Studying Aboard Is Better Essay Example

Studying Aboard Is Better Essay It’s one thing to see a photo of Machu Picchu, or to read a travel memoir about the bustling streets of Mumbai. Visiting foreign lands in person, however, is an entirely different experience. When you study abroad, you participate in the day-to-day life of a new locale, gaining a first-hand understanding and new appreciation of the culture. 2. Improve Your Second Language Skills You may already be fluent in a second language, or you might study abroad in one of the many countries where English is spoken as a first language.However, studying abroad can provide you with a perfect opportunity to learn a new foreign language. Being surrounded by native speakers affords you the chance to immerse yourself in the language, which can expedite your retention and fluency. Furthermore, if you travel to a country in which the primary language is one you’ve studied in school, you can add to your vocabulary colloquial words and phrases that may not appear in the textbooks. 3. Explore Your Own Heritage Students whose familial heritage stems from abroad will often choose to explore their ethnicity and ancestry.In fact, reports show that minority students benefit both personally and academically when they have studied abroad in the country of their family’s origin. 4. Pursue an Activity You Wouldn’t at Home Studying abroad is a chance for you to be adventurous, explore the unknown, and try your hand at activities that may not be offered in your home state. We will write a custom essay sample on Studying Aboard Is Better specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Studying Aboard Is Better specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Studying Aboard Is Better specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer For example, if you’re studying abroad in Argentina, you can try numerous adventure sports, from zip-lining, to rafting, to mountain biking. If you enjoy heights, you can try paragliding.No matter what you choose, it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience 5. Learn How to Communicate Across Cultures In today’s increasingly global society, it’s important to possess the skills to communicate across cultures – and this means understanding more than just a different language. Studying abroad helps you become familiar with the customs and traditions of the country in which you are studying, in addition to the language. By interacting with locals, you can develop an appreciation for the culture and its differences from your own. 6.Become More Independent Studying abroad removes you from the normal support network that you are accustomed to back home. While on the one hand, being away from friends and family can seem daunting, it is also a chance for you to hone your own skills and gain some independence. Whether it’s washing your laundry or buying groceries, you will learn to take responsibility for your actions. When you return home, your increased independence will be very useful – it can help you in your job search, at home, or in your day-to-day routines. Manage Your Own Finances 7.One major aspect of being an independent adult is having the ability to manage your own finances. Regardless of whether your study abroad program is financed by a scholarship, grant, or another source of income, chances are that it will be your responsibility to pay the bills. Furthermore, living in a new country also forces you to learn to understand a new form of currency, and familiarize yourself with the various living expenses. Understanding how to manage your expenses will especially be beneficial when you no longer rely on the support of your family. 8. Increase Your Employment ProspectsEmployers value prospective candidates with international experience, foreign language skills, and the ability to communicate across cultures. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in international relations, diplomacy, or government, these skills will be especially useful. Use your experience studying abroad to expand your set of abilities, and make these a determining factor that will separate you from the others in a pool of applicants. 9. Form New and Rewarding Relationships Without your regular support group of friends and family, you will be confronted with new situations on a daily basis.However, studying abroad offers you the chance to meet new people and form friendships that may last a lifetime. Whether you’re living with a host family or in a student residence, make an effort to form relationships with those around you. Not only will you have someone around to console you when you are feeling homesick, but you will also get to know people that you can have fun with. Recreation is an important part of the studying abroad experience, and you will likely enjoy sharing your experiences much more than spending your time alone. 10. Network for Your FutureIn addition to making friends, you can also form professional contacts while abroad. Generally speaking, course loads tend to be comparatively lighter while studying abroad, so this can be an ideal occasion to intern, work part-time, or volunteer while you’re studying. Consult your college or university to see whether they help you find internships or work placements abroad. Sometimes, you can even get credit from your home institution. When you’re finished working abroad, be sure to ask for a recommendation letter to testify that you worked abroad, and to share with future prospective employers.As a student, you are likely young and fairly unattached. When weighing the costs against the benefits, consider whether you’ll have a similar opportunity to travel abroad in the future. Chances are that now is the ideal time to go. However, in spite of the many reasons to consider studying abroad, keep in mind the possible challenges and expenses, and carefully weigh your options before making a final decision. Furthermore, consult your advisors and professors, as well as friends and family, for advice – especially if they have participated in a similar program before. 11. Gain new perspective on the world.SIT Study Abroad programs take students through a cultural and academic experience from the inside out. Students explore issues related to globalization, development, poverty, and social inequity from many different perspectives. When they return to the US, students almost always see things differently: They can put themselves in someone else’s shoes more easily and have a more nuanced understanding of the world. 12. Increase language skills. Programs typically offer language study at the intermediate and advanced levels and/or beginning instruction in a less commonly taught language spoken by the local community.Courses incorporate formal classroom instruction, discussion, and field exercises designed to enhance student engagement while improving oral and written competence. Select programs are taught all or in part in the target language. By using language skills in daily life, students on our programs discover that they not only can survive but flourish in another country. Note: No formal language instruction is offered for credit on IHP/Comparative programs. 13. Learn research methods and ethics. Students learn appropriate methodologies that prepare them to undertake fieldwork on topics connected to the program theme.Students develop research skills and approaches including: cross-cultural adaptation and skills building; project selection and refinement; contact and resource cultivation; observation and interviewing s kills; gathering, organizing, and presenting findings; and maintaining a field journal. Students also examine the ethics and impact of their research on local communities and are required to follow the World Learning/SIT Human Subjects Review Policy, which serves as an approval process and guide for ethical field study practices. 14. Improve, learn, and refine decision-making and problem-solving skills.Students studying abroad find themselves in new situations all the time. When students maneuver through uncharted territory and convey their needs and thoughts using new language and intercultural skills, they gain confidence. These skills are transferable to other aspects of life, both personal and professional. 15. Test your interests. While studying abroad, especially on a field-based program like SIT, students can often take their interests in a more specific, applied direction. For example, they can try field research or clinical work and/or interact with professionals working in fields of interest to them. 6. Make new contacts and form lasting connections. Between academic directors, in-country lecturers, and program staff; other SIT students; homestay families; and program contributors, students form a large network of people during their study abroad experience. Some students may call upon their in-country professional contacts soon after the program’s conclusion, perhaps in pursuit of a Fulbright or Watson scholarship; others stay in touch with homestay families for decades; still others form lifelong friendships with their SIT peers. These relationships can be deeply enriching.

