Earth Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Earth Science - Essay Example As a rule, their relationship with different creatures, for example, that delineated in a natural pecking order, gives an impression regarding the spot or territory a specific evolved way of life is available. With regards to the model over, one should seriously think about a field as where this natural pecking order happens. Certainly, this isn't something you will see on a marine biological system. Then again, scholars take a gander at living beings at a closer way. They take a gander at their anatomical structures, and how these structures permit them to work and live in the territory where they are found. They likewise concentrate how creatures recreate so it can exist for many years Biomes are general depictions of zones dependent on the sorts of vegetation present and the adjustments that the creatures need to experience to thrive in such zones. It is not quite the same as a zoogeographical district, in that the last are explicit zones on Earth characterized by the creatures li ving around there. These locales are separated by seas, mountain extents, or pastries (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/subject/202763/faunal-area). Two sorts of biomes are desert and tundra. Deserts are dry territories of the Earth where precipitation is under 50 cm/year. All things considered, the plants present in these regions have water holding properties, such a thick fingernail skin to forestall exorbitant water dissipation. Too, they will in general be nearer to the ground, and their leaves have constrained surface region (http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/displays/biomes/deserts.php, 2007). Then again, plants in tropical woods show wide decent variety, with huge shades blended with little bushes in the middle of them. The plants are additionally tall, boosting the measure of light present without making up for the water misfortunes that may happen upon vanishing http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/displays/biomes/forests.php, 2007). 2. Forrested regions will in general have acidic a nd less organized soils than that of meadows since backwoods tree leachates are acidic in nature (http://www.soils.wisc.edu/courses/SS325/formation.htm#organisms). Beside the living beings present in the dirt, the atmosphere, parent material, and time are significant elements that influence soil improvement. In particular, parent material influences significantly the dirt turn of events. The substance and mineralogical piece of parent material decides the viability of enduring powers. For instance, that comprised of for the most part silica may not be as adequately endured as that of soil made out of calcium carbonate. Too, the descending development of water is constrained by the porousness of the material. Notwithstanding, on specific events, other soil-framing factors are a higher priority than the parent material. For instance, a plant developing on sandy soil with low dampness content is still better than another which is developed on dirt, given that the previous is in territo ry with preferred precipitation over last mentioned. Also, time is significant, with the end goal that a moderately old and endured soil contain more supplements, both natural and inorganic, than a generally youthful soil that has not experienced much enduring yet http://www.soils.wisc.edu/courses/SS325/formation.htm#climate. Through time, the outside of the Earth is changed by outer and inner procedures. Outer procedures are driven by sunlight based vitality, and incorporate breeze conveyed debris, glaciation, stream disintegration, water cycle, the maritime dissemination framework and enduring. Then again, inner procedures driven by radioactive rot underneath the Earth’

Autonomy Vs. Paternalism In Mental Health Treatment Essay Example For Students

Self-rule Vs. Paternalism In Mental Health Treatment Essay Self-rule Vs. Paternalism In Mental Health Treatment Essay The task for this Ethics class was to survey Mr. Jacobs treatment, as portrayed by the New York State Commission on Quality of Care for the Intellectually incapacitated (1994). The class was additionally approached to remark on the major issues for every one of the three points of view. The offices, family and audit board were to be incorporated. This understudy will start with a fourth point of view; that of Mr. Gordon. In the Matter of Jacob Gordon (1994), is the tale of the most recent eight years of a mentally debilitated keeps an eye on life. Mr. Gordon seemed to waver between making progress toward self-sufficiency and tolerating the help of his family. Lamentably, it showed up by this record the families support was most certainly not interchangeable with self-rule. It didn't give the idea that Mr. Gordon had ever wanted or looked for organization mediation for himself. Mr. Gordons relationship with the emotional wellness framework had all the earmarks of being set apart by force and control issues. Purchasers/ex-patients regularly report a sentiment of imperceptibility; they sense that their perspectives and wants don't make a difference (Carling, 1995, p.79 ). The commissions report (1995) talked about a few frequencies where Mr. Gordon evaded to his longing for self-governance. Mr. Gordon didn't wish to live in a administered setting. Mr. Gordon didn't wish to go to amass day treatment settings. Mr. Gordon didn't wish to utilize prescription in the treatment of his psychological wellness issue. Without prescription his conduct was considered unsuitable what's more, didn't allow him the chance to have any of these decisions. Decision is a right-not a benefit to be managed by acceptable conduct (Penny, 1994, p. 29). Mr. Gordons right of decision was constrained despite the fact that he lived in his condo freely. The state of his condo was investigated. His drug was firmly observed; now and again to the extent that he was coordinated to leave his home to get drug that was given to him squashed, trying to safeguard its ingestion. Indeed, even people groups freedoms in an exceptionally controlled board and care home might be hardly more prominent than in a clinic ward (Rubenstien, 1994, p.54). In Mr. Gordons case even inside the holiness of his own home, his freedoms were hardly more prominent than in a clinic ward. Other than his independence the second issue for Mr. Gordon seems, by all accounts, to be the requirement for security and backing. For this, Mr. Gordon went to his family. The report (1994) calls attention to that Mr. Gordon mentioned his mom be constrained in her capacity to get to individual data. He kept on requiring her help and help in spite of the fact that this met she kept on being excessively engaged with his life. It was his mom he went to when he had issues with a flat mate. It was his mother who was used when Mr. Gordon was less consistent. It was Mr. Gordons family who guaranteed that he had proceeded with emotional well-being directing and benefits. It was additionally Mr. Gordons family who gave off an impression of being the point of convergence of any plans for Mr. Gordon. .. .desires, destined to be run by programs increasingly committed to adjusting hypochondriac families than individuals with schizophrenia (Rubenstien, 1994, p.55). Mr. Gordon stayed sheltered and near his family by giving up his self-sufficiency. Mr. Gordons security was the most significant issue for the family. Optionally to his security, Mr. Gordons family wished him to have the chance to partake in programming that would aid his health. For Mr. Gordons family, health appeared to compare to a standard of conduct that his mom by and by saw as typical. The family were not bound to any code of morals or constrained to comprehend their inclinations or partialities in their children case. Absolutely, to state that the family worked on the reason of paternalism is putting it mildly. Morally, the Gordons accepted that they were the most defended to talk in the best interests of their child. The vitality that the Gordons put into pushing for what they accepted, was in their children wellbeing, is a declaration to the profundity of the emotions they had for their child. .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b , .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b .postImageUrl , .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b .focused content region { min-stature: 80px; position: relative; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b , .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b:hover , .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b:visited , .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b:active { border:0!important; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b { show: square; change: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-progress: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; darkness: 1; progress: mistiness 250ms; webkit-progress: haziness 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b:active , .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b:hover { obscurity: 1; progress: murkiness 250ms; webkit-change: haziness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b .focused content territory { width: 100%; position: rel ative; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b .ctaText { fringe base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: striking; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; content beautification: underline; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; outskirt: none; fringe sweep: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; text style weight: intense; line-tallness: 26px; moz-outskirt span: 3px; content adjust: focus; content improvement: none; content shadow: none; width: 80px; min-tallness: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/straightforward arrow.png)no-rehash; position: supreme; right: 0; top: 0; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b .focused content { show: table; stature: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .uee68c630e2ac34f48ab2c399f77aac0b:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: Gender Bias in the court Essay The offices essential issues had all the earmarks of being their obligation and duty. Taking a gander at the commissions report and connected reactions from organizations (1995), it seems like the entirety of the offices and specialists included were excessively conscious of the inclusion of Mr. Gordons family. This over-contribution with Mr. Gordons mother was reasonable when it was unveiled that she had grumbled to state authorities, at whatever point offices didn't react such that she accepted to .

Blog Archive Mission Admission Write Sincerely; the MBA Admissions Committee Will Believe You

Blog Archive Mission Admission Write Sincerely; the MBA Admissions Committee Will Believe You Mission Admission is a series of MBA admission tips; a new one is posted each Tuesday. Candidates are often skeptical about whether MBA admissions committees will believe their stories. After all, is anyone available to corroborate that  you  were what made the difference in a particular situationâ€"that  you  had that particular innovative idea? The response to this concern is pretty simple: if what you are describing actually happened, you do not need to worry about your credibility. You just need to write about your experience with sincerity. If you can offer details about the events as part of a narrative, the story will unfold logically and truthfully and will have its desired impact. Conversely, if your story is basic and vague, it will not come across as compelling (regardless of its veracity). An equally important point is that you are innocent until proven guilty. The MBA admissions committee  is not assuming that you are a liar and reading your applications seeking proof of facts that are in doubt. They are taking stories at face value, recognizing that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction and that strong candidates will stand out on the strength of their experiences. In addition, if you accomplished something truly remarkable, you can always ask your recommender to emphasize this in his/her letter. This does not mean that the committee is seeking proof and that if something is not highlighted in a reference, it will not be believed. Still, your recommender can play an important role in legitimizing certain accomplishments. Share ThisTweet Mission Admission

