Health and Safety Essay Example for Free

Health and Safety Essay The main persons responsible for health, safety and welfare on a construction site are: ? Employer – their role is to conduct their business safely. In order to accomplish this, a supervisor (site manager) generally runs the site. They must ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees; they should provide a safe system of work, with safe plant and equipment. Provide safe handling storage transport along with information, supervision and training. There must be safe access and egress from the place of work along with a safe environment to work in. The employer also has a responsibility to produce a policy to this effect, and must consult with and co-operate n developing safety measures. ? CDM coordinator (formally planning supervisor) – They have the overall responsibility to coordinate the health, safety and welfare aspects of the design and planning phase. Prepare the early stages of the health, safety and welfare plan. Advise Clients of the competence and adequate resource of the principle contactor and ensure that a health, safety and welfare file for each structure is delivered to the client on completion. Ensure that structures are designed and specified to minimise any possible risks to health, safety and welfare during construction, and during maintenance. Adequate information is provided on possible risks. Co-operation with the CDM coordinator. ? Principle Contractors – These are responsible for taking account of health, safety and welfare issues when preparing their tenders or estimates. Exclude unauthorised persons from the site Co-operate with the planning supervisor Coordinate activities, of all contractors, to ensure that they comply with the health, safety and welfare plan and provide information and training of employees and the self-employed about health, safety and welfare. ? Sub-contractors / Self employed – are to co-operate with the Principal Contractor on health, safety and welfare matters and explain how they will control the health, safety and welfare risks in their work. ? Employees – have a duty to follow the health, safety and welfare procedures that have been put in place and to use their initiative. They must wear suitable footwear or any other protective clothing which has been provided in accordance to what they are doing. Ensure that their working environment is safe at all times for themselves, work colleges and visitors to the site. They must cooperate with the employer and must not interfere with anything provided for safety. b) Identify three main pieces of health, safety and welfare legislation relevant to the construction and built environment sector and describe the legal duties of employees and employers in terms of such legislation. The health and safety at Work Act 1974 was introduced due to the constantly expanding laws on health, safety and welfare in the UK and consolidated much of the previous legislation and good practices. It placed duties upon a number of parties including employers, the self employed and employees. Employers have a duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably possible, the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Employees have a responsibility to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and for others who may be affected by their acts of omissions. The enforcement of the Act is carried out by HSE Inspectors and by the local authority inspectors. The nature of the main activity of the business determines the enforcing authority. When considering on an action, an inspector uses discretion but will consider the following: †¢ The Risk involved †¢ The Gravity of the alleged offence †¢ The history of the business in respect of previous events and their compliance †¢ The Inspector’s confidence in the management of the firm †¢ The likely effectiveness of a particular action The decision to bring about a prosecution rests with the enforcing authority. In respect of construction projects the main requirements of this Act is that employers also have a duty and responsibility to others working on a construction site, and for the safety of the public and other third parties. Under the health and safety at work Act 1974 umbrella falls much legislation such as: The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (Amended by the Work at Height Regulations 2007) Falls are the largest cause of accidental death in the construction industry. They account for 50% of all fatalities. There is no distinction between low and high falls). For any working at height, precautions are required to prevent or minimise the risk of injury from a fall. To prevent or minimise risk when planning for work at height, the employer should consider the work to be done and take a sensible risk-based approach to identify suitable precautions. The regulations apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person who controls the work of others (e. . facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height) to the extent they control the work. If you are an employee or working under someone else’s control, you must †¢ Report any safety hazard to them †¢ Use the equipment supplied (including safety devices) properly, following any training and instructions (unless