An Examination of Minimum Wage and Its Economical Impact

An Examination of Minimum Wage and Its Economical Impact The concept of minimum wage is a complex economic program pitting an employee's benefit of a living wage against an employer's hardship of forced policy. In this critical analysis of the minimum wage, each side presents an argument for or against the program. This examination provides an insight into whether minimum wage serves as a social and economic safety net or a welfare crutch with crippling effects for those affected. The presentation of facts and figures explores wage requirements for employment of adults versus minors, as well as, displacement of workers based on rising wages. An increasing deficit between the minimum wage and the national poverty level will also be covered with a final conclusion of the team's stance on the subject of minimum wage.ContentsAbstract2Contents3An Examination of Minimum Wage and Its Economical Impact4Introduction4History of Minimum Wage4The Pro Minimum Wage Argument6The Anti Minimum Wage Argument9Summary11Conclusion12Reference page14An Examinati on of Minimum Wage and Its Economical Impact TitleIntroductionThe United States economy and workforce faces a tough and challenging dilemma dealing with the minimum wage issue.Map of U.S. Minimum Wage lawsMinimum wage has been, and will continue to be, a topic of discussion amongst America's workforce. Should Congress be held responsible to pass an act raising minimum wage throughout the United States? Should a minimum wage be a state-led initiative? Should minimum wage be abolished and never raised? This paper will answer the questions stated above and critically analyze the pros and cons of the minimum wage structure in the United States. This paper will allow the reader to establish a clear and precise picture of the "pro minimum wage stance", by providing facts and opinions concerning the economic and social benefits of maintaining and raising minimum wage. This paper will also identify facts and opinions concerning the "con minimum wage stance", focusing on the negative impact on...

