Recommendation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Recommendation - Essay Example Moreover, the availability of the loans could lead to high prices for the autos hence putting the consumer at a disadvantage. The paper presents the following recommendations to solve the issues presented in the case. The first recommendation is for the banks to reduce the period of repayment of the loan. The longer the period, the higher the risk because the political or economic environment may change over time. Another option on the same is to charge high interest rates on longer years of repayment and low interest rates on few years. By so doing, the consumers will be prompted to go for the fewer years and be sensitive to borrowing that will reduce their borrowing rate. The banks, on the other hand will also be able to get profits within a short period of time and be less vulnerable for offering the loans on a short term basis. Another recommendation is for the banks to base their lending on the payment history of the customers if they had previously borrowed the loans. However, for the new customers, the banks should relate lending to the income and payment abilities of consumers. Considering such elements will lead balance between the banks and their clients. The customers will not be strained to pay the loans while the banks will have a higher surety that the loans will be paid. Another recommendation to solve the problem is based on the root cause of high lending rates. The banks are said to be lending largely due recovery from to a recession period where many of them made big loses. Therefore, this paper recommends that such situation can be solved by government involvement. Government involvement, either through direct involvement or subsidies, could offer financial support to the banks or do away with the need for them to largely lend in order to increase the number of sales. It will also reduce the amount of borrowing from the public. Finally, instead of high lending rates, car scrapping

