Criticism of Homer’s “The Iliad” Essay

Homer’s Iliad would have been severely criticized by Socrates, as depicted by Plato in The Republic. Plato is critical of Greek literature and mythology and even went so far as to propose a system of censorship in the ideal city. Plato believed myths to be lies and thus the propagation of these lies should be halted in society. In The Republic he wrote, â€Å"Whenever they tell a tale that plays false with the true nature of gods and heroes†¦they are like painters whose portraits bear no resemblance to their models.† In this excerpt, Plato is saying that when literature â€Å"plays false with the true nature of gods and heroes†-which means depicts false information-it paints a false impression of reality. Therefore Plato proposed a system of censorship to prevent this false depiction of reality. This censorship was primarily focused on protecting the impressionable youth. Plato felt that early exposure to fictional accounts would dull a person’s ability to make accurate judgments regarding matters of fact and might encourage some people to emulate the worst behavior of the tragic heros. As a result, Plato was severely critical of Greek literature and mythology. In viewing The Iliad, Plato would criticize it for several reasons. For one, throughout the epic the Gods use humans as pawns to do their own bidding-the argument can even be made that the entire Trojan war was started and developed as a result of Godly affairs. The reason the Trojans and Greeks fought was because of Helen, who was taken from the Achaeans and given to the Trojans by Aphrodite. Then when Thetis beseeches Zeus to make the Greeks to lose, they do. So the entire epic is largely a game between the Gods with the humans as their pawns. To the impressionable youth of Greece whom read this epic, this is hardly a positive aspect of life. This could easily bring about in them a cynical view of life-therefore in this respect Plato would be heavily critical of the Iliad. In inspection of Homer’s epic The Iliad, Plato would undoubtedly find that too many loathsome acts are committed and thus it should be censored. He would point to Paris’ cowardice, to Agamemnon’s abuse of power, and to Helen’s unfaithfulness to Menelaus. He would point to Achilles’ blood-thirst, to his abandonment of the Greeks, and to his bouts of rage. But although Achilles committed all these shameful acts in The Iliad, an  implicit message in the epic is the eventual destruction brought about by unchecked rage. The Iliad begins with â€Å"Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son Achilleus and its devastation.† We also know that Achilles is destined to die because of this rage. So although the various acts that Achilles commits are detestable, we can learn from his mistaken ways. In reading The Iliad, the Greek youth could see the effects of uncontrollable rage and learn the unfavorable fate destined to those who possess it. Theref ore Homer could defend his work by saying that not only shouldn’t The Iliad be censored because it could corrupt the youth, but if anything it should be championed for it teaches important lessons such as the results of unchecked rage. In defense of the Iliad, Homer might say that Plato fails to see past an equation between morally good characters and good literature. That is to say that Sokrates, or Plato who portrays him, erroneously believes that literature cannot be good if the characters it portrays are not morally good. But this is clearly not a fact-very often, in order to educate the youth and the population as a whole it is necessary to demonstrate the less than glorious aspects of life. An education based solely on the positive aspects of life fails to include the other facet of life-the immoral-which is fundamental to a well rounded education. In theory it might seem logical to censor literature which exposes people, places, or things contrary to what society believes should be emulated. Ostensibly, it makes sense to cover up cowardice, immorality, ignorance, corruption, etc. for these things might influence the youth negatively. But the truth is that we are all exposed to these things eventually. Therefore exposure to them beforehand in literature is especially important as it can be used as a tool to show that these immoral things are frowned upon. In addition, a well-rounded individual cannot be formed if he is only exposed to the positive side of life, for an entire other side exists-and being informed and aware of this other side is integral to an individual’s proper education. Naturally, Homer and Plato would see differently in respect to the effect The Iliad would have on its audience. Assuming the audience is the Greek youth, Plato would most likely believe it would corrupt their impressionable minds.  It would give them inaccurate ideas about how people should act and it would give them a taste of the horrors of war. Paris cowardly leaving the battlefield after losing to Menelaus, then going to his bedroom to make more love to Helen is not the way people in an ideal city should act. Neither is taking the daughter of a priest of Apollo and not returning her after a supplication by her father. Brutally murdering Hektor then dragging his body back to the Achaean camp, as Achilles did, is not the way people should act either. The youth of a nation, as Plato would agree, should not be educated in the ways in which people shouldn’t act but rather in the ways they should. Through a negative portrayal of the Gods and humans in general, the impressionab le minds of the youth would be forever corrupted and as such literature such as The Iliad should be censored. Homer on the other hand would say the opposite. He would argue that a well-rounded individual cannot be formed if he is only exposed to the positive side of life, for an entire other side exists-and being informed and aware of this other side is integral to an individual’s proper education. He could also defend his work by saying that not only shouldn’t The Iliad be censored because it could corrupt the youth, but if anything it should be championed for it teaches important lessons such as the results of unchecked rage (in Achilles). Censorship of literature that inaccurately depicts the correct way in which people should act was championed by Plato. As such, The Iliad by Homer would have been severely criticized as it depicted Gods and humans acting in ways contrary to those an ideal city would promote. On the other hand Homer would claim that sole exposure to the positive side of life makes for an incomplete education, and that through the reading of the epic, the erroneous ways of the characters can be learned from as ways in which not to act, and thus the Iliad should not only not be censored but if anything endorsed.