The future of e Marketing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The future of e Marketing - Research Paper Example McCole (2012) argues that the current wave of marketing is directly intertwined with such social media through COBRA and eWOM models. Among the prominent ways that such marketing occurs in social media is through campaigns that give discounts or deals to individuals that follow the specific organization on the social networking platform, such as Facebook or Twitter. Among prominent element of such marketing is through mobile technology. In these situations individuals grant marketers their cell phone number, and the specific organization can then engage in texting campaigns. Finally, specifically tailored marketing is occurring through data analysis that is gained through individuals’ interactions on social media networks. While social media marketing constitutes the current wave of e-marketing, this research recognizes that with the rapid pace of technological change current trends will soon change. As such, it’s crucially important for organizations to consider the potential future of e-marketing. One prominent mode of thought has considered the aspects of the current marketing system that are unsustainable. An example of this is the current pay-per-click system. Facebook currently implements an advertising model where marketers pay a set fee every time a consumer clicks on a specific link. These models have been challenged by increasing manipulation of the data results, leaving both marketers and hosting bodies unable to gather accurate results. With this recognitions one can rightly assume that the future of e-marketing will still greatly be intertwined with search portals, leaving search engine optimization a major element of future marketing efforts. Another major consideration in terms of the future of electronic marketing is the current state of email marketing. Email marketing has long been a cornerstone element of marketing efforts. Spam efforts persist, but more

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

HYPOTHETICAL - Essay Example The partnership act of 1891, section five, defines partnership as a business organization formed by two or more people for the purposes of making a profit. According to the act, there must be involved, for the purposes of conducting the business as a joint venture. There must be obligations between the partners and sharing of profits among them determines partnership. In the case of Canny Gabriel Castle Jackson Advertising (pty) ltd vs. Volume Sales Finance (pty), (1974) 131 CLR 321, the high court ruled that for there to be a partnership, sharing of profits and loses must occur, and an organized structure of operation must be proved (Higgins and Victoria, 1970). In the above scenario, there is partnership between Henry and Angus. This is because the two agreed to form the business as a joint venture and they share profits together. This satisfies the requirements of the partnership act, section 6(c) and section 5 (1). In section 6, sub section c, it states that a partner is considered in a partnership if he has a stake in the earnings and section 5 subsection 1, identifies a partnership as a relationship between two consenting parties aimed at making profits. Under the law, Lorenzo cannot be considered a partner of the business entity. This is outlined in the partnership act, section 6 subsection c (v1). The law states that a person receiving annuity from the business by selling the persons goodwill is not by reason a partner in the business. This section disqualifies Lorenzo from being a partner of the firm since he does not share in the profits of the business. Even though his name is on the business, it acts as goodwill and it does not necessarily make him a partner. From the above analysis, the partners of the business are Henry and Angus, and FRSPL should look at various legal mechanisms of recovering their debts from the

Market Force Description and Analysis of Impact on Product Services Essay Example for Free

Market Force Description and Analysis of Impact on Product Services Essay Communications-Security System Services-These devices and systems have a wide range, specifically, home and car. The demand is driven partly by home sales, new home construction and office construction. Most security systems like Brink Security have warning decals on the windows or in the yard to advertise. Commercial marketing usually consist of a direct sales force that call on owners and operators of commercial building companies that provide security monitoring services often have large account recieveable and credit problems with payments from subscribers, defective or poorly installed equipment or poor service, can have expensive consequences and Law suit risk in false alarms and frequent investment in new technology, The demand for residential and commercial construction and sales, need is in customer service and product, the companies increase their and systems and services by going to the senior citizens and dual income families. In their growth over the next 10 years included will be monitoring and security systems that include devices that measure environment factors, such as humility and quality of air and water. Healthcare-Nursing Home and Assisted Living-over 5 million elderly, mentally ill and, other physically and mentally challenged people need healthcare. The healthcare industry provide long-term care , includes onsite healthcare, counseling, medication dispensing, may become more prevalent. Demand for residential care facilities will grow as the baby boomers age, spurring investments in new construction, upgrades for existing facilities, additional beds, labor and services. The healthcare facilities industry faces a nurse shortage and is pressuring colleges to graduate nurses. To overcome threats, in the nursing facilities background checks, monitoring of the patients making sure they are changed, bath, and fed, also for the ones in assisted living, this is to insure that injuries to the elderly are not caused. The rise in Healthcare has risen by 80 percent. The risk with healthcare is that is not being made affordable and the premiums have sky rocketed, to were the elderly have a hard time getting the medicine and supplies. I do have love ones in the Nursing Home, and when I go and visit, I see the elderly just sitting there, not one of the staff takes time to ask them if they want to be moved, or just to check on them, some do not get bath until the end of the day, and there clothes are soiled, it is like they have been thrown away, The strategies I would use would to be train nurses aid how to care and properly change and check on the patient, there tone of voice used, close supervision of the elderly. General Business-Laundry Detergent-In the U. S. oap and detergent has over 650 companies worldwide. Detergent is packaged in cartons, bottles, pouches, or bags. The growth rate is low, because there are new and cheaper products available. One company is Proctor and Gamble, they are a household name they serve 180 countries, they strive and produce, superior quality and values, that improve the lives of the Consumer’s. Demand for soap and detergent result in wide swings in production, capacity planning is difficult. Challenges PG face is the manufacter must comply with different state and country environmental regulations. The soap and detergent industry will impact the nation because its represented in over 145 nations, the marketing of such companies as PG has been proven to be the best in strategy brands most important to retailers, strong business , and fundamentalist. In using, Gain and Tide, they over the consumer dye free and perfume free products, as well as the different soaps. The soap and detergent companies have Capitalized on opportunities by, having antibacterical hand soaps and bath soaps. Another stragedy that these companies have utilized is environmental friendly products, that are safe for our environment. Let’s take soap its used for animals and people and washing cars, and just about everything. Many big companies, do not see the threat of little companies with products such as Power Soaps and detergents this company is out of South India, they spend a lot of money on advertising. Marketing plays the pivotal role in making or breaking any product or service. In my closing, I will sum up all three subjects starting with the Security.

