Hsbc Scandal

The HSBC scandal shook Europe as a whole! Britain’s largest institutional bank was accused of a â€Å"drugs and gun-running† scandal. The bank failed to monitor a staggering ? 38trillion of money moving across borders from places that could have posed a risk, including the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, Iran, and Mexico. One of the highest noted disregards by the bank was their financial dealings with Al Rajhi, the Saudi Arabian bank that was linked with funding the 9/11 terrorist scheme.Another report showed that the bank accepted ? 9. 6billion in cash over two years from subsidiaries without checking where the money came from, showing blunt disregard for the obviousness of the transactions. Mexican and US authorities warning HSBC that there was a volume limit (? 4. 5billion) in money sent to the US from its Mexican subsidiary that would exemplify â€Å"illegal drug proceeds†. A HSBC officer admitted that the accounts in the Cayman Islands were abused by â€Å"or ganized crime†, ? 1. 3billion total.The bank became the subject of a US senate investigation, and they dropped a 335 page report that accused the bank of ignoring all of the warning and safeguards that should have stopped the laundering of money from Mexico, Iran and Syria. In December they agreed on a settlement to pay a penalty of ? 1. 2 billion that would further scorch their already diminished reputation. With the settlement of the fee, comes the bank admitting to violating US laws meant to prohibit money laundering including the Bank Secrecy Act and the Trading with the Enemy Act.When presented with the 335 page senate report, the head of HSBC’s compliance division, David Bagley, quit in front of the Senate committee. Being at his post since 2002, one can understand why he resigned when pressed with these concerns. He felt guilty being with the bank for so long and did not want to take responsibility for the actions and accusations of the bank. The affair is also a n embarrassment for David Cameron, because his trade envoy Stephen Green chaired HSBC during the period covered by the allegations.Lord (Barron) Green is probably the person most to blame for these disregards for policy on money laundering and regulations. He was the chief executive and the executive chairman of HSBC. Being a trade minister, it was his duty to ensure that the issues brought to the senate’s attention would be regulated for legality concerns. In failing to successfully do so, the fault of the accusations falls on his lap. The regulators of money laundering actively, domestically, and internationally are the countries of the FATF. Forming in 1989, the FATF has 3 primary functions with regard to money laundering.These 3 functions are monitoring member’s implementation of anit-money laundering measures, review and report trends and techniques of laundering, and promote standards globally. Combined with a unified effort within these countries, the US being o ne of the main ones, money laundering activities will be noted quickly before large scale transactions may go through unnoticed and through the means of illegal activities. The US promotes the most laws against these sorts of offensives. HSBC needs to come to a complete â€Å"retake†.All historical transactions, accounts, and services need to be reviewed and mended to meet the golden standard of banking that they have held themselves to ever since becoming the primary bank of Europe. With the removal and replacement of key executive level positions, they may bring in new, fresh minds and with that comes a new approach to the regulating of the activities of the bank. In short, re-staffing the bank with new executives over the previous ones shows the public that the bank takes serious note to what has happened and a serious effort to mend and fix it. Shipman, T. & Davies, R. (2012, July 7). Hsbc let drug gangs launder millions: First barclays, now britain. Retrieved from http:/ /www. dailymail. co. uk/news/article-2174785/HSBC-scandal-Britains-biggest-bank-let-drug-gangs-launder-millions–faces-640million-fine. html (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. guardian. co. uk/business/2012/dec/10/standard-chartered-settle-iran-sanctions Yost, P. , & Pylas, P. (2012, December 11). Hsbc to pay $1. 9 billion to settle money-laundering scandal. Retrieved from http://www. salon. com/2012/12/11/hsbc_to_pay_1_9bn_to_settle_money_laundering_scandal/

Forced Marriage Essay

Forced marriage is a crime in Australia, and is punishable by up to seven years in prison. Under Commonwealth law a forced marriage is one where a person gets married without fully and freely consenting because they have been coerced, threatened or deceived. A person can be coerced through obvious means such as force, detention or duress, or through more subtle means like psychological oppression, abuse of power or taking advantage of the person’s vulnerability. The crime of forced marriage can apply: to all victims, regardless of their age or gender, to legally recognised marriages, as well as cultural and religious ceremonies and registered relationships, To marriages that occur in Australia (including where a person was brought to Australia to get married), as well as where a person is taken overseas to get married. Forced marriage is not limited to any particular cultural group, religion or ethnicity, and there are reports of forced marriage from all over the world. While the majority of reported victims are young women and girls, men and boys can also be victims of forced marriage. According to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, forced Marriage falls under article 16 – http://www.claiminghumanrights.org/udhr_article_16.html UDHR Article 16 states that 1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. 2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. 3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State. Media Article one: Girl Kidnapped for Forced Marriage. Suffer Rising Crime in India Teenage girl, Rupsona was walking home from school when three men kidnapped her at knifepoint near her village in the Indian state of West Bengal. They forced her into a car and transported her across the country to a man who had paid $800 for a bride. Rupsona said she was forced to marry the man and abused by him for 14 months until she was  rescued. In India, cultural preferences for a son have helped fuel a growing gender divide, which has led to an increase in the number of women being kidnapped and forced into wedlock I choose this article to show a real life situation of forced marriage, and the harsh reality that it involves. Legal Responses. The Legal Responses to this issue involves amending the Commonwealth Criminal Code to recognise forced marriage as a serious form of exploitation and a crime. Under the Criminal Code, the forced marriage offences carry a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment, or seven years’ imprisonment for an aggravated offence. An offence may be aggravated in several circumstances—including where the victim is under the age of eighteen. *Arranged marriages are not captured by these offences In February 2013, the Australian Parliament passed the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Act 2013 (Slavery Act), which then further amended the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995 (Criminal Code) to recognise forced marriage as a serious form of exploitation and a crime. The Australian Government is actively working in consultation with stakeholders to improve community awareness on forced marriage issues. This includes developing a communications awareness strategy on human trafficking and slavery. As part of this strategy, the Australian Government will develop a series of awareness materials on early and forced marriage—including materials written in relevant community languages. The government is also working in line with community investors to raise awareness of forced marriage issues with religious and civil celebrants, migrant and legal resource centers, domestic violence services, child support agencies—as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Article 23 of the ICCPR states that 1. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state. 2. The right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found a family shall be  recognised. 3. No marriage shall be entered into without the free and full consent of the intending spouses. 4. States parties to the present covenant shall take appropriate steps to ensure equality of rights and responsibilities of spouses as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. In the case of dissolution, provision shall be made for the necessary protection of any children. Non-Legal Responses. Non-government organisations work to promote and enforce coverage of the forced marriage issue. For example NGO SACH (Struggle for Change) is an organisation, which run a major awareness campaign. They run workshops and create social justice for communities. The Forced Marriage Unit worked closely with NGOs (NGO SACH) and community groups to increase the protection and support available to victims of forced marriage. For example, in November NGO SACH provided funding for the development of a range of social media projects including web pages, text messaging and smartphone applications to raise awareness and support peer mentors. Evaluation of Legal and Non-Legal Responses. The responses to Forced Marriage are highly affective in some areas and are lacking effectiveness in others; meaning the responses have made forced marriage more of a known issue, but have not completely stopped the issue. It is evident in many other human right violation issues as well as forced marriage that just because the violation is illegal doesn’t completely abolish it from happening. The legal and Non-legal responses create highly accessible and understandable knowledge for the wider community creating the highly affective overall response. Without these responses forced marriage would not be an evident issue and it would be ignored, creating more human right breeches and an increase in un-wanted physical and pressured relationships. 1 in 9 girls are forced into a marriage by the age of 15. Media Article 2 – Too young to wed: Indian girls say no to forced marriage This Article refers to the breakthrough of children being pressured standing up for their rights. It explains Keshanta and Laali were 13 years old when their families pushed them together to get married. Laali Bairwa, 15, isn’t sure just yet what she wants to be when she grows up. But she, like her  classmates in a rural part of Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan, is certain she doesn’t want to be a child bride. This article reflects education preventing the forced marriage. This article reflects the changing values and morals of society. I chose this article to show the effects of the legal and non-legal responses. Overall Effectiveness. Organisations of legal and non-legal responses work together unknowingly to create awareness of the Human Rights Violations. This further proves an effective response to the issues and supports an overall idea to prevent forced marriage in the future. Media Article 3 – Forced marriage ruins the lives of too many girls, so we’re working to end it This article doesn’t focus on a particular occurrence of forced marriage, rather it talks about the statistics and problems faced by each affected individual. Girls who are forced into marriage are often trapped in poverty with no means to lift themselves out. These girls are robbed of an education, vulnerable to death in childbirth and at a greater risk of domestic violence. The article states, â€Å"The good news is that some countries are making progress on reducing child marriage, but progress is slow. Ending child marriage will take time and requires unstinting commitment at community, national and international level. The UN is playing its part but we need others to join so that the rights of millions of girls are no longer violated.† I again chose this article to reflect the overall changes of societies views and reactions to forced marriage. The article shows that even though the issue of forced marriage is still occurring, the responses to the issue are growing in a much more positive way. Overall Conclusion: Forced marriage is evident within the world and in Australia. A marriage is seen as forced when there is undue pressure to wed causing psychological pressure. It is stated under the UDHR Article 16, which explains equal rights and consent of a marriage. There are many legal responses, which build together amendments, furthering the knowledge of forced marriage and stating it as a serious exploitation and crime. Legal Responses also fall under Article 23 of the ICCPR. Bibliography http://www.claiminghumanrights.org/udhr_article_16.html (Accessed 19th March 2014) http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/10/forced-marriage-girls-lynne-featherstone (Accessed 19th March 2014) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-17/girls-kidnapped-for-forced-marriage-suffer-rising-crime-in-india.html (Accessed 19th March 2014) http://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/too-young-wed-indian-girls-say-no-forced-marriage-f8C11376237 (Accessed 19th March 2014) http://www.forcedmarriage.net/whatis.html (Accessed 20th March 2014) http://www.ashaforcedmarriage.org.uk/case-studies (Accessed 20th March 2014)