Free Essays on Workplace Privacy

Workplace Privacy Privacy is something everyone should have the right to. In fact, the First and Fourth Amendment protects this right. As defined by The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, privacy is the quality or condition of being secluded from the presence or view of others. A major issue evolving in today’s workplace is the invasion of employees’ privacy by the employer. â€Å"Everyone has a right to privacy at home, but this right does not include the workplace† (Lokie, 2002, para 3). Many employers have started monitoring the actions occurring by the employees of their company while at work. The main form of monitoring being used today is electronic monitoring. There are three forms of electric monitoring being used by employers; computer-based, telephone, and video surveillance. Other forms of monitoring include genetic, psychological, and drug testing. The following discusses all forms of monitoring as well as what can and ca nnot be done when dealing with workplace privacy. Electric Monitoring Since the ‘80s, electronic monitoring is rapidly becoming popular in today’s workplace. â€Å"According to a survey by the American Management Association, 78% of major U.S. firms reported active surveillance of employee activities during the year 2000† (â€Å"More Companies,† 2001). Technological advances are key reasons for the uprising in electronic monitoring. Monitoring telephone conversations has become more advanced. Employers can also purchase software that can monitor employee E-mail use, web sites visited, and what computer files the employee has accessed. Video surveillance is also becoming more and more hi-tech. Cameras are so small and easy to install that they may be hidden anywhere and in anything. Electronic monitoring of employees actions may be used in nearly all companies today. Telephone monitoring. Telephone monitoring is one of the most common forms ... Free Essays on Workplace Privacy Free Essays on Workplace Privacy Workplace Privacy Privacy is something everyone should have the right to. In fact, the First and Fourth Amendment protects this right. As defined by The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, privacy is the quality or condition of being secluded from the presence or view of others. A major issue evolving in today’s workplace is the invasion of employees’ privacy by the employer. â€Å"Everyone has a right to privacy at home, but this right does not include the workplace† (Lokie, 2002, para 3). Many employers have started monitoring the actions occurring by the employees of their company while at work. The main form of monitoring being used today is electronic monitoring. There are three forms of electric monitoring being used by employers; computer-based, telephone, and video surveillance. Other forms of monitoring include genetic, psychological, and drug testing. The following discusses all forms of monitoring as well as what can and c annot be done when dealing with workplace privacy. Electric Monitoring Since the ‘80s, electronic monitoring is rapidly becoming popular in today’s workplace. â€Å"According to a survey by the American Management Association, 78% of major U.S. firms reported active surveillance of employee activities during the year 2000† (â€Å"More Companies,† 2001). Technological advances are key reasons for the uprising in electronic monitoring. Monitoring telephone conversations has become more advanced. Employers can also purchase software that can monitor employee E-mail use, web sites visited, and what computer files the employee has accessed. Video surveillance is also becoming more and more hi-tech. Cameras are so small and easy to install that they may be hidden anywhere and in anything. Electronic monitoring of employees actions may be used in nearly all companies today. Telephone monitoring. Telephone monitoring is one of the most common forms ...