Progression of Love in Ernest Hemingways A Farewell to Arms

The Progression of Love in A Farewell to Arms There are two major themes in A Farewell to Arms that Hemingway clearly conveys: war and love. The war theme is obvious because the book is set during the World War. The theme of love is less obvious, it begins faintly because of the uncertainty between Frederick Henry and Catherine Barkley. Neither desire love or commitment to anyone, but act upon their desires of passion. As the story progresses, so does their love. The strength of their love is enforced by various understandings and agreements. Love is the theme that closes the book, leaving a final allusion of what their love is about. When the two first meet, Catherine is still dealing with the death of her fiancà © in†¦show more content†¦At this point, Henry does not know anything of love. Throughout the whole First Book, Henry ignorantly disregards any possibility of love.  ³I knew I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her ² (30). He willfully entered a relationship with Catherine, but did not have serious intentions with her, yet. To him it was just a  ³game ... in which you said things ² like  ³I love you ² (30). Henry casually speaks of this so-called love to Catherine, but her past experience with her fiancà © have made her cautious when dealing with love. She knows the reality of love and the extent of Henry ¹s feelings,  ³You don ¹t have to pretend you love me ² (31). Henry himself is puzzled by the concept of love and asks the priest for his interpretation of the subject. The priest explains to him that his present feelings are  ³only passion and lust ² (72). Therefore, Henry decides that if this is all he feels, then he could never love anyone. His misconception of love puts him at a disadvantage with Catherine. It isn ¹t until after he is wounded, that he realizes that he is actually in love with Catherine.  ³When I saw her I was in love with her. Everything turned over inside of me ² (91). This sudden revelation stems from the trauma that he has just endured on the front line and with his leg wound. It is likely that Henry would eventually fall in love with Catherine, but his near death experience definitely sped up the declaration. Henry genuinelyShow MoreRelatedThe Death Of Franz Ferdinand Of Austria1736 Words   |  7 Pagesacting â€Å"neutral† journeyed to Europe and joined other Allied armies. At the time, Ernest Hemin gway was an American soldier who joined the Red Cross as an ambulance driver on his quest to see the war (Ruediger). After the war, he wrote A Farewell to Arms, a self-inspired story about his experiences. Hemingway’s atypical novel, set amidst the chaos of WWI, describes a heartbreaking romance that teaches that even love cannot prevent suffering. The beginning of the war was similar to the beginning ofRead MoreThe Sentimental Education of Frederic Henry (Hemingway’s Other Possible Title)975 Words   |  4 Pages Ernest Hemingway’s protagonist Frederic Henry says A Farewell to Arms with a double meaning. The novel title is word play reflective of first, Frederic’s desertion of the war. His second farewell is to the arms of his beloved, Catherine Barkley after her death in childbirth. Wandering stoically through life, looking for some natural progression, Frederic lets one circumstance lead him to the next. At first, Frederic exhibits the hedonistic aspirations of a college fraternity pledge, motivatedRead More Frederick Henry Discovered Essay1901 Words   |  8 PagesIn A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway uses his idea of the code hero to introduce us to an amazing character. Hemingway takes his own ideas and conveys them through Frederic Henry. During World War I Frederic Henry proves to us that war and lost love can change a strong and willing man. Most men are not willing to change and Frederic Henry realized that in order for him to survive the many problems he was fac ed with, he would have to become a more mature man, love and solider. Hemingway’s codeRead More Essay on Natural Symbolism in A Farewell to Arms1723 Words   |  7 PagesNatural Symbolism in A Farewell to Arms      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As with many other authors of fictional novels, Ernest Hemingway was often noted for his use of symbolism in his numerous pieces of literature. Natural symbolism plays a significant role in Hemingway’s novel, A Farewell to Arms. This novel uses aspects of nature to structure the plot and provide symbols that replace human emotions.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Nature serves as a source of symbols which replace human sentiment or feelings, making the situationRead MoreThe American Style : Ernest Hemingway s Writing Method1964 Words   |  8 PagesThe American Style: Ernest Hemingway’s Writing Method It is extremely rare when someone enters the world of literature and essentially changes everything. Ernest Hemingway is one of these people. His style of writing is unique compared to anybody before him. He has reserved his spot amongst the most influential authors of all time, basically defining the style of American literature. This style includes basic sentence structure with less adjectives, deeper meaning behind the simplicity, useRead MoreErnest Hemingway s `` A Farewell Of Arms `` : War And Its Effects On Individuals And The Relationships2464 Words   |  10 PagesErnest Hemingway’s story, A Farewell to Arms, is a story of war and its effects on individuals and the relationships between them. Hemingway writes about how war may create stronger social bonds while simultaneously degrading societal integrity. Whether it is the social integrity of individual character or the society as a whole, both are degraded within A Farewell to Arms. A theme Hemingway conveys throughout A Farewell to Arms is the uninviting truth of war. The uninviting truth is that war only

Essay about HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials The Standard of...

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a retrovirus infecting approximately 35.3 million people worldwide that leads to the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV-1 selectively infects certain host immune cells, including CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, resulting in the continual depletion of the host immune system (Global Report, 2013). More specifically, HIV-1 prevalence is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries worldwide. In recent years, there has been much effort devoted to developing an effective vaccine against HIV-1. The vaccine clinical trials are typically held in these developing countries where HIV-1 prevalence is highest. The dilemma that continues†¦show more content†¦Currently the best standard drug regimen available for HIV-1 infection is that of highly active retroviral treatment (HAART) (Scott Tsevat, 2006). The dilemma is that in 2006, the estimated cost per year of HAART was $ 730 per person. This excludes the fact that market prices of HAART are typically higher, especially in the US. No country in Africa, and few countries elsewhere in the developing world can afford this level of treatment (Specter, 2003). Another interesting study in 2002 found that only 39 out of the 160 countries that data was collected had a per capita health expenditure over $730, which is startling. More so, 85 out of those 160 countries spent under $300 per capita in health expenditures (The Kaiser Family Foundation, 2002). Interestingly, another study conducted showed that in 2006, Indias total per capita health expenditure amounted to $23 (Gupta Bollinger, 2006). These studies truly suggest how unobtainable these HIV-1 treatments are to the developing countries. Ultimately, this further suggests that to provide trial participants with these optimal treatments, outside entities would be required for providing the funds. Even in providing trial participants with the high est standard of care (HAART), additional expenses and obstacles must be overcome for the treatment to be truly successful. Due to the fact that HAART is associated with many potential adverse side effects, continual follow-up and monitoring of patients is required toShow MoreRelatedBackground Guide Of World Health Organization7133 Words   |  29 Pagespriorities. As outlined in its 12th Program of Work for the period 2015-2019, current World Health Organization focus areas include providing leadership on global health issues, shaping/supporting research agendas, establishing/enforcing norms and standards, providing technical support, and monitoring global health trends. Within these focus areas, priorities for the next five years include advancing universal healthcare coverage, addressing non-communicable diseases, increasing access to healthcareRead MoreAnimal Experimentation Pros and Cons Essay examples1885 Words   |  8 Pagesstatement saying almost every single medical breakthrough has resulted in the direct use of animals in the last 100 years. Can you believe this? Taking out dogs pancreases helped us discover insulin, chimpanzees helped us get a vaccine for Hepatitis B, and even the polio vaccine was tested on animals. Animal testing has also helped us treat and understand conditions like brain injury, breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, childhood leukemia, tuberculosis, multiple sclerosis, malaria, and many others. It evenRead MoreHiv Introduction10077 Words   |  41 PagesHIV From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search AIDS virus redirects here. For the computer virus, see AIDS (computer virus). For the village, see Hiv (village). For the administrative subdivision, see Hiv Rural District. HIV Classification and external resources Diagram of HIV ICD-10 B20-B24 ICD-9 042-044 OMIM 609423 MedlinePlus 000602 eMedicine article/783434 MeSH D006678 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a member of the retrovirus family) thatRead MoreAnimal Testing Is A Significant Controversy Across The Nation Essay2191 Words   |  9 Pagesamount of reason for why animal testing is such an amazing thing. Going further into my research I found that scientists have a set of principles. According to Should animals be used in research? , 2015. Accessed 26 Oct. 2016. www.yourgenome.org/debates/should-animals-be-used-in-research, it states that â€Å"To help minimise the harm animals may experience while being studied in the laboratory, researchers are required to follow a set of principles, the ‘three Rs’. These are: Replace: Replacing, whereRead MoreAnimal Testing : The Best Option For Medical Progress Essay1844 Words   |  8 PagesAnimal research has not only benefited humans alone. Animals also have improved health and a longer lifespan. Farm animals, household pets, wild species and endangered species are all benefiting from the research controlled through animals. There are vaccines for tetanus, parvovirus, distemper, rabies and multiple other illnesses. Animal research benefits all living species and that we are able to live longer, healthier lives because of it. Supporters of animal testing feel that animal research is necessaryRead MoreGsk Annual Report 2010135604 Words   |  543 PagesGroup’s ï ¬ nancial performance throughout 2010 and its position as at 31st December 2010. The consolidated ï ¬ nancial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union and also IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Shareholder information This includes the full product development pipeline and discusses shareholder return in the form of dividends and share price movements. 58 60 64 69 71 74 84 91 94 96 101 Financial statements Directors’ statementRead MoreBiogen Analysis7823 Words   |  32 PagesExecutive Summary Biogen is a global biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Biogen is engaged in the research and development of biopharmaceuticals for human health care. Its main product is Avonex, a drug for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Eighty-two percent of its revenues in 2000 came from the sale of this sole product. Biogen is also involved in the research of drugs for psoriasis, Crohn s disease, congestive heart failure, and cancer. Biogen believesRead MoreInformation and Communication Technology as Bedrock of the Nation13285 Words   |  54 PagesPublic health, the policy recognizes contemporary progress made in molecular biology leading to new vaccines needing field trials and more specific diagnostic methods of great epidemiological value in the control of communicable diseases. The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology will sustain as well as consolidate these; while focusing on the global research towards the control and eradication of HIV/AIDS. The increasing cost of conventional energy generation and grid connection implies that itRead MoreNursing Essay41677 Words   |  167 Pagesfindings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project. International Standard Book Number 0-309-XXXXX-X (Book) International Standard Book Number 0-309- XXXXX -X (PDF) Library of Congress Control Number: 00 XXXXXX Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055;Read MoreAnnotated Bibliography: Plagiarism39529 Words   |  158 Pagesresponsibilities: Academic plagiarism and university practice. Vaccine, 30(50): 7131-7133. Rushby, N. (2013), Plagiarism. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44:  3 4. Vitse, C. L. and Poland, G. A. (2012), Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, scientific misconduct, and VACCINE: Protecting the science and the public. Organization, 19(6): 881- 889. Global Health Bibliography Carabali, J. M. and Hendricks, D. (2012), Dengue and health care access: the role of social determinants of health in dengue