Gewirth's argument for natural human rights Speech or Presentation

Gewirth's argument for natural human rights - Speech or Presentation Example Gewirth argued against the claims that described basic human rights as 'excess baggage' and an unnecessary burden by claiming that every human being has and must have a basic human right to ensure their own well-being and that such right must be protected by law (Gewirth, 1986: p. 330). Gewirth strongly supported the granting of basic human rights to all individuals and claimed that individuals can rightfully claim such rights for their own well-being merely by virtue of being conscious agents and they also must grant similar rights to others based on the same principle. This argument was however a subject of criticism among other political scholars. Alisdair MacIntyre - a proponent of Aristotelian moral philosophy argued that Gewirth's argument of human rights as 'natural' was illogical and fictional in nature. Jack Donnell on the other hand supported the argument by stating that historically this principle was endorsed during the bourgeois revolution during the 17th and 18th centur ies and hence can be applicable in present day society as well (Tierney, 1997: p.2). 2. Set out the context of the author in question – their work and interests Alan Gewirth, is known for his impressive literary works and scholarly articles in the field of the natural law and political philosophy. He was a staunch believer and proponent of universal human rights. The publication of one of his most widely debated essays on Reason and Morality emphasized his views and ideologies on the concept of human rights as well as the principle of generic consistency whereby he stressed the significance and need for equality of rights for all individuals across the spectrum. Prior to the publication of this project he was focused on exploration and analysis of the works of other scholars such as the famous French philosopher Rene Descartes (Boylan, 1999: p.41; Gewirth, 1943: p. 17) and the political philosophy of Marsilius of Padua. Gewirth's theories and ideologies were inspired largely from the persistent chaos and mistreatment of human beings during wars and other conflicts that plagued the twentieth century (Moreno-Riano & Nederman, 2011: p. 335). Gewirth dedicated a significant part of his academic career at the University of Chicago which was known for its strong support for right-wing libertarianism. As a result several prominent libertarians including Eric Marc, Tribor Machan, Roger Pilon and the likes have used Gewirth's philosophy and take on human rights to endorse and support their own ideologies (The University of Chicago Chronicle, 2004; Brown, n.d.). His previous essays largely focused on a range of issues concerning human rights "Starvation and human rights"; "Can utilitarianism justify any moral rights?" and so on. His earlier works were aimed at exploring the policy issues and theoretical challenges confronting human rights. He also published comprehensive essays with elaborate responses to the critiques of his essays presenting a strong argument i n favour of equality of human rights; the freedom and rights of individuals to seek their well-being; and theories supporting rational justification (Donnelly, 1983: p. 476). 3. Summarise the relevant content and

Expectancy theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Expectancy theory - Essay Example Secondly, possession of skills required for a job also plays a fundamental role. Thirdly, having support required to accomplish a job contributes to the entire process. Instrumentality is the opinion that if a person performs well, then the individual receives a value outcome as well. A number of factors influence instrumentality. Firstly, knowledge of the relationship between performance and outcome influences the process. Secondly, it is necessary to completely trust and have confidence in the authorities that issue awards. Thirdly, one should believe that the process of issuing awards is transparent (Redmond 1). Valence refers to the value that an individual asserts to an outcome. Value associated with a specific outcome varies with individuals. For example, monetary tokens may not motivate individuals who value recognition. A manager’s mastery of the expectancy theory is significant at the work place. It enables them to assign employees reasonably challenging tasks that inspire self-confidence and intellectual development. Instrumentality can also be employed. Managers should strive to honor promises they make to workers as it increases followers ability to trust that a manager is capable.   Instrumentality stems from the belief that performance begets promised results. Finally, valence dictates that a leader should be able to see the value of an outcome from the followers’ perspective. The process guides him on the nature of reward them in a bid to motivate

Case study on Bestbuy from HBR Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

On Bestbuy from HBR - Case Study Example Problems continued to increase after a tornado hit the company in 1981 forcing Schulze to shift his strategic plan from services to discounted brands. Eventually, he ventured into superstores in 1983 and thus, rebranded the business Best Buy (2). Best Buy faces stiff competition both locally and globally from these chains necessitating it to initiate different strategies to cope with competition. The company partnered and acquired different businesses in a bid to expand its market share and product lines to increase its revenue base and gain the competitive advantage over the rival firm Wal-Mart. The company acquired Pacific Sales Kitchen, partnered with Carphone Warehouse, Dell, Apple, Napster Inc., Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co. among much other business in the U.S., Europe, Canada and China (5). Conversely, due to competition and the changing market environment, the company has experienced fluctuating revenues and net profits. For instance, in 2009 due to pressure from rivals, the company’s operating profits declined to $2.0 billion up from $2.2 billion in 2008, despite a growth in sales. Similarly, in the fiscal year 2012, the company’s stock closed at $24.70 up from $ 56.86-year-end close in 2006 resulting in approximately 55% loss in market capitalization (1). The electronics industry is a competitive market with some of the world’s well-established retail chains and superstores such as Wal-Mart. This has resulted in Best Buy losing its market share gradually to online retailers such as Amazon and discounters (1). Best Buy can leverage from greater international expansion, The Company has penetrated international markets over the years through partnerships and acquisitions of other businesses, which has enabled it to open new stores in these markets.

Helping doing my essay, argumentative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Helping doing my , argumentative - Essay Example will discuss some of the ways in which social media addiction is exhibited, some of the reasons for why it happens, and some of the means by which individuals have come to realize and seek help with regards this particular addiction. However, it is the hope of this author that the reader will gain a more full and complete understanding of the means by which social media addiction is exhibited within an environment and the overall applications at this rather new level of personal addiction means with regards to society, interpersonal relations, studies, and work. Above all, before delving deeply into the subject matter, it must be understood by the reader that social media has experienced a great growth and differentiation from its earliest days. This of course stands to reason due to the fact that social media is ultimately an exhibition of technology which in an of itself grows and develops at a rapid rate. Without seeking to pick specifically on any particular platform of social media, one can of course see this growth and development exhibited within the means by which Facebook was originally intended merely as a means of linking individuals together. However, the definition and means by which this was affected has common to be seen as something of a shift (LaRose & Eastin, 2003). Comparatively, exhibitions such as twitter and other social networking sites now place the interconnectedness and friendship dynamics of individuals upon a secondary level of importance; choosing instead to focus upon the means by which seemingly endless status updates and tracking of activities/interests can be relayed within the community itself. In summary, although it is not the intention of this author to point to the fact that social networking is in and of itself negative, it must be noted that this particular shift has been described has necessarily increased the overall level of the addictive nature and addictive tendencies that are exhibited within its usage. All in all,

The company man Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The company man - Essay Example Phil got along well with those working for him, some of whom the company may consider for his replacement. Upon his demise, Phil left his wife Hellen, who the author describes as a lovely woman having no necessary skills for work. She gave up working and resorted to taking care of the children. However, Hellen seems less bothered by Phil’s death because, to her, Phil was married to his work but not her. The surviving sons of Phil seem to have no connection with him before his death. The eldest son searches information about his father’s nature from the neighbors and the answer he gets â€Å"his dad was an embarrassment.† Phil’s girl uses to view him mockingly and choose to live near her mom. The youngest son was Phil’s favorite. At his funeral, the company president describes Phil as hardworking and a difficult man to replace. Just the evening after his funeral, the president was already organizing Phil’s replacement. The story is ironical in that it depicts Phil as hardworking yet the same work made him alienated from his family and social life. Ideally, â€Å"The company man,† is a story that illustrates the actual nature of corporate

