Importance Of Public Open Space Health And Social Care Essay

Importance Of Public Open Space Health And Social Care Essay One of the principal aims of any public authority is to improve the quality of life. Parks and public open spaces have played an critical role to improve residents life in development of city (Nankervis, 1998). The history of public spaces could be found all over the centuries in the medieval era, the communal grazing space and city square also known as the common was a significant urban element. Industrial revolution might trace back the tradition of providing for POS(public open spaces) was recognised as a critical aspect in the city development (Churchus, C. et al 2004). For the majority of 19th and early 20th centuries, the provision of POS within urban areas were considered as essential to the resident health of inner city, where commonly crowded conditions, pollution and lack of sanitation were an issue. Recent research defined at the beginning of the new millennium shows that more than 60% of the worlds population lives in cities. By 2025 will be over 5 billion people who liv e in urban contexts and in 135 metropolitan areas, the number of residents will exceed 4 million (Musco, 2006). Those aspects is becoming problem; the increase in population, lack of public services, growth of cities by dispersion of settlements and pollution in the rapid urbanization. Therefore, residences require more safety and to be more environmentally friendly constructed. Nowadays, POS provide leisure, recreation and promote public health (Banjeree, 2001) as well as making areas more attractive and more pleasing places. According to World Health Organization of workshop report which is The future for our children, Physical activities absence cause by the lack of open spaces for recreation lead to psychological problems, obesity, accidents and injuries were considered as priorities. Other aspects is that children have more time for television, computer games and an increase in the development lead to use of commercial playgrounds (McKendrick et al. 2000). Moreover, the other research has identified these startling facts: 20% of four-year-olds are overweight and 15% of 15-year-olds are obese. Evidence shows that this increase in obesity is linked to more sedentary lifestyles and a decrease in outdoor activity. It could expect the adult patterns of exercise are set early in life (Kuh, Cooper 1992). Therefore, exercise shortage when young can breed problems in adulthood, i.e. diabetes and heart disease. It also appears that there is a problem with polluted places or ruins instead of open spaces. Surroundings without green space link to short of community sense and aspect increased behaviour of violence compared with those that included green space (Jackson, Kochtitzky 2001). In addition, the dangerous place attracts vermin and can harbour criminal activities (Lord 1995) For example, the largest wastewater sludge plant and medical waste incinerator in the Northeast of New York City, where has a childhood asthma 1000% higher than other city in New York State. Children might choose to play on the streets rather than in garbage and used needles of the vacant (Maantay 2001). This study shows that land-use patterns also significantly affect the health of urban communities and lack of safe places limits childs activities. In the recent study examined different socio-economic status(SES) of children play in open space. The 94% of parents concern regarding their childs safety was the most frequently presented factor influencing where children played. Parental-safety concerns about the their children playing were mainly influenced by strangers, congregate teenagers/gangs undesirable behaviours such as bullying, having alcohol and road traffic (Valentine and McKendrick, 1997). These concerns were particularly evident among more than one-third of parents from low and mid SES areas, compared to just 10% of parents from high SES areas. In addition, more than 80% of families lived on a main or through street, half of the parents allowed their children to play on the street where expose cars. Therefore, the children seem to spend more time at home, friends houses even in the bush, river, road and street. These safety concerns limit places opportunities for childrens play. Though almost all recognise that problem exists, the best possible response has not been easy to reach. Supporting green open space and sustainable design can bring down disease, mental problems furthermore carbon footprints through ecological park, green infrastructure and upkeep of allotments. It could have long-term positive effects on public health, economic value of public space and reducing crime, which three principal points can be justified with some evidences in next stage. London is still among the greenest capital cities in the world (visitlondon.com/areas/parks/). Londoner can enjoy the great outdoors more than other countries, also Nottingham is good example because not only there are a number of parks for people, but also people easy to access high-quality of green spaces which make a healthier community. There is a growing concern about the health of the nation which related particularly our public health. From the perspective of planning and building places that influence peoples health, an all-inclusive approach to public health which respects the prevention of disease and the promotion of physical and mental well-being(Honari and Boleyn 1999, Pacione, 2003). The figure 1 gives more information about obesity already costs more in public health terms, and why important the assessment of green space for public health.  ¿Ã‚ ¡4.2 billion Annual cost to the NHS of obesity and related diseases 50 per cent Reduction in risk of heart attack by a daily walk in the park 91 per cent People who believe that public parks and open spaces improve quality of life 300 per cent Increased likelihood of residents being physically active in residential areas with high levels of greenery Figure 1. Greenspace Scotland 2009: Health impact assessment of greenspace: a guide.www.cabeurl.com/30 Scottish Natural Heritage and Institute of Occupational Medicine, published by greenspace scotland Firstly, safe and clean area encourages people to walk more and therefore meet considerable health benefits. Surgeon General prescribed lively walking or cycling as little as 30 minutes a day in the park to improve health. It has been reported to reduce heart attack risk by 50%, (Hakim 1999) diabetes by 50%,( The Diabetes Prevention Research Group 2002) colon cancer by 30%( Slattery, Potter and Caan et al 1997). Moreover, it is estimated that if just one in 100 inactive people took adequate exercise it could save the NHS in Scotland as much as  £85 million per year. (Bird 2003). Secondly, there is increasing evidence that nature in the urban environment is benefits for both physical and mental health. Natural elements such as trees and lakes promote a drop in blood pressure and reduce stress feelings(Hartig, Evans, et. al. 2003). Increasing access to high-quality POS can produce substantial benefits of public health and save healthcare costs such as joining a gym or going swimming (Pretty, Griffin, Sellens and Pretty, 2003). Therefore, being activities in outside promote physical and mental well-being, reduce stress, overcome isolation, social cohesion and alleviate physical problems. In other words, future health can be defined how carefully design makes healthy places through public green spaces. Being urbanisation has led to children with short of opportunities to play out of house and experience the natural environment than previous generations. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have the right to play, recreation and culture (Petrie, Egharevba, Oliver and Poland, 2000). Play breeds important phenomenon for development of children; the growth of social skills, experimentation about the crises of confrontation and the promotion of physical activity. Baranowski T. et al also defined natural open space for children, that being outdoors is the most powerful correlate of physical activity, and contact with nature can significantly reduce the psychological distress caused by stress. Firstly, activity in public, green spaces bring benefit to children suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Evidence shows that green space activities such as fishing, soccer were 85% regarded the behaviour of children with ADD, while non-green activities such as vid eo games, watching television were only 43% improved as beneficial (Taylor 2001). Secondly, places with trees and grass encourage better opportunities for childrens playing than spaces without such eclogical elements. For example, in inner-city Chicago, childrens playing was monitored in surrounding apartment blocks where were similarly planned trees and grass. Playing in the green spaces found significantly higher levels of creative than in the barren areas. Children playing in the green spaces had more opportunity for mental growth, this aspect can improve the interpersonal skills development (Taylor 2001). In addition, well-designed spaces will provide to fill fewer opportunities than previous generations through providing children with opportunities for exercise and leaning. The crime-ridden district can change to attractive, safe places and improve place value by public open space. Firstly, community gardens were shown significant reduction in crime rate. A positive example emerges from Southern Ontario, Canada, a community garden was attempted on the old rubbish dump site, which attracted local criminals and was avoided by the 1200 local residents as a result drastic 30% drop in crime through environmental design. Moreover, this reduction has encouraged residents to use the streets more at night, including better communication with different ethnic groups (McKay 1998). Such changes can promote everyone to meet the greatest of public spaces. Indeed, good-quality public spaces link to good management to prevent from slumism. Secondly, locating proximity to public space b economic value and trading by leading more people for retailers. It has been shown that well-planned public spaces improvements in town centres could generate commercial trading by up to 40% and the growth of private sector investment (DoE and The Association of Town Centre Management, Managing Urban Spaces in Town Centres 1997). Small businesses choosing a new business location rank the amount of open space and proximity to parks and recreation as the number-one priority in site selection. (The Trust for Public Land, Economic Benefits of Open Space, 2001) Thirdly, The local economy can achieve significant positive impact from a high-quality public landscape in terms of stimulating increase in value of house, since prorerty-buyers prefer to be near green space. For example, in Berlin by 2000, close to playgrounds in residential areas and a high number of street trees was found to increase 16% in the values of property. (Luther, Gruehn 2001). In Leiden, Netherlands, a view of a park have been shown to raise the house prices by 8% to compare with a view of an apartment block, which can reduce the price by 7%. The value of homes was at least 15% higher by the presence of green spaces, where the majority of residents mentioned the public green spaces as a major factor in their moving decision into the area. (Luttik 2000) When the environment is unattractive, Unsafe, i.e. unwalkable urban areas, can make it hard to achieve the requirements of physical activity and interaction between residents and nature area by the lack of greenery and dominated traffic. It will provide unproductive life style. Inclusive high-quality, well-maintained public spaces that encourage walking, cycling and various activities have a positive effect on our health. In other words, POS is a powerful weapon in the fight against obesity and illness. Responsibility explained the interrelationship between health, well-being and sustainability and urban design improvements undertaken as part of a wider strategy can breed even more dramatic results; shifting patterns of sickness, population, public health, also bring down carbon footprints. Probably, carefully design can deal with complex requirements in simple ways. However, above all, integrated decision-making should be preceded by policymakers, also they should concern existing c ommunities and refurbishments. This research has deal with sustainable, promotive health environments together with the concerning health and well-being. This win-win strategy in sustainability benefits accrue from every planning process through more collaborative working. Open space will become firmly part of ordinance and community development. Approach to public open space maximises its potential to contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable one on a local, regional and national level that will enhance a wide range of goals.