Employment at Will - 1179 Words

The employment at will doctrine is such that, an employer can terminate an employee, at any time and for any cause, or no cause at all. Employment at will employees do not have an agreement and surety of continued employment, which is an issue of employee rights. There are several employees right issues at workplaces; among which, one of the biggest issue of employees is their uncertainty towards their length of work employment. This leads to a lack of job security and an unsafe, and an unfair working environment for the employee. An employee should be able to enjoy basic employee rights. They should be able to participate and be informed about what is happening, in the workplace. Moreover, they should have the right to privacy, which†¦show more content†¦If both can enjoy the freedom of contract then both deserve the freedom of speech as well. At the end, it is not fair upon the employee because he/she does not have the bargaining power and ultimately has to deal with the e mployer’s decisions, even if it is fired for reasons unknown. Employees should have the right to freedom of speech and right to privacy outside the workplace. Under Employment at will doctrine, an employer can terminate an employee any time for any reason or for no reason. In the case of the company at Fargo, the business owner made a decision to fire the employee because the employee was setting a bad reputation for the company by leaving negative comments about the company on his Facebook page. If we look at it from a utilitarian approach, then firing an employee at-will is, however, reasoned to be needed for better productivity and efficiency. To get rid of unproductive employees it is best that they are at will employees because only, then they can ensure efficiency by having productive workers and better outcome. Since employers have the right to hire and fire whenever they please, in this situation it is reasonable for the employer to fire the employee for discovering that she had left negative comments about their business on the Facebook page. In the utilitarian approach it is best to abide by those that provide greatest benefits f or greater number of people. On the other hand, employees should notShow MoreRelatedEmployment Between Employment And Employment2870 Words   |  12 PagesTASK ONE Employment Differences Casual employment normally means that one works when required mostly because the employer cannot always predict when that work needs to be done. If an individual is employed to do casual work, this must be made clear in their employment agreement. With fixed employment according to Section 66 of The Employment Relations Act 2000. Fixed employment has special rules such as, an individual can only be employed on a fixed term if there is a genuine reason such as, seasonalRead MoreEmployment At Will Doctrine : Employment1671 Words   |  7 Pages Employment at Will Doctrine Assignment 2 Strayed University LEG500 Professor Aryka Nycole Moore Julia Washington May 7, 2016 Employment at Will Doctrine At will employment is a policy of American law that describes an employment relationship in which either party can end the relationship with no legal responsibility, given there was no express contract for a certain term regulating the employment relationship and that the employer does not belong to a union. Under this legalRead MoreEmployment Discrimination And The Employment Essay2596 Words   |  11 Pagesexamines the implications of employment discrimination and the correlation to employment inequality. The unemployment rate for women and minorities is significantly higher than that of the caucasian male majority. Women are faced with obstacles that men are not. Women have to overcome gender stereotypes, child care responsibilities, and sexual harassment as obstacles, Minorities face negative stereotypes and generalizations that make them less desirable to employers. Employment discrimination is responsibleRead MoreEmployment Practices : Equal Employment Essay1303 Words   |  6 PagesEmployment Practices Equal Employment Burgos Family Medicine is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to all our staff and applicants receiving fair treatment in all employment matters regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age and disability. In addition to federal law requirements, our office also complies with state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We want to maintain a work environment that is free of coercion, harassment, and intimidationRead MoreAt-Will Employment915 Words   |  4 PagesAt Will Employment The term at will applies both to the person hired and to the person who does the hiring. As the term suggests, both parties have the ability to end the employment whenever they wish because there are no strings attached to it (Employee Issues, 2012). In a normal contract situation, a person is employed for a specified amount of time and the individual knows that as long as a contract is in force what is expected and the remuneration that comes with the employment. This typeRead MoreEmployment Issues And Employment Contracts1709 Words   |  7 PagesEmployment Issues Employment Contracts: Awards: An award is a legal document that specifies the basic set of entitlements[1] and minimum employment standards that an employee will be provided with. They also can include the terms and conditions of employment. Most awards in public sectors refer to the National Employment Standards as well as some other basic entitlements. Awards are generally common for all companies in a particular sector However the private sector, managers and high income workersRead MoreEmployment3154 Words   |  13 Pagesfor years or long enough to not be rewarded for their work feel as if they are being punished for not being rewarded with some kind of wage increase. Thus, new employees such as Kyle who seem to be hard workers for the first couple of months of employment will soon realize that his new job is not providing him with any opportunities of growth. Mark is going to face a difficult challenge of trying to maintain employee motivation if he decides to only give a select few employees a raise. How canRead MoreEmployment Issues, Employment Relations, and Employment Relations Strategies661 Words   |  3 PagesEmployment Issues Terms and Conditions of Employment/Enterprise Bargaining Employment terms are typically individual between employers and employees, however collective bargaining can lead to collective contracts Enterprise bargaining consists of bargaining with all employees at a given organization, or all employees of a certain occupation or type in that organization, in one large contract binding on both employer and employees Productivity Gains and increased Wages There is often a basicRead MoreEmployment Issues : Employment Contracts1800 Words   |  8 Pages Employment Issues Employment contracts Awards Awards are law-enforceable documents outlining the minimum terms and conditions of employment for a particular industry. Awards in the workplace cover two main forms: †¢ Modern awards †¢ Award-based transitional instruments The modern award system covers entire industries, which provides a safety net including ensured minimum pay wage and employment conditions. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has the responsibility of creating awards in the workplaceRead MoreEmployment And Unjustified Dismissal : Employment Essay1948 Words   |  8 PagesEmployment and unjustified dismissal I. Introduction There is a legal relationship among an employers and employee in the New Zealand’s workforce and stated in the Employment Relations Act 2000. However, an employee and an independent contractor have a particularly different relationship to an employer-employee relationship due to legal significance with the relationship of employer and employee. Since, an employer is legally responsible for the negligence of their worker s activities, but not