you think that would be unsafe, in which case you should seek further instructions before continuing) As an employer you must do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent anyone falling. The regulations set out a simple hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height. [pic] The Regulations require dutyholders to ensure: †¢ All work at height is properly planned and organised †¢ All work at height takes account of weather conditions that could endanger health and safety †¢ Those involved in work at height are trained and competent †¢ The place where work at height is done is safe Equipment for work at height is appropriately inspected †¢ The risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled. Reporting accidents and ill health at work is a legal requirement. The information enables the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities, to identify where and how risks arise, and to investigate serious accidents. Records of reportable injuries or dangerous occurrences must be kept. They must include the date and method of reporting; the date and time and place of the event; personal details of those involved; and a brief description of the nature of the event or disease. The records can be kept by: †¢ Keeping copies of report forms in a file Recording the details on a computer Using the Accident Book entry †¢ Maintaining a written log A report must be made if there is an accident connected with work and: †¢ An employee, or self-employed person working on the employee’s premises is killed or suffers a major injury (including as a result of physical violence) †¢ A member of public is killed or taken to hospital †¢ An employer must notify the enforcing authority without delay and give brief details about the business, the injured person and the accident. †¢ The employer must follow up with a completed accident report form (F2508) within ten days. An employee or self-employed person must report to an employer or person whose premises they are working in, any injury for either themselves or a member of public immediately. It is not the employee’s or self-employed persons responsibility to report to HSE or to update the Accident Book unless it is the Self-employed person’s premises. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) Thousands of people are exposed to all kinds of hazardous substances at work. These can include chemicals that people make or work with directly, and also dust, fume and bacteria, which can be present in the workplace. Exposure can happen by breathing them in, contact with the skin, splashing them into the eyes or swallowing them. If exposure is not prevented or properly controlled, it can cause serious illness, including cancer, asthma and dermatitis, and sometimes even death.

Macbeth :: essays research papers

Macbeth If it hadn’t been for the three witches, Macbeth would never have killed Duncan nor Banquo. Macbeth, also would not have been killed my Macduff. The three witches are the reason that everything happened the way the they did. In the beginning of the play, the three witches prophecized that Macbeth would become Thane of Cawdor adn the King of Scotland. In the near future Macbeth became the Thane of Cawdor because of his valiant efforts in the war. Macbeth started to think about the witches proheciesand started to become a little ambitious. With the constant nagging and mockery of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth decides to go through with the murder of Duncan. Thus, another one of the witches prophecies was fulfilled. The witches also prophecized that Banquo’s sons will be kings. In the worry of Banquo finding out about the murder of Duncan and the thought of Banquo’s son, Fleance, Macbeth hires a few asassins to murder Banquo and his son. Later,three ghosts appear in front of Macbeth. First, an armored head appears and warns Macbeth to beware of Macduff. Second, a bloody child appears telling Macbeth that no man born a woman should harm him. Third, a child holding a tree, tells Macbeth that he is safe until Birnham Woods comes to Dunsinane. After the three ghosts visit Macbeth, the apparition of Banquo appears. Following Banquo is seven of his descendants, all of which were deceased kings. The first of the three warinings from the ghosts comes true when macduff allies with Malcolm, one of Duncan’s sons. Together they plan to retake the throne of Scotland. Macduff and Malcolm plan to use the leaves and branches of Birnham Woods as camouflage. Before Macbeth is killed, he

Case Petroil