The History Of Walt Disney Film Studies Essay

Animation is the allusion of motion through the continuity of vision. It dates back to every bit early as 1650 in Paleolithic cave picture, where animate beings were frequently drawn with multiple sets of overlapping legs. Although some argue that this could merely stand for the creative persons ‘ altering their heads about leg place, most perceive these pictures as early efforts to portray gesture. The zoetrope, a cylinder with perpendicular slits in the sides, is another illustration of early life, as the interior surface of the cylinder has a set of sequenced images that produce the semblance of gesture as the user looks at the images through the slits as it spins. Since cave pictures and the zoetrope, other signifiers of life have been established, including stop gesture, 3D life, gesture gaining control, rotoscope, movie, etc. Numerous people have contributed to the universe of life and amongst those is Walt Disney. Just to call a few of his achievement, Walt was the first to add a music and consequence path to a sketch. He produced the first commercially released movie produced in the full-color three-strip Technicolor procedure. He made the first full-length animated movie. He was one of the first to utilize telecasting as an amusement medium and he created the subject park. Furthermore, no conversation refering to life is complete without the reference of Disney ‘s name, as his groundbreaking design and assembly techniques moved him to the vanguard of the life industry. The impact Walt Disney ‘s plants continue to hold on life today is possible through the love and dedication he had for art and life. Walter Elias â€Å" Walt † Disney was one of five kids. He was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois to Elias and Flora Disney. He lived in Marceline, Missouri for most of his childhood, which is where he developed his love for art. Although Walt ‘s male parent did non back up his involvements in art, his female parent and brother ever encouraged him to prosecute his endowments. While populating in Missouri, Disney began pulling, picture, and selling images to neighbours and household friends, as he needed excess money sing that his household was populating in poorness. When he was approximately 10, Disney moved to Kansas City, Missouri where his uncle Mike Martin was a train applied scientist. Bing in his uncle ‘s company, Walt developed a love for trains, which resulted in a summer occupation merchandising newspapers and bites to travellers at the railway. Disney subsequently moved back to Chicago and attended McKinley High School. Walt continued to pros ecute life upon his return to Chicago, as he enrolled in pulling and picture taking categories at McKinley and was a conducive cartoonist for the school paper. In add-on, Disney took dark categories at the Chicago Art Institute. At the age of 16, Disney dropped out of school to fall in the ground forces during World War I. He was rejected because he was underage. Since he could non fall in the ground forces, Walt moved to France and drove an ambulance for a twelvemonth alternatively. He ne'er stopped pulling. When he returned from France in 1919, Disney moved back to Kansas City, where he planned to prosecute a calling as a newspaper creative person. His brother Roy helped him make this end, as he landed him a occupation with Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio. While working at that place, Walt met cartoonist Ubbe Iwerks, which led to him working as a commercial creative person for the Kansas City Film Ad Company, where he made lifes based on cutouts. While working for the ad company, Walt continued to research his options. He began experimenting with a camera, making hand-drawn cel life. His involvement led to his gap of his ain life concern and he recruited Fred Harman, from the ad company, as his first employee.A Disney and Harman screened their sketchs, Laugh-O-Grams, with Kansas City Theater and their sketchs ‘ success resulted in Disney acquiring his ain studio. Walt hired a few other employees and together they combined both unrecorded action and life to make the series Alice in Cartoonland. Unfortunately, Walt had to register for bankruptcy in 1923 because the studio was in serious debt, but this bad luck led to better things. Walt relocated to Los Angeles and collaborated with Roy and Iwerks to make Disney Brothers ‘ Studio. Their first trade was to administer theirA AliceA sketchs with New York distributer Margaret Winkler. While working with Winkler, they invented a character called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and contracted the trunkss at 15 thousand dollars each.A A few old ages subsequently, Disney realized that Winkler, her hubby, and other Disney energizers stole the rights to Oswald. He did non allow this mishap discourage him, as this find paved the manner for the ill-famed Mickey Mouse, which earned Disney his first Academy Award, an Honorary Award for the