Comparing Power and Freedom in Invisible Man and Notes From Underground

Comparing Power and Freedom in Invisible Man and Notes From Underground      Ã‚  Ã‚   The quest for power is an endless one for humanity.   Countless tales of greed, strife, and triumph stem from this common ambition.   Similarly, men universally seek freedom, a privilege entitling an individual to make independent decisions and express personal opinion.   Exploration of the connection between these two abstract concepts remains a topic of interest, especially in the works of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man and Fyodor Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground.   Two distinct definitions of "power" exist: one deals with societally defined power, generally represented by wealth, leadership, and authority over the lives of others.   The other defines a power within oneself, in which an individual gains a true picture of his human condition and relationship to society.   In Invisible Man, the protagonist enters a Negro college, only to be expelled to New York.   He then begins a career with the Brotherhood, a group to promote civil rights and support bl acks. The narrator of Notes From Underground outlines a series of autobiographical recalled events that comprise the background for his philosophy concerning the human condition and freedom.   Both Invisible Man and Underground Man, in their direct conflicts with power inequality, illustrate the universal human conflict in the pursuit of power.   In each protagonist, heightened awareness of their human condition onsets a retreat underground to compile notes on the nature of power and freedom.   Both conclude that freedom arises as a result of self-awareness and of ability to both recognize and accept a powerlessness of self amidst oppressive societal power.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Invisible Man's first major encounter ... ...on.html Bakhtin, Mikhail. Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics. Ed. and trans. Caryl Emerson. Introd. by Wayne C. Booth. Theory and History of Literature. Minneapolis: U. of Minnesota Pr., 1984. Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Notes from Underground: A New Translation, Backgrounds and Sources, Responses, Criticism. Norton Critical Edition. New York: Norton, 1989. Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Vintage Books, 1952. Fabre, Michel. "In Ralph Ellison's Precious Words." Unpublished Manuscript. 1996. Accessed 30 November 2001. http://www.igc.org/dissent/archive/ Ellison/early.html Howe, Irving. "Review of: Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man" Pub. The Nation. 10 May 1952. 30 November 1999. http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/howe-on-ellison.html. O'Meally, Robert, ed. New Essays on Invisible Man. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988.

Basement

3 – basement 3 – Basement 1 Quick Revision 1. 1 Problems arising from basement construction a. Excavation method. b. Surface and ground water control c. Lateral stability of basement excavation. d. Stability of adjoining building. 1. 2 Ground water control – dewatering a. Open Sump Pumping b. Wellpoint System. c. Shallow-Bored Well System d. Deep-Bored Well System 1. 3 Basement Excavation a. Open excavation b. Sheet pile cofferdam Supported with raking struts Supported with struts and walings Supported with ground anchors Ground support and ground water control for deep excavationCut off wallings: c. Thin grouted diaphrage d. Mixed in place wall e. Ground treatment f. Circular cofferdam g. Diaphrage wall 1/11 3 – basement 2. Cut-off wallings 2. 1 Thin grouted diaphragm A series of touching universal beams or columns are driven into the ground to the required depth. A grout injection pipe is fixed to the web the section and this is connected to a group pump at the ground. As the sections are withdrawn the void created is filled with cement grout to form the thin membrane. This is a non-structural wall and services only as a cut-off wall. It is uitable subsoil of silt, sand and gravel. 2. 2 Thin grouted diaphragm (Source: R. Chudley) Mixed-in-place wall A hollow churn drill is drilled into the ground. Intrusion grout is pumped through the hollow kelly bar during the drilling operation. When the required depth is reached, the auger rotation is reversed and withdrawn while grout injection continues. The grout is thus mixed with the existing soil to form a mixed-in-place pile. The above process is repeated with the piles being cast against each other until the whole wall is formed. Mixed-in-place pile (Source: Jufri & Wellmen) /11 3 – basement 2. 3 Ground treatment The major disadvantage of pumping is causing settlement of surrounding ground. In urban areas, settlement would serious affect the stability of adjacent properties. In t his situation, grouting method can be used to control ground water. The basic method is to inject the soil or rock with fluids which, on setting, seal or reduce the permeability of the material. There are various types of grouts. The choice of grouts, the pattern and spacing of the injection pipes will depend upon the particle sizes of the soil or the size of fissures in the rock.Cement Grouting (Source: R. Chudley) 2. 3. 