The Persuasive Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Persuasive Research Paper - Essay Example Others, however, praised the decision of the committee terming it as a timely and accurate. In as much as critics hinted several reasons to support their position, it remains indisputable that the honor was a service granted at the right time to the president. The inventor of this priceless tribute granted to Nobel peace prize holders was Alfred Nobel. The respect was a courtesy offered to reputable people who pledge for and work to restore fraternity among world nations. It is noteworthy that critics of Obama’s recognition consider that the president, by 2009, had insignificant achievement in creating fraternity among nations. They hint at the short service time that the president had, by then, and find it inadmissible to grant honor to the president for that. This argument is remains illogical when used to disapprove the honor granted to the president in 2009. Foreign policy debates were among the president’s promises during his campaigns before his assumption of powe r. Restoring admirable relationship among world countries is unattainable without the art of conviction and deliberation. Among the greatest investments, that the president made to obtain power, was his superb articulation and conviction to boost the country’s foreign relations. ... Critics should detach the consideration of the short time of service from their argument since the president’s foreign relations debate was promising long before assumption of office. Critics against the honor highlight several nominees of the prize who were unsuccessful but, in their opinion, deserved the recognition. Critics point at icons as Joseph Stalin whose nominations in 1945 and 1948 received objection by the committee. Efforts by Stalin to create peace in the world by ending the second war were plausible enough, in the opinion of these critics, to attract the honor. In addition, critics to Obama’s honor attribute his youthful recognition of the president and cast doubts on the committee’s decision. The fact that Obama gained the recognition on his first nomination makes the critics to believe that it was untimely. These claims, however, remain illogical from several perspectives. Advocating for peace among world states is a commitment that does not come with age but an ideology. Alfred Nobel attributed to peace as the most invaluable benefit that humankind would attain in life. That turned to be his ideology and the reason for the respect since his death in 1896. As a reminder to critics of the honor, as ideology is collection of doctrines that find basis on political, social or any other area of knowledge. It is a reflection of the social or political demands of the people pledging for it. There is no relationship between the age, of a society or an individual, and an ideology. Peace qualifies to be among the most recognizable political ideologies, globally, and that is incontrovertible. Arguing that Obama was youthful to receive the honor, therefore, is undeniably wrong and inconsiderate. There are success stories of young economists, politicians,

Thrmodynamecs Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Thrmodynamecs - Coursework Example The coolant that is in liquid form gets into the expansion valve is shown by 1. There is a sudden decline in pressure that causes the liquid to expand cool and vaporize into gas as it advances to the inner compartment of the fridge. There is a round pipe buried at the back wall of the fridge through which the liquid passes, and this chiller cabinet serves an important role of absorbing heat from the food inside the compartments. This is true according Kelvin-Planck law that states that heat transfer occurs from a region of high temperature to the region of low temperature. This law accounts for limitations of the first law of thermodynamics for failing to give the direction of heat flow. The part labeled 3 represents the compressor whose purpose is to convert the coolant into a hot high-pressure gas. This compressor squeezes the coolant raising its temperature and pressure (Serway, Faughn, & Vuille, 2009). The coolant passes through thin radiator pipes at the back of the fridge repre sented by the part labeled 4. In this radiators, most of the heat in the fluid is given out and cools back into a liquid as it advances to the next level. It is equally important to notice that Kelvin-Planck law requires that heat transfer should occur from a warmer to a cooler environment. The liquid then passes through an insulated cabinet to the expansion valve back to the reservoir, and the whole process repeats over and again. Eventually, all the heat in the compartments containing food or beverages is completely extracted resulting to temperatures that are too low for invasion of bacteria that causes decomposition of food (Serway, Faughn, & Vuille, 2009). The objective of a refrigerator is to remove heat from a cold medium. On the other hand, the objective of the heat pumps is to take energy from a cold source. Then transfer it to a hot source for purposes of raising the temperature of the part or