creative activity of Mickey Mouse. Walt had been developing Mickey for a piece before he released the first alive trunkss having Mickey, Plane CrazyA andA The Gallopin ‘ Gaucho. Both of these movies were soundless and failed to happen distribution ; nevertheless, Disney ‘s 3rd sound-and-music-equipped short calledA Steamboat Willie, was a large hit, as Disney was the first to add a music and consequence path to a sketch. Walt still had more tendencies to put and boundaries to interrupt. In 1929, Disney createdA Silly Symphonies, which featured Mickey ‘s freshly created friends: Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. One of the most popular sketchs, Flowers and Trees, was the first commercially released movie produced in the full-color three-strip Technicolor procedure and it went on to gain Disney his 2nd Academy Award, for Best Short.A As if that was non extraordinary plenty, in 1933A The Three Little PigsA and its rubric vocal â€Å" Who ‘s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? † became America ‘s subject during the Great Depression.A This resulted in Disney ‘s 3rd Academy Award, another for Best Short. In 1937, A Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated movie, premiered in Los Angeles, bring forthing one and a half million dollars, despite the Depression. It besides won eight Oscars. During the following five old ages, Walt Disney Studios completed alive movies, Pinocchio, A Fantasia, A Dumbo, A andA Bambi. By the clip of Walt ‘s decease, A Disney ‘s Brother Studio had produced more than 100 characteristics. Disney ‘s last major success that he produced himself was the gesture pictureA Mary Poppins, which mixed unrecorded action and life. Disney was one of the first to utilize telecasting as an amusement medium. TheA Zorro, A Davy Crockett, and The Mickey Mo use Club ( known today as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ) series were highly popular with kids. Although Mickey is responsible for bulk of Disney ‘s initial success, his achievements did non stop at that place. Walt Disney besides invented the subject park. Disneyland subject park opened in 1955. It was designed for kids and their households to research, run into Disney characters, and bask rollercoaster drives. Disney used Walt Disney ‘s Wonderful World of Color, a popular Sunday dark show, to get down advancing his new subject park. In a really short period, it became a tourers ‘ attractive force for people worldwide. Because of the success of Disneyland, Disney began programs for a new subject park in Florida. It was still under building when Walt died from lung malignant neoplastic disease at the age of sixty-six on December 15, 1966. Following Walt ‘s decease, Roy took on the duty of completing the Florida subject park, which opened in 1971. He named it Walt Disney World after his late brother. The Walt Disney Company launched its ain telecasting channel on April 18, 1983. The Original Disney Channel ( 1983-1997 ) marketed chiefly towards younger kids, with series such as Still the Beaver, The Baby-sitters Club, Five Mile Creek, Flash Forward, Adventures in Wonderland, Vault Disney, etc. In 1997, a new pre-teen scheduling took clasp, with shows such as Smart Guy, Bug Juice, Jett Jacksons, and more. Later â€Å" Zoog Disney † attempted to link the telecasting and cyberspace, giving childs who played online games an chance to see their names on telecasting. From 2001 to 2002, Disney ‘s evaluations grew higher and it was about 90 per centum basic overseas telegram scheduling. Pre-teens started watching the newer shows like, Even Stevens, Kim Possible, Lizzie McGuire and more, taking to the prostration of authoritative Disney scheduling. In recent old ages, the diverseness of viewing audiences has increased even more with an older audience of adolescents, immature grownups and households, from over one-hundred and 60 states and 20 linguistic communications. Walt ‘s involvement in inspiring developed at a immature age, as he drew and painted images to sell to his neighbours and household friends to gain excess money as a kid. Walt rapidly turned his bunco into a passion, as he enrolled in pulling and picture taking categories at McKinley high school and took categories at the Chicago Art Institute at dark. Even when Walt was no longer in school, he continued to heighten his accomplishments. He ne'er stopped pulling, or seeking to entertain others. No affair the tests and trials he faced, he ne'er lost sight of his dream. When his first studio suffered from debt, he collaborated with his brother and old friend to open a new 1. When his spouses betrayed him and stole the rights to his first commercially successful character, Disney took it as an chance to let go of a new character. It is obvious Walt dedicated his life to his work, from his childhood to his decease ; therefore, turn outing his love and dedication to life is responsib le for the success he has had in inspiring and the impact he continues to hold on life today.