Taxation Law Mobilization and Trade Integration

Question: Discuss about the Taxation Law for Mobilization and Trade Integration. Answer: Introduction: Section 6-5 of Income Tax Assessment Act (ITAA) 1997 contains income as per ordinary concepts. An individual, who is an Australian resident, is required to assess the taxable income by including ordinary incomes acquired directly or indirectly from different sources of income. Ordinary income for the purpose of tax is derived from three sources, firstly, income from personal efforts that includes salary or remuneration income and wages income. Secondly, income from assets and properties including rental income from property, dividends and interest income from shares and securities are included in ordinary income. Thirdly, ordinary income also includes income from conducting a business operation in the form of retail sales, wholesale, farming etc (Fleischer, 2015). In the present case, Peta owned a house in Kew, Australia for the purpose of residence in one unit and the other unit i.e. tennis court for the purpose of sale at profit. During the current tax year, Peta received an offer to sell the courts at good condition. She spent $100,000 for the renovation of tennis court and sold it at $600,000 in the current tax year. As per the explanations on assessable income in ITAA97, sale of property is considered to be an ordinary income if it constitutes a business of the taxpayer. Further, if the intention of the taxpayer at the time of acquiring the property is not to earn profit from the sale of the asset then the profit on proceeds cannot be considered as ordinary income (Grubert Altshuler, 2016). Considering the decided case of The Myer Emporium Ltdv. FC of T (1987) 163 CLR 199 classification of profit on sale of property had been decided according to the nature and purpose of the transaction. In case the property is sold out with the profit making intention then the receipt sale proceeds cannot be regarded as revenue income. Accordingly, the profit earned from the sale proceeds would be considered as capital income and not ordinary income under section 6-5 of ITAA97 (Auerbach Hassett, 2015). Further, in the decided case of Whitfords Beach Pty. Ltd. v. FC of Taxation (1982) 150 CLR 355 it has been a rgued that a mere earning of profit from investment cannot be called as income. If the taxpayer realizes the sale proceeds of the asset or investment in a way to obtain best price then also the income would not be considered as ordinary income. Therefore, such income would be considered as statutory or capital income that is not assessable under section 6-5 of ITAA97 (Ho Wang, 2015). In the present situation, income from sale of property unit, tennis court gives rise to two situation, firstly, intention and purpose of Peta to sell the property and secondly, nature of the property transaction. It is mentioned that the purpose of acquisition of the house was to build and sell the units in tennis court at a profit. On the contrary, the asset acquired by Peta also constitutes investment as the other part of the house she used for residential purpose. Considering the decided case of McCorkell v. FC of Taxation98 ATC 2199 on profit from sale of subdivided land, it was decided by the court that since the applicant was not involved in the business of subdivision and sale of land, the realization of profit was not an ordinary income (Mehrotra Ott, 2016). Similarly, in case of Peta, it has been observed that she is not involved in carrying on a business of construction and sale of housing units. On the other hand, her intention of acquisition of the house two years back was to earn profit from sale of units of house. Hence, if the nature of acquisition of house property by Peta is considered then, the sale of tennis unit would not be regarded as an ordinary income under section 6-5 ITAA 97. The receipt of $600,000 would be constituted as capital receipt and not to be included in the assessable income. However, if the intention and purpose of acquisition of property by Peta is given the priority, then the receipt of $600,000 shall be included in the assessable income as an ordinary receipt under section 6-5 ITAA 97. The amount of $600,000 would be assessed for taxability by considering the deduction on expenses $100,000 incurred by Peta to renovate the tennis court in good condition. Hence, the balance amount $500,000 would be taxable in the hands of Peta as per ITAA97 section 6-5. Consequences of Fringe Benefit Tax The present solution reflects the consequences of Fringe Benefit Tax as per the Taxation Ruling 97/17 of Income Tax Assessment Act (ITAA) 1997. The consequences are also in pursuance with Fringe Benefit Tax Assessment Act 1986 for the year ending 31st March 2016 in the books of ABC Pty Ltd. which provided several benefits his employee Alan. Fringe benefit means certain advantages and benefits provided by employer to the employees of the organization (Nijland Dijst, 2015). Employer is liable to pay tax on such benefits at the rate specified by the Australian Taxation Office that is computed on the gross- taxable value provided to the employees. In order to determine the taxable value, two types of gross up rates are considered i.e. higher gross- up rates knows as type 1 while the other is lower gross up rate known as type 2 (Hodgson Pearce, 2015). Higher gross up rate or type 1 is applicable to the assessees paying Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the benefits provided by them to the employees. Such taxpayers are entitled to claim credit on GST, which is known as Gross Credible Benefits. On the contrary, lower gross up rate or type 2 is applicable to the taxpayers not entitled to claim credits on GST against the benefits provided to the employees (Ahmad Scott, 2015). Moreover, several benefits that are provided by the organizations or employers to the employees are exempted benefits whereas certain benefits are taxable if the value of benefits exceeds the specified limits in the ITAA 97. For instance payment of remuneration and wages, benefits provided on house rent allowance in remote area tools and electronic gadgets including mobile phones that are related to work, and laptops are not taxable (Tang Wan, 2015). Therefore, the fringe benefit tax consequences for the advantages provided by ABC Pty Ltd. are as follows: Salary $300,000 under remuneration package: It is taxable in the hands of the employee Mr. Alan, during the current tax year 31st March 2016. Since the payment of remuneration by employer falls under the exempted fringe benefit scheme, ABC is not liable to pay fringe benefit tax on salary $300,000 as per TR97/17 ITAA 97. Payment of mobile phone bill: The payment of bill amounted to $220 per month made by ABC Limited that included GST while the phone was used by Alan for the purpose of work only. Exemption on mobile phone expense is available whereas the regular payment of bill amount is not exempted from fringe benefit tax (Chadarava Raval, 2015). Therefore, ABC Limited is liable to pay fringe benefit tax @49% on the assessable value for the year ended 31st March 2016. Further, higher gross up rate would be applicable to determine the assessable value because the company is entitled to claim input credits. Phone bill allowance (including GST) (i) $ 2,640.00 ($220.00* 12 months) Higher Gross up rate (ii) 2.1463 Taxable amount of allowance (i* ii) $ 5,666.232 Tax on Fringe Benefit @ 49% on $ 5,666.232 as on 31 March, 2016 $ 2,776.453 (Subject to the input tax credits or GST credits) Payment of Alans children education fees: The Company made annual payment amounted to $20,000 for the education fees, which does not include GST. Considering the TR97/17 ITAA 97, the payment would be taxable as fringe benefit tax to be assessed by applying lower gross up rate. Education fees (GST free) (i): $ 20,000.00 Lower gross- up rate (ii): 1.9608 Taxable value (i* ii) $ 39,216.00 Tax on Fringe Benefit @ 49% on $ 39,216.00 as on 31 March 2016 $ 19,215.84 Mobile phone handset: ABC Limited provided a mobile handset to Alan values $2,000 that includes GST. According to the provisions in FBTAA 1986 and TR97/17 ITAA97, benefits provided by employer with respect to tools or electronic gadgets for work purpose, then value of such benefits or advantage will be exempted from the taxability of fringe benefits (Jibrin, Ejura Augustine, 2015). In the present situation, it is not clearly mentioned that the mobile handset provided by ABC Ltd. to Alan has been provided for work purpose or personal use or for both purpose. Hence, the tax consequence has been provided considering all the three situations: Option 1: If the phone has been provided by the organization for only work purpose then ABC Ltd. is not liable to pay tax on the value of phone because it falls under the exempted fringe benefit scheme. Option 2: If the phone has been provided for personal use then the assessable value would be determined by using higher gross up rate because the cost of handset in inclusive of GST. Cost of the handset (including GST) (i) $ 2,000.00 Higher Gross up rate (ii) 2.1463 Taxable value (i* ii) $ 4,292.60 Tax on Fringe Benefit @ 49% on $ 4,292.60 as on 31 March 2016 $ 2,103.37 (Subject to the input tax credits or GST credits) Option 3: If the phone is provided for partial use for work and partial for personal use then the amount used for work would be exempted from fringe benefit tax while amount for personal use would be taxable. However, the bifurcation of the amount is provided hence, it has been assumed that the phone is used for personal purpose. Therefore, the assessable value and taxable amount would be same as determined in the option 2. Dinner party at the year-end: The Company arranged a dinner party for the employees and their partners at the end of the financial year at a local restaurant. According to Australian Taxation System, this expenditure made by ABC Ltd falls under the head entertainment by way of food and drink allowance (Gupta Sawyer, 2015). Therefore, ABC Limited is liable to pay fringe benefit tax on the dinner expense and the number of employees attendance at the party is not relevant. Computation of fringe benefit tax for the year ended 31st March 2016 Total cost of dinner including GST (i) $ 6,600.00 Higher Gross up rate (ii) 2.1463 Taxable value (i* ii) $14,165.58 Tax on Fringe Benefit @ 49% on $ 14,165.58 $ 6,941.13 (Subject to the input tax credits or GST credits) Tax consequences if ABC Ltd had 5 employees Measurement of fringe benefit tax does not depend on the benefit provided to number of employees but depends on the nature and purpose of use of such benefit provided to the employees. Therefore, the taxability of benefits for entertainment by way of food and drink provided by the organization would not depend on the attendance of number of employees. As per TR97/17 ITAA 97, the taxability for the expenses on dinner hosted by ABC would be same as computed in answer (a) even if the company had only 5 employees instead of 20 employees. Tax consequence if clients of the organization also attended the dinner party In case the organizations clients also attend the dinner party then the tax consequences for the cost of dinner would be different from that of determined in the answer (a). Since the fringe benefit scheme is applicable only for the employees, expenses incurred for the clients would not qualify for fringe benefit. Expensed incurred for the clients would be considered as business expense. Further, it is difficult to segregate the dinner expense incurred for the employees and clients (Chadarava Raval, 2015). Therefore, the entire cost of dinner incurred by ABC would be considered as general deduction to measure the assessable income. While the tax on fringe benefit as derived in solution (a) $ 6,941.13 would be tax saving for ABC Ltd. Reference List: Ahmad, R., Scott, N. (2015). Fringe benefits and organisational commitment: the case of Langkawi hotels.Tourism Review,70(1), 13-23. Auerbach, A. J., Hassett, K. (2015). Capital taxation in the twenty-first century.The American Economic Review,105(5), 38-42. Chadarava, P. D., Raval, D. S. (2015). Flipkart. com-Creating a Blue Ocean in Indian Retail E-Commerce Business.BIOINFOLET-A Quarterly Journal of Life Sciences,15(3), 191-202. Fleischer, V. (2015). Two and Twenty Revisited: Taxing Carried Interest as Ordinary Income Through Executive Action Instead of Legislation.Available at SSRN 2661623. Grubert, H., Altshuler, R. (2016). Shifting the Burden of Taxation from the Corporate to the Personal Level and Getting the Corporate Tax Rate Down to 15 Percent.National Tax Journal,69(3). Gupta, R., Sawyer, A. J. (2015, November). The costs of compliance and associated benefits for small and medium enterprises in New Zealand: Some recent findings. InAustralian Tax Forum(Vol. 30). Ho, W. H., Wang, Y. (2015). Capital Income Taxation Revisited: The Roles of Information Friction and External Finance.Pacific Economic Review,20(2), 225-242. Hodgson, H., Pearce, P. (2015). TravelSmart or travel tax breaks: is the fringe benefits tax a barrier to active commuting in Australia? 1.eJournal of Tax Research,13(3), 819. Jibrin, M. S., Ejura, S. B., Augustine, N. I. (2015). System of Payroll in the Public Sector Administration.Asian Development Policy Review,3(1), 9-19. Mehrotra, A. K., Ott, J. C. (2016). WE ARE WHAT WE TAXTHE CURIOUS BEGINNINGS OF THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX PREFERENCE.Fordham L. Rev.,84, 2517-2989. Nijland, L., Dijst, M. (2015). Commuting-related fringe benefits in the Netherlands: Interrelationships and company, employee and location characteristics.Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice,77, 358-371. Tang, R., Wan, J. (2015). Fringe benefits tax and fly-in fly-out arrangements: John Holland Group Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation.Australian Resources and Energy Law Journal,34(1), 17. Ayapere, P. (2015). The Effect of Monetization on Federal Civil Servants in Nigeria.Public Policy and Administration Research,5(1), 103-135. Blaydes, L., Paik, C. (2015). The Impact of Holy Land Crusades on State Formation: War Mobilization, Trade Integration, and Political Development in Medieval Europe.International Organization, 1-36. Dewar, M., Seymour, E., DruȆºÃƒâ€žÃ†â€™, O. (2015). Disinvesting in the City The Role of Tax Foreclosure in Detroit.Urban Affairs Review,51(5), 587-615. Lanfranchi, J., Narcy, M. (2015). Female Overrepresentation in Public and Nonprofit Sector Jobs Evidence From a French National Survey.Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly,44(1), 47-74.

The Artic Essays (816 words) - Biology, Artic, Nature, Pollution

The Artic The Artic Introduction. The Artic is a region at the upper most tip of the Northern Hemisphere. The Artic includes the area around Greenland, USSR, Canada and Alaska. Much of the Artic circle is permanently frozen ice. The Artic is a pristine environment, clean and void of human interference. However as humans move into these areas and begin to extract what ever they can be balance can be tipped, resulting in pollution and destruction of the environment. Climate. The Artic winters much longer than the Summer. In the winter the sun never rises and in the summer it never sets. The average temperature for the Artic is zero degrees of less. Industry and the Artic. There was once a time when the land of the Artic Circle was considered useless and only hospitable to those native to it. However once vast quantities of oil and fish had been found there was a rush of interest in the land. Fishing in the Artic has occurred for thousands of years but in recent years man has been fishing the Artic; in greater numbers and taking more fish. Professional fishermen are taking all kinds of fish as well as whales and seals. In some areas fishermen have become so efficient at their job that quotas have needed to be put on to limit or stop the capture of certain animals. There are many mineral deposits within the Artic Circle. In Russia: nickel, iron ore, apatite, diamonds, gold, tin, coal, mica, and tungsten. In Sweden: iron ore. In Greenland: lead, zinc, molybdenum and cryolite. Spitsbergen: coal. Canada: uranium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, tungsten and iron ore. The digging out of minerals would inevitably disturb the natural habitat as well as the environment there would be a great cost to maintain the site. Industry that is designed to process various minerals have waste products that would be most unwelcome in the Artic. A good example of this is the pollution that has arisen as a result of the smelting of metals in the Artic. It is for this reason that there is very little industry in the Artic. However Russia, Canada, Greenland and Iceland have several small scale manufacturing plants. The largest industry in the Artic is oil. The rush began in 1968 when a large oil field was discovered, there was a great deal of protest but the development went ahead. Oil extracted from the felid makes its way to Port Valdez via a 1300 kilometre pipeline. Although steps were taken to limit the pipelines affect on the environment it still disrupts the migration of caribou. In 1989 the unthinkable happened and the super tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground spilling millions of gallons of crude oil into the Prince William Sound. The effects of the slick were devastating. Within a week workers counted 24000 dead sea birds and 1000 sea otters. The effects of the slick were felt throughout the food chain from photoplankton to bears. The Exxon company funded the clean up but there was no compensation for the hundreds of people that lost their job as a result of the slick. Pollution of the Artic A large threat to the Artic is transboundry pollution and bioaccumulation. These are both complex subjects but are easily explained. Transboundry pollution is the pollution of the Artic from other countries. The ocean currents and wind conditions result in large amounts of pollution being deposited in the Artic. In winter when the sun is low thick blankets of haze can be seen over the Artic. Bioaccumulation is the process where pollutants build up in the Artic because they cannot be broken down due to the extreme cold. Once harsh chemicals find their way into the food chain they stay there forever, trapped in the animals and sediments. A result of increased pollutants in the atmosphere is the occurrence of acid rain. Sulphur and Nitrogen dioxides drift from developed countries and when they mix with water in the atmosphere they can produce acid rain as strong as lemon juice. The acid snow melts in summer and spring producing an acid shock that can kill animals and plants alike. In 1986 the nuclear reactor in Chernoybl exploded sending a nuclear cloud into the atmosphere that among other places contaminated plants and animals in the Artic region. Particularly affected were lichens, lichens are a plant that makes up the majority of a reindeers' diet. When the reindeers ate the lichens they became radioactive and many thousands had to be shot. Tourism vs conservation. In the battle between tourism and conservation, tourism seems to always win. However in the Artic tourism has so far had little effect (compared to other human activity) on the environment. The scenery and wild life of the Artic are seen as so special that people pay thousands of dollars for a small glimpse of the Artic. It is believed by many that Artic tourism will spread a general concern for the environment. There is no denying that if tourism is not controlled people will destroy what they have come to