Hate Crimes and the Homosexual Community Essay Example for Free

Hate Crimes and the Homosexual Community Essay Abstract In this paper I am talking about Hate crimes against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. I show that though Hate crimes are classified as crimes that are evoked by sexual orientation, race, identity, gender, or religion. Hate crimes are more common amongst the gay and transgender men. I show states with highest conviction rate in 2012. I also show the upward incline in numbers since 2005 until now. I offer explanations as to who commits these crimes and why. Lastly I show the progression of time and how prejudice and hate crimes although upward in numbers are really being accepted in our communities. Hate crimes and the Homosexual community After the Civil war the Government passed the first Hate crime Law in America. Recently, in 2009 sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability were added to the categories covered by the law. According to ( Stotzer,2012) these crimes are more common among homosexual men and the transgendered community, because most hate crimes are committed by heterosexual men. Even though lesbian women are victims of hate crimes, statistics show that hate crimes are more common among homosexual men and the transgendered community, because heterosexual men commit most hate crimes (Stotzer, 2012). Studies also find that twenty in 200,000 lesbians, gay men and bisexuals reported being victims of hate crimes. 52 in 200,000 gay men reported being victims of hate crimes. Yet only twenty in 200,000 reported being victims of hate crimes. Hate Crimes against Homosexual and Transgendered â€Å"There were 15,351 anti-homosexual hate crime offenses during 2002-2011†. (Potok, 2012, para. #). According to the (Intelligence Report, winter 2010, Issue Number: 140. The numbers show that gay men are two times more likely  to suffer a violent hate crime attack than Jews. Gays are 3 times more likely to be attacked than blacks, and five times more likely than Muslims. FBI reports say that hate crimes against gay men have been on the rise since 2005. Violent hate crimes against LGBT people grew by 48 percent from 2005 until 2011. In 2010 Census.gov shows that half of all hate crimes were based on sexual orientation bias (Census.Gov, 2010). In 2011 reports show that there were 26 transgendered murders reported in the USA alone. In 2010 the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey in USA found that approximately 75% of sexual-orientation related hate crimes were of a violent nature.(Stozer, 2010) Physiological Research on Straight Men Who Kill or Physically Harm Homosexuals Mison (year) states that [a] murderous personal reaction toward gay men should be considered an irrational and idiosyncratic characteristic of the defendant and should not be allowed to bolster the alleged reasonableness of the defendants act(Dressler, 1995, p.4). Helena L. Alden and Karen F. Parker also state â€Å"that homophobia and gender stratification directly influences the incidents of hate crime victimization† (Alden, Parker, 2004). People who commit hate crimes are not limited to but mostly are Caucasian lower-class men who commit the crimes for fun or simply in resentment toward a certain group (Comstock 1991: 60-62; McDevitt and Levin 1993). Studies say that most men who commit these crimes have no physiological defects or problems. This means that these men are committing these hate crimes knowing exactly what they are doing. These studies ultimately prove that the victim is not at fault for the attack. These crimes are being committed out of sheer hate, hence the name â€Å"Hate crimes†. Examples of Hate Crimes against Homosexuals Matthew Shepard In 1998 the sad and horrifying murder of Matthew Shepard woke people up to just how serious hate crimes are getting. Matthew Shepard was only 21 years old. He was first robbed, then beaten within inches of his life and left for dead by two men. The two men told shepherd they were Homosexual and wanted to hang out with him. Matthew went with them and was led to a desert where he was beat to death. They did not charge the men with a hate crime;  therefore it kept them from receiving the maximum punishment. Following the attention and emotion evoked by Matthew Shepard’s death People’s eyes begin to open, both in the public and in the political office. 11 years after Matthew’s murder Obama passed an act to include sexual orientation, identity and gender. In honor of Mathew this act was named after him and James Byrd Jr. The Act is the first federal law to extend legal protections to transgender persons (James, 1998). Gwen Araujo Gwen Araujo – born Edward â€Å"Eddie† Araujo was a pre-operative transgender teen. Eddie was born as a boy and began living life as a girl at the age of 14. Her name was legally changed to Gwen Amber Rose Araujo two years after her death. In the early hours of Oct. 4, 2002, Gwen was killed by a group of men in her hometown of Newark, California then buried in a homemade grave after they found out she was born male. The men were convicted of second-degree murder in connection to the killing of Gwen Araujo who was beaten, tied up and strangled, according to previous media reports. (Heinrich, 2006) States That Have Highest Rate of Hate Crimes against Homosexuals New York and California are the two states with the highest anti-gay hate crime rates.in 2011 in California a three fourths of hate crimes were motivated by the sexual orientation of the victims. The majority of hate crime reported in that category targeted gay men. â€Å"These crimes continue to disproportionately affect LGBT people of color,† (Marroquin, 2012, p. #). The second highest state is New York with a percentage of 19.6 in 2010 and 39.4 in 2011. (Lovett, 2011). In 2011, the most common reported types of bias motivation in hate crime incidents involved: race/ ethnicity religion, and sexual orientation leading at 40.6 percent.(Lovett,2011). Incidents with a sexual orientation bias increased 15 percent, from 119 in 2010 to 167 in 2011 (Lovett,2012). Consequences of hate crimes and conviction rates Haider (2001) states that â€Å"Hate crime policy implementation is shaped by the support and efforts of officers, the tractability of the problem, the support of police leaders, and the presence of state hate crime policies, police resources, and public opinion.†(p.1). The Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990 required the U.S. Department of Justice to collect data on incidence  of hate crimes. This Act was passed by Bush in 1990. As a response to the murders of Matthew Shepard president Obama passed the most recent act in 2009. This Bill helps protect the LGBT community against hate crimes. Hate crime laws seems to be good but due to lack of enforcement a lot has still gone undone. There are still many hate crimes unsolved as well as unreported. Numbers have not gone down but, they have gone up. (Parfaite-Claude, 2012). Conviction Rates are shockingly low. According the Attorney General’s Report, only 51% of cases filed as â€Å"Hate Crimes† result in Convictions . Conclusion In conclusion, No matter what state you are in the statistics say that anti-gay hate crimes are leading in numbers. Sadly, Crime against persons is number one. Second is crime against Property. What must be taken into consideration is that more than half of anti- gay hate crimes are not reported, Due to fear, pride, or embarrassment. Although America has come a Long way with its hate crime laws and convictions, something more must be done. The enforcers of the law must do their jobs and remain loyal to their promises to their communities. In effect the people will feel more protected, which will in turn help them to feel more comfortable in reporting crimes. The key to overcoming hate crimes is to overcome hate. References Gay men more likely victims of hate crimes. (2012, May 23). Windy City Times Altschiller, D. (2009). Hate crimes: V.1: Understanding and defining hate crime; v.2: The consequences of hate crime; v.3: The victims of hate crime; v.4: Hate crime offenders; v.5: Responding to hate crime. Choice, 46(12), 2418-2418. Brownworth, V. A. (1992, Hate crimes: Confronting violence against lesbians and gay men. Lambda Book Report, 3, 34-34. Coker, C. T. (2011). Hope-fulfilling or effectively chilling? reconciling the hate crimes prevention act with the first amendment. Vanderbilt Law Review, 64(1), 271-299 Dressler, J. (1995). When heterosexual men kill homosexual men: Reflections of provocation law, sexual advances, and the reasonable man standard. Journal of Criminal Law Criminology, 85(3), 726-726. Fernandez, J. M. (1991). Bringing Hate Crime into Focus-The Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-275. Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, 26(1), 33. Haider-Markel, D. P. (2001). Implementing Controversial Policy: results from a national survey of law enforcement department activity on hate crime. Justice Research and Policy, 3(1), 29-62. Herdt, G. (1995). The protection of gay and lesbian youth hate crimes: The rising tide of bigotry and bloodshed by jack levin and jack McDevitt / violence against lesbians and gay men by gary david comstock. Harvard Educational Review, 65(2), 315-315 Herek, G. M. (2000). The psychology of sexual prejudice. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9(1), 19-22. Heidenreich, L. (2006). LEARNING FROM THE DEATH OF GWEN ARAUJO?—Transphobic Racial Subordination and Queer Latina Survival in the Twenty-First Century. Chicana/Latina Studies, 50-86. Hoffman, S. W. (2011). Last night, I prayed to matthew: Matthew shepard, homosexuality, and popular martyrdom in contemporary america. Religion and American Culture : R AC, 21(1), 121-164. Lampinen, T. M., PhD., Chan , K., Anema, A., Miller, M. L., R.N., Schilder, A. J., Schechter, Martin T,M.D., PhD., . . . Strathdee, S. A., PhD. (2008). Incidence of and risk factors for sexual orientation-related physical assault among young men who have sex with men. American Journal of Public Health, Mariana Marroquin(2011), L.A. Gay Lesbian Center’s Anti-Violence Project. Martin, S. E. (1995). A cross-burning is not just an arson: Police social construction of hate crimes in baltimore county. Criminology, 33(3), 303-30398(6), 1028-35 Morin, S. F. (1977). Heterosexual bias in psychological research on lesbianism and male homosexuality. American Psychologist, 32(8), 629. Nadine, R. R., Davison, G. C. (2002). Articulated thoughts about antigay hate crimes. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 26(4), 431-447. Nolan,James J., I.,II, Akiyama, Y., Berhanu, S. (2002). The hate crime statistics act of 1990: Developing a method for measuring the occurrence of hate violence. The American Behavioral Scientist, 46( 1), 136-153. Parfaite-Claude, D. (2012). Gay-bashing, interrupted: the effects of the presence of state hate crime statutes on the prevalence of hate crimes against gay individuals. Stotzer, R. L. (2008). Gender identity and hate crimes: Violence against transgender people in los angeles county. Sexuality Research Social Policy, 5(1), 43-52. Stotzer, R. L. (2010). Sexual orientation-based hate crimes on campus: The impact of policy on reporting rates. Sexuality Research Social Policy, 7(3), 147-154 Tejeda, M. J. (2004). Egalitarianism and self-esteem as correlates of hate ideation against gay men and lesbians. Journal of Multicultural Nursing Health, 10(1), 42-50 Wilson, M. S., Ruback, R. B. (2003). Hate crimes in pennsylvania, 1984-99: Case characteristics and police responses*. Justice Quarterly : JQ, 20(2), 373-398

What Is Disturbance In The Natural Environment Environmental Sciences Essay

What Is Disturbance In The Natural Environment Environmental Sciences Essay Disturbance can involve any factor which disrupts ecosystem function by altering environmental conditions (wiki). The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) states that in order to optimise local species diversity, ecological disturbance must occur at a moderate frequency (wiki). Disturbance can vary in severity, occur at several temporal and spatial scales and be a result of natural or anthropogenic events (www.nature). Natural disturbance (e.g. fires, floods, volcanic eruptions) often prevents populations from reaching their carrying capacity (Wiens 1984; DeAngelis Waterhouse 1987; Pickett et al. 1992 Ecol theory). Anthropogenic disturbance ,however, has a larger detrimental impact on habitat. In the past, the influence of humans on ecosystems has been limited; yet modern impacts have more recently accelerated in gravity and range (wiki). Anthropogenic disturbance can change and damage habitat, alter ecological function and increase the probability of invasive species (invasive Holzner et al. 1983; Mills et al. 1994). Invasive species can cause local species extinction as well as preventing native species from being re-established (Simberloff 1990; Vitousek 1990). Once settled, the removal of these species is often challenging, as they are less affected by competition or predation than native species (ecol theory). Anthropogenic activities can also alter natural disturbance events (e.g. flood p revention methods, control of wildfires; www.nature). The restoration of disturbance regimes may be crucial. Restoration projects should aim to instigate or accelerate recovery after a disturbance, or to re-establish natural disturbance cycles (www.nature). It is essential to determine the level of variability which is tolerated in restored systems (Duarte 1991; Li Reynolds 1994; Horne Schnieder 1995; Palmer Poff 1997; White Walker 1997) and to recognise and minimise the difference between natural and anthropogenic disturbance (wiki). Restored sites must be continually monitored and manipulated accordingly (ecol theory) so once a species has been established, the dimensions of natural disturbance regimes (size/intensity/ duration/seasonality etc) can be established (ecol theory). If this is not possible, restorationists should attempt to initiate deliberate disturbances which best replicate historical disturbances (wiki). It is also important to note that species cannot merely be reintroduced; the manner by which disturbances affect the sustainability of a restored community must also be taken into account (ecol theory). Succession Ecological succession is the progressive change in the composition and interactions of a community over time (Putnam 1994 ecol theory).   After a disturbance occurs, an ecosystem will have a fairly simple level of organisation (few dominant species)(wiki). Given time, the community will develop to be more complex (numerous interdependent species)(wiki). Restoration can occur passively or actively. Passive restoration allows succession to occur naturally, once the origin of disturbance has been eliminated (nature). Active restoration involves more human input. In mildly or moderately disturbed habitats, restorationists may try to increase the rate of natural succession. In other words, allow the community to develop in the same way as it would naturally, but assisting it to reach the final stage more quickly (ecol theory). However, in critically disturbed habitats, more concentrated efforts may be necessary and environmental conditions may need to be recreated to facilitate the processes of succession (wiki). Under these circumstances, restorationists may overlook early stages of succession in order to establish late successional species sooner (ecol theory). In some cases, underlying damage, such as soil damage, may also require restoration before the later stages of succession can begin (Whisenant 1999 ecol of rest). It has been found that succession theory is not always appropriate (Connell Slatyer 1977 ecol theory) Community patterns are often considerably unpredictable due to both disturbances and stochastic events (Fisher 1983; Levin 1989; Roughgarden 1989 ecol theory). As a result, successional theory has been deemed irrelevant in several systems (Roughgarden et al. 1987; Olafsson et al. 1994 ecol theory). Assuming it allows the prediction of community patterns, the knowledge of succession theory may be essential to restoration ecology (ecol theory). In systems with strong interactions between species and rare or highly predictable disturbances this has been found to be particularly true as community progression is principally ruled by local interactions (ecol theory). Species Interactions predation/herbivory/mutualism/competition/ Community Assembly Theory Landscape ecology The study of processes that occur across distinct landscapes and the abiotic and biotic responses to these processes is known as landscape ecology (Turner 1989 linking rest). The need for the study of landscape ecology has arisen due to anthropogenic alterations to habitats (Linking rest). Patch isolation, contiguity, size and shape (in terms of complexity) are all features which can be used to describe a landscape and these have all been found to have a large impact on both animal and plant populations (Turner Gardner 1990; Robbins Bell 1994 linking rest). According to the theory of island biogeography, populations are most likely to become extinct if a habitat is small and/or isolated from other populations. One of the assumptions of this theory states that the area between patches of habitat is both hostile and uniform. This theory assumes that the area between habitat patches (matrix) is both uniform and inhospitable. (Previous studies have suggested that the organisation of habitat types in a matrix can influence the movement of organisms and/or the role of landscapes (Gustafson Gardner 1996 linking rest).) Small and isolated habitats are also more susceptible to the detrimental effects of habitat fragmentation (nature). Habitat fragmentation occurs when a habitat becomes disconnected as a result of anthropogenic or natural events (nature). This causes the formation of small isolated patches of suitable habitat (nature). These habitats have a lower carrying capacity and have decreased species diversity and are therefore more vulnerable to inbreeding and local extinction (nature). As well as this, fragmentation increases the proportion of edge and decreases the gap between edges (nature). Edge effects may alter environmental factors, in turn affecting the flux of organisms and other substances across landscapes (Holland et al. 1991 and references within; Robinson et al. 1992). Systems are sometimes dependent on the flow of individuals between habitats. This sustains the community structure, implying that fragmentation can influence recruitment and therefore affect the resilience of commu nities (Palmer et al. 1997 linking rest). The role of restoration usually involves improving connectivity between patches by constructing or re-establishing links. This may be done with the use of corridors or stepping stones. Ecosystem Function Ecol of rest nutrient and energy fluxes are essential components of ecosystem function and stability at a range of spatial and temporal scales (Ehrenfeld Toth 1997; Aronson et al. 1998; Bedford 1999; Peterson Lipcius 2003). Ecosystem  function describes the foundational processes of natural systems, including nutrient cycles and energy fluxes. These processes are the most basic and essential components of ecosystems. An understanding of the full complexity and intricacies of these cycles is necessary to address any ecological processes that may be degraded. A functional ecosystem, that is completely self-perpetuating (i.e. no management required), is the ultimate goal of restorative efforts. Because these  ecosystem  functions are  emergent properties  of the system as a whole, monitoring and management are crucial for the long-term stability of an ecosystem.