A Surprising Tip to Finding Your Ideal Career

A Surprising Tip to Finding Your Ideal Career Embarking on the path to find a new career can be daunting. You can purse anything and everything, which seems  exciting–but for many, the idea of too many choices and directions adds more layers of stress. How do you narrow down the possibilities? Start by making a list titled, â€Å"Professional Activities I Hate.†Seem unproductive? Why be negative from the start? Well, when you can go in only a few of seemingly limitless options, it’s helpful to have a method of elimination. That way, you won’t waste your time pursuing career paths that might ultimately leave you unhappy and unfulfilled.To start your list, think about daily activities you really despise. Do you hate to talk on the phone? Are you not a fan of sitting indoors and a computer for hours on end? Does being on your feet all day make you grumpy and exhausted? Do you love working closely with people, or do you prefer a solitary workspace? Writing down what you don’t  like (and thinkin g about why you don’t like these activities) will help clarify what you do  like.Avoiding from the get-go jobs that will leave you unsatisfied is a smart way to find a career you can thrive in for years to come. Take time now to pare down your options so you don’t waste it in the job hunting process!Trying To Find Your Passion? Figure Out What You HateRead More at idealistcareers.org

How changes and developments in communication and information Thesis Proposal

How changes and developments in communication and information technology may influence the coordination of firms worldwide operations - Thesis Proposal Example This essay stresses that the research methodology utilised to analyse the research data and describes the various methods used in this study. This research paper basically consists of two data sets – primary and secondary. Primary data set consists of a survey and a questionnaire administered to 40 odd ICT executives and managers at firms with overseas operations. While responses to the survey would be recorded with much more accuracy and detail, responses to the questionnaire would be sifted and collated to identify significant trends and process orientations in company decisions to adopt ICT in the changing overseas markets. Secondary data is being collected through an extensive research effort conducted both online and in libraries. The researcher extensively used the books written on the topic and also studied research journals, reports, graphs, articles, newspaper articles and so on. This report makes a conclusion that the interaction is what differentiates the direct methodology from indirect methodology. Structured interviews enable the interviewer to ask each respondent the same questions in the same way. A tightly controlled structured schedule of questions and format is used, very much like a questionnaire. The questions contained in the questionnaire were planned in advance. The interviewer has some discretion how these might be elaborated/explained but the aim is to standardize data as far as possible and to eliminate biases due to different wordings.

Mathematics Lesson Plan 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Mathematics Lesson Plan 1 - Essay Example MATHEMATICS LESSON PLAN 1 ‘5 Little Ducks’ by Wendy Straw Early Stage 1 Aim: Through this lesson, the students can learn how to solve addition problems better and quicker. This lesson will teach the children how to recognise jumbled numbers and how to add numbers. Through the lesson, the students can learn to work in groups and to reflect on their lessons. The student’s prior knowledge, as well as their ability to count up to ten has been taken into account. ... For example, background information shall be given, including the number of ducklings birds have. As a result, they will understand the topic and content more. As a whole class, the children can be asked if any of them have seen a duck in real life and also to describe how a duck looks like. The teacher will then read the book ‘Five Little Ducks’ by Wendy Straw. Reading the book also allows the students to count along. As the teacher is going through the pages, she would ask the class questions about the book. For example, how many ducks were there are at the beginning and how many ducks were left? The teacher can also ask additional questions, like if there were 2 ducks and 1 duck came back, how many ducks will there be all together? Students need to be seated on the classroom floor In reading the book to the class, use hand gestures in describing how the ducks quack. Allow the students to talk amongst each other Observe the children who are struggling to recognise the numbers and who are familiar with the questions Body (25 min) As a whole class put a video of addition and number recognition on the IWB (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLwrQBQ5JJE) Ask the class addition questions such as, 3 + 2=..... Then the students can be grouped into mixed ability groups of 4 to 5. Get an empty 12 compartment egg carton. In the egg carton, put in two duck pictures randomly and in all the other ten compartments write the numbers 0 to 9 in no specific order. Also place a button in the carton. The children are to each have a turn to shake the carton and then open the carton. Wherever the button will land they are to say the number. If the button lands on the ducks, then the children are to make the noise a duck makes or say something they know about a duck. After the

Safety And hazards of pyrotechnics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Safety And hazards of pyrotechnics - Essay Example A pyrotechnic technician should be aware of the various measures of creating a convincing explosion while ensuring that they maintain control of the process. Safety refers to the situation of acquiring protection form physical, damage, harm, accidents, errors and other events that are undesirable. It is also the control of various recognized hazards to acquire an acceptable level of risk. Safety is extremely vital in daily life and human should be cautious under all circumstances especially when dealing with pyrotechnics (Agrawal 9). A hazard refers to a situation that poses a certain level of threat to property, health, environment, or life. Majority of the risks are potential or dormant and have a characteristic of theoretical risk of harm. A hazard does not exist if it does not happen. When a hazardous situation comes to pass, people call it an incident. Pyrotechnics is a dormant hazard since they have the potential to be hazardous but do not affect the people or the environment. The key factor that leads to identification of a hazard in pyrotechnics is the energy stored that can cause damage upon release. Pyrotechnics store energy in various forms, which includes chemical, thermal, mechanical, and radioactive forms. Pyrotechnics are tremendously valuable in the entertainment industry and regularly used to mark various critical events. The producers or manufacturers of such pyrotechnics have a responsibility to ensure that the individuals who use them are not liable to adverse effects. They should achieve this through ensuring that they decrease the level of toxic materials in the pyrotechnics. They should ensure that it has minimal side effect to intended users. The employee who uses these pyrotechnics should also be protected since they work with them on a daily basis. Education concerning various measures of minimizing the chances of people being affected is particularly beneficial. Employees and