Impediments to Logistics Performance

MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND LOGISTICS 2011 Unit Title : International Trade Policy & Practice Unit number : MTL 504 Assignment number : 2 Submission date : 16th October 2011 Student declaration I certify that the attached assignment is my own work. Material drawn from other sources has been acknowledged according to unit-specific requirements for referencing. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦16th October 2011 †¦. Name/Signature of studentDate Introduction: This report critically examines impediments in 5 key areas taken into consideration in assessing the logistics performance of Sri Lanka and methods of overcoming the same as mentioned in the recent survey in determining the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) of various countries worldwide. Executive Summary The LPI is a comprehensive index created to help countries identify the challenges and opportunities they face in trade logistics performance. The World Bank conducts the LPI survey every two years. The key document for this is the the second edition of Connecting to Compete:Trade Logistics in the Global Economy,which was first published in November 2007. The Logistics Performance Index was based on a survey of operators on the ground worldwide – global freight forwarders and express carriers – who provided feedback on the logistics â€Å"friendliness† of the countries in which they operate and those with which they trade. Sri Lanka’s Logistics Performance Index is 2. 29 and ranked 137. In spite of prevailed security condition in the first ecade of this millennium Sri Lanka was able to lay a good foundation for implementing trade facilitation measure over the years. Typology of Sri Lanka according to Impediments to Logistics Performance Table Trade Related Infrastructure The Pathfinder Foundation says that Sri Lanka’s LPI ranking also reflects logistics-related problems with road and rail infrastructure, including congested road access to the P ort of Colombo and poor trucking and rail services; costs of both trucking and rail exceed those of Bangladesh and India. The railway sector accounts for only about one percent of freight movements in Sri Lanka, and is characterized by a large cost structure. In addition, the report says that the logistics sector has been slow to provide value added services for transshipment through the Colombo port. The Pathfinder Foundation says that the government can encourage this by providing free zones and customs procedures that enable the efficient provision of services. Failure to do this can make Colombo vulnerable to losing market share to Indian ports that are being upgraded; particularly as pure transshipment cargo is foot-loose Sri Lanka needs to advance its export competitiveness by developing its logistics, and plugging into Asian supply chains is of vital importance. Especially with the significant opportunities that lie with Sri Lanka’s close proximity to the South Indian markets of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka needs to become open to such international supply ch ains. Even if she can’t actually attract the companies to set up large plants here on the island, the country can be a part of a model, where some components could be manufactured here and shipped across to bigger plants in other countries for the assembly of finished products – that would be the paradigm shift. Overcoming the impediments the area of trade related infrastructure will play a pivotal role in the increase of the LPI ranking of Sri Lanka. This can be catogorized as physical infrastructure requirements and business processes. The following areas should be considered in priority for this purpose ; 1. Trading through Electronic Documents 2. Introduce online payment of Customs Levy 3. Development of Road/Rail/Canal transport 4. Upgrade Handling Equipments in the Port and increase handling capacity 5. Development of areas within close vicinity to the airport and sea port Quality and Supply of Logistics Services As Logistics is the backbone of trading of goods the quality of trade will depend upon the quality of logistics services available in an economy. There are many factors which affect this. These can be broadly categorised into three areas as people , Process and systems and Physical Infrastructure. Although this can be also inter related with other areas of determinants of the LPI this is an encompassing factor covering all the areas as Quality is a philosophy which embodies all the functions of the determinants of the LPI. In order to set and maintain standards and guidelines in the area all industry related organizations should be monitored by one body which will see to the fact that all these groupings are governed in a way that it will maintain the highest quality standards amongst its members and all stakeholders in the industry are involved in one of these organizations to ensure compliance. These Organizations are as follows ; * SLAFFA (Sri Lanka Freight forwarders Association) * SLACA ( Sri Lanka Air line cargo Association) * SLLPA (Sri Lanka Logistics Providers Association) * CASA (Ceylon Association of Ship Agents) * ACT (Assiciation of Container Transporters) There should be strong recommendations for companies involved in Logistics services to be a member of their respective grouping and also have a minimum number of professionally trained staff from these bodies. This will also facilitate the quality service provision through these skilled employees in this sector. Another important area is to recognize top performing logistics providers by way of introduction of an awards scheme to motivate the companies