Education Essay Example for Free

Education Essay â€Å"The foundation of every state is the education of its youth†- Unknown Schools have been used as an avenue to encourage social control from many centuries ago whether it was for the betterment of our forefathers or to merely control them. They reinforce and transform young minds with the tools necessary to survive in this changing world and thus, prepare them for global independence. As a result, education has become critical since our system has been built upon the concept of the enlightened citizen, that is, an individual in touch with its cultural heritage who possess a working knowledge of the factors that make up the human ecosystem; an individual who understand the law, rights and responsibilities, possess the attitudes of fair play and co-operation and quality in the character and work of self and others. (Hartoonian, 1985) The instrument in building an enlightened citizen and thus prepare future leaders, is the curriculum. Hence, the curriculum ought to be tailored to produce citizens who recognize themselves as â€Å"Trinbagonians† and not individuals who see themselves as distant citizens of Africa, India or England. In this regard, leaders in politics, classroom, education, as well as businesses, should see themselves as leaders of â€Å"Trinbagonians† and not as â€Å"tribal† representatives. If we encourage constant talks of ethnic imbalance, then we will make race a defining issue of being a â€Å"Trinbagonian† Did our forefathers make race a defining issue when they fought for freedom and liberation from colonialism? Dr. Eric Williams and Dr. Rudranath Capildeo both petitioned for full internal self-government for all the peoples regardless of race, religion and ethnicity. Unfortunately, politicians today are prepared to clearly pass the blame of ethnicity and cultural imbalances from one party to another, rather than come up with solutions on how to deal with the issue at hand. Isn’t it part of their civic duty to govern the country without encouraging citizens to be subjected to any form of discrimination or inequality? Rather than pass the blame, all citizens, including our leaders should work towards obtaining a cohesive society; one which has developed satisfactory ways of coping with ethnic and cultural diversity and other strains in an open and democratic manner. This means taking action to reduce inequalities and restore equity so that these various divisions remain manageable and do not grow so as to threaten the stability of society (The European Committee for Social Cohesion). As a result, schools can foster the development of students’ cultural identity via citizenship education. Citizenship education evolves cohesion richness because the curriculum encourages, listens to and acts on student voice; focuses on authentic issues that are actionable and a curriculum that is learner led; supports the importance of playing an active part in democracy and develops skills of enquiry and communication. Therefore, school activities should encourage multiculturalism rather than ethnocentrism because ethnocentrism is viewed as lacking acceptance of cultural diversity and intolerance for outgroups (Berry Kalin, 1995). By exploring one’s history and sharing cultural traditions, beliefs and values, students can become more tolerant of diversity. As schools provide a safe and positive environment for all students regardless of their diversity, they also promote a sense of cohesiveness in the community. Trinidad and Tobago is referred sometimes as a pluralistic society because of its diversity in cultures, ethnicity and religion. From an early age of globalization, representatives from metropolitan governments, entrepreneurs, farmers, and workers arrived to this land in search of economic benefits for their homelands. As trade became insufficiently profitable, the Africans and East Indians were brought to this land as slaves and indentured labourers, respectively. The fact that these different groups came from different geographical origins and under different circumstances, arose a multitude of social and ethnic differences to which the colonializers used as a game to divide and rule. The majority of our ancestors were African and East Indian descendants and so could have been considered as â€Å"transience† in that they were either forced or tricked into being here. As such, they rallied together to fight for freedom and liberation and thus, out of Independence and Republicism, a nation was born. We acquired our symbols of nationhood and forged towards protecting and promoting our democracy. According to Dr. Eric Williams, democracy means recognition of the rights of others; equality of opportunity for all in education, in the public service, and in private employment; freedom of worship for all and the subordination of right of any race to the overriding right of the human race. Although we were a democratic nation, the effects of colonialism were still clearly pervasive in our government system, our education system and even in our social lifestyles. However, the cultural traits of the Spanish, English and French were incorporated with the African and other immigrants’ cultures to form one distinct culture, creolization; a combination of customs, cuisine, language and traditions that have marked the sociocultural development of this nation but, our leaders once again are to blame for the lack of promoting this cultural identity. According to sociologists, children learn what they live. Through the evolution of technology like better and cheaper communication, faster trade from all over the world and all the other commodities that the internet provides, our children are exposed to new cultures and thus, is being reinforced into the thinking of everything foreign is better. As a result, our Caribbean lifestyles have changed drastically for example, preferences of eating habits, dress, music and other social activities which have led to poor nutrition and communicable diseases; and so too, our cultural identity. Are our children exposed to their culture on a regular basis? Are programmes sharing our national heritage, our local music, our dance and traditions, readily available? How are our young ones going to become aware of their true identity if there are few opportunities for them to experience it? How do we develop and foster our cultural identity? To begin with, most of the inhabitants of Trinidad and Tobago are citizens by birth so, legally, they are Trinbagonians. As children begin to develop a sense of identity as individuals and as members of groups from their earliest interactions with others, one of the most basic types of identity is ethnic identity, which entails an awareness of one’s membership in a social group that has a common culture (Trumbull et al. , 2001). An identity is important for people’s sense of self and how they relate to others. For our citizens to feel a sense of commitment to the land they were born and thus promote a cohesive society, citizenship education can be an effective tool because it improves students’ attitude and loyalty towards their country as well as critical thinking skills which are crucial for social and economic transformation (Howe, G. D. Marshall, D. D. , UNESCO 1999). It helps them become informed, thoughtful and responsible citizens who are aware of their rights and responsibilities (UNESCO, 2003). Schools are seen as the best avenue to foster the development of one’s identity. They are a primary agent of socialization. It is here children develop trust, independence, the tendency to take initiative, the sense of competence and ambition, decisions about who one is, build relationships with others, make decisions about future generations and reflections on one’s life; in keeping with Erikson’s stages of development. The Ministry of Education of Trinidad and Tobago has adopted a philosophy based on the beliefs that every child has an inherent right to an education