Lewis and Clark Matter :: History Expeditions Essays

Lewis and Clark Matter Amid all the hoopla, it’s easy to lose sight of the expedition’s true significance As the Lewis and Clark bicentennial approaches—the Corps of Discovery set out from Camp Dubois at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers on May 14, 1804—all the signs of a great cultural-historical wallow are in place. Hundreds of Lewis and Clark books are flooding the market—everything from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to Gary Moulton’s magnificent 13-volume edition of the expedition’s journals, to cookbooks, coloring books and trail guides. A gift catalog from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello offers stuffed versions of a prairie dog, a bison and a Newfoundland dog made to look like Seaman, the animal that accompanied Lewis on the trip. You can even order dolls of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, Sacagawea and York "with detailed removable clothing." There are Corps of Discovery television documentaries, an IMAX movie and dozens upon dozens of Internet Web sites. There are Lewis and Clark conferences, museum exhibitions and trail rides. Last summer Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders drove parts of the trail. When Harley hogs discover Lewis and Clark, you know something big is going on! Now I would be the last person to dump mashed potatoes on all of this; after all, I’ve written four books about the expedition. Much of this bicentennial celebration is good, clean family fun that’s both informative and entertaining. But in all this hoopla I fear that we may miss the underlying significance of the Lewis and Clark story and the chance to connect these early explorers to the larger and richer stories of our past. On the road with Thomas Jefferson’s Corps of Discovery, or even standing alongside the trail as they pass by, we meet ourselves, and more important, we meet people who are not ourselves. Not the first Lewis and Clark were not the first white men to cross the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific north of Mexico. (Scottish fur trader Alexander Mackenzie crossed Canada a decade earlier.) Nor did they visit places not already seen and mapped by generations of native people. You could even say that Lewis and Clark began the American invasion of the West, which aimed at making it safe for cows, corn and capital at the expense of bison, prairie grasses and cultures not fitting the expansionist agenda. If we want to be hard edged, we could even make a case that the Lewis and Clark story is a mainstay of the same shelf-worn narrative that glorifies and justifies the American conquest and dispossession of the North America natives.

Advise the UK government on which primary energy resources would be best to develop over the next 20 years