involved in the industry and to take the industry standards into new heights which in turn will benefit the customers in the long run. There can be benefits obtained also by Interlinking domestic freight forwarders ystems with International Freight forwarders or their agents to provide better info flow to the customers in order to track their shipments through the entire supply chain. Core Customs Modernization This can be identified as the main area of consideration for improvement in affecting the LPI ranking. As mentioned at the beginning of this report the last LPI survey was at the peak of the Sri Lankan war against terrorism. This meant stringent security measures in the country and strict surveillance on all goods that entered the cou ntry. According to the LPI, Sri Lanka’s performance is particularly weak in clearance by border control agencies (particularly customs), logistical competence and ability to track and trace consignments. There has been slow progress in implementing customs reform. Sri Lanka has made less progress than other countries in South Asia, such as Bangladesh and India. There is a strong case for attaching high priority to customs reform, including full use of the ASYCUDA system and development of a computerized system of risk management. Lack of progress in this area place our exporters in a disadvantageous position from competing in time-sensitive markets, thereby undermining the growth and employment prospects of the country. There are many areas to be considered in the process of customs modernization in Sri Lanka which includes the following ; * Round the clock & 365 days work. * Change attitude to understand that the customs is not only regulator but also trade facilitator. * Online cargo clearing. * Abolish age old regulations. * Introduce pre – arrival clearance. * Release goods against guarantees. Post – clearance audit method. * Re introduction of Green Channel – Customs decided implementing green channel for 10% out of identified 75 top importers (Sunday times 04th Sept 2011) * Restrict custom’s activities to main areas such as Border Control /Tariff functions & Inspection. * WTO Guide Lines should be adopted * Take positive steps to eliminate corruption * Introduce an effective review and appeal procedure Methods such as Green Channel and Risk Management should be introduced in order to reduce the clearance time wasted as a result of 100% examination at present. Today all 28,000 TEUs in a month are examined of which 18,000 TEU's are examined at Rank Container Terminal alone. But it was noted that while authorities intend on using an automated system, the industry pointed out that while there are a number of dynamics involved in the assessment of the products a manual check would prove to be a better procedure though. † – Sunday times Integration of Border Management Sri Lanka’s rank in â€Å"Trading Across the Border† is 65 out of 183 which is above the South Asian average but below OECD Average. Regional Facilitation and Transit Drawbacks in Connection with the Logistics Performance of Sri Lanka Sri Lankan shipping officials have questioned the validity of a recent World Bank ranking on logistics that placed the island even below landlocked Uganda, despite Colombo's position as a container transshipment hub. The criticism came at a videoconference discussion connecting audiences in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Washington on trade logistics in the global economy to discuss the findings of the study. Rohan Masakorala, former chairman of the Sri Lanka Shippers' Council, raised doubts about the study and LPI index and questioned whether the research had got it wrong. â€Å"The study's credibility is at stake and [such] findings can seriously damage the country. † It was mentioned that Sri Lankan businesses were concerned about misleading representation in such studies as it could affect foreign investment which the island needed to develop the economy. The World Bank study called the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2007 ranked Sri Lanka at 92 out of 150 countries with a low overall score of 2. 0 out of five, even below India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Singapore was ranked No 1 while Uganda scored 2. 49, more than Sri Lanka, whose Colombo port is south Asia's hub for container transshipment. The LPI consists of both perception and objective measures and evaluates performance along the logistics supply chain within a country, the World Bank said. An USAID study last year had placed the island ahead of other south Asian states like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. An alternative suggestion to be included in the survey was to ask buyers of Sri Lankan exports what their impression is – who buy apparel from different Asian countries The Sri Lankan shippers' council and freight forwarders association were also not consulted in the survey. The following news article from The Daily News with Prominent Shipping Personality Mr Rohan Masakorala also gives many insights into this ; â€Å" Sri Lanka has been ranked 137th in the World Bank released Logistic Performance Index (LPI) for 2009. The country secured the 92nd place according to LPI 2007. The LPI has not given a true picture of the country’s capability and the list and the criteria, and Sri Lanka has been pushed from 92 to 137, it is unfair as the country has an efficient air and ocean shipping sector, Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council former Chairman and Asian Shippers’ Council Secretary General Rohan Masakorala told Daily News Business. The index was arrived at by considering the strengths in rail, road, ocean shipping and air