In one of Its first projects, the OLL exploration company Petrol was engendering two sites for two 011 exploration wells. Only one may be punctured. The cost of drilling the Site Numerous 1 was $ 100,000. Preliminary geological data indicated that the well could be dry, or be of low productivity or be highly productive. He had signed a contract with a development company to buy the site if a well by drilling success you had. The buyer would pay $ 250,000 for a well of low productivity and $ 600,000 for high productivity well.If the well was dry, Petrol lose $ 100,000 of the cost of drilling. By that time, the company geologist,Jane Goodwill, was unsure about the existence of a structural dome that site. A dome structure is a kind of anticlines (geological rock deformation formed as a curved folds as strata tectonic stress resulting from various types) raised to a certain depth by the accumulation of oil and the increase of the pressure produced by the natural gas . Structures are ide al for the accumulation of oil. She assigned a probably of 0. 6 to the existence of a structural dome.Their assessments for dry, low, or high productivity wells were conditioned to geological structure. Table 1 shows the odds by estimated conditions. The geologist would ether give the information in this way though as she said, â€Å"we will never know for sure if there is a structural dome, up to drill. † TABLE 1 Geological structure Well With No Doom Doom Dry 0. 60 0. 85 Low 0. 25 0. 125 High 0. 025 0. 15 1. 00 1. 00 Furthermore, the site No. 2 was quite different, the area had been thoroughly examined using seismic testing and core samples.A core sample Is a method directly by taking witnesses or cores (cores), collect rock samples taken within drill pipe, In which you can perform direct measurements of the petrochemical characteristics of the geological formation. There was almost certainly oil. The geologist assigned a probability of 0. 8 of finding oil there. The drawba ck to this place was that drilling costs were high, $ 200,000, and if oil is found, the well would be low productivity of oil. A contract was also signed with the same development company to buy the well of low production at Site No. 2 for $ 250,000.To help decide between the two sites, each drill site. Using the decision tree diagram A decision tree diagram should be developed for this problem using the concepts and the necessary rules. You must specify the uncertain events that will be revealed eased on each decision. The random variable of interest is the net contribution can be calculated at the end of each alternative or branch of the decision tree. Therefore in the branches of the diagram decision alternatives were presented with their respective probability and net contribution as a gain or loss. The decision alternatives with uncertain probabilities for drilling Site No. Events are available and would be appropriate to show them on the decision tree diagram (see Annex 1). Wh at would be the likely alternatives Drilling Site Number 1? They are not available erectly. We know the odds of having high, low or that the well is dry productivity. However, we can adjust the chart for evaluation inserting another uncertain event as the geological structure (with or without dome). By including this â€Å"extra† node, the description of the branches of the decision tree will expand to calculate the return (you only need dry, low or high to calculate the net contribution). Now include the status of the geological structure.With the expanded tree diagram decision is straightforward to calculate the probabilities required by the president of the many. Therefore, this problem has to insert the â€Å"additional† uncertain event (geological structure) so that the probability can be calculated. The uncertain event should be displayed in the diagram to have an observable result where not only the state of well productivity, but also the state of the underlyin g structure is found. Addition should be included because the geologist of the company wanted to use it as a basis for probabilistic assessments to the president of the company.

Family Archetype Infant Photograph Essay - 1799 Words

Oscar Chavez Dr. O’Hora English 1C 20 April 2015 Family Archetype: Infant photograph (Nayarit, Mexico: 1992) My family archetype research was based on a photograph of myself at about three-four months of age. The photograph was taken in my family’s home state of Nayarit, Mexico. I decided I wanted to do my research project on this particular photo because it is the only baby photograph I have of myself. It is very important to me since I have no others pictures to look back at as an infant. I have always wondered what I was doing in Mexico as a recent newborn, and the story behind the picture. All I ever knew about this photograph is that it is an approximate 4†x 6† photo taken in Mexico, not of great pixel quality, I was in my mother’s arms, and I am wearing a Mickey Mouse outfit in someone’s ranch. The photo itself has raised so many questions that I have been wanting to ask over the years, just never found the right time to do so until now. After interviewing my mother, Olivia Robles, and father Valentine Chavez, I discovered all the background informatio n I’ve been longing for, and more. My mother told me the reason I was in Mexico a few months after being born is because my father wanted to meet me. I was about three-four months in this photograph, and my uncle Emiliano took the photo. The photo was shot on a late May or June weekend in 1992 during a family friends baptism, while my grandmother was still alive, and my father still lived in Mexico (Robles). My fatherShow MoreRelatedFamily Archetype : Infant Photograph1546 Words   |  7 PagesFamily Archetype: Infant photograph (Nayarit, Mexico: 1992) My family archetype research was based on a photograph of myself at about three-four months of age. The photograph was taken in my family’s home state of Nayarit, Mexico. I decided I wanted to do my research project on this