Comparative Politics Essays - Politics Of Macau, Government Of Macau

Similar Politics Essays - Politics Of Macau, Government Of Macau Similar Politics Similar Politics, commonly characterized as the investigation of the inward legislative issues of countries other than our own, is a various and complex field. There is nobody focal inclination or approach which overwhelms this region of request inside political theory: different speculations, ideas, issues and systems are clear in the field. While it is perceived that no straightforward order can be made of the writing, we are energized to know about differentiating approaches, and to participate in valuably basic ,considering the field. For the reasons for study, there should initially be general nature with the history and development of the field. This would include information on the work and thoughts of a portion of the significant masterminds who have formed relative legislative issues. Moving starting here I will realize a basic correlation between two administrative frameworks that are India and Macau .Both nations have their own novel sorts of administrative structures , legal executive and parliaments which truly got my profound enthusiasm to find out about these 2 nations , and to apply relative strategy between the two governments.with uncommon references to the topographical , basic , political administrative and legal contrasts . Topographical PERSPECTIVE INDIA The home of Taj Mahal , one of the seven current marvels of the world, India is the second most crowded nation on the planet and the seventh biggest areawise. India is home to bunches of religions also, is common ordinarily. Here is some strict data . The banks of the Ganges waterway, considered as one of the blessed streams by the Hindus, is lined by strict towns like Hardwar, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh . The Bhagwad Gita is one of the most broadly read Hindu strict writings. At the point when anybody considers India, it is difficult to evade pondering the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi , who has enlivened numerous individuals like Martin Luther King Jr. by his peaceful position in achieving autonomy for India. Here is another picture of one of the best legislators . India achieved autonomy on August 15, 1947 from the British (a day after Pakistan's part from the Indian Union). The Indian banner is a tricoloured one (saffron, white and green) with an ashoka chakra (24 spokes speaking to the 24 hours of the day). This banner is a twisted one with a composition of Mera Bharat M! ahan . MACAU Contrasted with India Macau is just a little territory situated in south-east China, on the western edge of the delta framed by the Pearl River Delta (Zhu Jiang) and the West River (Xi Jiang), flanking the Chinese territory of Guangdong. It is 70 kms (38 miles) from Hong Kong and 145 kms from Canton. Neighborhood time is eight hours in front of Greenwich mean time. Macau covers an all out region of 20.96 square kilometers which incorporates the Macau landmass and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. Macau is associated with territory China by a tight isthmus. Two scaffolds, the 'Ponte Nobre de Carvalho' (2,600 meters in length) and the 'Ponte da Amizade' (4,380 meters), initiated individually in 1974 and 1994, interface the island of Taipa to the promontory. The island of Coloane is reached from Taipa by method of a two kilometer-long isthmus, the privilege side of which is currently a broad land bank. The complete zone of the enclave has been continuously extended through land recovery along all waterfronts. For! model, in 1840, the Macau landmass was, at 2.78 square kilometers, 2.5 occasions littler than it is today. In physical terms, it is multiple times littler than Hong Kong, multiple times littler than Singapore and multiple times littler than Portugal. Toward the finish of 1995, Macau's inhabitant populace totalled 425,000, ordinarily littler than that of the India's . POLITICAL SYSTEM INDIA India, an association of states, is a Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary arrangement of Government. The Indian Polity is represented as far as the Constitution, which was received by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into power on 26 November 1950. The President is the protected head of Executive of the Union. Genuine official force vests in a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as head. Article 74(1) of the Constitution gives that there will be a Council

How to Overcome a Fear

It is normal for everybody, even the most bold individuals, to have fears, which are the body’s terrible passionate responses to something terrified. Notwithstanding, when fears limit people’s ordinary daily schedule and shield them from carrying on with their life ordinarily, the time has come to take control, which isn't a simple work. The vast majority need to beat their apprehensions, however don't know how. Here are 4 stages which will be useful to defeat fears. The initial step is investigating the dread. The more obviously you comprehend your dread, the simpler for you to discover how to deal with it.Therefore, in this absolute first stage, you have to distinguish your dread: its name, its motivation and its impact; and decide if there is a valid justification for the presence of the dread since certain apprehensions can be sound feelings that shield you from threat. From that point forward, you additionally should consider what precisely you need to change. It i mplies that close to the large objective: defeating the dread, littler ones is important to be set to assist you with arriving. For instance, if your dread is statures, you might need to have the option to go on a climbing trip with the outside club at school.One increasingly significant thing is that this dread examination ought to be recorded as a diary. It will be a decent method to keep tabs on your development of vanquishing your dread and furthermore a guide for whenever when you have another issue. After the dread is examined, in this subsequent advance, it should be assumed responsibility for. It relies upon what your dread is. On the off chance that you fear something since it is a puzzle, have a go at presenting yourself to it in little portions until you increase a superior comprehension and your dread starts to dissipate.Or, in the event that you are startled by a specific thing, going up against head-on will be the most ideal approach to beat it. Regardless of which cir cumstance you are in, assuming responsibility for a dread isn't simple. It will take commonly before you can announce it prevailed. During that significant stretch, to surrender is straightforward and to continue attempting is troublesome. At the point when you face with misfortunes, it very well may be enticing to surrender. Consequently, remain resolved to drive forward in any event, when it appears to be difficult to move beyond your dread by remembering these pointers: don't mistake dread for destiny and don't let others hold you back.Changing the perspective about dread is the subsequent stage. It must be conceded that occasionally dread likewise instigate sentiments of invigoration and even enthusiasm. That is the reason individuals appreciate outrageous games, blood and gore flicks or other hazardous games. Attempt to reframe your dread in a positive light and recognize the rush it can offer and you won't think that its alarmed any longer. Besides, dread can be utilized as a device to assist us with distinguishing issues and explain them viably. It is a guidepost cautioning us when something needs attention.Once the inconvenience of the underlying rush of dread passes, look at it all the more near observe what you can realize. At the point when you begin considering trepidation to be a wellspring of vitality or an open door for advancement, you may even grasp its job in your life. At long last, give the dread a spot in the life on the grounds that it is extremely unlikely to dispense with it completely. Like bliss or trouble, dread is a substantial feeling. It assembles your character and shows you the proper behavior with mental fortitude. Additionally, don't hold up until the dread has been totally defeated to give yourself a gesture of congratulations for your effort.Celebrate every achievement and when you perceive how great it feels to increase an edge on the dread, you will be prepared to confront the following one head-on. Taking everything into account, there are four significant strides to assist individuals with beating a dread: break down the dread, assume responsibility for it, change the perspective about it and give it a spot in the life. These means are not straightforward and regularly take a lot of time and exertion to be fruitful. Notwithstanding, nothing is unimaginable on the off chance that you truly need and attempt your best to pick up it.