1 Cement grouting Cement grout is suitable for injecting into coarse materials which have a high permeability. This method not only can form an impermeable barrier to ground water but also solidify loose soils which prevents from collapsing during excavation. It is usual to commence grouting with a batch of thin grout and then to increase the viscosity of the grout as the process continues, by reducing the water-cement ratio. The grout used may be composed of neat cement grout, or a mixture of cement and 3/11 3 – basement sand in the ratio of 1 : 4.The addin g of sand reduces the cost of material but it also reduces the workability. On the other hand, pulverized fuel ash (PFA) may be used to replace part of the cement (up to 50%) to reduce the cost of the material. The spherical particle shape of PFA improves the flow quality of the grout without reducing its strength. 2. 3. 2 Bentonite grouting Bentonite grouting is used in ground conditions where the particles of the soil are too small for cement grouting. While bentonite grout adds little strength to the soil, it has a high resistance to water flow and therefore produces an excellent barrier.Bentonite is produced from montmorillionite clay, which has thixotropic properties: when it coagulates it forms a gel, and if mixed with certain additives, such as Portland cement or soluble silicates, the barrier formed will be permanent. 2. 3. 3 Chemical grouting There are two main processes of chemical grouting: ‘one-shot’ and ‘two shot’. In the ‘two-shotâ€℠¢ process, pipes are driven into the ground at about 600 mm centres, and the first chemical, normally sodium silicate, is injected. This is followed immediately by the injection of the second chemical, calcium chloride.The reaction between the two chemicals is immediate, resulting in a tough, insoluble ‘silica-gel’. The process gives considerable strength to the soil and greatly reduces its permeability. Two-shot process for chemical grouting 4/11 3 – basement The ‘two-shot’ process has been largely superseded by the ‘one-shot’ process, which consists of mixing together prior to injection two chemicals whose gel time can be sufficiently delayed to allow full penetration of the soil before gel occurs. The extent of the delay can be accurately controlled by varying the proportions of the two chemicals.The extra time available for placing this grout allows wider spacing of the boreholes. 4. 2. 6 Circular cofferdam Steel sheet pile cofferdam s may be arranged in circular shape in plan. Circular cofferdams may be supported with ring walings. The walings are subject to tangential thrust and act as a continuous arch. Thus transverse struts are not required. Large diameter circular cofferdams may be formed of concrete diaphragm wall and reinforced with ring concrete beam. The advantage of this method is that it provides a clear excavation un-hampered by struts. However, the method is restricted to circular shape.Circular cofferdam support with ring walings Basement construction of IFC 5/11 3 – basement 5 Diaphragm Walls Diaphragm walling describes the construction of continuous concrete walls into the ground. The process, sometimes called the slurry trench method, involves the excavation of a narrow trench to the required depth which supported with bentonite slurry. The trench is then filled with concrete to form the wall. Construction of diaphragm wall 5. 1 Advantages of using diaphragm walls for basement constructi on 1. The process of constructing the wall is relatively quiet and has little vibration. . The wall can be constructed to a great depth. 3. The wall provides temporary ground supports during excavation hence expensive steelwork is eliminated or minimized. 4. The wall provides a good water cut-off; no dewatering is required and hence has little effects on adjacent structure. 5. The wall serves both as external wall for the basement and the foundation for the superstructure. 6. For deep basement, diaphragm walling is more economical than using steel sheeting cofferdam. 6/11 3 – basement 5. 2 Method of construction of concrete diaphragm wall 1. A perimeter trench, 1 to 1. m deep and with a width equal to the wall thickness plus 300 mm is excavated. 2. The trench is lined on both sides with 150 mm thick in-situ concrete. (The linings provide a guide for the grab and protect the top of the excavation from collapse. ) 3. The wall is divided into to panels. The width of each panel i s about 4. 5 to 7 m. The sequence of construction for the panels is in an alternatively way. That is, an intermediate panel is excavated after panels on its both sides have been cast. 4. The trench is then filled with bentonite slurry from a large storage tank before excavation.Excavation is done by a grab. During excavation, it is important to maintain the slurry level at about 0. 5 m below the top of the trench. (The function of the bentonite is to prevent the ingress of water and soil into the trench. ) Excavation is continued until the founding is reached. 5. Stop end pipes of diameter equal the wall thickness are placed at both ends of the panel. A reinforcement cage is lowered through the bentonite and panel is cast with tremie concrete. The displaced bentonite is recovered, strained to remove the soil particles and then stored for future use. 6.When the concrete has set, the stop end pipes are removed. Semi-circular sockets are formed which provide key for the adjacent panels . 7. Further panels of the diaphragm wall are then formed in a similar manner until the wall is completed. 5. 3 Precast Concrete Diaphragm Walls Diaphragm walls can also be formed with precast concrete panels. The construction sequence is: 1. A perimeter trench, lined on both sides with concrete walls, is prepared. 7/11 3 – basement 2. The trench is filled with bentonite slurry and excavated with a grab. During excavation, the slurry level is maintained at about 0. m below the top of the trench. Excavation is continued until the founding is reached. 