particular photo because it is the only baby photograph I have of myself. It is very important to me since I have no others pictures to look back at. I was about three-four months in this photograph according to my motherRead MoreArt Style Of Appropriation Essay2614 Words   |  11 Pages‘The Bathers, from the series Bondi: playground of the Pacific’ in 1990. The use of appropriation is clearly adopted by Zahalka from Meere’s artwork evident through the setting in which is a beach side on the sand for both, featuring individuals and families from a range of age groups all participating in a certain activity. They are both busy landscapes with a lot of clutter and disorder, they are detailed and have many aspects to the artworks. It is o bvious that Meere’s artwork was appropriated inRead MoreThe Disillusionment of American Dream in Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night19485 Words   |  78 Pagesidealism is finally corrupted by the amoral values of his flock.† (Stavola 1979:148) We are not allowed to forget that both Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver are the representative figures of the American dream of the 20th century. Both these two men come from a family with little or no money, but they manage to attend a famous university—Oxford to raise their social positions. When the rising young men are halfway 2 to the top, they fall in love with the rich and beautiful girls from the upper class, and they

Learn About the Life and Death of Activist Chico Mendes

Environmental activist Chico Mendes (1944-1988) spent his entire life living in and fighting for, the rainforests of his native Brazil and its inhabitants. But his commitment to preserving a sustainable way of life cost Mendes his own life.   Chico Mendes: Early Life Chico Mendes was born Francisco Alves Mendes Filho on December 15, 1944 in the small Brazilian village of Seringal Santa Fà ©, outside of Xapuri. His was a family of rubber tappers, people who make their living sustainably by tapping the sap of local rubber trees. Like many rural people, his family also supplemented their income by harvesting nuts and fruits from the rainforest. Mendes started working when he was nine years old, and never received any formal schooling until late in life; by some accounts, Mendes never learned to read until he was about 20 years old. Some of his education was influenced by Euclides Fernandes Tavora, described as a middle-class Communist who, in the 60s, was on the run from Brazils military. Tavora introduced Mendes to books, newspapers and labor unions. Mendes and Organized Labor Mendes began to organize rubber tappers in the region, and he was soon elected president of the Xapuri Rubber Tappers Union. Mendes was also instrumental in organizing Brazils National Council of Rubber Tappers in the mid-1980s; he was soon elected leader of the group. There was (and still is) immense economic pressure, however, to clear the rainforest for cattle grazing. Despite evidence that harvesting the forests rubber, fruits, nuts and other commodities is a more sustainable practice that creates more income over a longer period of time, clear-cutting the rainforest was occurring at an accelerating rate in the 1980s. When 130 ranchers expelled some 100,000 tappers from the rainforest, Mendes and his laborers fought back, rallying whole families to stand in front of chainsaws and block bulldozers. Their efforts met with some success and attracted the attention of the international environmental community. Mendes was placed on the United Nations Environmental Program Global 500 Roll of Honor Award in 1987; he also won the National Wildlife Federations National Conservation Achievement Award in 1988. Mendes vs. Ranchers and Loggers When rancher Darly Alves da Silva attempted to clear-cut an area of rainforest that was planned as a nature preserve in 1988, Mendes succeeded in stopping the planned logging and created the preserve. Mendes also gained a warrant for da Silvas arrest for a murder he had committed in another state. For his efforts, Chico Mendes and his family received constant death threats -- in 1988, Mendes himself predicted he wouldnt live past Christmas. And on the night of December 22, 1988, Chico Mendes was shot to death by a single shotgun blast outside his familys house. Mendes was the 19th activist to be murdered in Brazil that year. Mendes murder sparked international outrage and massive protests in Brazil, eventually resulting in the arrest and conviction of Darly Alves da Silva, his son Darly Alves da Silva Jr., and a ranch hand, Jerdeir Pereia. The Legacy of Chico Mendes Partly as a result of Mendes murder, the Brazilian government stopped subsidizing logging and ranching operations and established many rubber preserves and nature reserves, including one named after the activist, Parque Chico Mendes. The World Bank, which once financed development in the rainforest, is now financing nature reserves that function as sustainable rubber plantations. But all is not well in the Brazilian rainforest, by most accounts. Clear-cutting continues, and according to some reports, fighting development in the rainforests of Brazil has cost some 1,000 activists their lives since 1988. Much work remains to be done to honor the legacy of Chico Mendes.