The Dividing Line essays

The Dividing Line essays Two Korean soldiers one from Sariwan, North Korea, and one from Chongju, South Korea stare intensely at one another, watching each and every move. They are in the DMZ, a 4 km wide band stretching across 250 km of deserted land, known as the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. They each represent their part of Korea. The soldiers are in this uptight position because of the Korean War, which never officially ended with a peace treaty. As they watch one another, it is as if they are looking at a mirror image of themselves. Even though they are identical on the outside, they are far from similar on the inside. North Korea and South Korea, like the two soldiers, share some similar characteristics. First, they both have an extremely high literacy rate; North Korea has 95% and South Korea has 97% literate citizens. Education is free for students ages 5-16, and many take advantage of this academic offering. Second, what better food is there to be found in Korea than the fish than the fish that surround the peninsula. The North and the South have major commercial fishing businesses. In fact, did you know South Korea ranks third in the world's fishing industry? Another common food between the North and South is rice. It's the chief crop of the north and a wet- season crop in the south. Third, Korea has a homogenous society, which means the citizens in the North and South have a common ethnic background. Lastly, both sides share the Korean language. Approximately 110 million people living on the Korean peninsula speak this language, which originated in Neolithic times. Although you can see t hese few similarities, it is difficult to find many common links between the two parts of Korea. On the other hand, the differences are far more apparent. The first big difference between North and South Korea is their government. While North Korea is a hard- line Communist nation, the South is a democracy. The political power in the Nor...

My Abilities in Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

My Abilities in Finance - Essay Example I resented what I saw as her painful pre-occupation with money. I told myself often that I would not grow up to be like her, at least when it came to housekeeping. On my 15th birthday, my mother gave me a small present. Thrilled, I ripped open the package, but waiting inside for me was something I wasn’t looking forward to and had never really wanted. It was a housekeeping book, the same as my mothers, only smaller. Although I hated it I had no choice but to use it. It was a present from my mother, after all, and I did not want to hurt her feelings. From that day on, whenever she was keeping her book, I would pretend to update mine too. This so-called â€Å"pretend bookkeeping† however, soon became one of my daily activities, without realizing it myself. Even in school, I would meticulously keep track of my expenses, and my pocket money. Soon, I realized that I had more and more money to spare, because knowing where my money was being spent actually helped me save a great deal, without making too many compromises. Just as I had thought before about my mother, my friends began to call me, â€Å"stingy.† I did not care, I cou ld see I was saving money, and a penny saved was a penny earned. It was almost magical. I realized the value of regularly keeping track of money, I was very aware of the money I had and made specific plans on how to spend it. I knew what I could do without in life, and what I wanted to get, and used my money accordingly. In fact, I was hoping that I could help my friends increase their savings. It was during this time that I became greatly interested in the study of finance, because I realized that making money was a whole lot about discipline, and to master the art, one had to study it. Next year on my birthday, I was lucky enough to meet someone through my mother who was working in the finance industry.           Ã‚  

Freedom Writers - Economics of Race and Gender Movie Review

Freedom Writers - Economics of Race and Gender - Movie Review Example The movie is made in the context of Rodney King sparked LA riots in 1992 and its impact on people with a special reference to the lives of students at Wilson High School after a few years of riots. Director set the stage for a serious subject in the very beginning of the movie while filming street situation and unrest during riots. Long Beach is a gang-infested and poverty-stricken place where violence and killing is the everyday story. This scenario wages a new war in streets and school is no different, a cynical resentment and anger moves in school hallways and triggers violent confrontations between students at any point in time. In the very beginning, Erin’s enthusiasm for teaching was scoffed at and her students were entitled to be â€Å"un-teachable† rather â€Å"at-risk† gangsters who can never be tamed. Despite her unexpected encounter with students and their arrogant behavior, Erin decided to fight for the purpose of her presence in school as a teacher. After the initial hostile reaction to her efforts, Erin creatively tried to be friend with students. It was the only way to unite the teens and teach them to think beyond the racial divided that they couldn’t cross even in the classroom. Their minds were blocked by the perceptions that they were anything except students; they were blacks, whites or Cambodians. Erin wanted to expose them to different perspectives and ideologies beyond their own streets and homes. It was only possible through books but to Erin’s surprise, school authority not only refused to provide books but other resources as well. For authorities, it was the waste of time and resources. Somewhat discouraged and shocked, Erin takes up the part-time job in order to provide students with learning aids. By encouraging students to write what they feel like in their diaries inspired by Anne Frank and Zlata’s Diary: A child’s life in Sarajevo, she not only worked on their language skills but also taught them tolerance and compassion.