Ethics In Nigeria Oil And Gas Industry Politics Essay

Ethics In Nigeria Oil And Gas Industry Politics Essay Nigeria is Africas most populous nation and also its largest producer of oil. The country is ranked fifth in terms of oil exportation to the United States. The country has the potential to reach the third spot replacing Norway in a few years though it is plagued with social unrest as well as corruption in the Niger Delta posing significant challenges to the production of oil. The intermittent economic crisis and the political turmoil the country faces dates back to independence in 1960. At the centre of this is the oil industry. This is highlighted by its human development indicators which are among the lowest in the world even though the revenue from gas and oil has gone up to 40 billion per year. This means that the countrys majority lives in extreme poverty. This fact as well the severe environmental degradation that comes with oil production operations in the region has resulted in a conflict between the transnational oil corporations and the communities that reside in the delta date back to early1990s. This article provides an in-depth analysis that the oil industry in Nigeria is faced with in particular with ethical and public relations practices that continues to exacerbate the conflict in the region. It concludes with offering a recommendation that the companies can now adopt in an effort to maintain socially responsible practices in the country and aid in the development of the local communities. Introduction One business sector that has a strong claim to business ethics and/or public relations is the oil and gas sector. The oil and gas Transnational Corporation operating in Nigeria are active in addition to playing leadership roles in developing good codes of conduct and corporate practices in the work place as well as in engaging with different facets of the community. The involvement of Shell, BP-Amoco, Chevron Texaco, ExxonMobil, TotalFinaElf, Occidental, ENI among others in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the United Nations Global Impact, the Sullivan Principle, the Millennium Development Goals, the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, Dow Jones Sustainability Index are some instances (Carrol Bulcholtz, 2003). The footprints of these companies are seen in the transfer of foreign direct investment (FDI), technology and skills: accounting for the majority of the state revenue; and a major employer of labor. They have also undeniably have contributed to the development of communities via programs in health, education, commerce, transport, agriculture, construction among others. Tuodolo (2009) argues that despite the contributions to the community and achievements, the oil transnational Corporations have been the targeted by negative and anti-corporate and negative campaigns in the last two decades. Many civil society actors have been responsible for damaging campaigns against these companies and the institutions that collaborate with them. The strategies they employ in this campaigns include publicity, networking, walk-outs, sit-ins, litigation, lobbying, peoples development plans, socially responsible investment, public hearings, blockades, exposures, seizures and closures. These campaigns cover ethical issues such as human rights abuses, environmental, safety, health, corruption and climate change. In Nigeria, one of the main protests by the civil society against an oil company was against Shell in the Gas flaring taking place in the region and on the Ogoni environmental issues, Niger Delta area (Amnesty International, 1995). The world has experiences massive campaigns carried out by the civil society actors against oil giants such as Shell, ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, Occidental, ENI. These campaigns often disrupt business activities, damages and embarrass the reputation of the business; the major civil society actors include Greenpeace, Friends of Earth, and the Sierra club, Amnesty, Global Witness, Christian Aid, Oil-Watch, Human Rights Watch and Corp-Watch. Yazji (2006) noted that many civil society actors view the Transnational Corporations more as strange bedfellows or enemies finding it difficult o associate with them. This is often based purely on grounds of ethics. However, recent years have seen a new trend in the relationship that exists between the Transnational Corporations and the civil society actors. Most notably is the development of collaborative relationships that are aimed at directing funding of programs for the civil society. Many of the civil society actors now maintain very cordial relationships with the oil companies with partners collaborating and doing business with the enemies, the oil and gas industry. According to Warren (2005), this is seen to benefits the image and public relation of the business more than the communitys welfare. This has created an image of rapprochement or collaboration between the civil society actors, the publics watch dog, and the oil transnational corporations. An example of this collaboration in Nigeria is witnesses in community development projects that are run by International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH) in collaboration with Chevron Texaco (Bendell Lake, 2000). These actions raise many questions that are still to be settled: have the ethical issues that the civil society had campaigned for in the past been resolved or changed? Have the oil industry players changed or repented for the better on the contentious issues that the civil groups raised in the past? Have the actors in civil societies lost track or are they comprised? Have