3. Cement grout is introduced to the bottom of the trench with a spreader. The displaced bentonite is recovered, strained to remove the soil particles and then stored for future use. 4. Precast posts or panels are inserted into the trench to form the wall 5. When the grout has set, it seals the joints of the precast panels effectively, and the diaphragm wall is formed. Precast Concrete Diaphragm Wall Precast Concrete Diaphragm Wal l (Source: R. Holmes) (Source: R. Holmes) 8/11 3 – basement 6 Soldier pile wallSince the wall of a basement must be watertight, if a soldier pile wall is used as a basement wall, the piles of the wall will be constructed to overlap with each other. This type of wall is also called secant pile wall. The overlapping is about 120 to 200 mm. It is cut by a hydraulic actuated casing fitted with a cutting ring at the lower end. The cutting must be done within one or two days after the concrete has been cast to prevent it become to hard. Secant pile wall Alternatively, the piles of the wall are cast contiguous. Boreholes are drill at the joints of the piles which cut the edges of the piles. The boreholes are then filled ith bentonite-cement grout to seal the joints. Secant pile wall (Source: R. Chudley) 9/11 3 – basement 7 Top-Down Basement Construction It is to construct the basement in the downward direction to the final levels of the basement. The sequence of work is as fo llows:1. Construct the permanent basement wall using diaphragm wall or soldier piles wall. 2. Construct bored piles with temporary steel casings as the foundation of the basement. The cut-off level of the piles is at the final basement level. 3. Place steel columns inside the steel casings of the bore piles from the foundation level up to the ground level. . Backfill the shafts with granular material to hold the steel columns. 5. Construct the ground floor slab supported on the steel columns and the diaphragm walls. (This slab provides a working platform for superstructure construction and acts as the lateral support for the basement excavation. ) Access opening in this slab shall be provided for further excavation. 6. Excavate beneath the ground floor slab down to next basement floor soffit. 7. Cut the steel casing, remove the gravel and expose the steel column. 8. Cast the second basement slab. The slab is connected to the columns with shear studs and connected the diaphragm wall with dowels) 9. Repeat the process for the successive basement floors until down to the final basement slab. The top-down method provides the following main advantages:1. Superstructure can be constructed at the same time as the basement construction takes place and therefore the overall construction time is reduced. 2. Temporary and permanent works are combined and therefore there is no need for extensive steel temporary works. 3. Stiff rigid walls allow an almost watertight construction and basement construction to great depth.These stiff walls provide at the same time a limitation to ground movement. 10/11 3 – basement Steel casing infilled with granular material Steel column on top of bored pile Reference: Control of groundwater for temporary works (1986), S. H. Somerville, CIRCA Construction Technology (1987), R. Chudley, Longman Building Construction Handbook (1992), R. Chudley, Newnes Introduction to Civil Engineering Construction (1985), R. Holmes, College of Estate M anagement Civil Engineering Construction IV (1991), S. A. R. Jufri & R. J. Wellmen, Hong Kong Polytechnic 11/11

The Regulatory Framework of Mauritius - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 1982 Downloads: 14 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Best Score Essay Type Narrative essay Level High school Did you like this example? Table of Contents What do you consider to be the best regulatory framework for Mauritius? Regulatory Framework of Mauritius A unified regulatory body (Single Peak) A unified regulatory framework may also give rise to some difficulties. A non-unified regulatory body (Twin Peaks) What are the main recommendations of the steering committee on the establishment of a new regulatory framework for the financial services sector in Mauritius? References What do you consider to be the best regulatory framework for Mauritius? In every institution, there are limits that regulate all the individuals within the community. Regulation is the process of promulgation, monitoring and enforcement of rules that is creating a new law to monitor individuals and to ensure that every individual is obedient. If these rules are not enough to regulate individuals, the enforcement of rules is required. Likewise in the financial market, the need of regulatory bodies is required. It can take form of a public authority or government agency but there are also independent regulatory agencies which are not associated with government. Financial regulation is important to maintain integrity in the financial market. If a new financial institution is to be opened, it must abide to certain requirements, restrictions and guidelines. There is no restriction or exemption; all financial institutions whether big or small must follow the same rules. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Regulatory Framework of Mauritius" essay for you Create order Regulatory Framework of Mauritius The existing financial structure of Mauritius is a non- unified one. The Financial structure should actually have been a transition one which would have firstly consisted of a Twin Peak Model which would lately have been merged together to form a unified structure. Nonetheless, there is still a regulatory body for the banking sector and another one for the non banking sector. The Bank of Mauritius (BOM) is the authority which has been set up for the regulation of banks. The non banking sectors, on the other hand are under the responsibility of the financial Services Commission (FSC). Both the FSC and BOM follow risk- based supervision approaches and formal strategies to centre their resources on those institutions and practices that include bigger risks. In recent years, the financial markets of Mauritius have undergone growth and have also been successful in weathering the global financial crisis reasonably well. Despite this, due to the emergence of complex financial structures with overlapping activities in different areas of the financial sector, it was perceived that it might prove more efficient to carry out an integrated form of regulation for financial services. Moreover, regardless of past issues and the minor problems that may have occurred with the ministry of finance or government, the regulatory bodies of Mauritius have been doing a rather good job. The Banking sector of Mauritius kept performing well even after the problem that it faced due to the Barclays bank. Mauritiusà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Banking sector was ranked 15th out of 144 in The Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013 of the World Economic Forum. Nevertheless, the issue of whether to have separate specialist bodies or a unified supervisory agency continues to provoke intense debate amongst academicians, practitioners and in government quarters. The structure of financial services sector throughout the world is undergoing dynamic changes. Will Mauritius need to redesign its financial regulatory structure to increase effectiveness and confidence remains the question. As there had been the past failure of 3 banks and 3 insurance companies, Mauritius requires vigilance and strong supervision in the maintenance of an overall stable financial system. Should Mauritius shift from a Twin peaks to a Single peak? First of all, we should keep in mind that having a Twin peaks or a single peak will not always guarantee effective supervisions. Both a unified and non-unified body will have its advantages and disadvantages. A unified regulatory body (Single Peak) Supervise both banking and non- banking sector May lead to economies of scale in regulatory activities Overall economic welfare increases as financial institution saves costs by adopting a single building with single disciplines Maintains clarity and cohesion of the objectives It is argued that an overlapping problem arises when there are separate agencies for regulations because the two functions are interrelated. This can be avoided by unifying the system As Mauritius is a relatively small jurisdiction, its attractiveness as a financial centre of high standing might be increased with the adaptation of a single peak A single manager structure would be responsible for overseeing all activities in the financial sector and this might ensure that some financial institution do not have an unfair advantage for competing for customers It is also believed that a single regulator can respond much more quickly and effectively to market innovation and development It strengthens accountability of supervisors Unification would also result in cost saving through a single set of central support services by the sharing of infrastructure and administrative resources. Unification also helps in retaining a body of skilled professional staff by developing coherent human resource policy In a twin peaks, each supervisor will tend to defend his separate turf whereas in a single peak, both supervisors will cooperate and work together Due to advancements in technologies, there has been the blurring of boundaries between the banking, securities and insurance sectors. Hence it is said that a single regulatory body might be more efficient A unified regulatory framework may also give rise to some difficulties. It might be difficult to set up a single set of objectives for both the banking and non-banking sector Can suffer from the Christmas tree effect If a problem arises, the whole sector can be affected It may undermine the overall effectiveness of supervision by not recognizing the unique characteristics of the banking, securities and insurance industries. May only work in certain countries and may be more suited for developed financial systems. A non-unified regulatory body (Twin Peaks) 2 different agencies supervising banking and non-banking activities Might create conflicts between agencies. In the case of Mauritius, the Bank of Mauritius might make some decisions which the Financial Services Commission do not approve If the staff are responsible and know their respective works well, it might be better to work in a non-unified regulatory framework rather than a unified one Through a Twin Peaks, more emphasis might be put on the different sectors. For eg: If a problem arises in the banking sector and at the same time another problem arises in the insurance sector; tackling the problem might be easier as the BOM would concentrate only on the banking sector while the FSC on the insurance. This will also prevent work overload If tomorrow a problem arises with a leasing company and a proper solution is not found. People might hold the regulatory body responsible. Hence, if there is a unified regulatory body, the banking sector as well might be affected as people will lose trust When