regardless their cultural background and that every child has the ability to learn and should be provided for his/her holistic development. Secondly, that the ethical and moral concerns are central to human development and survival and thirdly, fundamental constructs such as â€Å"decency,† â€Å"justice,† â€Å"respect,† â€Å"kindness,† â€Å"equality, â€Å"love,† â€Å"honesty,† and â€Å"sensitivity,† are major determinants of the survival of our multicultural society (Ministry Of Education Policy Paper, 1993 2003) thus, reinforcing citizenship and multiculturalism. Therefore, school activities should encourage multiculturalism rather than ethnocentrism because ethnocentrism is viewed as lacking acceptance of cultural diversity and intolerance for outgroups (Berry Kalin, 1995). Multicultural education was developed to promote structural equity and cultural pluralism. It is an opportunity because a society that learns to live with diversity is likely to achieve faster rates of economic growth and social development- if only by avoiding ethnic conflict (Smith, A. ). Educators must understand how factors of diversity can assist in enhancing learning and development of the children in their classroom because all schools have classrooms that comprises of students from multicultural backgrounds. According to Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, the development of a child is influenced by his interrelations with the multiple environmental contexts in which he lives and grows. This can play a part in shaping their cultural background as well as affect their behaviour and academic performance. As a result, educators’ behavioural instructions and differentiated techniques, appropriate teaching materials and adequate support and partnership among the school’s community should be effectively organized to meet the learning needs and abilities of very student and thus make their educational experiences the best possible. Schools can implement citizenship education in their curriculum and provide real life experiences to teach students how to exercise their rights and responsibilities. Provide programmes that seek to develop good character through honesty, integrity, self-discipline and hard work. Allow them to participate in activities that will allow the m to resolve conflicts nonviolently, use their talents wisely, participate in community-building activities, and build respect for themselves and others. Students can also participate in programmes that focus on how government and other institutions work and the importance of planning. They are encouraged to critically analyze and understand the interplay of social, economic and political forces in order to improve society. Identify and discuss citizens who have significantly contributed to their society and also encourage students to participate in activities to represent their school. A teacher’s job is to provide an effective learning environment for their students. As such, creating an environment by promoting diversity through the decoration in the classroom can create a sense of belonging and prevent discrimination. Posters used should offer different cultural perspectives and include people of different ages and races. Literature and other resources should carefully be selected so as to foster diversity and be relevant to students’ needs. Teachers should also set an example by making positive remarks, respect all students’ feelings and encourage students to be respectful to one another. In addition, using differentiated instructions to cater to the needs of all learners can promote inclusion. Planning teaching/learning instructions to be more constructive so as to engage students in active learning experiences and make learning meaningful and enjoyable can also promote multiculturalism in the classroom. One way is through the use of technology because in my class, students eagerly engage in learning when ICT is used. Another is the use of personnel (student/parents) to share cultural experiences, for example, the Hindus can share their experiences in celebrating Divali with the class for example, I teacher at a Roman Catholic school and there was a time when the Hindu parents organized a programme for the school to sanitize them on the festival. Students and teachers were invited to wear East Indian gabs and tudents were taught the names of familiar things in Hindi. It was an enjoyable experience for most of us. By encouraging other students to share their cultural beliefs and practices, students become aware of their differences as well as similarities and thus become more appreciative and tolerant. From a Vygotskian perspective†¦a major role of schooling is to create social contexts for the mastery of and conscious awareness in the use of†¦cultural tools (Trumbull et al. 2001). Celebrating students’ achievements can motivate and foster their self-esteem. As such, schools should promote achievement day and open-day so parents can see their children work and progress made in school. This also deepens the relationship between the school and parents because in educating a child, it takes cooperation and involvement from educators, parents, families, and the community. As research has shown, the greater the family and community involvement in schools, the greater the students’ achievement (Niemiec, R. Sikorski, M. , Walberg, 1999) will be. Educators must also ensure that the measures used to assess students’ performance and progress is fair and just and caters for every learner’s ability. Through the use of performance assessments and continuous assessments like projects and journals, students are able to reflect on their work and make improvements and thus, take charge of their learning. Leaders must be able to represent the needs o f all whenever they hold any position of authority. The proper management of activities in a school is the responsibility of individual principals as curriculum leaders in their school. Therefore, he/she must manage their school in a fair and democratic manner so as to ensure social justice and equity and make students, teachers and parents comfortable and safe. When citizens understand their democratic rights, they will be able to act in government fairly and responsibly. They will demonstrate true patriotism and loyalty as they show belief in the people that they serve. As our country continues to exhibit great diversity, the need for understanding and accepting the differences among all people has never been more important (Gomez, Rey A. , 1991). Through education, children can learn to accept others, become accustomed to the idea that there are many lifestyles, languages, cultures, and points of view and develop a sense of being citizens of a nation. Additionally, education for social cohesion is possible once it is practiced in schools; both in the classrooms and at the managerial and organizational level, and projected on the surrounding communities. Teachers must consider childrens cultural identities and be aware of their own biases. It is tempting to deny our prejudices and claim that we find all children equally appealing. Teachers and parents need to acknowledge the fact that we, like our children, are inevitably influenced by the stereotypes and one-sided view of society that exists in our schools and the media. Not only must we recognize those biases, but we must change the attitude they represent by accepting all children as we receive them (Gomez, Rey A. 1991). Thus, when our children grow up and hold any position of authority, they will act in a more responsible manner and promote democracy. It was through the exposure of all the cultures from our forefathers, whether they were imposed on them or freely practiced, a unique culture was formed. â€Å"We have learnt to live together rather than merely side- by- side. † (Laughlin, N. ) For that reason, we should work more on appreciating this culture and assisting ou r fellow Caribbean brothers and sisters in building one region.