Effectiveness of Support Services for Reducing Poverty

Effectiveness of Support Services for Reducing Poverty A 6000 word literature review project which critically analyses and evaluates the effectiveness of family support services aimed at reducing stress and poverty for the parents of children in need. Introduction The whole issue of parents and children in need is a vast, complex and ethically challenging one. This review is specifically charged with an examination of those issues which impinge upon the stresses and strains that are experienced by parents of children in need. A superficial examination of these issues that are involved in this particular area would suggest that there are a number of â€Å"sub-texts† which can all give rise to this particular situation. Firstly, to have a child in need is clearly a stressful situation for any parent. (Meltzer H et al. 1999) This can clearly be purely a financial concern and a reflection of the fact that the whole family is in financial hardship, perhaps due to the economic situation or perhaps due to the actions of the parents themselves. Equally the need of the child can be a result of a non-financial need, so we should also consider the child who is in some way handicapped, ill, emotionally disturbed or perhaps in need in some other way. This produces another type of stress on the parent, and these stresses are typically longer lasting and, in general, less easily rectified than a purely financial consideration of need. (Hall D 1996). It is part of the basic ethos of the welfare state that it should look after its less able and disadvantaged members. (Welsh Office 1997). Parents of children in need will often qualify in this definition. We shall therefore examine the various aspects of this problem. Literature Review We will make a start by considering one type of child in need. The first paper that we will consider is that of Prof. Vostanis (Vostanis 2002), which looks at the mental health problems that are faced by deprived children and their families together with the effectiveness of the resources that are available to them. It is a well written and well researched paper, if rather complex and confusing in places. We will consider this paper in some detail as it provides an excellent overview of the whole area. The paper starts with a rather useful definition for our purposes. It qualifies the deprived child, initially in terms of a homeless family, that being : A family of any number of adults with dependent children who are statutorily accepted by local authorities (housing departments) in the UK, and are usually accommodated for a brief period in voluntary agency, local authority or housing association hostels. This period of temporary accommodation can vary enormously depending on the time of year and the area considered, and can range from a few days to perhaps several months. The target in Greater London is currently to rehouse homeless families within 4-6 weeks. In London particularly, the homeless families can be placed in Bed Breakfast accommodation. (D of H 1998) In this respect, the immediate family support mechanisms do appear to be in place. Vostranis however, goes on to make the observation that despite the fact that the definition of the homeless family is rather broad, it does not cover all of the potential children in need, as those children and their carers who have lost their homes but have managed to live with relatives, on the streets or perhaps live as travellers, are not covered by the statutory obligation to provide housing. The official figures therefore, he observes, are generally an underestimate of the true situation. The official figures for the homeless families are put (in this paper) at 140,000. (Vostanis Cumella, 1999) The authors give us further information in that many families will become homeless again within one year of rehousing and the typical family seen is the single mother and at least two children who are generally under the age of 11 yrs. They also observe that the typical father and adolescent child tend to be placed in homeless centres. (D of H 1995) In exploration of the particular topic that we are considering, the authors give us the situations that typically have given rise to the degree of parental stress that may have led to the homelessness. They point to the fact that a homeless family is usually homeless for different reasons to the single homeless adult. Vostanis (et al 1997) is quoted as showing that 50% of the cases studied were homeless as a direct result of domestic violence and 25% as a result of harassment from neighbours. The authors observe that the numbers in this category (and therefore the problems), are rising. (Welsh Office 1999). There are a number of section to this paper which are not directly referable to our considerations. We shall therefore direct our attention purely to those parts that have a direct bearing on the subject. One particularly useful and analytical part of the paper is the section that details the characteristics and needs of the target group. This is a very detailed section, but it makes the point that the children in need in this group are particularly heterogeneous, generally all with multiple and inter-related needs. Homelessness is seldom a one off event. This particular observation, (say the authors), is crucially important for the development and provision of services. Most families have histories of previous chronic adversities that constitute risk factors for both children and parents (Bassuk et al, 1997). Such events include family conflict, violence and breakdown; limited or absent networks for family and social support; recurring moves; poverty; and unemployment. Mothers are more likely to have suffered abuse in their own childhood and adult life and children have increased rates of placement on the at-risk child protection register, because of neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse. If we specifically consider the health needs of this population, the authors categorise them thus: The children are more likely to have a history of low birthweight, anaemia, dental decay and delayed immunisations, to be of lower stature and have a greater degree of nutritional stress. They are also more likely to suffer accidents, injuries and burns. (BPA 1999) Some studies have found that child health problems increase with the duration of homelessness, although this finding is not consistent. A substantial proportion of homeless children have delayed development compared with the general population of children of a similar chronological age. This includes both specific developmental delays, such as in receptive and expressive language and visual, motor and reading skills, as well as general skills and educational status (Webb et al. 2001). It is for this reason specifically, that it has proved extremely difficult to assess the effectiveness of the family support services because of the multivariate nature of the problems that are presented. The authors point to the fact that one of the prime determinants of the degree of support available, is the actual access that the families have to these services. Many sources (viz. Wilkinson R 1996), equate the poor health of the disadvantaged primarily with the lack of access to services. One immediate difficulty is the current registration system in the UK. In order to be seen in the primary healthcare team setting, one must be registered with a named doctor. In the majority of cases that we are dealing with here, they have moved area and registration is probably not high on their list of priorities. One can argue that there is the access to the A E departments of the local hospitals but there is virtually no continuity here and they are no geared up to provide anything other than immediate treatment. (Hall D 1996). This fact restricts their access to primary healthcare team procedures such as immunisations and other preventative medicine health clinics. (Lissauer et al, 1993) . By the same token these groups also have restricted access to the social services, whether they be the access teams, the family teams or the family support units and other agencies. The authors also point to other more disruptive trends in this group such as an inability to attend a particular school for fear of being traced by an abusive partner. It follows that these children do not have a stable social support of a school. They are denied such factors as peer groups, routines and challenges which are both important protective and developmental factors. (Shankleman J et al 2000). The summation of all of these factors, and others, is that the effectiveness of the family support services is greatly reduced by the mobility and the transient nature of the family unit. Quite apart from the difficulties outlined above relating to the problems of access to avenues of help open to the child in need and their families there are the problems engendered by the fact that social service departments in different areas of the country may not have immediate access to the previous records giving rise to many potential, and real, problems with continuity of care. This problem is brought into more immediate focus when one considers the increased frequency of child protection registrations in this particular group. (Hall D et al 1998). One specific analysis of the family support services of this particular group comes in the form of the psychiatric services. In the context of the title of this piece, it demonstrates how these particular services, (but not these alone), are failing to deal with the totality of the problem. All of the aspects that we have outlined so far are conspiring to dilute the effectiveness of the services provided. The fact that they are a mobile population with no fixed address means that some of the services may choose to invoke this as a reason for not making provision for them, particularly if resources are stretched. If more resources are given, then they are typically preferentially targeted at the single adult homeless population where the need is arguably greater. The authors of this paper point to the fact that this may not actually be true as some studies have shown that homeless single mothers and their children have a 49% psychopathy rate and only an 11% contact with the support services. (Cumella et al, 1998). The impact of this fact on the children can only be imagined. To an extent however, it can be quantified as the authors cite other studies which show a 30% need rating for children, (they do not actually define exactly what their perceived level of need was), contrasted with a 3% contact rate for children and adolescents in this area. (viz. Power S et al. 1995). Putting these considerations together, the authors outline a set of proposals which are designed to help improve the access to some of the essential services. The model that they propose could, if successful and with a degree of modification, prove suitable for adaptation to other areas of the family support services. It is not appropriate to discuss this model in detail, but suffice it to say that it has a tiered structure so that the degree of distress and need is titrated against the degree of input generated. One of the reasons that we have selected this particular paper to present in this context is for its last section. It proposes a â€Å"family support services model† which has been developed and pioneered in the Leicester area. In the context of our review, it is worth considering in some detail. A service provided through a family support team (four family support assistants).This is designed to detect a range of problems at the time of crisis; manage a degree of mental health problems (behavioural and emotional); provide parenting-training; support and train housing (hostel) staff; co-ordinate the work of different agencies; and provide some continuity after rehousing by ensuring intake by appropriate local services. The family workers are based at the main hostel for homeless children and families. Other, predominantly voluntary, services have established alternative posts, such as advocates and key workers. Whatever the title of the post, it is essential that the post-holder has some experience and ongoing training in mental health and child protection, so that he or she can hold a substantial case-load, rather than merely mediate between already limited services. The family support workers have direct access to the local child and adult mental health services, whose staff provide weekly outreach clinics. Their role is to work with the family support workers and other agencies, assess selected children and families, and provide treatment for more severe problems or disorders such as depression, self-harm and PTSD. A weekly inter-agency liaison meeting at the main hostel is attended by a health visitor, representatives of the local domestic violence service and Sure Start, There are also close, regular links with education welfare and social services. The aim is to effectively utilise specialist skills by discussing family situations from all perspectives at the liaison meeting. A bimonthly steering group, led by the housing department, involves senior managers representing these agencies, as well as the education and social services departments and the voluntary sector, and they oversee and co-ordinate the service. This appears to be something of an exemplar in relation to services provided elsewhere. The paper does not provide any element of costings in this area neither does it provide any figures in relation to its success rates, contact rates or overall effectiveness. In conclusion this paper is an extremely well written and authoritative overview of the situation relating to the stresses of the homeless parent with children and the effectiveness (or lack of it) in its ability to reduce the stresses experienced by the homeless children in need and their parents. It proposes remedies but sadly it does not evaluate the effectiveness of those remedies. In order to address these shortcomings we can consider another paper by Tischler (et al 2000). This looks at a similar outreach set up which has been designed to capture the families of children in need who might otherwise slip through the net. This paper is written from a different perspective and specifically analyses the effectiveness of these services as they pertain to an entry cohort of 40 families. This particular study was set up after preliminary work was done in the Birmingham area with 114 homeless families and this study defined the needs of the families but did not quantify their support systems.(Vostanis et al 1998). This paper set out to identify and measure the support systems available and their effectiveness as far as the families were concerned. The stresses encountered were partly reflected by the incidence of psychiatric morbidity. The mothers in the group were found to have over 50% more morbidity than a matched control group. The children in the group were found to have â€Å"histories of abuse, living in care, being on the at-risk protection register, delayed communication and higher reported mental health problems.† All of which adds to the general background stress levels. (Kerouac S et al. 1996). This particular study found that despite the psychiatric morbidity in the children, (estimated to be about 30%), and the psychiatric morbidity in the parents, (estimated at about 50%), only 3% of the children and 10% of the parents had had any significant contact or support from the social services. In this respect, this paper is very useful to our purpose as it quantifies the levels of intervention and access to healthcare resources that this particular group has. By any appreciation, it would be considered woefully inadequate in any society that calls itself civilised. In the terms of the title of this piece, the effectiveness of the family support services is minimal. Like the last paper discussed, this one also considered how best to tackle the problem, and this one is of much greater value to us, as it specifies a response, or intervention, to the problem in much the same way as the Vostranis 2002 paper did, but it makes the same measurements as it did prior to the intervention, and therefore allows us an insight into the actual effectiveness of the intervention. The way this particular study worked was to assess the problem (as it has been presented above), devise an intervention strategy and then to measure its effect. This particular study goes to great lengths to actively involve all the appropriate agencies that could help the situation by having a central assessment station that acted as a liaison between all of the other resources. In brief, it actively involved liaison with the following: Education, social services, child protection, local mental health services, voluntary and community organisations to facilitate the re-integration of the family into the community, and particularly their engagement with local services following rehousing; and training of staff of homeless centres in the understanding, recognition and management of mental illness in children and parents. This is essential, as hostel staff often work in isolation and have little knowledge of the potential severity and consequences of mental health problems in children. It was hoped that, by doing this, it would maximise the impact that the limited resources had on reducing the levels of morbidity and stress in the families of the children in need. The post intervention results were, by any estimate, impressive considering the historical difficulty of working with this particular group (OHara M 1995). 40 families (including 122 children) were studied in detail. The paper gives a detailed breakdown of the ethnic and demographic breakdown of the group. By far the biggest group were single mothers and children (72%) The results showed that the majority of referrals were seen between 1-3 times (55%), with a further 22% being seen 4-6 times. It is a reflection of the difficulty in engaging this type of family in need that over 25% did not actually keep their appointments despite the obvious potential benefits that could have been utilised. The authors investigated this group further and ascertained that a common reason for non attendance was the perception that the psychological welfare of the children was not actually the main concern. The families perceived that their primary needs were rehousing and financial stability. Other priorities identified were that physical health was a greater priority than mental health. The authors also identify another common failing in the social services provision, and that is the general lack of regular contact. They cite the situation where some families cope well initially, apparently glad to have escaped an abusive or violent home situation, but a prolonged stay in a hostel or temporary accommodation may soon precipitate a bout of depression in the parents and behavioural problems in the children of such parents. (Brooks RM et al 1998). They suggest that regular re-visiting of families who have been in temporary accommodation for any significant length of time should be mandatory. This paper takes a very practical overview by pointing out that workability of the system is, to a large extent, dependent on the goodwill of a number of committed professionals. The authors state that this has to be nurtured and they call for sufficient funding must be given to enable this particular model to be extended to a National level. Thus far in the review we have considered the effectiveness of the service provision in the support of the families of the children in need in one specific target grouping, those who are stressed by virtue of the fact that they are homeless. We will now consider the literature on a different kind of family stress, and that is when a parent dies. This leaves the children with a considerable amount of potential emotional â€Å"baggage† and the surviving parent with an enormous amount of stress. (Webb E 1998). An excellent paper by Downey (et al 1999) tackles this particular problem with both sensitivity and also considerable rigour. It is a long and complex paper, but the overall aims and objectives are clear from the outset. The structure of the paper is a prospective case study which aims to assess whether the degree of distress suffered by a family during a time of bereavement is in any way linked to the degree of service provision that is utilised. The base line for this study is set out in its first two paragraphs. Parentally bereaved children and surviving parents showed a greater than predicted level of psychiatric morbidity. Boys had greater levels of demonstrable morbidity than did girls, but bereaved mothers showed more morbidity than did bereaved fathers. Children were more likely to show signs of behavioural disturbance when the surviving parent manifested some kind of psychiatric disorder. (Kranzler EM et al 1990). The authors point to the fact that their study shows that the service provision is statistically related to a number of (arguably unexpected [Fristad MA et al 1993]) factors namely: The age of the children and the manner of parental death. Children under 5 years of age were less likely to be offered services than older children even though their parents desired it. Children were significantly more likely to be offered services when the parent had committed suicide or when the death was expected. Children least likely to receive service support were those who were not in touch with services before parental death. Paradoxically the level of service provision was not found to be statistically significantly related to either the parental wishes or the degree of the psychiatric disturbance in either the parent or child. (Sanchez L et al 1994) The service provision did have some statistical relationships but that was only found to be the manner of the parental death and the actual age of the child at the time. The authors therefore are able to identify a mismatch between the perceived need for support and the actual service provision made. Part of that mismatch is found to be due to the inability of the social services and other related agencies to take a dispassionate overview. Elsewhere in the paper the authors suggest that there are other factors that add to this inequality and they include lack of resources and a lack of specificity in identifying children at greatest risk. (Harrington R 1996) The authors examine other literature to back up their initial precept that bereaved children have greater levels of morbidity. They cite many other papers who have found distress manifesting in the form of â€Å"anxiety, depression, withdrawal, sleep disturbance, and aggression.† (Worden JW et al. 1996) and also psychological problems in later life (Harris T et al. 1996). In terms of study structure, the authors point to methodological problems with other papers in the area including a common failing of either having a standardised measure or no matched control group (Mohammed D et al 2003). They also point to the fact that this is probably the first UK study to investigate the subject using a properly representative sample and certainly the first to investigate whether service provision is actually related to the degree of the problems experienced. The entry cohort involved nearly 550 families with 94 having children in the target range (2-18). With certain exclusions (such as two families where one parent had murdered the other etc.) and non respondents, the final cohort was reduced to 45 families and one target child was randomly selected from each family. It has to be noted that the comparatively large number of non-respondents may have introduced a large element of bias, insofar as it is possible that the families most in need of support were those who were most distressed by the death of a family member and these could have been the very ones who chose not to participate. (Morton V et al 2003) The authors make no comment on this particular fact. The authors should be commended for a particularly ingenious control measure for the children. They were matched by asking their school teacher to complete an inventory of disturbed behaviour on the next child in the school register after the target child. A large part of the paper is taken up with methodological issues which ( apart form the comments above) cannot be faulted. In terms of being children in need, 60% of children were found to have â€Å"significant behavioural abnormalities† with 28% having scores above the 95th centile. In terms of specific service support provision, 82% of parents identified a perceived need for support by virtue of the behaviour of their children. Only 49% of these actually received it in any degree. Perhaps the most surprising statistic to come out of this study was the fact that of the parents who were offered support 44% were in the group who asked for it and 56% were in the group who didn’t want it. The levels of support offered were independent of the degree of behavioural disturbance in the child. As with the majority of papers that we have either presented here or read in preparation for this review, the authors call for a more rationally targeted approach to the utilisation of limited resources. The study also provides us with a very pertinent comment which many experienced healthcare professionals will empathise with, (Black D 1996), and that is: Practitioners should also be aware that child disturbance may reflect undetected psychological distress in the surviving parent. While not suggesting that this is a reflection of Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy, the comment is a valid reflection of the fact that parental distress may be well hidden from people outside of the family and may only present as a manifestation of the child’s behaviour. (Feldman MD et al. 1994) The conclusions that can be drawn from this study are that there is a considerable gap in the support offered ( quite apart form the effectiveness of that support) in this area of obvious stress for both parents and children. (Black D 1998). This study goes some way to quantifying the level of support actually given in these circumstances. We have considered the role of the effectiveness and indeed, even the existence, of adequate support services for the children in need and their parents in a number of different social circumstances. The next paper that we wish to present is an excellent review of the support that is given to another specific sub-group and that is women and children who suffer from domestic violence. Webb and her group (et al 2001) considered the problem in considerable (and commendable) depth The study itself had an entry cohort of nearly 150 children and their mothers who were resident in a number of hostels and women’s refuges that had been the victims of family violence at some stage in the recent past. The study subjected the cohort to a battery of tests designed to assess their physical, emotional and psychological health, and then quantified their access to, and support gained from, the primary healthcare teams and other social service-based support agencies. This study is presented in a long and sometimes difficult to read format. Much of the presentation is (understandably) taken up with statistical, ethical and methodological matters – all of which appear to be largely of excellent quality and the result of careful consideration. The results make for interesting and, (in the context of this review), very relevant reading. Perhaps one of the more original findings was that nearly 60% of the child health data held by the various refuges was factually incorrect. This clearly has grave implications for studies that base their evidence base on that data set (Berwick D 2005). Of great implication for the social services support mechanisms was the finding that 76% of the mothers in the study expressed concerns about the health of their children. Once they had left the refuge there was a significant loss to the follow up systems as 15% were untraceable and 25% returned to the home of the original perpetrator. The study documents the fact that this particular group had both a high level of need for support and also a poor level of access to appropriate services. In the study conclusions, the authors make the pertinent comment that the time spent in the refuge offers a â€Å"window of opportunity† for the family support services to make contact and to review health and child developmental status. This is not a demographically small group. In the UK, over 35,000 children and a parent, are recorded as passing through the refuges each year, with at least a similar number also being refered to other types of safe accommodation. Such measures are clearly not undertaken lightly with the average woman only entering a refuge after an average of 28 separate assaults. One can only speculate at the long term effects that this can have on both the mother and the children. In common with the other papers reviewed, this paper also calls for greater levels of support for the families concerned as, by inference, the current levels of effectiveness of the family support services is clearly inadequate. Conclusions This review has specifically presented a number of papers which have been chosen from a much larger number that have been accessed and assessed, because of the fact that each has a particularly important issue or factor in its construction or results. The issue that we have set out to evaluate is the effectiveness of the family support services which are specifically aimed at reducing the stress levels for the parents of children in need. Almost without exception, all of the papers that have been accessed (quite apart from those presented) have demonstrated the fact that the levels of support from the statutory bodies is â€Å"less than optimum† and in some cases it can only be described as â€Å"dire†. Another factor that is a common finding, is that, given the fact that any welfare system is, by its very nature, a rationed system, the provision of the services that are provided is seldom targeted at the groups that need it the most. One can cite the Tischler (et al 2000) and Downey (et al 1999) papers in particular as demonstrating that a substantial proportion of the resources mobilised are actually being directed to groups that are either not requesting support or who demonstrably need it less than other sectors of the community. Some of the papers (actually a small proportion) make positive suggestions about the models for redirecting and targeting support. Sadly, the majority do little more than call for â€Å"more research to be done on the issue†. In overview, we would have to conclude that the evidence suggests that the effectiveness of the family support services in reducing stress and poverty for the parents of children in need is poor at best and certainly capable of considerable improvement. References Bassuk, E. Buckner, J. Weinreb, L. et al (1997),  Homelessness in female-headed families: childhood and adult risk and protective factors.   American Journal of Public Health, 87, 241–248 1997 Berwick D 2005 Broadening the view of evidence-based medicine Qual. Saf. Health Care, Oct 2005; 14: 315 316. Black D. 1996,  Childhood bereavement: distress and long term sequelae can be lessened by early intervention.   BMJ 1996; 312: 1496,   Black D. 1998,  Coping with loss: bereavement in childhood.   BMJ 1998; 316: 931-933,   BPA 1999,  British Paediatric Association. Outcome measures for child health.   London: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, 1999.    Brooks RM, Ferguson T, Webb E. 1998,  Health services to children resident in domestic violence shelters.   Ambulatory Child Health 1998; 4: 369-374.    Cumella, S. Grattan, E. Vostanis, P.