Symbols of Alienation and Loneliness Essay -- Literary Analysis, John

Symbols of Loneliness and Alienation According to DiYanni, Symbols in fiction are simply objects, actions, or even events that convey meaning. The meaning they convey extends beyond their literal significance, beyond their more obvious actual reason for being included in the story (Literature 95). In â€Å"The Chrysanthemums,† John Steinbeck reveals the theme of loneliness and alienation of a woman from her husband through his symbolic use of a realistic setting, character, tinker, chrysanthemums, and conversations. In â€Å"The Chrysanthemums,† Steinbeck paints a vivid picture of Salinas Valley’s landscape and climate to reflect the gloomy mood of the main character Elisa. The introduction of the story conveys a disturbing separation of Salina Valley from the rest of the world. Just as â€Å"the high grey-flannel fog of winter [closes] off Salinas Valley from †¦ the rest of the world† so is Elisa isolated from Harry. Similarly, the â€Å"fog and rain† foreshadows the estranged relationship that exists between Elisa and Harry (Steinbeck 192). Elisa is a thirty-five year old â€Å"handsome† wife who lives on a ranch with her husband Harry. At the beginning of the story, little interaction is demonstrated between the couple, except for glances Elisa casts â€Å"across the yard [to see] Henry, her husband, [talk] to two men in business suits† he is trying to sell some property to without the knowledge of his wife (193). It is evident Elisa feels lonely so she channels all her time, energy and love towards raising her â€Å"chrysanthemums† in her â€Å"wire fence† garden. Not only does the â€Å"wire fence† protect Elisa’s â€Å"flower garden† from â€Å"cattle and dogs and chicken† but it also serves as a barrier between Elisa and Harry and removes every opportunity from the couple to... ...o be opened for any eventualities. And for Elisa every lingering hope for a passionate and nurturing relationship with Harry is a fiasco as she realizes that the â€Å"glowing† the â€Å"tinker† leaves behind is just a figment of her imagination. Her inner passion may never be released around Harry but will be â€Å"strong† in her garden as she pours it all out on her â€Å"chrysanthemums† (197). So she requests for a â€Å"wine† in a tone that is devoid of affection between the couple. Elisa probably hopes that when she wakes up after the drink wears off everything will be a dream. Indeed John Steinbeck’s â€Å"Chrysanthemums† is a symbolic demonstration of the loneliness and alienation that continues to plague many relationships leading to unsatisfied marriages. By using a realistic setting and typical characters Steinbeck makes the story relevant to many generations to come.

Animal Abuse In Todays World Essay example -- essays research papers

Rabbits immobilized in wooden stocks with ulcers in their eyes, baby seals being clubbed over the head, and the infamous shock treatment. Surely you have all witnessed footage of one or all of the aforementioned practices and were appalled by the cruelty. Appalled yes, willing to stand up and voice your thoughts... not often. There is one significant reason for this unwillingness by most to stand up for the rights of our fellow inhabitants of this planet, personal convenience. We are systematically cutting down the last forest that provides their shelter to farm cattle; we dump toxic chemicals and sewage into the waters in which they live; we wear the tusks of the last few of their species on our arms, and we pour cosmetic products into their eyes, rectums or vaginas to determine the harmful effects they might cause on humans, even though the physiological differences between humans and the animals they use are drastic. On a daily basis most people do not see their own degree of unintentional support towards this global dilemma, but hopefully after I am finished here today you too will question how mankind can, with conscience, commit these acts which shame us as human beings. Animals possess the same kinds of feelings and emotions as human beings, and without anesthesia, they are subjected to the pain as well. Mankind often fails to give animals the respect and rights they deserve, they are treated as lifeless, unfeeling scientific specimens: items that we may manipulate at our own convenience, for vanity’s sake. Laboratory research involving animals is cruel and merciless treatment of helpless creatures. No law requires that cosmetics and household products be tested on animals. Nevertheless, by six o'clock this evening, hundreds of animals will have had their eyes, skin or gastrointestinal systems unnecessarily burned or destroyed. Two of the most famous animal tests are the Draize, or eye irritancy test and the LD50, Lethal Dose 50. The Draize test is performed almost exclusively on albino rabbits, such as the Florida White, because they are cheap, docile, and are not "equipped" with tear ducts to wash away the chemicals. During t his test the rabbits are immobilized in a stock with only their head protruding, a solid or liquid is then placed in the lower lid of one of its eyes; subs... ...n-animal methods become a high-priority. Proven, that mankind often disregards the rights of other living beings, times are changing for the better due to the increasing pressure of the consumer. Society has begun to take notice of this pressing global concern because intelligent life should not be subjected to this form of torture. It has been estimated that animal experimentation world-wide has decreased by 30-50% in the last 15-20 years, due to the reduction and replacement of techniques. From the theory of evolution and the immergence of man, humans have to understand that this planet is not only ours, but the animals as well. Albert Einstein once said, "Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." In essence, the way to live a healthy and fulfilled life is to embrace and respect all life present on this planet. There are a number of things that mankind can do to prevent this cruelty from continuing, it is sim ply a matter of taking the initiative to inform and involve yourself and others. Every individual effort is a step towards the annihilation of animal cruelty.