Energy is a fundamental part of our lives; however, can we continue to rely on fossil fuels? By 2030 global energy demand will be 40% higher and there are also growing concerns over increased greenhouse gas emissions and the resultant warming of our planet which causes us to ask questions about whether our current energy supply is truly sustainable. The UK is running out of energy, without massive investment in new power plants there will be regular black outs in 10 years. There are several factors to consider when evaluating different primary energy resources; these include economic, environmental, political and social implications. However, the most important factors to consider would be economic viability (which is particularly significant due to the UK’s current economic situation) and environmental sustainability. In this essay I will be looking at these factors in order to try and come up with the most sensible solution to the growing energy problem in our country and therefore what primary energy resource should be developed to solve it.Government Regulation on Media in America Natural Gas Natural gas is a major source of electricity generation through the use of gas turbines and steam turbines. It burns more cleanly than other hydrocarbon fuels, such as oil and coal, and it also produces less carbon dioxide. For an equivalent amount of heat, burning natural gas produces about 30% less carbon dioxide than burning petroleum and about 45% less than burning coal. Gas from the North Sea has provided Britain with a regular supply since the mid 1960s when the first discoveries were made. However, UK supplies from the North peaked in 1999, since when production has fallen by around half (see graph to the right). The trade secretary says that the UK is now a net importer of gas – this growing dependence on imports means increasing vulnerability to rising prices and instability in gas-producing regions. Also the CO2 emissions are still significant so you can’t consider this energy resource as completely ‘clean’. Gas fracking in the UK is a very contro versial issue, especially after the recent earthquakes at test drilling sites near Blackpool. Coal 33% of our current energy sources come from coal; it is well established, cheap and reliable. However economically viable UK coal will run out in 10-15 years and is already expensive to mine. Half the coal used in the UK is now imported. The huge environmental implications involved with coal also remain to be a concern – there are high emissions of CO2 and SO2 (which causes acid rain.) Earlier this year the government invested  £1 billion in cleaner technologies, in particular carbon capture technologies which prevent CO2 from escaping into the atmosphere. â€Å"The potential rewards from carbon capture and storage are immense: a technology that can de-carbonise coal and gas-fired power stations and large industrial emitters, allowing them to play a crucial part in the UK's low carbon future† says Ed Davey, Energy and Climate Change Secretary. However this still remains to be a controversial strategy as some say that carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is in i ts infancy and does not work yet. Nuclear Power Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity – it provides about 20% of the UK’s energy, utilising 16 operational nuclear reactors at nine plants. Nuclear power is the primary source of electric power in France; 76% of France’s electricity comes from nuclear power, the highest percentage in the world. France's nuclear power industry has been called â€Å"a success story† that has put the nation â€Å"ahead of the world† in terms of providing cheap, CO2-free energy. The main positive environmental implication is that it creates minimal CO2 emissions after construction and therefore it isn’t contributing to global warming however this shouldn’t indicate that it is environmentally friendly; there are high levels of radioactive waste involved and the Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) incidents raise concern over nuclear disasters. After the 2011 Fukushima incident, the head of France's nuclear safety agency said that France needs to upgrade the protection of vital functions in all its nuclear reactors to avoid a disaster in the event of a natural calamity, which will inevitably increase the cost of electricity. There are further negative economic implications as there are high costs of building and decommissioning reactors. Planning and building a power station takes at least 10 years so this will not help meet Kyoto agreements. However a positive economic implication is that Nuclear energy is not as vulnerable to fuel prices fluctuations as oil and gas. There are several pros and cons to nuclear power which makes it a controversial matter; all of the above points would have to be considered if this resource would be developed over the next 20 years. Hydropower This is the most widely used form of renewable energy, accounting for 16 percent of global electricity consumption but just over 2% of the UK’s current consumption. Natural flow hydro is reliant on rainfall and vulnerable to drought which is ideal for the UK. There are no CO2 emissions involved and no vulnerability to fuel prices or political instability and is very cheap once the dam has been built. In theory this sounds like the ideal option for the UK to develop over the next 20 years however in practice there are several negative implications involved. For instance, hydropower projects on mega dams in China have caused species extinction and serious water pollution issues. The three gorges dam in China has had many negative impacts; huge areas of land has been flooded resulting in a large scale relocation of people, villages etc. This case study indicates that a large scale hydropower system within the UK would not be completely sustainable. The Three Gorges Dam Oil Oil only accounts for 1.2% of the UK’s energy consumption and although it is a reliable technology and well established it has many negative implications with it. It is a finite stock resource – many oilfields are depleting; meaning production has peaked and prices will rise (price instability). This has also led to searching for unconventional reserves of oil e.g. in the Arctic. There could be 16 billion barrels of oil in Alaska and big oil TNCs are keen to extract it from this fragile wilderness which causes many harsh environmental impacts. The oil industry has a large dependence on politically unstable regions which causes many problems; the recent Arab spring conflict in Libya meant there were no exports of oil from this major producer. As well as creating a lot of CO2 emissions which contributes to global warming a major environmental