Its been 3 weeks

It’s been 3 weeks It’s some ungodly hour of the day and I feel pretty tired. I’m probably one of the last few people awake, and will soon be crawling to my bed to hug my pillow. There’s something absolutely beautiful about pillows, isn’t there? They’re huge and squishy, and don’t squirm away if you hug them. Not sure if that last sentence was full of wisdom or just plain sad. Anyway, three full weeks of the Spring Semester have sped away, three expectedly busy weeks. I’ve gotten sick for a brief period, seen hundreds of vines, turned in seven p-sets and two essays, played Cards Against Humanity, traveled, written stories and had my first midterm (the meaning of midterm is fatally lost on MIT). There’s a lot that happens, and I think I sunk a bit too deeply into the Institute these past few weeksâ€"that is to say, I’ve been floating around in the bubble built around classes, my dorm and my frat, and it seems like I haven’t really seen much of anything else. I’m not jaded thoughâ€"far from it. Classes this semester have been challenging as always, and my social circle has actually expanded, allowing me to meet some absolutely awesome peopleâ€"Aritro I see you. My most fun p-set thus far has been with my programming class (6.00). We had to make a game of Hangman using Python. Thankfully, my roommate is also taking the class and we were able to test -run each other’s codes and see how well they work. This actually helped reveal a few glitches on both ends. And speaking of debugging Another kind of debugging had to take place, one that resulted in a poem that waxed philosophical about bodily fluids. Half of Alpha Delta Phi was down with the stomach bug in a matter of days. E-mail threads about “booked toilets” and an ultimate poetry contest on who could most eloquently describe the writhing, plopping sounds tearing through intestines reigned. But as bad as it was, it was also a chance to see brothers of the house at their best. Lots of volunteers brought in tons of food and water, helped the sick run errands (turning in p-sets and the like), prepared soup for everyone. It shouldn’t be too easy to forget that behind dark clouds lies the moon. Writing I know I haven’t blogged in a while (yes, yes, I feel the mass of your judgmental stares poking my back) but I’ve actually been writing a lot. In fact, in between classes and p-sets, it seems to be all I want to do, and at a higher frequency than I did last semester. The stories haven’t really changed their somewhat dark, gritty feel, but I think I’m also learning more about the kind of storyteller I want to be, the kind of storyteller I possibly could be. High school was a period of full bloom for me. I had torrents of ideas, ranging from the asinine to the serviceable. They swirled around my head, people and events and timelines, snippets of universes waiting to be painted, and I just wanted to flood them out of my head and onto paper. So I did. I wrote often, filling roughly two thousand pages with fiction over a five-year timespan. This deluge of need and motivation was somewhat missing last semester. I still wroteâ€"I had the blogs (for which I’m always grateful) and I had a bunch of stories, but the feeling wasn’t as overpowering as it used to be. But this makes sense right? It was my first semester here. I was trying to find my ground, trying to adjust to classes and a terrible, terrible, just plain cold and terrible new and refreshing climate. This semester, there’s been a lot more of that inspirational outpour, and I hope I do write more.These are excerpts from a bunch of old stories: He jolted, sitting up straight at once, looking around. He saw the shape almost immediately, took three crawling steps backward and rose. Fifteen feet away stood Randolph Lander, Jason’s dad, slowly covering the distance between them. He held a flashlight in his right hand, its light pointed at Andy’s chest. “What do you want?” snarled Andrew. “Stay away from me!” “No,” she repeated weakly. He reached for her one last time. She thought to slap him as his hands moved; so fast they moved she barely realized it. A loud crack. His hands snapped her neck in one clean go. She was dead before she could move to slap, falling to the ground in a clumsy heap. At that time of my life, my dad worked in a meatpacking plant (he always came home smelling of cattle blood and I didn’t like it). My mom and her friend worked as tailors near the clutter of strip malls. Aunt Martha often walked me to schoolâ€"a twenty-minute walk that involved lots of long, grim alleyways and roads flanked by teetering ramshackle buildings. In particular, there was this path that branched off in two directions, one meeting a graffiti-heavy stone wall, the other cutting across a fenced field from which the walls of my school were visible. It was at the edge of this field Aunt Martha often left, hurrying back to look after Grandpa, and I began thinking of the branching alleyway that led to the field as the Valley of Death. I got hit in the head; TWICE! at Bad Taste 2014. Bad Taste is the somewhat infamous no-holds-barred event put on by the Chorallaries every spring. It took place this past weekend in 26-100, one of MIT’s biggest lecture halls, and opened with a…flying piece of paper. Actually, rolls. Flying rolls of toilet paper, numbering hundreds. I was trying to find a seat amid a crossfire of paper when I was struck on the head. The world spun for a second and I nearly lost my footing. Minutes later, I was howling in laughter at some of the absolutely ridiculous statements drawn up on the chalkboards. The front of the room slowly got clogged with a mass of toilet paper as people tried to hit every performer for every second of the show. Before it beganâ€"at slightly past midnightâ€"a mini-war raged. The Soldiers of The Back Seats kept hurling rolls of toilet paper at the front seat Ninjas. Somehow, I didn’t get hit too much. I had to duck a lot, and even tried my luck at grabbing two rolls of paper and shooting them backwards over my head. Anyway, I have the enviable throwing skills of a brain-dead chimpanzee so they probably didn’t hit anyone. The Chorallaries performed shortly afterwards, going through skits, songs and readings that rang of what the event was all about. I don’t want to say much else about it. I know opinions overall were mixed, but I had a lot of fun. And if you ever want to a chuckle, find a way to get the list of 101 Things MIT Students Are Bad At. Can you guess any items on the list? Te Amo Love is one of those huge, defining tenets of life that no one ever really explains well. That’s why I decided to take Philosophy of Love (CC.112) this semester. It’s definitely one of my favorite classes, comprising just about nine or ten students.   