adopting a non-unified regulatory body, it may be possible to achieve more than the desired result if there are good cooperation Even though it is believed that a single regulator can respond much more quickly and effectively to market innovation and development, the Twin Peaks as well might be as effective if the personnel is well trained and knows his responsibility In UK it was seen that they are adopting the Twin Peaks model in the view that: Each supervisory arm would make their own, separate, set of regulatory judgments against different objectives while coordinating internally to maximize the exchange of information in what is termed independent but coordinated regulation. In the case of Mauritius it might be thought that swapping to a single peak framework might improve effectiveness and confidence. However it would all be determined by the global trends in the financial market, the social and economic aspects of Mauritius. To transform its goals into action, Mauritius has to respond more forcefully to its dynamic environment. Policies should be strengthened to reassure investors of the solidity of the economic sectors and the transparency with which economic information is disseminated to economic operators and users. Such an approach would promote good governance and investor confidence, which, in turn, would contribute to sustained economic growth. As Mauritius is a relatively small jurisdiction, it does not have the advantage of having a long established track record nor an efficiently operating financial market. Hence unifying the regulatory body may be considered as necessary to heighten the credibility and the quality of financial secto r regulation and supervision in a strategic approach to develop Mauritius as a more credible financial centre. As stated by the Minister, Mr. Xavier- Luc Duval; Making Mauritius a financial center is not an easy task. It indeed takes some time to establish a good reputation and see it grow as a financial centre. To make this possible, the jurisdiction, existing laws and economic stability are very important. Unfortunately recent scandals such as the white dot case and theSunkai case prompted the authority to sound the alarm. It must thus be noted with regret that without a good regulatory framework and enforcement of laws, some financial intermediaries would not at all hesitate to deceive investors. Hence, the government might consider a unified body to be the best regulatory framework for Mauritius but at the same time the government might also opt to continue with the existing framework that is Twin Peaks but improve it. Mauritius would thus continue to be an attractive c entre for financial services if well managed. It is very difficult to choose one of the financial regulatory structures. There is no best or ideal model that would fit every country. What are the main recommendations of the steering committee on the establishment of a new regulatory framework for the financial services sector in Mauritius? According to the Manraj report, the main recommendations of the steering committee are as follows: A unified financial regulatory authority, covering both banking and non-banking activities, be established in a phased manner, as follows: Phase 1consist of the immediate establishment of a Financial Services Commission. Phase 2 consist of the eventual integration of the Financial Services Commission with the Bank of Mauritius. The Financial Services Commission will be responsible for the licensing, regulation and supervision of all non-bank financial services. It will also be responsible for the protection of the rights of consumers of financial services. The Financial Services Commission will take over the duties and functions of the Stock Exchange Commission, the Insurance Division and the Mauritius Offshore Business Activities Authority (MOBAA) as well as the regulation of all presently unregulated activities in the financial sector. The Financial Services Commission will be managed by a Board which will be chaired by the Managing Director of the Bank of Mauritius. There will also be the presence of a Vice Chairperson and such other members as may be appointed by the Minister. The Financial Services Commission will facilitate the smooth integration of the onshore and offshore activities. An appropriate legal framework is proposed for establishing the Financial Services Commission. A Financial Services Advisory Council will be established with the objective of giving overall direction and advice towards the development of the financial services sector. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Advisory Council will be the Minister of Finance and the Minister responsible for Financial Services respectively. The other members will be the Governor of the Bank of Mauritius, the Chairperson and the Chief Executive of the Financial Services Commission, as well as practitioners from Mauritius and from overseas having an extensive exposure to financial sector development. The establishment of a Financial Services Promotion Agency (FSPA) is being proposed as a separate entity. It will act as a one-stop-shop for the development and promotion of the financial services industry. The FSPA will work in close collaboration with the Board of Investment to devise strategies to attract investors to the financial sector of Mauritius. The FSPA will also be responsible for human resource development and keep abreast of technological advances in that sector. References Business Mega; 9th April 2013 https://business.mega.mu/2013/04/09/preserve-integrity-financial-system-mauritius/