Growing Up :: essays papers

Growing Up Short story authors use symbolism to describe particular scenes without actually saying the words, which adds to the interest of the story. In Frank O'Connor's story "First Confession" and John Steinbeck's story "The Chrysanthemums", both authors use symbolism to enhance the readers insight of the story. Also, the symbolism offered by the authors provides the reader with a deeper look into the story, making the reader find more interest throughout. In "The Chrysanthemums", Steinbeck uses a betrayal issue as the basis of the story, where O'Connor's "First Confession" uses a religious basis. Even though there is a wide spread in the subjects, a link is created. Wisdom, spirituality, and frustration are all symbols shared by these unrelated topics. "The Chrysanthemums" main character is Elisa Allen. Elisa is married and loves to work in her garden. While working in the garden, a stranger pulls his wagon into Elisa's yard. The stranger manages to con Elisa by speaking of her flowers, which is Elisa's ultimate soft spot. Elisa gives the man some of her prize Chrysanthemums to give to another woman that he knew. While going to dinner with her husband, she notices her beautiful flowers have been carelessly discarded onto the road. This is one of Steinbeck's main symbols. The discarded flowers symbolize Elisa's beauty and femininity. Because Elisa has no children, she believes that her flowers are her children. She takes care of them better than anything she has in her possession does. When the smooth talking stranger disposes of her flowers, he has taken her children away from her. Elisa is also portrayed as venerable. The stranger takes advantage of this venerability by acting like he liked the flowers and was going to deliver t hem to a lady. The Chrysanthemums were Elisa's life and even her entire being on her isolated farm .Not only her trust was broken, but her faith in people and even herself was broken. She put her faith in the stranger and was betrayed. Elisa's garden was consistent with the Garden of Eden. Her flowers were cast out onto the road as God cast out Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve betrayed God, like the stranger betrayed Elisa's trust in him. In Frank O'Connor's "First Confession", a little seven year old boy named Jackie has been scared by a nun's portrayal of confession. Frightened by this inaccurate encounter, Jackie is nervous about making his first confession.

Is Love Worth Preserving Essay

Is love Worth Preserving Love is a universal feeling or emotion and every human on earth throughout history has experienced in one form or the other. Many plays, drama or stories are surrounded by betrayal, hurt; pain, trials, triumphs, wars, passion, forgiveness, commitment and romance. However In the play â€Å"Sakuntala and The Ring of Recollection† this is a perfect example of what seems to be a more dramatic courtship tragedy. The story portrays romance between king Dusyanta and a sage’s daughter Sakuntala both strive to meet and reconcile the conflicting objectives of Indian life; the struggle to balance the need for power and hierarchy with undeniable feelings of passion. King Dusyanta while hunting in forest happens meet the most perfect and organic of all women his ever seen; Sakuntala a beautiful young lady living in a hermitage in the forest. King Dusyanta overwhelmed with Feelings and love, so strong that he desired sakuntala as a wife immediately ignoring his royal duties as king. The king courts her and marries her in a simple ceremony witnessed only by sakuntala’s friends. The king promised to return by offering a ring to signify his commitment. Then Dusyanta leaves for his capital to attend to his royal duties, with the understanding that he will soon return to and take Sakuntala with him for a proper ceremony. Unfortunately, Sakuntala, lost in thoughts of king Dusyanta fails to take notice of Sage Durvasa who comes visiting the hermitage. Angered by this, Durvasa puts a curse on sakuntala that the person she is thinking about will forget her completely. The only remedy to make Dusyanta remember Sakuntala and their marriage is to show him the ring that he had given to Sakuntala. Sakuntala now must go to Dusyanta and show him the ring so that he will again remember her. But unfortunately the ring she is carrying with her fall into a river on her way to Dusyanta and cannot be retrieved. Thus when Sakuntala faces Dusyanta he is unable to recall her. All her pleadings with Dusyanta and efforts to remind him are ineffective in bringing back memories of his commitment. Sakuntala has no alternative but to return. By series of chances the ring that fell in river was found by a fisherman and then presented to Dusyanta, through these he remembers all the past event forgotten. But it is too late by then. Dusyanta is not able to find Sakuntala, who has moved to some other place and has given birth in the meantime to a son, who is named Bharat. Many years later when Bharat is still a child, Dusyanta happens to firs see Bharat playing with a lion cob and then meets Sakuntala and reunited Sakuntala ring of recollection presents the audience with two characters who begin as reasonably autonomous beings but who gradually compromise aspects of their identities in order to complement one another. In doing so, the author suggests that every individual is incomplete without a partner, and he depicts the ideal male and female characters during India’s classical age. Works Cited David, Damrosch, and David L. Pike. The longman Anthopology of world literature, volume A; Sakuntala and the Ring of Recollection. The Ancient world, second edition.