We basically sit around a sleek table and discuss…well, love. We began by discussing songs we felt described the feeling of love, or at least really tried to. Everyone had to turn in a song, and naturally, I turned in “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift. There were lots of discussions about the similarities and differences between the songs, and what that said about our perceptions of love. Then we read a pretty tragic love story and watched the old classic movie Casablanca. We also read about love from a fairly clinical, psychological standpoint: The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck. It was really insightful, if not highly cynical of the typical view of love. Peck basically reduced most common notions of loveâ€"love at first sight , the implicit sweetness of self-sacrifice, the arising feeling of dependencyâ€"to illusions, but always with measured thinking. Right now, we have two reading assignments that I’m yet to make great progress on (thanks to another upcoming midterm and two p-sets). The reading assignments are both novels, which means I’ll have to pick up the pace. It’s a reading- and writing-intensive class, but it’s also very discussion-based. It’s always interesting to hear what other MIT students have to say about love. A severely logical environment almost always seems to breed cynics on issues like this, but there are a lot of hopeful, sentimental takes on what love is, what it could mean, why we could want it, but always with the usual dash of logic. The class really lets you take charge of how you process the material, and despite being a lot of work, it’s also a tremendous lot of fun. The other classes I’m taking this semester are 6.00, 18.02, 8.02 and CC.111. The last one is a concourse Friday Seminar, in which we get to have great discussions (last week, it was one on the significance of the statue of Augustus Caesar). I’ll try to blog more about the classes as the semester goes by, but 8.02â€"Electricity and Magnetismâ€"is definitely my hardest class thus far. I spent about sixteen hours on last week’s p-set, which I think was just unusually difficult. The p-set from this week proved less tasking, but who can really predict these things? Overall, there’s still a lot going on, and I’m still trying to get a deep sense of what this semester will be like. But what with stomach bugs and hackathons and Winter Olympics hacks and events like Bad Taste, I’m pretty sure that something exciting is just around a really close corner.

Essay on Adolf Hitler From Youthful Failure to Mighty Leader

Adolf Hitler From Youthful Failure to Mighty Leader Few individuals have been able to change the ideals of others; Adolph Hitler was one such individual. His worldly impact began in the 1920’s and continues today. He is associated with both chaos and the complete destruction of many innocent lives. Hitler’s ideology developed when an economic collapse occurred in Germany. He offered ideas to the desperate people of Germany that they could not refuse. These ideas are responsible for the beginning of Western Racism, the singling out of a specific race as inferior. He also has been called the eliminator of the entire Jewish population. One must ask why the German people eagerly welcomed his radical ideas. World-renowned Hitler biographer†¦show more content†¦When Hitler was five, his mother gave birth to another baby boy named Edmund. This new addition to his family caused huge change in Hitler’s status in the family. He was no longer his mother’s darling. This also took away his mother’s prote ctive shield leaving him to face his father’s rage when he returned from work. The only advantage he had in the situation was that he now had freedom over his life. He began spending his days playing army with other children. At the age of three Hitler moved to the more industrial city of Passau where his father got a new job. When Hitler was five, his mother gave birth to another baby boy named Edmund. This new addition to his family caused huge change in Hitler’s status in the family. He was no longer his mother’s darling. This also took away his mother’s protective shield leaving him to face his father’s rage when he returned from work. The only advantage he had in the situation was that he now had freedom over his life. He began spending his days playing army with other children. Hitler’s new freedom did not last long, as the family decided to move again to a farm in the rural city of Hafeld. While on the farm, his responsibilities grew. He was no longer a carefree child, but a young adult. He grew to be resentful and discontent. He often displayed his explosive temper, which became a frequent release from the stressful world he was forced to conform to. With his older brother leaving home without the

Analysis of How to Talk to a Hunter by Pam Houston

How to Talk to a Hunter by American writer Pam Houston (b. 1962) was originally published in the literary magazine Quarterly West. It was subsequently included in The Best American Short Stories, 1990, and in the authors 1993 collection, Cowboys Are My Weakness. The story focuses on a woman who continues dating a man -- a hunter -- even as the signs of his infidelity and lack of commitment mount. Future Tense One striking feature of the story is that it is written in future tense. For example, Houston writes: You will spend every night in this mans bed without asking yourself why he listens to top-forty country. The use of future tense creates a sense of inevitability about the characters actions, as if shes telling her own fortune. But her ability to predict the future seems to have less to do with clairvoyance than with past experience. Its easy to imagine that she knows exactly what will happen because it -- or something just like it -- has happened before. So the inevitability becomes as significant a part of the story as the rest of the plot. Who Is the You? I have known some readers who resent the use of second-person (you) because they find it presumptuous. After all, what could the narrator possibly know about them? But for me, reading a second-person narrative has always seemed more like being privy to someones internal monologue than like being told what I, personally, am thinking and doing. The use of second-person simply gives the reader a more intimate look at the characters experience and thought process. The fact that the future tense sometimes changes to imperative sentences like, Call the hunters machine. Tell him you dont speak chocolate only further suggests that the character is giving herself some advice. On the other hand, you dont have to be a heterosexual woman dating a hunter to be dating someone whos dishonest or who shies away from commitment. In fact, you dont have to be romantically involved with someone at all to be taken advantage of. And you definitely dont have to be dating a hunter in order to watch yourself enact mistakes that you see perfectly well are coming. So even though some readers might not recognize themselves in the specific details of the story, many might be able to relate to some of the larger patterns described here. While second-person might alienate some readers, for others it can serve as an invitation to consider what they have in common with the main character. Everywoman The absence of names in the story further suggests an attempt to portray something universal, or at least common, about gender and relationships. Characters are identified by phrases like your best male friend and your best female friend. And both of these friends tend to make sweeping declarations about what men are like or what women are like. (Note: the entire story is told from a heterosexual perspective.) Just as some readers might object to second-person, some will surely object to gender-based stereotypes. Yet Houston does make a convincing case that its difficult to be completely gender-neutral, as when she describes the verbal gymnastics that the hunter engages in to avoid admitting that another woman has come to visit him. She writes (hilariously, in my opinion): The man who has said hes not so good with words will manage to say eight things about his friend without using a gender-determining pronoun. The story seems entirely aware that its dealing in clichà ©s. For example, the hunter speaks to the protagonist in lines from country music. Houston writes: Hell say you are always on his mind, that youre the best thing thats ever happened to him, that you make him glad that hes a man. And the protagonist answers with lines from rock songs: Tell him it dont come easy, tell him freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose. Though its easy to laugh at the communication gap Houston portrays between men and women, country and rock, the reader is left wondering to what extent we ever can escape our clichà ©s.