the civil society actors been won over of placated by the big businesses? Or had the public relations machinery and campaigns by the corporations become more effective and can now shield their bad deeds. LITERATURE REVIEW Oil and gas industry in Nigeria Nigeria is Africas largest oil producer and is ranked eighth in the world. Commercial quantities of oil in the country were discovered in 1956. It can on average pump 2.5 million barrels of oil every day. This accounts to approximately 3 percent of the worlds total consumption. The Wall Street Journal stated in an article that the country exports the majority of this output. Oil provides around 90 percent of the countries total foreign exchange and around 80 percent if the federal revenues. This makes the country the fifth-largest foreign crude oil supplier to the United States behind Mexico, Canada, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. Despite this richness in natural oil and gas resources, the country is ranked a lowly 20th poorest country in the world. Much of this poverty as well as underdevelopment can be attributed to the bad governance, mismanagement of the countys resources (oil and gas), political instability and the lack of infrastructure as well as policies to govern industries. Mo st of the many oil companies in the country are American. They utilize the countrys crude oil and gas resources to gain astronomical profits. These companies also utilize the environment to operate and produce within the oil industry. The Niger delta is the oil-rich region in Nigeria and is currently involved in conflicts that surround the oil companies. These companies are usually viewed as parasitic by the local communities as they take the regions resources while giving nothing or very little in return (Bird, 2004). Karl (1997) argues that as in many of the other petro states, the windfall revenues from oil and gas have proved to be more of a curse than a blessing. The country is plagued with conflict that stems out of inequitable distribution of oil revenue and the exploitation of the resources by the oil companies operating in the country. According to the constitution of Nigeria, all natural minerals including the gas and also belong to the Nigerian federal government. The government is then responsible for negotiating the terms for oil production with the international oil companies. Most of the production and the exploration of oil in the region is done by United States and European companies. These companies operate joint ventures in collaboration with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPCC). The state oil company owns up to 60 to 55 percent of these ventures (Ukeje, 2004). Public relations and ethical issues facing the oil and gas industry in Nigeria Most of the ethical issues in the oil and gas industry in the country arise from the poor monitoring and enforcement of laws governing the oil producing companies. This is despite the fact that the laws in Nigeria are comparable to other international equivalents. This has seen the region experiencing significant damage to both the environment and to the livelihood of the people that live within the oil producing companies. The companies have failed in their ethical responsibility to relate well with the communities in which they operate. Compensation for the resultant damages is virtually nonexistent (Frey, 1997). The transnational corporations (TNC s) operating within the Nigerian oil and gas industry as well as institutions that collaborate with them have over the years come under negative/anti corporate campaigns by the community they operate in as well as by civil society actors. These actors include anti-capitalists, anti-corporate campaigners, anti-globalist, academics and greens. Although this is despite the contribution they seemingly bring to the development of a community, this actors have managed to shed light on unethical practices of corporate ensuring they practice positive public relations. In recent decades however this relationship has developed into a more collaborative one the purpose of which appears to favor the image of the business rather than the society (Newell, 2005). The other side of Corporate Social Responsibility There is no dispute that the community development programs initiated by the major players in the oil and gas industry have benefits most of the local communities. It is however important to not that these efforts in public relations have positive as well as negative impacts. Most of the local communities pay a great cost for enjoying the benefits of these Corporate Social Responsibility programs. Either by commission or omission, the activities or of shell and the program delivery processes have a negative impact on the local community that often outweigh the positive benefits of this corporate Social Responsibility endeavors. The role that the oil companies play in social and environment impacts illustrates this point. According to Human Rights Watch (1999), the Niger Delta in general and Nembe in particular, the oil activities have resulted in serious environment damages. This has been as a result of oil spills from flow stations, pipelines, well-heads; discharge of production and drilling waste; and gas flared from several oil fields. All this has occurred in/on creeks, air, sea and land of Nembe. In the process, fish ponds and farm lands are destroyed, sea and forest animals and plants are forced to migrate or are destroyed; as well as the air being polluted. This environmental degradation has negative impacts ranging from loss of livelihood (farming and fishing), low farm produce, limitation of economic activities, diseases, polluted water, food shortage among others. In certain cases, death of unsuspecting fishermen has occurred after oil spills occurred in the Nembe creek. The negative impact this has on the local communities livelihood and health is enormous. The community at one time indica ted that they are all fishermen who rely on fish for their survival. They also claimed that the oil spillage by Shell wells were destroying the marine life and in extension the peoples occupation. The farmlands as well were not fertile anymore from the pollution and the fish in the river had died. The people are only left with the option of fishing in the high seas which is very dangerous undertaking (Tuodolo, 2009, p.532) Shell on its part has not denied that its operations have been responsible for the degradation of the environment but has adamantly disagreed on the extent the damage to the environment resulting from its activities. Shell alone recorder 3,214 incidents of oil