth sees hope in their marriage as she describes her date to Beneatha: Ruth: â€Å" we went to the movies. We went to the movies. You know the last time ma and Walter went to the movies together?† Beneatha: â€Å"No.† Ruth: â€Å"Me either. That’s how long it’s been (smiling again) but we went last night. The picture wasn’t much good, but that didn’t seem to matter. We went and we held hands.† (Act 1 . Scene 2.51) this shows that once Walter has control over money, he becomes much more affectionate with Ruth and that there is still love between them. Many dream in raisin in the sun were deferred like Beneatha’s dream of becoming a doctor and to save her race from ignorance. The first part of her dream may be deferred because of the money Walter loses. Her dream is also one deferred for all women. Beneatha lives in a time when society expects women to build homes rather than careers. In other words play the role of a housewife. Women were also discriminated around this time, women weren’t really admitted to medical school, same with law school, teachers and they were not even allow to sit in jury.Walter’s dream of owning his own business has been so long deferred and left â€Å"festering† of his family. The â€Å"open sores† of his deferred dream blind him to the consequences of his actions and to the ache he causes Mama Younger. After Willy Harris convinces Walter that investing in the liquor store is a great idea, Willy takes Walter’s money and runs. It is because of the thieving Willy Harris that Walter’s dream is deferred.The dream of owning your own business and having all the money you will ever need is a goal held by many in society, then and now. Walter Lee Younger becomes obsessed with his dream of a business venture that will give him financial and social independence, after getting and losing the  money that will help this dream become reality he realizes that pride and dignity are more important for him and his family. There are also many symbols in â€Å"A Raisin In The Sun† but one important symbol that represented dreams was Mama’s plant. It was weak but resilient; it represented her dream of living in a bigger house with a lawn. Whenever she tends to her plant, she symbolically shows her dedication to her dream. The first thing that Mama does in the morning as mention in the beginning of the play in Act 1 towards the ending of Scene 1 is that is that she goes to the window, opens it, and brings in a feeble little plant growing doggedly in a small pot on the window. The plant is just as important as her dream. Mama admits that the plant has never had enough sunshine but still survives. In other words, her dream has always been deferred but still remains strong. When Beneatha asks why Mama would want to keep that â€Å"raggedy-looking old thing,† Mama Younger replies: â€Å"It expresses me.†(Actv2. Scene 3) At the end of the play, Mama decides to bring the plant with her to their new home. While it initially stands for her deferred dream, now, as her dream comes true, it reminds her of her strength in working and waiting for so many years. Her plant will also have a new home and beginning for it may now get more sunlight in its bigger home.In conclusion for all these reasons, A Raisin in the Sun is an ideal work to discuss in terms of the American dream. It shows how the admirable idea that everyone can achieve their ambitions if they work doesn’t always stand up in the face of real life, and how people can redeem them as Walter Lee does when he refuses the buyout offer through moral courage. Society in the 1959 was full of racial discrimination. Martin Luther King and Walter Lee both have the starvation to stop the desolation of discrimination. Hansberry, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. all have inspiring stories and if they were still alive today they can see how far there dreams have come that has inspire many. Hughes asks whether a dream is deferred is like â€Å" A Raisin In The Sun† and he specifically asking whether a dream will â€Å"dry up†. Grapes in the South dry into raisins, but it never lose their sweetness, no matter how much they dry up.