Othello :: essays research papers

Without Trust, Love Cannot Prevail   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Trust can be defined as assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something (Webster’s 1246). In life many people are faced with the decision on who or who not to trust, especially in the realm of love. Trust is one of the main factors needed to determine a healthy, loving relationship. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the main character Othello is unable to trust his new bride Desdemona. In act one, scene three, Desdemona professes her love for Othello in front of her father, as well as the court. Regardless of Desdemona’s professed love for Othello, Othello fails to see her honest love and becomes blind of her devotion for her husband, when he should have had trust. Since Othello failed to have confidence in himself, when it pertained to love, he failed to have confidence in his wife and marriage, which led Othello to not trust his new bride. In society today lack of trust in one’s partner is able t o ruin a good relationship just as Othello did with his new marriage. Trust is a key factor in a healthy relationship, without it love is unable to prevail.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In act one, scene three, Othello calls in his new bride to allow her to speak on behalf of their relationship. Without hesitation Desdemona speaks on behalf of herself and her love for her husband.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"That I (did) love the Moor to live with him   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My downright violence and storm of fortunes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  May trumpet to the world. My heart’s subduded   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even to the very quality of my lord.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I saw Othello’s Visage in his mind,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And To his honors and his Valiant parts   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Did I my soul and Fortunes consecrate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A moth of peace, and he go to the war,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The rites for why I love him are bereft me   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And I a heavy interim shall support   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By his dear absence. Let me go with him.† (Shakespeare 45, line 283-293). Desdemona professed her love for Othello in front of her father and the court. By doing so she reinforced the fact that no magic or mystical powers were used and she explained how she went with Othello freely, by doing so she redefines her own status as Othello’s wife (Calderwood 29). By confessing her love, Desdemona is presenting to Othello her faithfulness to him because she is allowing all of them (those in the court) to know about her love, which should allow Othello to see her love for him is real and that he is able trust her and love her.

Administration of a Staffing System

The type of staffing organization can vary greatly from one company to another. How the staffing function is structured depends on the company's size, type, strategy, budget, and staffing needs. In small organizations, all staffing may be handled by the owner or general manager. In mid-sized organizations, one or more HR generalists may be responsible for handling staffing along with a variety of HR duties. In large organizations, complex staffing departments with dedicated professionals may be created to handle extensive staffing needs. Other key decisions include the option of having a centralized or decentralized staffing function (discussed previously in this course) or whether to outsource some or all staffing functions. The establishment of written policies and procedures to manage the staffing system is extremely important in the process. Established guidelines help to keep the staffing system operating according to the staffing strategy. When there are clear, consistent policies and procedures to follow, the intent of the staffing function is clear. This keeps everyone playing by the same rules with the same focus in mind. The selection, implementation, and administration of staffing system technology is another important aspect. There are many types of technology available to help make the staffing function more efficient and effective. The careful consideration of staffing related technology can help ease the administrative burden of this HR function. The decision to outsource some or all staffing functions, and the management of the outsourced functions is a key factor in staffing. Outsourcing some or all staffing related functions may be appropriate for some organizations. It can be a good business decision, but must be managed properly to ensure that the goals of the organization are met and the quality of staffing is maintained. Recordkeeping and reporting, auditing, addressing privacy and other legal concerns regarding staffing is important. One of the most overlooked, but most important, areas within staffing involves proper and efficient recordkeeping and reporting of activities.