The Effect Of Prostaglandins On The Inflammation Pathway...

The role of prostaglandins in the inflammation pathway and the mechanism of action of NSAIDs Student ID: 51555517 Date: 11-11-2015 Inflammation is a defense reaction, whereby harmful factors are removed and tissue structure and function are restored. During the acute phase of inflammation, first neutrophils will arrive, followed by monocytes. The monocytes mature into inflammatory macrophages and will finally affect the function of the resident tissue macrophages [Figure 1]. These responses lead to swelling, redness, heat and often pain. Once the first stimulus is removed, the reaction will stop and the inflammatory cells will be returned to pre-inflammatory numbers. Prostaglandins play an important role in immune reactions and are therefore often targeted by anti-inflammatory drugs, such as non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The specific role of prostaglandins and the mechanism of action of NSAIDs will be discussed (Ricciotti; FitzGerald, 2011). Figure 1. Basic diagram of acute inflammation (Reilkoff; Bucala et al., 2011) Prostaglandins in general Prostaglandins are formed when arachidonic acid is released from the plasma membrane by phospholipases [Figure 2]. This acid is metabolized by PGG/H synthase or cyclooxygenase (COX). The four main bioactive prostaglandins are generated in vivo: prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostacyclin (PGI2), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and prostaglandin F2 (PGF2).Show MoreRelatedThe Suppression Of Pain And Inflammation2597 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction 1.1. Inflammation The suppression of pain and inflammation has been a major goal of medical treatment throughout the ages. Inflammation is an essential response to any noxious stimulus which threatens the host and may vary from a localized response to a more generalized one. [1, 2, 3] The inflammation sequence can be summarized as follows: †¢ Initial injury causing release of inflammatory mediators (e.g. histamine, serotonin, leukotriene, SAS-A, lysosomes enzymes and prostaglandins). †¢ VasodilationRead MoreAdrenal Gland9709 Words   |  39 Pagesglucose uptake into muscle and fat cells * It strengthens cardiac muscle contractions * It increases water retention * It has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects Androgens They are produced in the zona reticularis. The most important androgens include: * Testosterone: a hormone with a wide variety of effects, ranging from enhancing muscle mass and stimulation of cell growth to the development of the secondary sex characteristics. * Dihydrotestosterone (DHT): a metaboliteRead MorePathogram: Chronic Respiratory Failure Essays7624 Words   |  31 Pagesordered a sepsis bundle, cardiac |Left-sided pneumonia with pleural effusion- Pneumonia is an| | |enzymes every 6 hours, ABGS every 12 hours, and |inflammation of the lungs caused by infection. Bacteria, |Medications | |PICC line insertion for 03/19 for IV fluids, IV |viruses, fungi or parasites can cause pneumoniaRead MoreEstimation Of Plasma And Salivary9963 Words   |  40 PagesMAO Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor MDA Malondialdehyde MMP Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid Mn-SOD Manganese Superoxide Dismutase NO Nitric Oxide NSAID Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug O2–†¢ Superoxide Anion OH†¢ Hydroxyl Radical OLP Oral Lichen Planus PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction PFAPA Periodic Fever, Aphthous ulcer, Pharyngitis and Cervical Adenitis PG Prostaglandin PTX Pentoxyfylline PUFA Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids PV Pemphigus Vulgaris RAS Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis RAU Recurrent Aphthous Ulceration

The Good Friday Agreement Free Essays

string(74) " attack until a new cease-fire was agreed \(Pettersson, T and Simmons, D\." The conflict about Northern Ireland The importance of the Good Friday Agreement Introduction: The Irish Island has for centuries been characterized by a conflict between the British and the Irish, and has political, economical and religious roots. After Ireland became independent in the early 19th century, the battles continued in Northern Ireland, who was left under British rules. Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland who had been discriminated for a long time by British Protestants started using weapons and violence exploded. We will write a custom essay sample on The Good Friday Agreement or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the years between 1969 and 1998, more known as â€Å"the Troubles†, were over 3600 people killed in the conflict, among them nearly 2000 civilians. Since 1998 a peace agreement is signed between the parties called the Good Friday Agreement, but Northern Ireland is by some means still a segregated county with Catholics and Protestants living apart from each other (Pettersson T, and Simmons, D. 2010). The power struggle on the Irish Island has been a struggle between Catholics who wished to see a unified Ireland, and by Protestants who opposed for Northern Ireland to remain under British Rule. The Good Friday agreement was signed in 1998 and can be seen as the turning point in the conflict about Northern Ireland. In 1921 the Anglo-Irish treaty was signed, and after centuries of British rule, 26 of 32 counties of Ireland gained independence. The 6 remaining counties formed Northern Ireland, which continued to be governed within the United Kingdom. A majority of the population in Northern Ireland were Protestants and did not want to be a part of Ireland (leonidassthlm 2009). From the period 1921 to 1972 the developed government in Northern Ireland operated with autonomy from London, and power remained exclusively to the Unionist party which had support from the Protestant majority community that favoured to be a union with Britain. The Catholic minority in the country supported the Nationalist party, and they were not allowed to have a role in government, and were discriminated in many areas such as employment, voting rights and housing (dfa. ie 2 June 2012). In the 1960s, a civil rights movement was formed with both Catholics and Protestants; it discussed the unfair conditions for Catholics in Northern Ireland. The movement protested against the unfair conditions, and was sometimes met with police brutality. Every summer Protestants celebrated a former king’s battle, in which he had won over his Catholic enemy (leonidassthlm 2009). In 1969 non-violent campaigners for civil rights protested against the celebration they thought represented discrimination of Catholics (leonidassthlm 2009). They were met with an inhibitory and hostile response from the authorities, pushing Northern Ireland in a sustained period of political crisis. The years that followed was a turbulent and violent time in Northern Ireland, and many people lost their lives in the conflict, including many civilians (www. bbc. co. uk 2 June 2012). The Catholic Army IRA (Irish Republic Army) had been inactive up until the late 1960s, but after â€Å"the Troubles† started in 1969 they became more and more active in what they believed in. IRA fought for Catholic civil rights and a unified Ireland (leonidassthlm 2009). IRA was not the only group that fought for what they believed in. Protestant loyal groups grew stronger with tens of thousands of members that fought for Northern Ireland to still belong to Britain. Violence escalated and it became harder for the British army, who was there to support the Protestant parties, to control the violence. Both sides used violence and weapons against each other to reach their goals. One Sunday in 1972 during a non-violent demonstration for human rights were 13 people killed by British soldiers. This Sunday was later called the â€Å"Bloody Sunday† (Pettersson, T and Simmons, D. 010). The support for IRA grew after the Bloody Sunday, and more British troops were placed in Northern Ireland to prevent the violence. However, it can be questioned how much the British troops really did to prevent the violence, because it is a matter of fact that they were British soldiers, and that Britain did not want to let go of Northern Ireland to make it a unified Ireland (www. landguiden. se 2 June 2012). Both sides were guilty of violence and massacres and one of the worst attacks after the Bloody Sunday was the Bloody Friday. IRA blasted 20 car bombs in Belfast and 9 people died in the attack. About 500 people died in the year of 1972 caused by terror attacks. Civilians in Northern Ireland were getting tired of the violence that had escalated a long time ago, and wished for a change to come. They had seen family and friends getting killed in demonstrations and wanted an end to the violence that had been going on for centuries (leonidassthlm 2009). From 1974 to 1994 were numerous attempts made to try and solve the conflict in Northern Ireland. All attempts were made from London, and even though many people were tired of the violence and the conflict; was it still hard to gain support for a solution that would mean sharing of power between Catholics and Protestants. But there was some progress in the attempt of solving the conflict between Catholics and Protestants. The British Parliament made a deal with the independent Ireland in 1985, the deal meant that Ireland would be asked in questions that had anything to do with Northern Ireland. The deal had positive effects and a close cooperation between Ireland and England arose. Ireland accepted Northern Ireland as being part of Britain as long