Chalillo Dam Free Essays

FORTIS INC. AND THE CHALILLO DAM Professor Robert Sexty wrote this case solely to provide material for class discussion. The author does not intend to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. We will write a custom essay sample on Chalillo Dam or any similar topic only for you Order Now The author may have disguised certain names and other identifying information to protect confidentiality. Richard Ivey School of Business Foundation prohibits any form of reproduction, storage or transmission without its written permission. Reproduction of this material is not covered under authorization by any reproduction rights organization. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, contact Ivey Publishing, Richard Ivey School of Business Foundation, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7; phone (519) 661-3208; fax (519) 661-3882; e-mail cases@ivey. uwo. ca. Copyright  © 2011, Richard Ivey School of Business Foundation Version: 2011-04-29 The executive offices of Fortis Inc. overlooked the harbour in St. John’s, Canada. Ships could be seen entering and exiting through the Narrows, the outlet to the North Atlantic Ocean. It had snowed and the trees on the Southside Hills were covered with a light dusting of white. H. Stanley Marshall, President and CEO, and John Evans, chief engineer, turned away from the view and began discussing the main issue the board of directors would confront at its next meeting in January 2002. Marshall and Evans were planning a presentation on the company’s Chalillo Dam project in Belize. They believed the project should proceed, but they had to convince the board of directors. The task was to make a recommendation including supporting arguments with a defence to counter the attacks being made on the project by international environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs). Fortis had to prepare for the negative publicity that would most likely occur if the project was approved. If the company was unable to make a convincing argument, it was unlikely the project would proceed. FORTIS CORPORATION Fortis Inc. was a diversified electric utility holding company headquartered in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Fortis is a Latin word meaning strong, powerful, and firm. The Fortis international banking and insurance financial firm headquartered in The Netherlands and Belgium was not associated with Fortis Inc. In 2001, Fortis wholly owned Newfoundland Power Inc. , the principal distributor of power in the province of Newfoundland, and Maritime Electric Company, Limited, the main distributor in Prince Edward Island. Other financial interests included: ? ? ? FortisUS Energy Corporation, which operated four hydroelectric generating stations in upper New York state. Fifty per cent of Canadian Niagara Power Company, which sold energy to Canadian and U. S. customers. Twenty per cent of Caribbean Utilities Company Ltd. , the sole supplier of electricity on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. S ? ? ? 9B11M026 Sixty-seven per cent of Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), the only distributor of electricity in Belize, Central America. One hundred per cent of Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL), which owned a hydroelectric plant on the Macal River in Mollejon, Belize. A non-utility subsidiary, Fortis Properties, with investments in commercial properties in Atlantic Canada. 1 Exhibit 1 is a summary of Fortis’ financial performance for the years 1997 through 2001. FORTIS’ BELIZE OPERATIONS The Fortis operations in Belize embroiled the company in a social responsibility issue that consumed substantial costs, time, and energy. Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) had been owned by the government of Belize and was the main supplier of electricity in the country. In October and November 1999, Fortis Inc. acquired 67 per cent of the company for $36 million in cash. It later acquired BECOL and a proposal by this company to develop a hydroelectric project in Belize received international attention and became a sensitive issue for management. At the time of acquisition, BEL served about 53,000 customers. It was able to meet the country’s peak demand of 44 megawatts from the Mollejon hydro plant, its own diesel-fired generation, and purchases of energy from Comision de Electricidad, the Mexican state-owned power company. During 2000, the company conducted a quarterly Customer Satisfaction Survey and received an average 85 per cent satisfaction rating. Several initiatives improved BEL’s performance, including expanded service, improved reliability, monthly visits to customers, and the implementation of convenient payment options for customers. 2 BEL enhanced its corporate image in several other ways. It reduced electricity rates by seven per cent — a move targeted at commercial customers to assist in stimulating economic activity. 3 The company deployed operational teams from Newfoundland Power and Maritime Electric to repair damage caused by Hurricane Keith in the northern coastal regions of Belize on September 30, 2000. A safety program was implemented to reduce the risk of injury to employees and the public. This included the promotion of public safety and sponsorship of safety awareness campaigns. 4 BEL was concerned about the environment and initiated a program to meet compliance with the ISO 14001 environmental standard. It completed environmental cleanups at its generating plants and some diesel plants were decommissioned. The company signed a Memorandum of Intent to purchase excess capacity from Belize Sugar Industries, which had proposed construction of an electrical generation facility fuelled by sugar cane residue. BEL continued to improve its operations during 2001. Automated billing was introduced for its now 57,000 customers. Rural electrification projects continued in partnership with the Belizean government. These projects would eventually result in the closing of the remaining isolated diesel plants. A comprehensive safety audit was conducted and was the basis for a plan to increase e mployee safety. The 1 Generating Growth 2001 Annual Report, Fortis Inc. , pp. 10-24. Electrifying Growth 2000 Annual Report, Fortis Inc. , p. 16. 3 Ibid. , 35. 4 Ibid. , pp. 4, 16-17. 5 Ibid. , pp. 4, 18. 2 This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 2 9B11M026 Customer Satisfaction Index continued high at 82. 5 per cent. The company worked with the government to develop energy resources to meet the demand for energy with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency. 6 BEL was sensitive to environmental concerns and continued to mitigate the environmental impact of its operations. In October, 2,600 customers were impacted by Iris, a Category IV hurricane which damaged 25 per cent of the distribution system, causing $4 million in damage. The company donated about $40,000 to the Belize Red Cross for relief activities and employees donated clothing, helped build shelters, and cooked and served meals to hurricane victims. 