spillage from 1995 to 2004, an average of 300 incidents annually. This has resulted in a spillage of more than 450,000 barrels of oil onto the environment in the Niger Delta and the flaring of large volumes of gas, approximately 604 millions scf daily (SPDC, 2006). Considering that this are figures from only one company, the consequences experienced by the local community in terms of environment, livelihood, climate change or global warming are unimaginable. According to Agagu (2008), negative impacts of the corporate social responsibilities are further illustrated by the social effects they have on the local community. The Nembe case becomes significant once again. The relationship that shell has with the local community via the development programs and its operations have resulted in conflicts being commercialized where groups and individuals constantly fight over the patronage or benefits from shell; funds for community development are misappropriated, mismanaged and embezzled by the leaders or shares amongst cliques and community leaders to the exclusion of the other members of the community. Further negative effects include destroying of community governance by emerging youth groups that usurp the authority and powers of the chieftaincy institutions as well as the exacerbation of several forms of social disorder such as an increase in illiteracy, proliferation of arms, lawlessness, criminality and the disintegration of culture and t radition. These youth groups were apparently armed by the Corporation. Shell sponsor some youth in the community, purchased arms and ammunition for them to fight whoever that is fighting them or protesting for their right from Shell (Tuodolo, 2009, p.538). From 2000 to 2006, the number of intra-communal conflicts numbered 21 with six of these inter-community conflicts being linked to the activities that shell was involved in The oil companies, particularly Shell, Agip and their servicing companies, are central to the crises in the community (Tuodolo, 2009, p.538). The Nembe Indigenes summarizes the social impacts resulting from Shells activities as, These oil or multinationals have thrust a knife in our midst and we have fallen apart. The love for money and our political selfishness have set us against each other and we no longer see ourselves as brothers, fathers, chiefs, sisters, we disregard ourselves for temporary and temporal things, which have led to the formation of nocturnal and clandestine groups which have transformed Nembe to Sicily (Italy). Groups that are sponsored by chiefs, elders, politicians, government agents and the multinationals have succeeded in causing our aged parents and children, while our young men die prematurely in arms struggle, our parents die of heart attack and the children are denied knowledge by preventing them from going to school (Tuodolo, 2009, p.538). And, What wrong has the Nembe man done to Shell and the Federal Government that all these wrongs are visited on him within a decade? (Tuodolo,2009, 538) This continues to raise ethical questions related to the true intentions and the practices of these transnational corporations, the efficacy of their machinery of public relations or the position and campaigns of the civil society actors. This paper attempts to answer the question of dilemmas that the oil and gas industry face in public relations management and ethic by examining the activities of the oil companies in Nigeria. Particular attention is given to the impact of these companies on the communities residing in the oil rich Niger delta region. The paper is based on review of articles that have been written on the matter ranging from academic articles to newspaper articles. METHODOLOGY This study utilizes qualitative content analysis so as to explore the conditions that the oil and gas industry in Nigeria operate in that create the dilemmas in public relations and ethics of practice. This is according to recommendation by Jensen (2002) on qualitative research. The study is iterative/repeat process as this topic has been covered numerous times before. As such, this method allows for an application of analytical procedures and theoretical concepts employed to a variety of empirical domains that is flexible. This discourse will contain information source from academic articles from online journals, press releases and webpage pieces from the oil corporations operating in Nigeria and news paper articles that span the last two decades that have seen the ethical issues and public relations deteriorate as well as receive world wide attention. In addition to these article, particular case study on dilemmas faced by in Particular Shell are employed to give a clearer picture of the situation in Nigeria as well a to provide for a fuller analysis. Sample The method of data collection used in this discourse studies information content in article spanning two decades, from the 1990s to current date. The documentation is comprised of academic articles, magazine and newspaper articles, government reports and civil society articles and reports produced in the contest of normal publicity business to address the crisis facing the oil industry in Nigeria. According to Lindolf Taylor (2002), this ensures that the sources are free of bias from the researcher. A limitation of this method is that it may prove to have a limited or indirect exploratory value for the research questions to be addressed. However, it will be able to fully address the question of ethical and public relations dilemmas faced by the industry. This is because of the intense media civil society and international attention this case has received over the years with particular emphasis being placed on the misdeeds of the oil multinationals operating in the Niger Delta. ANALYSIS The analysis section will focus on a debate that addresses the various issue faced by the oil corporation and in particular Shell in their operations. This will lead up to the various public relations steps and strategies employed by the companies to address their alleged ethical misconduct in the wake of political and economical turmoil allegedly exacerbated by their operations in the country. In their attempt to maintain a public faces, the companies spawned public relations strategies that aimed to portray them as saviors to a people long subjected to poverty as a result of bad governance. This is through the numerous development projects that are operated under the patronage of these companies in the country. On the background of this is the numerous environmental and human right violations that have continued unhindered as a direct or indirect