as a majority of the people wanted it (Pelling, J. 18th May 2008). After many years of violence a peace process were finally starting to take place. In 1994, IRA and its Protestant enemies called for a cease-fire. After numerous failed attempts to start the talks of a peace agreement, IRA broke the cease-fire after 17 months when they blasted a car bomb in London that killed two people and hurt 39. It took 18 months after this attack until a new cease-fire was agreed (Pettersson, T and Simmons, D. You read "The Good Friday Agreement" in category "Essay examples" 010). At last, after years of hope, crushed expectations and new terror attacks, a peace agreement was finally signed. The Good Friday Agreement was signed on 10 April 1998 and was aimed to form the lasting settlement following the cease-fire in Northern Ireland (bbc. co. uk 2004). The Agreement is seen as a turning point in the conflict about Northern Ireland and when the agreement was presented to the public, a majority of people allowed to vote supported the proposition (Pettersson, T and Simmons, D. 2010). The breakthrough the agreement represented was that, for the very first time in Northern Ireland’s history, it brought all the main political parties represented in Northern Ireland- those groups linked to paramilitary as well as those who were committed to constitutional means into the same negotiation forum and obtained a new set of arrangements for democratic governance. The purpose of the agreement was to end the violent conflict and to find a political compromise that would accord for â€Å"parity of esteem† to both the nationalist and unionist political views in Northern Ireland (Fahey, T. 007). At the heart of the Good Friday Agreement lies the statement that it was made for the people of Ireland alone: â€Å"By agreement between the two parts respectively, and without external impediment, to exercise their right of self-determination on the basis of consent, freely and concurrently given, North South, to bring about a united Ireland, if that is their wish, acc epting that this right must be achieved exercised subject to the agreement and consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland† (Fraser, T,G. 1999 p. 83). The Good Friday Agreement has provided the divided society in Northern Ireland to settle its differences, and a model of governance based on the â€Å"parity of esteem† has replaced the old system with majority rules. Unionists and nationalists have both agreed on proportional inclusion of each group in the government, and this is the first time such an agreement have been accepted by both parties. The voting system now works to ensure that either unionists or nationalists can vote against each other’s group interests. (www. bbc. co. uk 2 June 2012). The Agreement respects both parties’ goals to join the Irish Republic or to remain being a part of the United Kingdom. The agreement is divided into three strands: strand one is dealing with institutional arrangements in Northern Ireland, strand two deals with the relationship between Ireland and Northern Ireland and strand three deals with the relationships between the United Kingdom, Ireland and Northern Ireland. As mentioned before, the agreement focus mainly on the people of Ireland, and equality and rights lies at the centre of the Good Friday Agreement. The agreement protects human rights in Northern Ireland, as well as equality, mutual respect and partnership. The human rights commission and the equality commission are the two institutions in Northern Ireland responsible for ensuring that political, social, civil and cultural rights of every civilian are respected (www. bbc. co. uk 2 June 2012). The Good Friday agreement is such an important part in the history of Northern Ireland, and it is very interesting to see that it took so many years for it to be formed, and also that when it was settled the majority of the population voted yes to the proposition of the agreement. This proves that the majority of the population were at this time exhausted by the violent conflicts, and both Catholics and Protestants actually wanted it to end. Many years of bloody violence have left a deeply segregated society in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday agreement appreciates the importance of talking about the victims of the conflict that suffered and still are suffering from it. The agreement is committed to nurture a culture of tolerance to the discriminated community through promotion of mixed housing, integrated education and the support of integrated employment in companies (bbc. o. uk 2 June 2012). Northern Ireland was ruled from London until the peace agreement was signed, and by 1998 the peace process had come so far that it was possible to create a Northern Ireland government with both nationalists and