Development and Social Change Essay

â€Å"Although globalization made earlier appearances, the trend has unfolded with unprecedented speeds, and to unprecedented extents since the 1960s. † (SCHOLTE. 2000) This essay will explain how the forces of globalisation have shaped and will continue to shape, the financial, demographic, and political societies we see around us today. It will identify the extent to which sustained Globalization has â€Å"†¦ the crevice between poverty, comparative poverty, and luxury. † Such positive and negative attributes affect society on a number of different levels, â€Å"†¦ the individual, the household, the firm, the town, the region, the sector, the nation. † (Kaplinsky) This essay will provide and in-depth analysis and examples of how such global processes have worked to erode the fortunes of so many (Sierra Leone); whilst also being the catalyst for success in other areas (Mexico). (HELD. 2007) ‘The Race to the Bottom,’ is a term describing the intra-national contest for the most favourable environment for business trading, manufacture and investment. Following its successful application to join the World Trading Organisation (WTO) in November 2001, China has experienced a vast influx of foreign investment. This has – as expected – empowered the Chinese economy to the detriment of its former South-east Asian exporting partners. Hong Kong and Taiwan had nurtured the Chinese economy for a decade previously, and now find that their economies are being â€Å"†¦ hollowed out, as China sucks away jobs. † (CHAN. 2009) How did this happen? In the early 1990s China introduced its first minimum wage system with the intention of protecting its workforce. Due to the great versatility of China, the government came up with a formula (based upon local living costs; inflation etc. ) with which each city or region would publish and enforce its own minimum wage. The benchmark for all minimum wages set is between 40% and 60% of the average wage in that locality. Since 1993, according to a study by the Bureau of International Labour Affairs, almost all of the provincial governments have failed to maintain these standards – [see table 2]. Their desire to attract investment has forced the minimum wage : average wage percentage further down. Shenzhen, a model Chinese exports city, paid, on average, 10% less that the absolute minimum wage required by the government and international labour standards. Conversely, the city of Chongqing, which is not export-led or globally integrated, consistently achieves almost 10% more than its minimum required standards (49. 86% in 2000). Chan concludes a â€Å"worrying trend. † She suggests that; â€Å"†¦ as a region or province becomes more prosperous, it violates the national guidelines and seeks to maintain its attractiveness to foreign capital by keeping its minimum wage level low†¦ the benefits of globalisation with this competitive logic have not, and will not, trickle down to those who make the products. † (CHAN. 2009) The Human Development Report 2006-2008 uses Corrado Gini’s coefficient to highlight an increase in overall inequality from 0. 31 to 0. 45 during the initial years of reform. [Coefficient measures between 0 and 1 where 0 is complete equality]. (FACTSHEET. 2008) However, the benefits of neo-liberal economic reform in China seem to have had a positive effect on ‘Poverty. ’ Between 1990 and 2005 the influx of industry and trade bought a per capita growth averaging 8. 7%. Using the World Bank poverty line, (measured at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)) household surveys suggest that post 1981, 54% (500,000,000 people) of the population of China scrambled over the poverty line. (CHAN. 2009) In this sense, we must conclude that global economic integration in China has seen a significant reduction in poverty, but an increase in income inequality has come from overwhelming national development due to increasingly capitalist structures stemming from trade liberalization. What advocates of globalization emit is that two thirds of Chinese industry relies on coal, and just 7% of their energy sources are renewable. A report from the Financial Times found that air pollution in China caused by heavy industry and chemical production has led to the annual premature deaths of 400,000 (air quality); 300,000 (indoor air quality); and a further 60,000 due to poor water quality. (BBC. 2007) There is 1 country in the world where economic growth rate has consistently outpaced that of the Asian Tigers: Botswana (9% average annual growth). Botswana had a GDP per capita of just US$ 77 at independence from Britain (1966). It now stands at US$ 7,554 (GLOBAL PROPERTY. 