Impact of conflict Essay

Have you ever wonder why there are divisions and schisms around us that eventually lead to riots and wars? How can these things happen? These dilemmas happen because of conflict within the body or group of people. Sometimes conflict arises because of the superior and inferior mentality of some people. We can even notice and observe nowadays how our society is drastically changing. Our beliefs, cultures, values and morals have been changed through times. People are becoming liberal on things and somewhat approves the things that we know deep within us are wrong. They have the tendency to do things which only â€Å"benefit† them that can cause schisms and conflicts within their work, co-workers and even in their own family. They sometimes become insensitive and disregarded the right values and morals that were inculcated by their parents when they were still young in order to satisfy their selfish desires; thus, they sacrifice the welfare of their family and friends in order to meet their own desires. If an employee has conflicts with his boss, there is a tendency that he will not follow on his boss’ instructions that might be the ground of his termination. If a conflict happens within his co-workers, he might gossip about his co-workers whereabouts. But if there is conflict within the family, members within have always tension. Conflicts can bring disunity. Disunity can bring chaos and chaos can bring divisions. In the workplace, conflicts among the employees are not new. One scenario that can create conflict within the workplace is when somebody is promoted to a greater position and when you know that you are ahead of that person. Jealousy starts to creep in your heart and you feel inferior. This might lead to bitterness. On the other hand, conflicts within the family is one of the most dreadful things may happen to a person. Family can be disunited if conflict arises. Moreover, to a social psychologist, a conflict is a seemingly incompatibility of actions, goals, of ideas. The elements of conflict are much the same at all levels, from nations in an arms race to cultural disputes within a society to individuals in marital strife. In each situation, people become enmeshed in a destructive social process that produces results no one wants. Among these destructive processes are social traps and distorted perceptions (Dawes, 2000). Reference: 1. Dawes, R. M. (2000). Social Dilemmas. Annual Review of Psychology, 31 169-193.

Kathryns Stocketts The Help and 1960s Feminism

Kathryns Stocketts The Help and 1960s Feminism The Help is set in Mississippi during the early 1960s, when the groundswell of feminisms second wave was still building. Kathryn Stocketts novel revolves around events in 1962-1963, before the womens liberation movement, before Betty Friedan and other feminist leaders founded the National Organization for Women, before the media invented the myth of bra-burning. Although The Help is an imperfect depiction of the 1960s and the author stifles the budding feminism of some of her characters, the novel does touch on many issues that were relevant to 1960s feminism.   Issues Worth Exploring Skeeters Rebelliousness/IndependenceA hint of feminism in The Help may be most evident in post-college Skeeter, the young woman who questions restrictions placed on her by societys traditions. Her Southern socialite best friends have conformed to expectations by marrying, having children (or trying to) and even questioning why Skeeter stayed four years at Ole Miss to finish her degree, while they were dropping out of school. Skeeter is still trapped and still trying to fit in, but her inability to do so is partly due to her discomfort with the myth of femininity she is expected to live. White Women and Women of ColorThe so-called second wave of feminism is often criticized for being too white. Betty Friedans classic The Feminine Mystique and other 1960s feminism accomplishments often came from a limited, white, middle-class point of view. Similar criticisms have been applied to The Help. This is partly because it is written by a white author who narrates in the black voices of Minny and Aibileen, and partly because of the way white voices in the U.S. continually tell the story of the Civil Rights Movement from a limited point of view. Many critics have questioned Kathryn Stocketts ability to speak for the help. Although the story is about white and black women working together, it is difficult and even dangerous for them to do so. The Help reminds readers that some 1960s feminists were perceived as busily organizing, protesting and advocating without bringing women from other races to the table. Women and Civil RightsWhich comes first for African-American women, civil rights as blacks or liberation as women? This theme was explored by many black feminist activists, with some theorists responding that it is clearly an unfair question. The either/or dichotomy is part of the problem. No woman should be asked to give up any part of her sense of self. SisterhoodThe term sisterhood became a theme and rallying cry of feminism in the 1960s and 1970s. Use of the word was criticized by some, in part because of the racist and classist assumptions ascribed to white womens liberation activists who used the word. The Help emphasizes the solidarity of women in many different situations, often crossing racial boundaries. MarriageDespite her independent streak, Skeeter feels the pressure to marry, and nearly does so even when both emotional and logical signs point toward no. The marriages of various characters in the book - Skeeters parents, her friends, Aibileen, Minny, Stuarts parents, Celia Foote - are nearly all presented with problems that are intertwined with gender power dynamics. Domestic ViolenceMinny faces abuse from her husband Leroy with some degree of resignation. However, author Kathryn Stockett does seem at times to approach it with an ironic awareness of the public attention that would soon come to the issue of domestic violence. Feminist organizations such as NOW addressed domestic violence as one of their priority issues. Women in PublishingElaine Stein, the editor from New York who helps Skeeter, freely states that she will help because she recognizes the need for a woman to have a mentor, a connection or some kind of in to the male-dominated publishing industry. Economics, Maids and the Pink-Collar GhettoAfrican-American women depicted in The Help had to earn a living as maids in white families homes. Few other opportunities were available to them - very few. Feminists of the 1960s are often remembered for getting women out of the home. The truth is, many women did work outside of the home already, but one of the chief concerns of feminists was that women were relegated to lower paying jobs of less prestige with less advancement opportunity and less satisfaction. The term pink-collar refers to the traditional, lower-paid womens jobs. Empowering the Help: How the Personal Is PoliticalThe books main plot is about women telling their stories in a society that has long refused to hear their voices. Whether or not the novel is flawed or the author can properly speak for African-American maids, the idea of women speaking their truth as a path to greater social enlightenment is considered the backbone of feminism.