7 The economic performance of BEL is summarized in Exhibit 2. The company’s rates and minimum quality service standards were determined by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Also, the company had a license to generate, transmit, distribute, and supply electricity until 2015. At that time, it had the right of first refusal on a subsequent license and if its license was not renewed, Fortis was to be paid the greater of market value or 120 per cent of net book value of assets. 8 For Fortis, the major event in 2001 was the purchase on January 26 of 95 per cent ownership in the Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL) with the Belizean government owning the other five per cent. BECOL operated the only commercial hydroelectric station in the country at Mollejon on the Macal River. The plant produced 25 megawatts and was capable of delivering average energy of 80 gigawatt hours. BECOL’s entire output was sold to Belize Electricity under a 50-year power purchase agreement. 9 Fortis paid $103. 1 million for BECOL and considered it a good strategic fit with its operation of BEL. 10 BECOL planned to build another dam on the Macal River and that became a major issue for BEL and Fortis. THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE Belize was a sovereign, democratic state with a government operating on the principles of parliamentary governance based on the Westminster parliamentary system. Until 1973, the country was known as British Honduras. It became independent from Britain in 1981 but maintained membership in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The country was located on the eastern or Caribbean coast of Central America, bordered by Mexico and Guatemala. A low plain extended along the coast with the land rising in the interior, where mountains rose to 1,124 metres above sea level. Eighty-four per cent of the country was covered with forests and about 10 per cent had arable land. The country was 22,966 square kilometres and the climate was subtropical. The main industries were sugar, citrus, fisheries, and bananas with some timber operations, food processing, and construction. Tourism had become an increasing contributor to the economy. The largest city was Belize City, on the coast, which was the country’s commercial hub. Inland about 75 kilometres was Belmopan, the capital where the seat of government had been relocated from Belize City to escape from the storms that flooded coastal areas. The country’s population was less than 300,000. 11 The government believed that electrification was an important component in its attempts to improve the country’s economy. The possible development of another hydro plant on the Macal River, known as the Chalillo project, was critical to increasing the supply of electricity. Generating Growth 2001 Annual Report, Fortis Inc. , pp. 6, 17. Ibid. , pp. 3, 18. 8 Ibid. , p. 34. 9 Electrifying Growth 2000 Annual Report, Fortis Inc. , p. 6. 10 Generating Growth 2001 Annual Report, Fortis Inc. , p. 4. 11 â€Å"About Belize,† Government of Belize web site, www. governmentofbelize. gov. bz/about_belize. html, accessed December 29, 2008. 7 This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 3 9B11M026 THE CHALILLO PROJECT Fortis, through BECOL, had proposed construction of a dam on the Macal River in the Cayo District of western Belize at a cost of about US$27. 3 million. The site was located in an unpopulated wilderness area, part of which was in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and the Chaquibul National Park. These areas covered most of the southern half of the Cayo District (see Exhibit 3). It would produce 7. 3 megawatts of electricity for the Belize network and regulate the water flow of the river. The control over the water flow would increase the productivity and reliability of the Mollejon hydropower station downstream. The Chalillo project included the following: ? ? ? ? ? a 49. 5-metre-high and 340-metre-wide dam on the river a reservoir with a total surface area of 9. 5 square kilometres a powerhouse at the foot of the dam an 18-kilometre transmission line from the powerhouse to the Mollejon plant ancillary requirements including an access road and construction camp. 12 Project Justification As they had been working on the project for months, Marshall and Evans quickly identified its benefits, in particular for the Belizean economy and for the citizens of the country. Most importantly, the project would increase electrical output and raise energy self-sufficiency. The second dam on the Macal River would increase the productivity of the existing electrical plant at Mollejon. The output from the two plants would reduce reliance on petroleum generation, as diesel-fuelled generators could be closed. This would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the possibility of oil spills. A large portion of Belizean electrical energy was imported from Mexico under a contract that was to expire in 2008. The Mexican system experienced difficulties and was not a stable source, resulting in power outages in Belize. The completion of the Chalillo project meant that Belize would have a more reliable and secure supply of electricity, thus stabilizing and possibly reducing prices. Alternative sources of energy were examined by the government and BEL including thermal options (diesel and gas turbines), biomass, Battery Energy Storage Systems, and solar and wind power. Studies by BEL determined that power generated from the hydro source was less expensive than any other type of power. However, BEL was committed to purchasing power from a bagasse-fuelled generation facility planned by Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI). The facility would produce energy by burning crushed sugarcane and wood waste from nearby sawmills. There were also auxiliary benefits from the project. The dam and reservoir would control flooding on the Macal River with significant economic, health and safety benefits to downstream residents, many of whom lived in the river’s floodplain. Also, there would be a steadier supply of water for residents, especially during the dry season. Employment would be created during construction and there would be economic benefits from supplying goods and services to the project. 13 12 Information for this section was obtained from â€Å"Chalillo Hydropower Project Summary,† brochure published by Fortis Inc. , Belize Electric Company Ltd. , and Belize Electricity Limited, October 2001, p. 10. 