2010). Kraay notes that; â€Å"A sustainable future in Africa rests on its ability to develop and maximise natural resources. Diamonds play a major role in these efforts. † Diamond extraction and production requires a large investment of initial capital. In the case of Botswana, DeBeers and the Government of Botswana invested 50:50 US$40 million in the Damtshaa mine. FDI in diamonds around Botswana accounts for 33% of GDP growth. Global trading and distribution of diamonds and other minerals accounted for 55% of total government revenues in the late 1990s. (MBENDI. 2009) â€Å"Botswana’s history of sound management, good governance [Botswana has an accountable parliament and holds regular democratic elections] and an emerging focus on enhancing regional competitiveness should serve it well as it continues efforts to diversify. † (WORLD BANK. 2009) So, to what extent can we propose Botswana as a model of how ‘Sustained Globalization’ can ‘Eliminate World Poverty? ’ Firstly it is important to note the income elasticity of diamonds and other such minerals. They are a luxury product and due to the current economic downturn, as real wages decrease, demand is likely to proportionally decrease also. Growth estimates for 2009-2010 predict a contraction of 10. 2%. It seems that over reliance on the global export market has forged vulnerabilities in an otherwise stable nation. However the non-mining private sector of Botswana has proved to have deep foundations, recording a 9. 4% market increase this year. Either way, prudent fiscal and taxation policy, and low level of public debt (3% of GDP) resulting from huge capital influx over the years, mean that national reserves are likely to hold out for the recession period. (MBENDI. 2009) Secondly, it is important to note (as was the case in China), that increase in GDP is not directly proportional to poverty decrease. The most deprived quintile share just 1% of GDP, whilst the second quintile accounts for 5. 9% (Gini coefficient 0. 6). This means that 47% of the population still live below the poverty line. Perhaps the capital gains still need more time to filter down through infrastructure development and reform? In 1966 there were just 3 miles of roads; now there are 4,000 miles, a public transportation system and a nation-wide telephone grid. (WORKMAN. 2006) Perhaps the figures are being distorted by the unstoppable force of HIV/AIDs and malaria that has hit Botswana so hard recently? It is impossible to say. What we can say, however, is that in order to reap the benefits of global trade in the long-term, Botswana must recognise the fragilities of basing their economy on an exhaustible and export-orientated resource. In 1991 the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under Froday Sankoh, launched assaults against the Government of Sierra Leone. Their goal was to combat ‘crime and corruption. ’ The ensuing 11-year conflict was funded throughout by revenues generated by the diamond trade (an estimated initial worth of US$ 125 million). A median estimate suggests the murder of 75,000 (USA Today and The Times). A less conservative opinion from the Agence France Presse believe the figure was nearer to 200,000. (WORLD BANK. 2009) Either way, the drain on capital, natural resources, labour demographic and widespread looting was funded by the global financial market and African integration with it. Capital obtained from ‘conflict diamonds’ was notably from consumerism in the global North. Following the end of the war in 2000, the country was exposed to anarchy and complete economic collapse. Drugs and arms trafficking in cocaine and ex-soviet weaponry was rife, and corrupt feudal political structures further intensified income inequality – Gini coefficient over 0. 6. In 2004 its trade deficit totalled $US 350 million. (FACTSHEET. 2005) In the same year the UN named Sierra Leone the poorest country in the world (based on PPP/capita); and â€Å"†¦ the worlds ‘least livable’ country, based on its poverty and the poor Quality of Life its citizens must endure. † (WORKMAN. 2006) Whose fault is it? Is it the greediness of the conflicting armies? Is it the presence of such a store of wealth in a poverty-stricken country with few other natural resources? Is it the emergence of a global market that has created cosmic demand for such commodities? Time will tell. What we can see is that again, (as was the case in China and Botswana) global financial demand caused a sharp increase in GDP of the country. In 1965 GPD in Sierra Leone was US$ 246; in 2000 it was US$1,330,429 – see Table. 