Philosophy :: essays research papers

The philosophy of Tae Kwon Do is to build a more peaceful world. To accomplish this goal Tae Kwon Do begins with the foundation, the individual. The Art strives to develop the character, personality, and positive moral and ethical traits in each practitioner. It is upon this "foundation" of individuals possessing positive attitudes and characteristics that the "end goal" may be achieved. Tae Kwon Do strives to develop the positive aspects of an individual's personality: Respect, Courtesy, Goodness, Trustworthiness, Loyalty, Humility, Courage, Patience, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control, an Indomitable Spirit and a sense of responsibility to help and respect all forms of life. This takes a great deal of hard training and many do not reach far enough to achieve perfection in all of these aspects. However, it is the physical, mental, and spiritual effort which the individual puts forth that develops the positive attributes and image of both the individual and how he or she perceives others. By helping mold an individual into a well-rounded and responsible person, the individual can pass onto others, through both his teachings and his personal actions, the principles he has learned through his Tae Kwon Do training. Individuals unite and become a family, families come together and form a community, communities merge and develop into a nation, and nations are what make up our present-day world. In order to help build a more peaceful world, Tae Kwon Do starts with one person at a time. Gradually groups form, dojangs (schools) emerge, organizations develop, until Tae Kwon Do's philosophy has influenced, in a positive way, enough persons, families, communities, and nations, to someday bring about, or at least help bring about, the unification of nations dedicated to helping each other. The task is not easy. Just like the metamorphosis an individual goes through from white belt to black belt and eventually Master, so the transition of the unification of nations united by laws of peace, is a long and hard task. Tae Kwon Do strives for this unification. Race, creed, and nationality have nothing to do with Tae Kwon Do. They are all one in the same. Tae Kwon Do reaches toward the total development of the individual and the founding of a peaceful world. No matter what color a persons skin, no matter what his religion, no matter where his national boundaries we all seek one thing, Peace. This peace can only be achieved if each person has found peace within himself.