13 Most of the information for this section was obtained from â€Å"Chalillo Hydropower Project Summary,† brochure published by Fortis Inc. , Belize Electric Company Ltd. , and Belize Electricity Limited, October 2001, pp. 7, 10, 15-17. This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 4 9B11M026 Environmental Impact Fortis, through BECOL, was sensitive to the need for an environmental impact assessment. A five-volume Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the â€Å"Macal River Upstream Storage Facility† (technical name for the Chalillo project) was submitted by BECOL to the Belizean government in August 2001. Two portions of the EIA are discussed below. The Natural History Museum, London, England, conducted a wildlife impact assessment of the proposed Chalillo project in early 2001. The report confirmed that the area which would be impacted contained a rare and discrete floral floodplain habitat. This habitat relied on the flow of oxygenated water and the seasonal flooding following heavy rain. The project would adversely impact a biologically rich and diverse area, as well as many animals inhabiting the area, including jaguar, Baird’s tapir, Morelet’s crocodile, several species of monkeys, the Central American Scarlet Macaw, and various other bird life. The report concluded that mitigation of the negative impacts of large-scale dams on wildlife was usually irreversible and that mitigation efforts were often ineffective. 14 The Natural History Museum report applied conservation criteria to three options: ? ? ? Do not build the Chalillo dam. This was the best opportunity to avoid the impact on key aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. It stated that, â€Å"This option should be considered seriously, especially if costs identified in reviews of the technical, socio-economic and environmental assessments †¦ re considered to outweigh the benefits of meeting the growing demand and utilization of electrical energy by increasingly criticised hydroelectric projects. † Select an alternative site for damming. If tributaries were dammed instead, they could potentially supply the same volume of water with less damage to the environment. But, this alternative would require technical, economic and environmental surveys. Proceed as planned. If this option were followed, it would not be possible to satisfactorily mitigate against most of the long-term impact to the environment. However, the report did identify measures that would partially alleviate some of the impact of construction and operation. 15 The report identified several measures to mitigate or offset the impact of the project, including: building roads to avoid sensitive wild plant and animal life sites, issuing safe and clear guidelines to drivers, prohibiting all hunting and settling in the area, providing fire protection, maintaining a minimum water flow in the river, and re-aerating water before releasing it downstream. 16 The concluding recommendation of the report was: Based on the rarity of the habitat, and the dependence on this habitat by several endangered species, the â€Å"No Build† option is highly recommended as the most suitable and appropriate option for the long-term viability and conservation of wildlife in Belize. 17 The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) hired AMEC, a British engineering and project management consulting firm, to prepare an environmental impact assessment of the Chalillo project. CIDA’s involvement was a form of aid to a developing country. The assessment was performed in accordance with the Belize Environmental Protection Act and the â€Å"Projects Outside Canada Environmental 14 C. M. Minty, â€Å"Preliminary Report on the Scientific and Biodiversity Value of the Macal and Raspaculo: A Wildlife Impact Assessment for the Proposed Macal River Upper Storage Facility† (Executive Summary), The Natural History Museum, London, England, May 24, 2001, http://old. probeinternational. org/catalog/pi/documents/belize/NHM9_05_01Wia15. pdf. 15 Ibid. , p. 49. 16 Ibid. , pp. 46-47. 17 Ibid. , p. 49. This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 5 9B11M026 Assessment Regulations† of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. CIDA’s report, dated August 2001, summarized the advantages and disadvantages of the project. Adverse predicted impacts were the risk to plant and animal species. There would be no predicted impact on population, tourism and ecreation, transportation and public safety, heritage and archaeological resources, water and air quality, parks and forest preserves, and aquatic resources. Positive predicted impacts would include labour force, economy, flood control, reliability of power supply, increased power self-sufficiency, and decreased cost of electricity. 18 The report’s conclusions regarding the Chalillo project on the Macal River included: 1. The project is presently the most economical option for generating power in Belize. 2. It is both technically and economically viable and will maximize the hydroelectric power generation of the river. 3. It will help decrease energy reliance on outside sources. 4. The electric utility will have the flexibility necessary to provide better service to its customers. 5. There will be significant flood control benefits to downstream stakeholders. 19 The studies called for a plan to implement the recommended mitigation measures, including the development of a contingency plan prior to construction. Also, a monitoring or compliance plan should be formulated. 0 Marshall and the Fortis management believed that the environmental impact had been adequately studied. Marshall stated that, â€Å"Fortis has undertaken a comprehensive study of the environmental implications of the Chalillo project and the benefits of the project to the people of Belize. †21 Opposition to the Project During 2001, criticisms and opposition were voluminous, some of which are listed in Exhibit 3. I n addition, several Canadian print and broadcast media carried stories, there were letters to the editor in newspapers, and protest web sites were established. Numerous environmental ENGOs campaigned against the project, including Probe International (PI), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra Club, the Sierra Club of Canada, the Belize Alliance of Conservation Non-Governmental Organizations (BACONGO), Humber Environmental Action Group, Humber Natural History Society, Petitcodiac Riverkeeper, Action Environment, Defenders of Wildlife, Environment Coalition of Prince Edward Island, and Falls Brook Centre. In particular, Probe International carried out an aggressive campaign and coordinated the protests of other ENGOs. 2 PI was an environmental advocacy group that fought to stop ill-conceived aid, trade projects and foreign investments. It worked to give citizens the tools they needed â€Å"to stop these projects using the rule of law, democratic processes, and honest and transparent accounting. †23 It was a division of the Energy Probe Research Foundation, a well-known Canadian environmental and energy policy ENGO created i n 1980. Its tactics included letter-writing to public officials, preparation and publishing of reports and articles, media releases, speech presentations, and public demonstrations. 18 Macal River Upstream Storage Facility Environmental Impact Assessment – Part 1 Main Report† (Executive Summary), AMEC and Canadian International Development Agency, August 2001, www. probeinternational. org/chalillo/news-andopinion/macal-river-upstream-storage-facility-environmental-impact-assessment. 