systems in a country. The World Bank team is looking at the overall picture. However, the Shippers’ Council or the freight forwarders have not been consulted for these LPI interviews this time as well. â€Å"They are doing a fundamental mistake by placing sea, air, road, rail and inland waterways in one basket, ignoring the strengths of different countries and territories,† he said. Courtesy – Daily News Another suggestion given in the abovementioned article is that â€Å"The LPI gives a wrong signal to investors and buyers. It could have been agreed upon if the World Bank had a chart separating sea, air, and road and rail rankings and then combining the four against the overall performance with other criteria such as customs practices. Then at least one would see each country’s SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities and threat). It is not proper to compare a landlocked country and a maritime nation. This is one reason to be critical of the position of Sri Lankas Ranking in the LPI. Furthermore the LPI is one among many comparative rankings globally. Converting the LPI to a ranking out of 100 places Sri Lanka would rank at 88 (137/155). We could compare this with other related rankings as follows Ranking Type| Organization| Ranking| Comparative ranking out of 100| Logistics Performance Index 2009| The World Bank| 137 out of 155| 88| Doing Business 2011| The World Bank| 102 out of 188| 56| Best Container Ports in the world| Containerization International Magazine Year Book 2009| 27 out of all World Ports| Within the top 2%| | | | | | | | Conclusion By analyzing the logistics related performance of Sri Lanka through various trade statistics it can be identified that Sri Lanka as a whole had a comparatively bad year due to the prevailing situation in the country at the time. Reference List 1. Connecting to Compete – Trade Logistics in the Global Economy 2010. The World Bank Publications 2. Export growth: The challenge of poor logistics – Article of e research by the Pathfinder Foundation, Daily News 21st June 2011 3. Doing Business 2011 – Comparing Business Regulation in 183 Economies, a Co Publication of The World Bank and International Financial Corporation. 4. Sri Lanka Ports Authority official website 5. Sunday Times 4th September 2011, Business Section – â€Å"Customs to Open Green Channel for 75 Companies† 6. Daily News 9th February 2011, Performance Index gives wrong signal to investors – Rohan Masakorala 7. Daily News 4th August 2011, ACFA wants Green Channel examination reintroduction 8.

About Richard Morris Hunt, Architect of the Biltmore

American architect Richard Morris Hunt (born October 31, 1827 in Brattleboro, Vermont) became famous for designing elaborate homes for the very wealthy. He worked on many different types of buildings, however, including libraries, civic buildings, apartment buildings, and art museums—providing the same elegant architecture for Americas growing middle class as he was designing for Americas nouveau riche. Within the architecture community, Hunt is credited with making architecture a profession by being a founding father of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Early Years Richard Morris Hunt was born into a wealthy and prominent New England family. His grandfather had been Lieutenant Governor and a founding father of Vermont, and his father, Jonathan Hunt, was a United States Congressman. A decade after his fathers 1832 death, the Hunts moved to Europe for an extended stay. The young Hunt traveled throughout Europe and studied for a time in Geneva, Switzerland. Hunts older brother, William Morris Hunt, also studied in Europe and became a well-known portrait painter after returning to New England. The trajectory of the younger Hunts life changed in 1846 when he became the first American to study at the esteemed École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Hunt graduated from the school of fine arts and stayed on to become an assistant at the École in 1854. Under the mentorship of French architect Hector Lefuel, Richard Morris Hunt remained in Paris to work on expanding the great Louvre museum. Professional Years When Hunt returned to the United States in 1855, he settled in New York, confident in introducing the country to what he had learned in France and had seen throughout his worldly travels. The 19th century mix of styles and ideas he brought to America is sometimes call  Renaissance Revival, an expression of excitement for reviving historic forms. Hunt incorporated Western European designs, including the French Beaux Arts, into his own works. One of his first commissions in 1858 wasthe Tenth Street Studio Building at 51 West 10th Street in the area of New York City known as Greenwich Village. The design for artists studios grouped around a skylighted communal gallery space was apropos to the buildings function but thought to be too specific to be repurposed in the 20th century; the historic structure was torn down in 1956. New York City was Hunts laboratory for new American architecture. In 1870 he built Stuyvesant Apartments, one of the first French-style, Mansard-roofed apartment houses for the American middle class. He experimented with cast-iron facades in the 1874 Roosevelt Building at 480 Broadway. The 1875 New York Tribune Building was not only one of the first NYC skyscrapers but also one of the first commercial buildings to use elevators. If all of these iconic buildings are not enough, Hunt also was called upon to design the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, finished in 1886. Gilded Age Dwellings Hunts first Newport, Rhode Island residence was wooden and more sedate than the stone Newport mansions yet to be built. Taking chalet detailings from his time in Switzerland and the half-timbering he observed in his European travels, Hunt developed a modern Gothic or Gothic Revival home for John and Jane Griswold in 1864. Hunts design of the Griswold House became known as Stick Style. Today the Griswold House is the Newport Art Museum. The 19th century was a time in American history when many businessmen became rich, amassed huge fortunes, and built opulent mansions gilt with gold.   