result of these companies continued exploitation of Nigeria natural resources, oil and gas, to meet their bottom line, astronomical profi ts. The case of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni People initiated the international concern in the region and offers a backdrop to the origin of the conflict between the oil corporation and government of Nigeria on one hand and the people of the Niger Delta in general on the other. DISCUSSION The debate on dilemmas in public relation and ethics in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria Milton Friedman (1970), a free-market economist, ascertained that a businesss one and only social responsibilities involves the making of profit. This view is less popular in present day business. However, many economists and business leaders still believe that the best way for a company to promote the local communitys social development is comprised simply of increasing the overall level of activities in economy through investment and trade. In taking this view, the administration of revenue generated, environmental standards tolerated of the respect for the human rights in the community residing in the area of operation are simply not relevant. These factors are in fact viewed as hindrances to the corporations main business and in the long run to the countrys social development itself. If standards employed for developed countries are duplicated in the developing countries, then they will simply never catch up, this is because dangerous working conditions, below-market wages that w orkers in third worlds are subjected to are justified as being better than there being no jobs at all. The corporations shareholders make the situation worse by justifiably complaining if the directors pay attention to issues that may negatively impact the companys financial bottom line (Soremekun, 1995). However, this attitude is increasingly changing as the companies come under more pressure from activists and consumers who are worried about the impact globalizations of the economy is having on the worlds poor. In addition, directors of these corporations have come to see that wider issues of social development have a direct or indirect impact on their operations. This trend has brought with it the buzz phrase triple bottom line encompassing social, economic and environmental outcomes. A good reputation for the corporation is seen as a valuable asset as it attracts customers and helps in recruiting competent employees. Good public relations with the local communities promoted by development programs that are properly administered as well as good labor relations minimize the shut-downs that cause protests directed towards the operations of the company. Even though low environmental standards and low wages can in the short-term be useful to the company, in the long run the company mak es more money if it is accountable for its operations. Studies carried out, have not revealed any correlation between the foreign direct investment that oil transnational corporations inject into the developing countries itself and the respect for human rights in these countries. In Nigeria, the presence of the oil multinationals is viewed to have seemingly contributed to promoting the successive military regimes that ruled the country for a long haul. These regimes were responsible fro multi human rights violations in addition to misappropriation of funds meant to promote development. The companies interest should therefore focus on the promotion f steps geared at the positive development of the communities social welfare. They should also minimize their environmental effects while also aiming for their core business, maximizing profits (Uduaghan, 2008). Oil multinational corporations have increasingly become more powerful within the global economies. The companies operating in Nigeria have substantially large global resources than the country itself. This has resulted in the country being almost paralyzed in enforcing international and/or domestic law against these companies. This is especially true when these companies have diplomatic support from the first-world country where the corporate headquarters are located. May of the laws that have been developed to govern the conduct of multinational across the world have been largely opposed to by the developed countries. This is especially because of their provisions/recommendations of treatment of the multinationals by the host countries. An example is the U.N Code of Conduct on Transnational Corporations. As such, no laws are currently legally binding in terms of the public relations responsibilities of the multinationals. Some companies have recognized that it is in their best inter est and have started initiatives to address questions raised regarding their operations. However, human rights and environmental activists have notes that the companies statements of intent are not worth it without the strategies meant to ensure they are implemented. They also call for independent auditing of the human rights and environmental performance. Up to date, no oil corporation, Shell include, has agreed to be subjected to such an audit (Nigerian Tribune, 2008). The experience of Shell in Nigeria offers a glimpse on how an oil transitional corporation ought to learn from a significant sustainability dilemma. In response to these significant challenges, shell setout to develop practices and policies that were designed to address the problems. They included the company engaging the local community the international forum and the civil society in dialog. In addition it began to actively participate in the developments of norms for corporate citizenship (Eyinla Ukpo, 2006). Having operated in the Niger Delta since the 1950s, Shells operations and the influence it had politically in the region only came under scrutiny after the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa author-activist and a member of MSOP, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, in 1995. The author and activist castigated the companys operations in Nigeria, gaining international attention. He highlighted the role that the oil industry had played in the stagnation of the economy of the Delta. The Nigerian economic growth pace has not kept abreast with the growth that the countys oil industry has been able to achieve. The industry is currently able to produce in excess of 2 million barrels of oil daily (Eyinla Ukpo, 2006). Shell has reportedly admitted that the approach it has taken in public relations causes the disorder in the community. The cash payments made, for instance standby labor, access fees