3. We can also say that this does not in any way correlate to an increase in living standards or reduction in poverty. It represents a huge crack in the neo-liberal ideology and Shah’s suggestion that; â€Å"Sustained economic growth is the way to human progress. Economic globalisation in the form of freer circulation of capital would be beneficial to everyone. † (SHAH. 2009) This essay suggests that however trade and political systems are constructed, without complete socialism, conflict can, has, and will continue to peak at the emergence of valuable natural resources. We can also conclude that whilst globalization could â€Å"offer the best prospects for eliminating world poverty,† African history stands in the way of such an ideology. (Table 6) It is not, however, all doom and gloom for the globalization and poverty argument. Mexico in many ways lost the ‘Race to the bottom’ to China, but neo-liberal reform has played a vital role in the successful integration of the Mexican economy into the global manufacture and export market. Prior to the 1980s (and economic downturn), Mexican economics was characterised by protectionist policies, high tariffs and quotas, and restrictions to FDI. By 1981 choking fiscal profligacy and vulnerability to external conditions (notably the 1973 oil shock) caused an imbalance of payments and massive capital flight. This caused huge inflation and the worst recession since the 1930s, forcing devaluation of the Peso on numerous occasions and further recession. (SOMMER. 2008) The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) eliminated the almost all import and export taxes and infused a gradual fade-out of the majority of tariffs between Mexico, the US and Canada. Following initial success, (Table. 4) the government then furthered economic liberalization by implementing 11 free trade agreements with the EU, Japan, and countries in South and Central America. Table. 4 shows how Mexican commodities exported to the United States increases from US$39. 9 billion in 1993; to US$ 210. 8 billion in 2007 (437% increase). Over the same period GDP grew 46%. (SOMMER. 2008) The success of the Mexican model is based largely on efficiency and proximity. Maquiladoras are large manufacturing and export plants, the majority of which are located just south of the US border. There are around one million workers employed in any of the 3,000 clothing, furniture and electronic equipment factories. Their proximity to the US gains them a significant advantage in terms of lower indirect costs (90% of production is transported ‘North’ straightaway) than those of Asian Tigers and the Pacific Ring countries. (BORRAZ. 2007) In contrast to Sierra Leone and Botswana, GDP increase seems to have direct correlation with improvements in real wages; a negative correlation with income inequality; and an overall reduction in poverty. Evidence of its success is shown by a net decrease in Gini coefficient between 1992 and 2002 (Table 5). (FACTSHEET. 2005) Borraz shows that income is less concentrated and has a lower Gini coefficient in states that are more closely linked to the global economy. He suggests that states with stronger links to the world economy might offer proportionately higher wages to the unskilled workforce – in this case (young) women. Unskilled women in Mexico earn between 7% and 16% more than their counterparts in non-globalized or exporting states. Overall, in 2002, 7 out of 9 states in Mexico have seen a decrease in income inequality. (BORRAZ. 2007) Why then, has Mexico succeeded in reducing poverty, whilst Sierra Leone has not? According to Borraz there are two main reasons for Mexican success; 1. Commitment to universal education in the 1940s realized a significant increase in skilled labour and higher overall productivity – sustained GDP growth of 3-4% from 1940. Governmental organizations like PROGRESA have hugely enhanced school attendance rates and decreased child labour. In November 1999 PROGRESA strategies accounted for 82% of the 25% of boys who left work to choose basic or higher education. Thus it was inward looking development strategies prior to neo-liberal reform meant the basic infrastructures for rapid growth were already there. 2. Luck. On the verge of complete inward economic collapse, the discovery of the Cantarell oil fields in 1976 sustained an otherwise weakened and fluctuating Mexican economy. (BORRAZ. 2007) However, it is true that NAFTA and other trade liberalization schemes in the Americas have reduced income inequalities and increased real wages in Mexico – but at what cost? ; The violation of human rights of a million of underpaid (US$ 3. 40/day); overworked (up to 60 hours/week); underage (girls often start at 12 or 13) workers with minimum knowledge of their rights. â€Å"In 1987 a worker had to work 8 hours and 47 minutes to buy the basic food basket for a family of four. Today it takes 34 hours. † (CORPWATCH. 