19 Ibid. , Main Report, p. 18. 20 Ibid. , Executive Summary, ES-2 and ES-3. 21 â€Å"News Article,† Fortis Inc. web site, November 1, 2002, www. fortisinc. com/News/Article. aspx? id=134. 22 Fortis Belize web site, Probe International, www. probeinternational. org/fortis-belize/news_and_opinion. 3 â€Å"About Us,† Probe International web site, www. probeinternational. org/node/5818#tabs-tabset-1. This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 6 9B11M026 The other main opposition came from NRDC, an environmental action group founded in 1970. Its mission was to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. It had offices in seven U. S. cities, staff of about 300 lawyers, scientists and policy experts, and about one million members. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. , a lawyer, was the main spokesperson for NRDC on the Chalillo project. 24 Probe International maintained an elaborate web site in opposition to the project. Another web site devoted exclusively to the Chalillo project was Stop Fortis! at www. stopfortis. org, which contained extensive information on the project, including photographs. Several environmental groups placed advertisements in Canadian newspapers. The wording in one advertisement included: Look her [a jaguar] in the eyes. Now explain why a Canadian company wants to destroy her home. It won’t be easy. Fortis Inc. of Newfoundland plans to profit from it †¦ with a dam that makes no sense. Look him [Stan Marshall] in the eyes. And tell Fortis CEO Stan Marshall that it is wrong to destroy one of the wildest places left in all of Central America. 25 Readers were invited to visit a web site, www. stopfortis. org, or call toll free 1-866-STOP-FORTIS. The criticisms of Fortis’ practices and the dam’s construction are summarized in Exhibit 4. Fortis, and Marshall in particular, responded to this criticism. A news release was made on November 1, 2001, called â€Å"Decision to Build Hydroelectric Dam in Belize Should Reside with Belizeans. † The main points made in the release were: ? ? ? ? Belizeans should decide on the construction of the dam. Contrary to information from ENGOs, the dam is economically feasible and will ensure a more stable energy supply. Information presented by ENGOs is misleading the media about the environmental impact of the project. Fortis is willing to review its business activities with stakeholders. 6 In a story in The Telegram on November 2, Marshall stated to a reporter that, â€Å"This bombardment in the media of misleading information is putting enormous pressure on me, attacking me personally and inundating the media with lies. † He also said, â€Å"Whatever we do as an electric company will impact the environment, but it’s a question of how well we can manage our activ ities. On balance, this project is a good one. If I felt personally that we were going to threaten an endangered species and wipe it out — no. I would not propose going ahead with it. †27 In mid-2001, the Belizean government’s National Environmental Appraisal Committee began its evaluation of the project. The Committee was comprised of nine government members and two nongovernment members representing the Association of National Development Agencies and BACONGO. In mid-November 2001, the Committee granted the environmental clearance for construction of the Chalillo dam, as the economic and other benefits of the project outweighed the environmental costs. Its decision was â€Å"conditional upon the development and signing of the Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP), which 24 Natural Resources Defense Council web site, www. nrdc. org/about. â€Å"Look her in the eyes,† advertisement, The Telegram, St. John’s, Newfoundland, October 18, 2001, D11. 26 â€Å"News Article,† Fortis Inc. web site, November 1, 2002, www. fortisinc. com/News/Article. aspx? id=134. 27 Will Hilliard, â€Å"Dam opponents misled: Fortis,† The Telegram, St. John’s, Newfoundland, November 2, 2001, A3. 25 This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 7 9B11M026 would incorporate the mitigation measures identified in the EIA in addition to those recommended during the evaluation process. †28 Opponents of the project immediately criticized the decision, claiming that the government was biased. The government members voted for the project and the prime minister had publicly supported the project. Critics also pointed out the lack of public consultation during the evaluation process. They claimed the public hearings being held after the announcement were to present or explain the decision. This approach contravened law that required public hearings with submissions from interested stakeholders. 29 The Decision and Expected Opposition Looking back over the past year, Marshall and Evans were amazed at the extent of the opposition and criticism. Even with the Belizean government’s approval, they realized that the coming year would most likely be more of the same. Some of the circumstances and challenges that Fortis’ management faced were: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Legal action seeking injunctions or stoppage of the project in the Belizean, Canadian and British court systems. Political lobbying by ENGOs of government agencies, officials and politicians in Belize and Canada. Pressures to reduce electricity prices and certainly against increasing them. Customer satisfaction measures might decline if lower prices were not delivered. Protests against the project through letters to the editor, demonstrations at Fortis properties, and petitions. More celebrity â€Å"protest† appearances. Newspaper advertising against the project. Shareholders might be concerned and there might be questions from activists at the Annual Shareholders Meeting. The social investing concept was increasing in popularity. Calls for more environmental studies and challenges from ENGOs on the accuracy of EIAs. Constant monitoring and evaluation by ENGOs of everything related to the project. Adverse media coverage. The political environment might change in Belize if a different party was elected to govern. The project had consumed a lot of time, energy and resources and Marshall and Evans wondered whether or not it was worth it. There might be less demanding projects which would add as much value to the company. They turned away from the harbour view and started to draft their report and recommendation to the board of directors. 28 â€Å"Chalillo Dam receives Environmental Clearance,† Press Release, Ministry of the Environment, November 13, 2001, http://sanpedrosun. net/old/01-453. html. 29 â€Å"Chalillo Dam – Who will benefit? † (Editorial), The San Pedro Sun, 11:46, November 22, 2001, http://sanpedrosun. net/old/01-463. html. This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 8 9B11M026 Exhibit 1 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA FORTIS INC. 1997-2001 (In Canadian Dollars) Operating Revenues (‘000$) Operating Expenses (‘000$) Income Taxes (‘000$) Share Earnings (‘000$) Total Assets (‘000$) Book Value per Share $ Dividend per Share $ Share Price (closing) $ 1997 486,662 341,024 29,449 30,006 1,017,396 25. 