Several architects, including Richard Morris Hunt, became known as Gilded Age architects for designing palatial homes with lavish interiors. Working with artists and craftspeople, Hunt designed lavish interiors with paintings, sculptures, murals, and interior architectural details modeled after those found in European castles and palaces. His most famous grand mansions were for the Vanderbilts, sons of William Henry Vanderbilt and the grandsons of Cornelius Vanderbilt, known as the Commodore. Marble House (1892) In 1883 Hunt completed a New York City mansion called the Petite Chateau for William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849-1920) and his wife Alva. Hunt brought France to Fifth Avenue in New York City in an architectural expression that became known as Chà ¢teauesque. Their summer cottage in Newport, Rhode Island was a short hop from New York. Designed in a more Beaux Arts style, Marble House was designed as a temple and remains one of Americas grand mansions. The Breakers (1893-1895) Not to be outdone by his brother, Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1843-1899) hired Richard Morris Hunt to replace a run-down wooden Newport structure with what became known as the Breakers. With its massive Corinthian columns, the solid-stone Breakers is supported with steel trusses and is as fire-resistant as possible for its day. Resembling a 16th-century Italian seaside palace, the mansion incorporates Beaux Arts and Victorian elements, including gilt cornices, rare marble, wedding cake painted ceilings, and prominent chimneys. Hunt modeled the Great Hall after the Renaissance-era Italian palazzos he encountered in Turin and Genoa, yet the Breakers is one of the first private residences to have electric lights and a private elevator. Architect Richard Morris Hunt gave Breakers Mansion grand spaces for entertaining. The mansion has a 45-foot high central Great Hall, arcades, many levels, and a covered, central courtyard. Many of the rooms and other architectural elements, decorations in French and Italian styles, were designed and constructed simultaneously and then shipped to the U.S.to be reassembled in the house. Hunt called this way of building a Critical Path Method, which allowed the complicated mansion to be completed in 27 months. Biltmore Estate (1889-1895) George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862-1914) hired Richard Morris Hunt to build the most elegant and largest private residence in America. In the hills of Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore Estate is Americas 250-room French Renaissance chateau—a symbol of both the industrial wealth of the Vanderbilt family and the culmination of Richard Morris Hunts training as an architect. The estate is a dynamic example of   formal elegance surrounded by natural landscaping—Frederick Law Olmsted, known as the father of landscape architecture, designed the grounds. At the end of their careers, Hunt and Olmsted together designed not only Biltmore Estates but also nearby Biltmore Village, a community to house the many servants and caretakers employed by the Vanderbilts. Both the estate and the village are open to the public, and most people concur that the experience is not to be missed. The Dean of American Architecture Hunt was instrumental in establishing architecture as a profession in the U.S. He is often called the Dean of American architecture. Based on his own studies at École des Beaux-Arts, Hunt advocated the notion that American architects should be formally trained in history and the fine arts. He started the first American studio for architect training—right in his own studio as the Tenth Street Studio Building in New York City. Most importantly, Richard Morris Hunt helped found the American Institute of Architects in 1857 and served as the professional organizations president from 1888 until 1891. He was a mentor to two titans of American architecture, Philadelphia architect Frank Furness (1839-1912) and New York City-born George B. Post (1837-1913). Later in life, even after designing the Statue of Libertys pedestal, Hunt continued to design high-profile civic projects. Hunt was the architect of two buildings at the United States Military Academy at West Point, the 1893 Gymnasium and an 1895 academic building. Some say Hunts overall masterpiece, however, may have been the 1893 Columbian Exposition Administration Building, for a worlds fair whose buildings are long since gone from Jackson Park in Chicago, Illinois. At the time of his death on July 31, 1895 in Newport, Rhode Island, Hunt was working on the entrance to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. Art and architecture were in Hunts blood. Sources Richard Morris Hunt by Paul R. Baker, Master Builders, Wiley, 1985, pp. 88-91The Tenth Street Studio Building and a Walk to the Hudson River by Teri Tynes, August 29, 2009 at walkingoffthebigapple.blogspot.com/2009/08/tenth-street-studio-building-and-walk.html [accessed August 20, 2017]The History of Griswold House, Newport Art Museum [accessed August 20, 2017]The Breakers, National Historic Landmark Nomination, The Preservation Society of Newport County, February 22, 1994 [accessed August 16, 2017]