Introduction of the bachelor and master system Essay

Globalization and liberalization are two factors that greatly impact on the potential that nations have for generating value. Of the numerous dynamics that affect the society in the current operational environment, globalization comes up as the most influential due to the effect that it has on nearly all sectors of the modern economies (Neal 129). With increase in interaction between different communities a need for standardization has developed due to difference in standards and approaches that are employed across different societies (Lee 43). Electronic standard, wireless protocols, international courts and trading blocks have all come up as a result of the need to standardize approaches that the current societies use. The European which is the largest trading block globally has also come to terms with the fact that there is need for standardization especially in the area of higher education thus the Bologna accord (Loosvelt and Gysen 163). However, the effect of standardization of higher education is viewed differently with some claiming that it impacts positively on the education standards in Europe while some positing to the fact that it could reduce flexibility and therefore relevance of the education system to individual societies (Alesi and RosznyaI, 396). This study employs the aid of existing researches and theories to explore the effects of the Bologna process including its advantage on both employers and employees with the aim of seeking to develop a clear picture of its implication and areas that may need further address to ensure that Europe optimizes gains in its educational and social systems. The Bologna Process The main motivation to the Bologna accord was to ensure increased compatibility of higher education standards across Europe (Van Biesen and Rahier 222). The naming of the Bologna process follows directly from the Italian city in which it was signed (Dobren’kova 46). Though 29 nations were the initial signatories to the process, the number has increased with time. The signing of the Bologna process is considered the end process of numerous processes notably in Germany and Western Europe universities that were aimed at harmonization of the architecture or systems that is used in higher education (Lindblom-Ylanne and Hamalainen 161). Nearly all members of the council of Europe are signatories to the accord through there are nations that despite applying were denied a position to be in the process. The basic approach that is employed by the Bologna process employs three stages or cycles of higher education qualification. The main defining factors of the Bologna process are the qualification and ECTS credits. Bachelor’s degree, masters and doctoral degrees are some of the key variables that are considered under qualification. Most nations in Europe employ the 3-2-3 year cycle to ensure completions of the three levels in higher education as per the Bologna accord (Malan 295). Though the actual naming of the degree course may vary from one nation to the other, an academic year is standardized to 60 ECTS credits (Pusztai and Szabo 102). There is a clear correlation between this new system and the approaches that are employed in North America and even in Japan with many researchers and educators stating that this may be the way forward with respect to global education (Becker 265). A noticeable change that is a result of the Bologna process is more emphasis being awarded to practical training and even research projects. This is in line with developments in education that have generally been geared towards adoption of approaches that are more practice oriented. The credits being a measure of the input that students have in their education is reflective of not just the overall cognitive abilities but also presentation skills (Patricio and Engelsen 601) innovation, hours spent studying and even general skills (Tauch 277). Many education experts are of the view that this development brings educations closer to the society and requirements in practice where theoretical and practical skills are all important in ensuring efficiency and improvement of the nature of practice. The main issues that the Bologna process sought to address arise from responsibility in higher education, governance, research, values, changes in the nature of society and increase in complexity that institutions and organizations face which has led to high qualification needs. With the implementations of the Bologna process educations is provided with higher flexibility that makes it easier for students to move from one institution to the other within Europe (Berner and Richter 251). Other benefits that have come up as result of the Bologna process include increased attractiveness of higher education in Europe, a broader higher education framework that places emphasis on quality and advancement of knowledge base and an increase in the levels of convergence between US and Europe with respect to higher education standards which increases the scope of education and its absorption of European students into mainstream job markets. Like all change processes the Bologna process was criticized from some quarters with some being of the view that the framework adopted favored the UK especially England and Ireland while presenting numerous difficulties to continental Europe nations (Vogel 133). Economic and Academic Background Higher education like all other systems in the current society is affected by increase in cost of operations. Many educators are of the view that the basic factor that underpins a number of plans developed by the EU is economic consideration and this is reflected in the Bologna process. Researchers and education theorists are of the view that the Bologna process is aimed at enlarging the higher education system in Europe with the aim of cutting down on cost and therefore ensuring a Europe wide standardization (Beertsen 107). The changes are cited as being in line strategies that have been proposed by the WTO and GATS in education that have generally been aimed at minimizing and even eliminating the control that political systems have over higher education. The academic aspect is considered central to the numerous differential viewpoints that have been developed of the role of the Bologna process in ensuring that educational goals are met (Moshkin 10). In fact nearly all controversies that surround the Bologna process have their basis on the academic and social impact of the Bologna process rather than the impact that it could have on economies. Continental Europe nations mainly employ a model that was inspired by the German educational system where a clear difference existed between vocational and academic training (Ash 264). This system from the upgrades that it has received was viewed as counter-productive thus the adoption of a system that is in line with the English. The main areas that were of concern under such an educational system which was employed by a majority of continental Europe nations is the fact that vocational training was not developed with the aim of further studies. Masters level education was a minimum level requirement in some fields for instance engineering which limited the applicability of Bachelors level education in some fields (Chuchalin 200). Moreover, the continental approach to Bachelors degree did not prepare the students for employment rather it was aimed at preparing them for master’s level education. This reduced the skills that such students had and the level of efficiency that they display in the workforce. Despite the disparity in level of skills that Bachelors level student displayed with respect to their ability to manage workforce issues, they were awarded the same title as engineers. One of the key implications of the Bologna process is therefore an urgent need for steps that are aimed at harmonization of professional bodies which requires revaluation and in some cases change in qualification (Hibbert 34). Moreover a number of key assumptions that have been made by the Bologna process have been under spotlight for instance 60 ECTS per year requirement is based on the assumption that 1500-1800 hours will be available in a year which presents a complexity in its implementation if it is considered that it does not standardize semesters. Other critics claim that some courses were just redefined with no change in course content or requirement which due to ECTS requirements effectively implies additional demand with little gain (Sanz and van der 34). These are some of the key issues that have been highlighted as being central to controversies surrounding the objectivity in implementation of the Bologna process. However, the fact that it is being employed and nations seek being signatories implies that an understanding of the benefits is critical in determining the areas that it could be lacking in and therefore the development that can be incorporated to ensure that the society gains for it is the future of European education. Implication on Selected Educational Systems A review of selected educational systems shows that the implications of the Bologna accord have had differential effects across Europe. The Finish system of higher education was least affected by the implementation of the Bologna accord. The major changes are the inclusion of engineering and military programs into masters and bachelors systems and increase in adoption of English as the main language. A course that has basically remained the same as it was before the adoption of the Bologna accord is medicine which still runs on a five years program (Cooper 259). The Italian system was based on award of a degree after the first three years of undergraduate level education that had no value in the market unless one went ahead and finished graduate level course has changed considerably. A three plus two year system has been adopted though there are some exceptions to the structure of â€Å"Nuovo ordinamento† (Kilic 319). Medicine and some areas of science have not changed and place a requirement of up to six years of undergraduate level education before one can proceed to master’s level. In UK the implication of the Bologna accord differs with the nations. The educational systems in England, Scotland and Wales display some significant differences due to the nature of their formulation. The England system though relaying some similarities to the Italian system is fundamentally different from others in Europe (Georgantopoulou 13). In Wales it was possible for a student straight from high school to undertake a program that would lead to attainment of a master’s degree without having to undergo undergraduate level education. The Scottish system which is one of a kind due to the flexibility that it offers lower level educational stakeholders like school heads to formulate curricula was also affected considerably. Under the Bologna accord all this systems can actively seek educational goals and students can easily transfer from one institution to the other without having to worry about the grade that he has attained and even difficulty in integrating into the new system. There is no doubt that the Bologna accord has played an important role in convergence of standards that are used in higher level education which is an important factor in ensuring that the role of the EU in ensuring labor mobility is attained. Employers Advantages Pro Bologna Reform activists are generally of the view that it is the best development that has happened in Europe’s educational systems for a long time (Stallmann 24). This is the same view that is held by computing enthusiasts on the level of development that computing has attained due to the standardization of protocols. Standardization is generally perceived as an avenue through which development within any industry can be molded in a manner that increases the level of interrelationship between existing systems. A melange of degree titles defined the higher education systems in Europe before the implementation of the Bologna accord. The effects of the confused state on European employees were high due to the effect of EU policies that were seeking economic integration (Rauhvargers 341). Employers found it hard to develop an objective measure that could be used in determining the potential of job seekers by objectively assessing their academic credentials. Under such an environment the benefits that European nations sought through economic integration and ensuring workforce mobility was reduced. Business and management education is one of the areas that have been affected by the Bologna accord. Globally employers and HR executives were becoming more confused with the bachelor, Lauren and Diplomkaufmann titles that were held by jobseekers (Verhesschen and Verburgh 134). Complexity in assessing the potential of a job applicant is further brought out if the array of master’s degree programs that were offered is considered. The effects of the Bologna accord are numerous and impact on not just the educational systems or employers but also governments (Sanz 141). Countries that have employed the Bologna accord are more likely to partake in the benefits that it offers especially with respect to reducing the recurring costs of higher education. Moreover, the quality and competitive degree programs that are offered under the Bologna accord present such nations with an edge with respect to attracting students into their institutions. Such students may play a role in ensuring overall development in host nations. The benefits that the Bologna accord present with respect to predictable educational budget, fixed course durations, predictable enrolment and graduation rates which aid in budgeting and educational planning and shorter graduate study will play a role in ensuring that the span of productivity is increased (Giuliano 103). The introduction of shorter masters degree level courses that is pushed for by the Bologna Accord will play an important role in ensuring that education in Europe is compatible to standards that are being employed in other nations. In a global environment where commercialization of education is widespread the international students that pay considerably higher than their domestic counterparts will pave a way for the education systems to gain more revenues. However, a number of issues arise relating the specific details in implementing the strategies. Language is a key issue that has been central in discussions relating to success that can be attained in ensuring integration. Generally English being the most developed and popular language in global circles has been adopted by a number of masters programs. Relaxation of immigration and permit requirements has come up as one of the areas that governments must be wary of to ensure gains from the Bologna process (Griffin 98). Such a process must be carried out in tandem with simplifications of visa conversion from study to employment if Europe to gain the most out of the benefits presented by the Bologna accord. The nature of strategies and even systems that are employed by the education systems is affected by workforce requirements. Employer requirements are cited as critical factors in determining the curricular and even activities that are embedded into school systems especially at higher level of learning. Higher education strategies are highly dependent on the nature of requirements that they are placed on social systems (Sakari 179). Employees are cited as playing a key role in determining the level of success that can be attained in implementing the Bologna accord. Unless employers can actively seek and employ Bachelors level graduates then the value of this level of education will be lost across Europe. Researchers are of the view that though standardization has been achieved with the adoption of the Bologna accord by various stakeholders’ success in its implementations is highly dependent on collaboration between employers, instructors and evens students. Unless higher education seeks to develop critical lifelong learners the benefits that employers stand to gain from the Bologna accord are minimal. This is in line with the fact that employers having realized the role played by critical reflective skills spend consummate funds on development of interpersonal, leadership and communication skills (Widerberg 137). The key challenge that European educational institutions face in ensuring success with the aid of the Bologna accord is to provide students with high transformational potential that will ensure they are easily employed. As the Bologna accord takes root, many will seek graduate level education and therefore employers will be provided with a far much wider pool of experienced job seekers to choose from. This is one of the key goals that were sought in formulating the EU. Moreover, a clear description of the course presents a common approach to assessment that encompasses all areas that employers seek and aid in accurately determining the exact qualifications required for a given job title (Jaschke and Neidhardt 306). Employees have to take steps in ensuring that their requirements and overall HR departments are aware of the differing qualifications that are offered by institutions. Despite initiatives that have sought employment of Bachelors degree holders, it is generally believed that master’s level education will continue being a key prerequisite for entry into mainstream employment (Zgaga 253). However, most researchers are of the view that this condition can be reversed with the input of the public sector which is in fact the largest employer in all European nations. If the public sector seeks bachelor’s level education then there is a high likelihood that other employers with follow suit which will aid in ensuring Bologna accord goals are attained. With time and maturity of the job market, both bachelors and graduate job seekers will be effectively absorbed into the job market thus increased workforce availability. Another benefit that employers stand to gain from business oriented degrees is their ability to offer a platform upon which bachelors degree holders from other fields can seek further studies in business related subjects (Labi A36). Such a process leads to graduates who have diversified skills that are relevant to global operational environment. It is important to note that experience has been highlighted as one of the factors that greatly determines the pay and even suitability of an employee irrespective of the level of education that one has attained. Employees The Bologna accord is considered a platform upon which students are presented with new opportunities that they can effectively use in sidelining the long cycle to seeking graduate level education into stages with increase in platform upon which they can seek further education. Increased student mobility associated with the accord is likely to present the platform upon which employees can seek further their careers. The choice though complicated offers students with the opportunity to either continues with their education or seek employment after undergraduate level which presents a wider platform for decision making. This is further complicated by the multitude of courses that students have in choosing the course or areas of specialization at graduate level. This is likely to lead to an increase in the levels of diversity that is displayed by employees which may directly translate to increase in the level of competition in the job market or reduced competition depending on the qualification that a employees display (Konjic and Sarajlic 219). The Bologna accord is also cited as being a catalyst to increased academic activities across Europe. Employees are under increased pressure to ensure that they update their skills and acquire multiple skills to develop in their areas of professionalism. Another area that employees are likely to benefit from is applicability of their skills. A factor that has for a long time been central to the difficulties that students and even employees face in making the most out of the freedom that they are presented by the EU is language barrier and the differential systems that were used across Europe (Sandstrom 61). The Bologna accord presents a standardized education system that predominantly uses English as the main mode of transmission thus increased availability of jobs in even areas that were least accessed due to language barriers. Another area that the Bologna accord has impacted on is decision making. Most employers often consider their jobs as their source of livelihood. Decision making as one of the most important variable that determine the direction that one’s life will take is complicated by the number of options that one has (Augusti 258). The Bologna accord presented employees and students with multiple options on which to base their professional development each of which impact directly in the quality of education that they can attain. Having such a large basis presents complexity in decision making which may even lead to the development of firms that seeks to guide professionals into their career paths. This is an example of a development and even complexity that is presented with standardization of education across Europe. Employers awareness There is a large potential that has been presented to European employees with respect to seeking suitable candidates by the Bologna accord (Adelman 11). However, surveys across Europe show that the level of awareness that employers have of the potential that is presented by the Bologna accord is low (Jung-Eun 36). Generally the low level of awareness that employers have of the accord is a worrying situation considering the role that employers have to play in ensuring that its goals are attained. Numerous independent studies have shown that up to 64% of employers are unaware of the existence of Bologna process in the UK (Shearman 177). The same trends are observed in Finland with a far much grim picture painted in Italy where up to 80% of the employers are not aware of the existence of the Bologna process (Guth 331). These statistics paint a grim situation and a clear need for politicians and policy makers to work round the clock to ensure that the state is corrected failure to which the potential benefits that could be attained with the implementation of the accord may never be experienced. A far worse picture is created if research findings on employers that are informed on the internal details of the accord are considered. Basically less than 5% of all employers in Europe are aware of the details relating to the implementation of the accord and the implications that it could have on the nature of the job market (Salzer 656). Awareness is first developing on this poor state in implementation of the accord and has led to a number of taskforces and even researches that have sought to determine corrective measures that can be put in place to ensure that the initial goals of the accord are driven at (Wex 76). The measures not only seek to raise the levels of awareness that employers have of the Bologna accord but are also aimed at devising systems and means through which employers can reduce their transaction costs when seeking new employees (Burnett 287). A systematic exchange of information between parties that are involved in the Bologna accord is one of the recommendations that have been developed to aid address the worrying situation. Sharing experiences between students has also been cited as a possible avenue to ensuring that future employers are aware of the benefits presented by the Bologna accord in the higher education framework in Europe (Witte and van der Wende 217). Increased involvement of employers and career advisers by developing information packages that are targeted at this audience is one of the directions that can be sought in ensuring that career goals are accurately sought. Analysis A deeper analysis of the Bologna accord shows that it has implications that may be further than the current economic effect that it is assessed under. The EU as an economic system is an important factor in determining the level of efficiency that can be attained with the application of the accord and is a critical reference point with respect to its effect on the political, social and organizational systems (Veiga and Amaral 61). From the discussions it is apparent that though the freedom that is presented by the EU in terms of movement serves as an effective platform for the Bologna accord, there are several policy issues that are yet to be addressed that would ensure ease of movement and even transformation of students into active workforce. The effects of globalization and an improved information system together present an effective platform upon which students from different cultural backgrounds can easily interact to ensure gain from the education system (Karran 7). Though there have been some resistance to the implementation of the accord the levels of adoption that it has received is reflective of the growing appreciation of its relevance in consideration of the nature of the modern society. Multiculturalism is fast developing within Europe which presents a suitable avenue to ensuring ease in accessing employees of different background. This diversity that is presented to employers is cited as being a critical ingredient to generating value in competitive business segments (Sall and Ndjaye 47). However, an understanding of the complexity that is associated with management of diversity has to be developed for any value to be generated. Though diversity is associated with generation of value, an understanding of how it can effectively be managed is important in ensuring that this benefit is gained. In general there are a number of strengths and benefits that are associated with the Bologna accord. One of the notable threats is the erosion of the level of awareness that curricula have to issues that are of interest to a particular society (Gaston 17). The implementation of the Bologna accord is based on the assumption that the effects of globalization in Europe is high to the extent that Europe can be considered a single society that is faced with similar educational challenges. The reality is that Europe is diverse and made up of both developed and developing nations that have different needs and are of different perception on what can be considered an effective higher educational system. Recommendations Though the goals and even theory beneath the implementation of the Bologna accord are noble, practical implementation issues pose a threat to the achievement of its objectives. Creating awareness among employees and developing further avenues for employment are some of the issues that have to be addressed in seeking its goals. Incorporation of other nations in the EU is also important in ensuring that overall development of the EU as a region is attained (Petit and Foriers 16). More research ought to be conducted on avenues that can be used in ensuring that challenges that are unique to communities are accurately addressed failure to which the role of higher education in ensuring address of social and even communal issues may be lost. Works Cited Adelman, Clifford. â€Å"Accountability â€Å"Light†: Our Version Is Going the Way of the Dollar vs. the Euro†. Liberal Education, 94. 4(2008): 6-13. Alesi, Bettina and RosznyaI, Christina. â€Å"The Implementation of Bachelor and Master Programmes in Hungary†. European Journal of Education, 42. 3(2007): 395-409. Ash, Mitchell. â€Å"Bachelor of What, Master of Whom? The Humboldt Myth and Historical Transformations of Higher Education in German-Speaking Europe and the US†. European Journal of Education, 41. 2(2006): 245-267. 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Research Paper on Renewable Energy Essay