unionist groups that would have equal rights in the community. The first years after the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement were shaky for the new gove rnment and the British sometimes went in and took over the governmental work. But the peace process were going the right way and in 2005 it had a breakthrough when IRA choose to give up their weapons and volunteers were instructed to form political and democratic agendas with only peaceful means. (www. dn. se October 14th 2002). In 2007 were the power of government divided between Protestants and Catholics, but although the power is shared between the two is Northern Ireland still segregated in some parts (Pelling, J. 18th May 2008). Sharing of power have been important for the peace agreement to last, but there are a number of people that disagree with this solution and violence have occurred even after the peace agreement was signed. However, Northern Ireland is a good example where people have become so tired of conflicts that they step by step is building the ground for a lasting peace. Conclusion: It is truly amazing that a conflict that lasted for so long and was so deeply rooted in people’s hearts and minds, came to a solution because of the Good Friday Agreement. As discussed before in the essay, everything was not easy after the implementation of the agreement and some issues were still there. But the facts remain that the Good Friday Agreement provided Northern Ireland with something it had never experienced before: equality rights for everyone independent on religion, mutual respect and human rights. For me that have grown up in a community with different religions and nationalities it is hard to understand how it must have been for (mainly) Catholics before the agreement. Before the Good Friday Agreement Catholics were discriminated in many areas and today there is no change of being stopped by the police, army or someone else because of someone’s religion. I believe that the main aim of the peace agreement was to divide the power equally between Catholics and Protestants as well as eliminate discrimination. This essay have focused on the importance of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in particular, but I believe it is a good example that a conflict that are centuries old, can end on good terms for all the parties involved. I am thinking of younger conflicts around the word that can look at the Good Friday Agreement for inspiration and hope of a better future. References books: Fahey, T. (2007) Conflict and Consensus: A Study of Values and Attitudes in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Boston: Brill Academic Publishers. Fraser, T, G. (1999) Ireland in Conflict 1922-1998. Chapter 9, p. 83. Florence, KY, USA: Routledge. Internet Sources: BBC. (2012) The Good Friday Agreement [online] BBC. Available from: http://www. bbc. co. uk/northernireland/schools/agreement/. [Accessed 2 June 2012] Department of foreign affairs and trade. (2011) March 25. The Good Friday Agreement [online]. Ireland: Department of foreign affairs and trade. Available from: http://www. dfa. ie/home/index. aspx? id=335. [Accessed 2 June 2012] Landguiden (2011) Northern Ireland [online]. Stockholm: Landguiden. Available from: http://www. landguiden. se/Konflikter/Nordirland Pelling, J. (2008) May 18. Nordirland fortfarande delat (Northern Ireland is still divided). [online]. Available from: http://www. svd. se/nyheter/utrikes/nordirland-fortfarande-delat_1263273. svd [Accessed 2 June 2012] Pettersson, T and Simmons, D. (2010) August 17. Northern Ireland [online]. Uppsala: Sakerhetspolitik. Available from: http://www. sakerhetspolitik. se/Konflikter/Nordirland/Fordjupning/. [Accessed 1 June 2012] TT-Reuters (2002) October 14. Storbritannien tog over styret av Nordirland (Great Britain takes over governmental work in Northern Ireland). [online]. Available from: http://www. dn. se/nyheter/varlden/storbritannien-tog-over-styret-av-nordirland [Accessed 2 June 2012] Reference videos: BBC (2012). Importance of the Good Friday Agreement [Online video]. Available from: http://www. bbc. co. k/learningzone/clips/importance-of-the-good-friday-agreement-1998/11507. html [accessed 3 June 2012] Youtube/Leonidassthlm (2009). Varldens Konflikter: Nordirland del 1 [Online video]. Available from: http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=DQMKYPMBzEA [accessed 2 June 2012] Youtube/Leonidassthlm (2009). Varldens Konflikter: Nordirland del 2 [Online video]. Available from: http://www. youtube. com /watch? v=YVBI-otJmMM [accessed 2 June 2012] Youtube/Leonidassthlm (2009). Varldens Konflikter: Nordirland del 3 [Online video]. Available from: http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=soL9d4Gh3J4 [accessed 2 June 2012] How to cite The Good Friday Agreement, Essay examples