58 1. 76 42. 00 1998 472,725 339,429 22,998 27,414 1,037,192 26. 09 1. 80 38. 25 1999 505,218 356,227 27,476 29,183 1,238,597 26. 21 1. 81 31. 40 2000 580,197 417,607 17,228 36,759 1,478,596 7. 89 1. 84 36. 00 2001 628,254 418,347 28,088 53,442 1,642,752 29. 97 1. 87 46. 95 Source: â€Å"Historical Financial Summary,† Generating Growth 2001 Annual Report, Fortis Inc. , pp. 58-59. Exhibit 2 BELIZE ELECTRICITY LIMITED FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 2000 AND 2001 (In Canadian Dollars) Earnings Energy Sales Revenues Power Expenses Other Operating Expenses Earnings Contributed to For tis Inc. Capital Expenditures Long-Term Debt 2000 $8. 2 m 229 GWh $63. 6 m $30. 6 m $13. 6 m $5. 5 m $21. 0 m $60. 6 m 2001 $9. 3 m 257 GWh $72. 4 m $34. 8 m $14. 2 m $6. 3 m $27. 6 m $84. 3 m Source: Electrifying Growth 2000 Annual Report, Fortis Inc. , pp. 35-36, and Generating Growth 2001 Annual Report, Fortis Inc. , pp. 3, 33-34, 38, 48. This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 9 9B11M026 Exhibit 3 SELECTED ACTIVITIES OPPOSING THE CHALILLO PROJECT DURING 2001 February 2 May 5 May 20 June 3 August 29 September 20 October 4 October 12 October 18 October 29 October 30 October 31 November 1 November 30 December 2 December 4 December 1823 December 31 Belizean newspaper, The Reporter, carries a story about a school teacher allegedly being fired because he opposed the project M. P. Keith Martin requests release of environmental impact assessment in the Canadian House of Commons Oral Question Period The Reporter carries story that proposed dam could flood Maya ruins The Reporter carries story claiming Canadians not being told the truth about the Chalillo project Probe International complains to Minister of International Cooperation about CIDA’s secrecy Harrison Ford speaks out against the proposed dam Opposition MP Svend Robinson expresses concern about project to Minister of International Cooperation Probe International and other groups write a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs calling for the government to stop supporting the dam Coalition of environmental groups launch a series of â€Å"hard hitting† advertisements in Atlantic Canadian newspapers opposing the dam Probe International writes a letter to Fortis’ board of directors regarding the company’s refusal to meet with citizens groups Greg Malone, St. John’s comedian, starts campaign to save endangered creatures National Post editorial states that what Belize needs is a free energy market rather than an uneconomical dam Harrison Ford, Robert Kennedy, and others lobby against dam that could destroy a forest at a Toronto Stock Exchange press conference Concerned citizens from across Atlantic Canada hold regional day of action in opposition to the project Environmental NGOs announce they will be contacting Fortis’ major shareholders Probe International files a complaint against CIDA’s involvement with the hydro scheme Robert Kennedy Jr. travels to Belize to support citizens opposing the dam Conservation groups claim that the Belizean government’s clearance for the hydro project is illegal Source: Compiled from Belize Fortis Campaign, pp. 13-20, Probe International web site, www. probeinternational. org/fortisbelize/news_and_opinion. This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 10 9B11M026 Exhibit 4 MAIN CRITICISMS OF THE CHALILLO PROJECT ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? The threat to wild and plant life, especially endangered species. The dam would exacerbate the water quality problems downstream. The dam might flood Maya ruins, destroying the cultural landscape. Limestone caves might drain the reservoir. The claim that the project was uneconomical and not the cheapest option. The only reason the project was viable was because BEL had a monopoly and could recover costs from captive customers. Fortis’ unwillingness to consider alternative sources, denying consumers better and cheaper electricity. The allegation that Fortis asked the Canadian government, through CIDA, to pay for a study justifying the project. It was claimed that the study was biased, involved too much secrecy, and failed to promote and ensure effective stakeholder consultation. According to environmental groups, Fortis denied them access to pertinent information and failed to consult them. Fortis would not make its own geology studies and engineering plans public or agree to an independent panel review. There was insufficient information on the impact of the project. Source: Compiled from Belize Fortis Campaign, pp. 13-20, Probe International web site, www. probeinternational. org/fortisbelize/news_and_opinion. This document is authorized to be used only in the BU111- Introduction to Business Organization course by Professor Leanne Hagarty, at the Wilfrid Laurier University from 09/10/2012 until 12/19/2012. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. Page 11 How to cite Chalillo Dam, Papers

Argument About The Exist of God Essay Example For Students

Argument About The Exist of God Essay Argument About The Exist of GodThe following paper will provide a sound argument in favor of theexistence of God. By demonstrating that an Atheist world cannot account for thepreconditions of the laws of logic an Atheist cannot even account for a rationaldebate concerning the existence of God. The impossibility of the contrary, the best and only proof that thenesesary truth of the existence of God is his revelation of himself to us thatmakes it possible for us to use logic. This could be translated, using onlynessesary truths, into the form of:L: (laws of logic)G: (God exists) if L entails GL================GLogic is the laws of reasoning that God has established. IfGod has established these laws of reasoning that we call logic then how couldthe Atheist system account for the laws of logic. First they are immaterial anduniversal, and how could anything immaterial and universal be accounted for in anaturalistic (matter only) universe. Second if God has established these laws ofreasoning then there would be no atheism. An Atheist wants to believe in laws oflogic which are universal in application, but in order to escape the ultimateimplications of this idea ( there is a God who imposes universal standards ofreason.), the Atheist will try to maintain that the laws of logic ar e merely conventions of general agreement amongst them. This is philosophically non-acceptable, if logic were simply a matter of convention, it would be impossibleto have any kind of rational debate because either side could win by simplystipulating different laws of logic by convention. Therefore since universallaws cannot be changed by convention since they hold constant in all possibleworlds is it not fair to say then that there is a God who imposes universalstandards of reason.