to community youths, have seemingly been at the center of inter-community disputed as well as for the distortion of genuine needs of the community. Despite all this, Shell has yet to change its practices although it still claims it is practicing corporate social responsibility (Tuodolo, 2009). According to Birnbaum (1995), the inequitable distribution of the oil revenue, the high rates of poverty coupled with the episodically harsh rule is responsible mainly for spurring the conflict in the Niger Delta. The Human Right Watch (1999) cited that while the people of the Niger Delta have faced the adverse effects of the oil extraction, they have in general also failed to gain from the oil revenue. By galvanizing the up to 500,000 people of the Ogoni-land in MSOP, Saro-Wiwa was able to draw the worlds attention to the grievances of his people. He constantly cites Shells complicity as the symbol of the status quo. Eventually, the federal police forces acted to shutdown MSOP. This saw numerous people being detained, injured or even killed. Nine activists, among them Saro-Wiwa were arrested in 1994. This was allegedly because of murdering four local leaders. All the accused would go on to be executed in November 1995 after court proceedings that the then United Kingdom Prime Minist er John Major termed as judicial murder. (BBC News, 1995). The role that Shell played in the Ogoni incident is a complex one. The company is reported to have sought clemency for the nine accused. In several statements, it lamented about the heavy handedness and the violence that both sides of the conflict in Ogoni-Land had over time displayed (Human Rights Watch, 1995). Contrary to these statements, the company later disclosed it had on several occasions in 1993 made direct payments to the states security forces under duress. Appearing before the U.S House of Representatives International Subcommittee on Africa in 1996, Stephen Mills, the environment and human rights campaign director for the Sierra Club stated that The Sierra Club is of the opinion that Shell should feel considerable responsibility for the death of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other Ogoni activists. Shells massive pollution, repeated denial of responsibility for it, its refusal to clean up the Ogoni territory, and its appeal to the Nigerian military to silence the protestors is what incited the civil unrest (Sierra Club, 1995). In a recent statement, Mills released a follow-up piece that stated, A peaceful solution to the crisis in the delta seems remote as anger grows over record oil profits amid the striking poverty. The Riyal Dutch Shell earned a whooping 18.5 billion dollars in 2004 yet some villages within sight of the gleaming shell facilities have no electricity or running water. However, the campaign Ken Saro-Wiwa led to hold Shell accountable for their pollution and complicity in human rights violation has not been in vain. After the death of Saro-Wiwa, the company did adopt stronger social and environmental responsibility guidelines. It is up to communities in the delta and groups like mine to make sure that Shell and other oil companies live up to their promises (Sierra Club, 2008). Shell as under severe criticism for the perceived role it played in the events that lead up to Saro-Wiwas death. Amnesty international however recognized the companys willingness to discuss the groups concerns regarding its human rights record. In a report released in 1996, Amnesty International noted that only Shell has responded to its appeal to Shell and other oil transnational companies operating in Nigeria to acknowledge that they have a responsibility to at all costs uphold the human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite this, many questions still lingered on the companys operations in the region. The UN Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights issued a report in 1997 calling for attention to be renewed on the persistency of oil spills in the delta region. Some of these spills were as a result of sabotage. The report raised deep concerns about the severe and widespread environmental damage to the River Delete region as a result of the oil o perations and exploration by Shell. The company took account of the issues that were raised and undertook a major review of its internal operations (Newell, 2005). Meanwhile, by the turn of the century, the relationship between Shell and the communities in the oil producing region had worsened since Ken Saro-Wiwa had been executed. This was despite the efforts of the company to improve on Public relations, in particular by increasing its spending on developments and the professionalization of the developmental projects management. It is fair to note that most of the deterioration experienced was as a result of the government failing to respond to the demands that had been presented by the Delta communities rather than by the activities of the company. The continuing dilemmas and problems illustrate just how difficult it is to put the fine words contained in the Statement of General Business Principles into actual practice (Tuodolo, 1999). Shell and public relations in Nigeria Shell has undoubtedly contributed immensely to Nigerias economic growth as well as to the development of the local communities residing in the companys area of operation. Shells activities employ around 12,000 persons as skilled and unskilled labor making it a major employer of labor. The greatest evidence of shells effort to maintain positive public relations are in its development programs in the communities it operates in. Through community development programs, the company contributes to development of education in the local communities. The company achieves this through the provision of scholarships from primary up to university level, to local level, construction of classrooms, provides appliances and equipments and at times pays allowances for teachers in post primary. For some of the communities, shell provides or sponsors training in basic skills such as joinery, mechanics, craftsmanship, tailoring among others, for the indigenous (SPDC, 1999). Shell also plays an active role in several other sectors aimed at community development, for instance, transportation: building jetties, construction of roads, donation of cars and speed-boats; agriculture: donation of equipment for farming, microcredit schemes for the farmers, training of farmers; water: construction of water pipelines, sinking boreholes; electricity: supply of diesel, donations of power plants; and the provision of infrastructures such as land reclamation, shore protection comm