implication is oil spills; the deep water horizon oil spill disaster caused extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats and to the Gulfs fishing and tourism industry. Biofuels Biofuels are crops or organic matter such as agricultural wastes which can be used as fuels. They are defined as renewable because they are based upon plants which have trapped the sun’s energy during photosynthesis and converted it into chemical energy. In the UK it accounts for 0.6% of energy consumption – there are only a few facilities burning Biofuels such as waste wood products and straw that are already operating. Energy crops could be grown in the UK, but some will not be cost effective unless yields improve. These energy costs are considered to be carbon neutral because carbon released when crops are burned is balanced by carbon absorbed from the atmosphere during growth. One of the main issues concerned with Biofuels is that it uses up a lot of land which could be used for other things such as growing crops – there is a link between the spread of Biofuels across the world and rising food prices. Brazil is considered to have the world's first sustainable Biofuels economy and is the Biofuel industry leader; the UK could learn a lot from Brazil’s 37-year-old ethanol fuel program which is based on the most efficient agricultural technology for sugarcane cultivation in the world. This program has led to there no longer being any light vehicles in Brazil running on pure gasoline which has huge environmental benefits. However, again Biofuels cannot be considered completely environmentally friendly as you need to take into account the direct and indirect effect of land use changes; Brazil and other developing countries convert land in undisturbed ecosystems, such as rainforests, savannas, or grasslands to Biofuel production. Some experts call bioethanol â€Å"deforestation diesel†. Wind Wind is a key renewable resource that is not vulnerable to fuel price fluctuations. Turbines are emission free and quick to build, with the costs of building them decreasing. The UK is very suited to wind farms – some say that the UK has the best wind resources in Europe. The UK is ranked as the world’s eighth largest producer of wind power; at the beginning of March 2012 the installed capacity of wind power in the United Kingdom was 6,580 megawatts with 333 operational wind farms and 3,506 wind turbines. However, even though it is a leading producer, wind power only accounts for 0.5% of our energy consumption therefore there is a large amount of room for development. There are several issues with this source of energy to be considered; it uses up a lot of land which inevitably leads to NIMBYISM issues – there is local opposition and concerns about the noise pollution and the impact on the landscape. This energy source is also intermittent as wind levels fluctuat e. Solar Solar is also a key free and renewable energy source. It can generate electricity from photovoltaic cells, be used to heat water directly, or be maximised by good building design. Spain is one of the most advanced countries in the development of solar energy however it is one of the European countries with the most hours of sunshine. This suggests that this source of energy would not be right for the UK as the UK sunshine is unreliable and limited. Solar power is also confined to daylight hours unless photovoltaic cells are used to store power in batteries. The solar power industry within the UK is developing however the potential may not be big enough for it to be developed further in the UK in my opinion. Wave and Tidal This has large potential in some parts of the UK and is a key renewable resource. However there are large development costs and it is still in the research stage with technology not being completely developed yet. There are also environmental issues involved with wave and tidal power; the barrier will act as a physical barrier to fish movements to spawning grounds etc. The wave and tidal barriers will also detract from the visual beauty of the coastline. Conclusion In this essay I have evaluated the pros and cons of several forms of primary energy which have the potential to be developed within the UK over the next 20 years. I have considered the environmental, political, social and economic implications of each in order to try and come up with the most sustainable option for the UK’s future. Forms of renewable energy seem to be the most obvious choice to be developed in the UK with the ever increasing concerns over global warming and climate change. The environmental impacts involved with using natural gas, coal, nuclear energy and oil all seem to be too big for them to be considered. The political impacts concerned with oil in particular is a strong indication of an energy resource that should be avoided by the UK; oil is already making a small and declining contribution to electricity generation in our country. With the focus being, in my opinion, on renewable energy it leaves the controversial decision over what particular primary energy source should be developed. At first glance, maximising the potential of hydropower seems to be the most sensible option as this is already having the largest contribution to our energy consumption out of all the renewables. However, much of the UK’s hydropower potential has already been exploited with large scale future development unlikely. I also believe that solar power isn’t the right renewable energy to go for as the UK’s climate is simply not suitable enough for it to have a large impact on our growing energy consumption. Wave and tidal energy does however have large potential in the UK however I am worried that due to its early stage in development it would need massive investment for it to reach its potential; this I believe would not be economically viable in the UK considering our current economic climate. This leaves me with wind power. I believe that this should be the energy resource that should be further developed over the next 20 years for several reasons; it is currently the fastest growing renewable in the UK and there is already heavy government backing to support it. There are little environmental impacts to be considered and with costs falling it is also economically viable. NIMBYISM objections can also be solved with the development of off-shore wind farms further out to sea, for example the world's biggest offshore wind farm off Kent with the 100 turbines being expected to generate enough electricity to power 200,000 homes. The success of this particular development will in my opinion become a catalyst for further development of more wind farms in the UK and will hopefully help solve the growing energy problem in our country.