World Resources – scarcity and conflict

In the 1960s, one photograph changed the way world leaders, scientists and the general population thought about the management of the world's resources. People became concerned about the world's resources running out. This photograph was our Earth. When world leaders saw this photograph taken from space, the world looked for the first time the world looked small and finite, this is because there is so many people on this planet and there needs to be consideration on what resources we use, and how much we use of them. The term ‘spaceship earth' is applied here to describe how people felt about the Earth's resources†¦they were limited just as a spaceship has limited reserves of air, water and food. Before world leaders were in illusion thinking that the world's resources were in abundance. Some resources are non renewable meaning that after they run out there is no way of replacing them, and they only reform after millions of years these resources are called fossil fuels. There are three types of fossil fuels (crude oil, coal and natural gas). These resources are the resources the world should be concerned about and therefore use it sparingly. However the fossil fuels although the most important are not the only non renewable resources, others include food and forests. There are other resources called renewable energy sources which are starting to be developed such as biomass and wind power which takes the earth's natural processes such as wind and through certain mechanisms covert it into energy which can be used for electricity. So in answer to the question, the fossil fuels are the most important world resources, however there are other non renewable world resources that have to be carefully used otherwise certain things couldn't happen, for example imagine what the world would be like without out any wood. When the first maps of the world were created, many parts of the world were not discovered and therefore because society in that day and age believed in sea creatures and mermaids and other such things, everyone thought two things, firstly that at the end of the world was limitless and secondly that at the end of the worlds there were sea monsters. The first maps of the world were flat. Naturally many incorrect assumptions had been made, the world was not limitless and of course no sea monsters. However as countries began to be discovered the world seemed to become limitless and powerful. People began to have a care free attitude about the resources because they thought they would never run out. Things started to go downhill when it was discovered that the world was actually round, people started to believe that the world was not limitless, however they still remained in the delusion that the world's resources were not going to run out any time soon and then therefore continued with their care free attitude. It was not until the 1960's that people began to get worried about the world's resources and decide to do something not to waste electricity (which in theory is the product of fossil fuels). This diagram shows how many people began to care about the world. Background There are two main official views in regard to the world's resources running out. These are optimists and pessimists: Optimists View Optimists believe that the world's resources are eventually going to run out, but we can delay that happening, and our future is not doomed. Because the is such talk and media coverage of the world's resources running out optimists hope that people will alter their lifestyle and take certain measures to delay the world's resources running out such as turning their computers off at night. Optimists also believe because of advanced technology and science, we can discover more and more alternative fuels, optimists believe that people would use alternative energy sources as it is cheap and therefore more economical. In the future optimists believe that there should be a more equal distribution of the world's resources. Famous optimists include E.Boserup and J.Simon. Pessimists View These people believe that the world's resources have a finite limit and could eventually run out or be damaged beyond repair. In 1970, 10 countries, known as the Club of Rome, met in order to discuss resource management. Their report, entitled ‘The Limits to Growth', made predictions about a world where continued industrial and population growth would consume both resources and food supplies. This Club believed that population increase are the reason why world resources are running out because there is more demand for it; they put forward the idea of preventive checks. An example of one of their ideas is the one child policy; they wanted to make the one child and international policy. Famous pessimists include P.Ehrlich. Factors that are causing the World's Resources to Decrease There are a few main factors that are causing the world's resources to decrease. Population Because there is such a growth of population, people are needing more and more energy in their house. This is best displayed in a case study: In the year 2000 Family A (comprising of a husband and wife) used 20,000kg of energy per year. In 2002 they had their first child. Before Family A didn't watch that much T.V., however now because their child needs entertainment, the T.V. is turned on for the whole day even if the child is not watching. So in 2003 their yearly consumption increased to 25,000kg. Now think of this on an international scale and everyday the population is using up more and more world resources. Optimists say that creating new alternative energy sources rather than using the fossil fuels up, is the way forward. Pessimists say that the way forward is to enforce an international one child policy, to over populated areas to balance the population out to one of an optimum population. However I agree with the pessimists but I don't think there should be an international one child policy, but as a whole unit we need to find a method to achieve optimum population and taking into consideration a specific area's carrying capacity and therefore move into the direction of sustainable development. Economic Threats Because of the current economic downturn people are turning to cheaper ways to provide heat, water and electricity to their houses they are put off by the idea of alternative energy sources such as solar panels because they can't afford it Case Study-Diamonds (Sierra Leone) In this day and age diamonds are such a controversial issue, as most people in the West think diamonds are nice stones that are on their rings, however twenty years ago 40% of all diamonds were somehow in the process of buying/selling at least one illegal transaction was carried out, now due to the Kimberly agreement and other factors including media this figure has decreased to 25%. Diamonds are a world resource that is limited as they will eventually run out. Sierra Leone is a country located in the north west of Africa. Sierra Leone is one of the largest diamond producer in the world this is because of it's geographical location, it's relief and finally because it has so many mines. This is still unfortunately has not lead to the economic development of the country, because rebel troops take over the mines and take all profits. Sometimes diamonds are fought over; these diamonds are known as conflict/blood diamonds. Sierra Leone's Conflict Diamonds In 1991, Sierra Leone a rebel force known as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) launched assaults against the government. A military government was set up, yet this did not deter the RUF attacks. From the beginning, the RUF became allies with Liberia. Their goal was officially to combat crime and corruption but it soon became clear that their main aim was to take control of the diamond mines. The RUF would take prisoners and enslave them to work in the diamond mines. The work conditions were horrible and they were punished for the slightest things. Anyone opposed to the RUF's methods and practices would be brutally punished. All this was unknown to – or perhaps ignored by – the outside world for many years. UN studies estimate that about $125 million worth of rough diamonds were bought by the diamond industry in Europe alone! The equivalent of this money is tens of thousands of people killed and even more hurt. It was only in 1999 that the UN deployed a mission to Sie rra Leone to deal with the problem of Sierra Leone Conflcit Diamonds. Since then, sanctions have been put in place so as to curb such illegal activities. The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme requires a paper trail that certifies the origin of rough diamonds. This aims to cut off the flow of diamonds from countries like Sierra Leone. The question that remains to be answered today is whether the paper trail that accompanies each diamond shipment is for real. Certificates can be forged. Rough diamonds can be smuggled into a â€Å"clean† country. After that, there would be no way of knowing where the gems came from. There is always a willing market somewhere in another country. Traders and buyers don't always ask questions. They are just happy to buy and line their pockets. In an area inflicted with suffering and poverty, there is always an official who would be willing to accept bribes. All it takes is one person to overlook a shipment of blood diamonds. For all we know, there might still be a steady flow of rough conflict diamonds coming from the mines of Sierra Leone today. We do not know any of these facts and figures exactly as the Government is reluctant to let media or aid into the country. In 2000 the BBC published a moving article and photo about diamonds in Sierra Leone. Effects of the BBC Article and Photo The BBC article had a resounding effect on the rest f the world not only did people become more interested in where their diamonds came from, but starting to buy ethical diamonds. Also Kanye West (singer) released a controversial song about diamonds in Sierra Leone which caused more and more people to take an interest of the origins of the diamonds. Also Kanye West refused to wear any type of ‘bling' which influenced many children. Artificial/Man made Diamonds ‘Science have finally found a way to make diamonds-Bad News for Sierra Leone' this was a news headline a few years ago form the BBC. Everyone knew the time would come when science would be able to find a way to make diamonds. There is a plus side and down side for this, firstly the up side. If more people buy synthetic diamonds because they are cheaper, then more people would stop buying diamonds that have been sold but rebel forces. However on the down side the economy of Sierra Leone is plummeting to all time low because more and more people are buying synthetic diamonds because of the recession. The Kimberly Process The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (Kimberley Process) is an international governmental certification scheme that was set up to prevent the trade in diamonds that fund conflict. Launched in January 2003, the scheme requires governments to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from blood diamonds. Case Study-Water (Across the Globe) Water is a world resource as we rely on it thoroughly and if we didn't have the sad reality is we would die. Water is not at the moment is shortage, but the way consumption is going in the West in the next one hundred years it could well become shortage. We have a good supply of water in the West, however in LEDCs, water is quite hard to lay hands on. Water is one of the prime essentials for life as we know it. The plain fact is – no water, no life! This becomes all the more worrying when we realise that the worlds supply of drinkable water will soon diminish quite rapidly. In fact a recent report commissioned by the United Nations has emphasised that by the year 2025 at least 66% of the worlds population will be without an adequate water supply. Incalculable damage. As a disaster in the making water shortage ranks in the top category. Without water we are finished, and it is thus imperative that we protect the mechanism through which we derive our supply of this life giving fluid. Unfortunately the exact opposite is the case. We are doing incalculable damage to the planets capacity to generate water and this will have far ranging consequences for the not too distant future. Bleak future The United Nations has warned that burning of fossil fuels is the prime cause of water shortage. While there may be other reasons such as increased solar activity it is clear that this is a situation over which we can exert a great deal of control. If not then the future will be very bleak indeed! Already the warning signs are there. Droughts The last year has seen devastating heatwaves in many parts of the world including the USA where the state of Texas experienced its worst drought on record. Elsewhere in the United States forest fires raged out of control, while other regions of the globe experienced drought conditions that were even more severe. Parts of Iran, Afgahnistan, China and other neighbouring countries experienced their worst droughts on record. These conditions also extended throughout many parts of Africa and it is clear that if circumstances remain unchanged we are facing a disaster of epic proportions. Moreover it will be one for which there is no easy answer. Dangers. The spectre of a world water shortage evokes a truly frightening scenario. In fact the United Nations warns that disputes over water will become the prime source of conflict in the not too distant future. Where these shortages become ever more acute it could forseeably lead to the brink of nuclear conflict. On a lesser scale water, and the price of it, will acquire an importance somewhat like the current value placed on oil. The difference of course is that while oil is not vital for life, water most certainly is! Power shift. It seems clear then that in future years countries rich in water will enjoy an importance that perhaps they do not have today. In these circumstances power shifts are inevitable, and this will undoubtedly create its own strife and tension. Nightmare situation. In the long term the implications do not look encouraging. It is a two edged sword. First the shortage of water, and then the increased stresses this will impose upon an already stressed world of politics. It means that answers need to be found immediately. Answers that will both improve the damage to the environment, and also find new sources of water for future consumption. If not, and the problem is left unresolved there will eventually come the day when we shall find ourselves with a nightmare situation for which there will be no obvious answer. Conclusion Overall I feel that we should be optimistic about the resource management in the future however we should guard about being complacent and consequently wasteful. Science is developing quickly and in the future there will be a system of some sort to enable better management of the resources. However again this doesn't mean we can be wasteful, also we have to make sure that we use certain resources more conservatively to ensure future generations live happily. On the other hand however if we implant many more alternative energy resources (i.e. wind power instead of coal) then future generations will use them as the norm, rather than the present day generation who have to deal with this cross over stage that we are undergoing now-the Government encouraging other sources of energy, however when we look at these the prices are sky high. To ensure that we manage resources so that it is more sustainable, I propose certain plans: 1) Increase price of electricity and gas, decrease price of alternative energy sources (for example solar panels). This would hopefully on the economic side of things encourage people to use alternative fuel. 2) Carry out a major distribution project of the world resources, ensuring each country has roughly the same amount. 3) Set up a kind of police to make sure diamonds are not being sold or mined illegally, through slavery or through violence. This will ensure the decrease the amount of conflict or blood diamonds. Finally, I have outlined five strategies for using more sustainability in my daily life: 1) Have a shower, rather than a bath. This will decrease the amount of water I use, reduce the water bills and make it more efficient cleaning process. 2) When shopping with my parents, I should encourage them to look at the label and check where the product comes from, and therefore try to get the product, which has the least food miles. 3) Encourage my parents to buy energy saving bulbs, which last longer, and are more sustainable. 4) When going out turn off my computer rather than leaving it on standby. 5) When making a cup of tea, don't fill the kettle right to the top, as that wastes, water and energy.