Free Essays on Gas Prices

Gasoline is produced by a distillation process where crude oil is heated and fumes are captured and converted into many products such as kerosene, jet fuel, and gasoline to name a few. Therefore the price of crude oil, which is extracted from oil wells beneath the earths surface, is a major factor in gas prices. The five leading oil-producing countries and their approximate shares of the world supply of oil are: Soviet Union 21%, Saudi Arabia 17%, The United States 15%, Venezuela 4%, and Mexico 4%. These five countries made up 61 % of the worlds oil production back in 1980. Even though The United States is a major producer of oil, it does not make them self-sufficient. The United States uses more oil than they can produce and must look towards foreign countries. An organization called O.P.E.C. controls approximately four fifths of the worlds oil reserves in the non-communist world. The United States is forced to deal with O.P.E.C., not only in its own interests, but also in the inter est of its allies and in the interest of maintaining peace. The former Soviet Union may now have an interest in selling some of their oil that they have a tremendous amount of. O.P.E.C. which stands for Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is made up of 13 countries: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Qatar, Indonesia, Libya, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Nigeria, Ecuador, and Gabon. O.P.E.C. was founded in Baghdad, Iraq in September of 1960. It was organized in response to oil producing countries that did not consult with the Middle Eastern oil states before lowering their crude oil prices. The producers feared that other countries would establish monopolies. The aim of O.P.E.C. was to create a universal price between the countries, in order to ensure peace between oil producers throughout the world. O.P.E.C. also wanted to provide its members with technical and economic support in times of need, since not all the countries were complet... Free Essays on Gas Prices Free Essays on Gas Prices Gasoline is produced by a distillation process where crude oil is heated and fumes are captured and converted into many products such as kerosene, jet fuel, and gasoline to name a few. Therefore the price of crude oil, which is extracted from oil wells beneath the earths surface, is a major factor in gas prices. The five leading oil-producing countries and their approximate shares of the world supply of oil are: Soviet Union 21%, Saudi Arabia 17%, The United States 15%, Venezuela 4%, and Mexico 4%. These five countries made up 61 % of the worlds oil production back in 1980. Even though The United States is a major producer of oil, it does not make them self-sufficient. The United States uses more oil than they can produce and must look towards foreign countries. An organization called O.P.E.C. controls approximately four fifths of the worlds oil reserves in the non-communist world. The United States is forced to deal with O.P.E.C., not only in its own interests, but also in the inter est of its allies and in the interest of maintaining peace. The former Soviet Union may now have an interest in selling some of their oil that they have a tremendous amount of. O.P.E.C. which stands for Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is made up of 13 countries: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Qatar, Indonesia, Libya, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Nigeria, Ecuador, and Gabon. O.P.E.C. was founded in Baghdad, Iraq in September of 1960. It was organized in response to oil producing countries that did not consult with the Middle Eastern oil states before lowering their crude oil prices. The producers feared that other countries would establish monopolies. The aim of O.P.E.C. was to create a universal price between the countries, in order to ensure peace between oil producers throughout the world. O.P.E.C. also wanted to provide its members with technical and economic support in times of need, since not all the countries were complet...