Research Paper In March 2011, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake hit the pacific coast of Japan, generating up to 133ft tall tsunami waves, which obliterated everything up to 6 mi. inland. According to the NPA (National Police Agency) of Japan, 24, 656 people were affected by this catastrophe, which include the deceased, injured, and missing. The tsunami also affected three of the six nuclear reactors of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant causing leakage of radioactive material. Many workers and even civilians worked hard to contain the harmful material for it to stop contamination in other areas, but it already spread. A The Associated Press news writer states, â€Å"The massive amount of radioactive water is among the most pressing issues affecting the cleanup process, which is expected to take decades. There have been other leaks of contaminated water at the plant, and some of it is entering the sea.† Today, the radioactive material has spread out and covered almost all of the Pacific Ocean, harmi ng wild life and contaminating our food. Why do governments and corporations make and allow this technology to be used if it can contaminate our world and us? There are better and more beneficial sources for renewable energy other than nuclear power. Technology has advanced tremendously in the past hundred years. We have created massive destruction weapons, medical equipment, electronics, Internet, etc. I would consider renewable energy sources to fall into this list. Some renewable energy sources would be solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity, and nuclear power. There has been much debate between whether nuclear power should be considered a renewable energy source or not. Some people argue it shouldn’t since â€Å"it produces harmful waste byproducts and relies on extractive industries to procure fuel like uranium† (Kanter). Unlike nuclear power, other renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, don’t radiate harmful material to our environment. Then there are others who argue it should be considered a renewable resource. New York Times journalist indicates, â€Å"pro-nuclear officials from countries including France have been trying to brand the technology as renewable, on the grounds that it p roduces little or no greenhouse gases† (Kanter). I personally do not consider nuclear power a renewable resource. The use of both nuclear and renewable  energy has expanded largely compared to what it was 50 years ago. Most countries like USA, France, and Russia use nuclear power to produce most of their electricity. Countries like Norway, Iceland, and Paraguay mostly use renewable energy sources to produce their electricity and they notice the great impact this technology does towards the reduction of CO2 in our atmosphere. 90% of Paraguay’s electricity is provided from the Itaipu dam. The dam removes 67.5 million tons of CO2 a year. Iceland’s electricity supply is 100% renewable energy and its sources are both geothermal and hydropower. There is so much geothermal capacity that there is discussion about whether or not an interconnector can be built into the UK grid. Norway’s top three sources of electricity are hydroelectric, geothermal, and wind sources. Norway serves the export market by selling their renewable energy to other countries since they only use 24% of 98% g enerating capacity. These are countries that are making a change in the environment. Solar power is being used very much today. Most of the housed in LA, California have some sort of solar panel. Houses are getting their own little renewable energy machine that saves the household money each month, since most don’t even pay electrical bills from excessive energy. When I found out about this, I told my stepfather we should research on getting solar panels for our house. The cost for solar panels varies from 3,000 – 5,000 for 12 panels. The cost of the panels plus the installation would be too much for most people; that’s why solar paneled houses are rarely seen. Trying to be eco-friendly isn’t cheap. People are recently realizing that we have been getting our planet contaminated all these years and that we have to do something about it now. Flyers, ads, and people are telling us we need to stop littering and recycle to clean and care for our planet. Those things do help, but I think there are worse things our planet is being exposed to than just trash. Nuclear power plants, that we created, are being used for energy all over the world and we are not thinking about the repercussions they might bring. We are gambling with our sensitive planet and our lives. What if something like Fukushima happens again, and even worse, what if it happens like in Chernobyl? Do we as the human race want to take that chance? What could this do to our health? The author of â€Å"Nuclear Power is Not the Answer† states, â€Å"no dose of radiation is safe, and all radiation is cumulative. Each dose received adds to the risk of developing  cancer or mutating genes in the reproductive cells† (Caldicott, 44). Caldicott also thinks, â€Å"80% of cancers that we see are caused by environmental factors, whereas only 20% are inherited† (Caldicott, 44). All governments and all corporations around the world need to put a stop to harmful material being created and exposed. It needs to be stopped not only for our plant, but also for our lives and health. We will destroy our planet if we keep creating things like nuclear power plants. Are we going to wait for an earthquake, hurricane, or even terrorist attack to happen for us to realize the negative effect nuclear power can cause? Some countries realize this and that is why they use 100% renewable energy from non-toxic sources and machinery like hydroelectricity, wind power, and solar power. Those harmful chemicals don’t just hurt our planet, but they hurt our health as well. We need to realize what we are doing wrong and put a stop to it, before it’s too late for everything. There are better and more beneficial sources for renewable energy other than nuclear power. Works Cited â€Å"Damage Situation and Police Countermeasures associated with 2011 Tohoku district.† Chart. National Police Agency of Japan. Emergency Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters, 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. â€Å"Japan Nuclear Plant Suffers Worst Radioactive Water Leak.† The Associated Press (2013). CBC. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Kanter, James. â€Å"Is Nuclear Power Renewable?† New York Times. New York Times, 9 Nov. 2003. Web. 10 Apr. 2014 Caldicott, Helen. Nuclear Power is Not the Answer. Melbourne: The New Press, 2006. Print.