2009) The pollution of New River in Mexicali Valley [which runs into the Rio Grande] is now dumped with 130 million gallons of industrial waste each day. â€Å"According to the Texas Department of Health, since NAFTA went into effect the Hepatitis A rate for Cameron County shot up from 17. 8 per 100,000 residents to 87. 4 per 100,000 an increase of almost 400%. † (CORPWATCH. 2009) The Zapatistas have also suffered hugely from opening the agricultural market to mass produced US market-garden exports. Their anti-globalization ideology highlights that their inability to compete with mechanically harvested, artificially fertilized and genetically modified imports from the US. NAFTA also eliminated crop subsidies for Mexico while US farmers still receive them. The agrarian based society has directly suffered from a decrease in real wages and an increase in comparative poverty due to open trade. Further, â€Å"China [Page 2 & Table 1] has weakened the allure of Maquiladoras in recent years and some report that more than 500 plants have been closed since the beginning of the decade. † (SOMMER. 2009) Currently, the future of the Mexican economy is unknown. Sharp decreases in PEMEX oil production and the current financial crisis in the U. S. is revealing more weaknesses in the Mexican export strategy. (RANDEWICH. 2008) Conclusion Does â€Å"Sustained globalisation offers the best prospects for eliminating world poverty. † ? Firstly there is no confirmed method of effectively measuring either ‘Globalization’ or ‘Poverty. ’ One can not accurately judge the benefits/detrimental effects of globalization without a baseline measure for poverty. QOL indicators, the Gini coefficient, and GDP are subject to variations and outside influences that cannot be measured or corrected (E. g. measuring GDP in Kerala; or measuring the Gini coefficient of China). The Neo-liberal argument – that increased density of economic integration between countries will increase overall efficiency due to the specialization of resource use – is likely to be correct. The majority of trade liberalization cases show an overall increase in GDP. This cannot be taken further to suggest that it directly benefits those living in poverty. Further, in the case of Mexico and China, evidence suggests trade liberalization pits global forces against each other and with no weight divisions and no handicaps, smaller regions, towns, industries and households cannot be expected to win. â€Å"The eradication of global inequality requires much more than simply repeating the tired rhetoric of anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism or, even worse, marking globalization work for the poor. † (HELD. 2007) Claire Short’s White Paper (Title) fails to recognise this, suggesting 5 common elements to successful poverty reduction based around a neo-liberal framework: 1. Openness to trade and eagerness to attract FDI. 2. Political stability and competent governments committed to economic growth. 3. Savings and investment of at least 25% of national income. 4. Economic stability: controlled inflation and government budgeting; avoiding production collapse. 5. Market allocation of resources: minimal necessary government intervention. (DFID. 2006) Such claims can be considered naive. The DFID paper reads like a propaganda policy designed to gain electoral support. This essay suggests that there are only three conclusions that can be drawn. 1. That trade liberalization generally incurs an increase in international trade and GDP. 2. â€Å"Every international institution throughout history has been hierarchical and composed of dominant and subordinate states; there has never been, and in the future is never likely to be, an egalitarian and democratic international system. † (HELD. 2007) 3. â€Å"Globalization is in fast forward, and the world’s ability to understand and react to it is in slow motion. † (TURNER. 2003) Table 1 (WORLD BANK. 2009) (CHAN. 2009) Table 3. Estimated GDP Sierra Leone (WORLD BANK. 2009) TABLE. 4 (SOMMER. 2009) Table. 5 (CHAN. 2007) Table 6. (DFID. 2006) ABOUT. 2009. The History of Transportation [online] [Accessed 28th December 2009] Available from: http://inventors. about. com/library/inventors/bl_history_of_transportation. htm. ADELZADEH, A. 2008. Simulation Models of 5 African Economies. Designing Africa’s Poverty Strategies: Creating the Capacity for Policy Simulation. [online] [Accessed 3rd January 2010] Available from: http://models. wider. unu. edu/africa_web/input_login. php? class=bw_quickies&instance=quickies&country=bw

Lost Letters of Perganum

The Lost Letters of Perineum, describes a collection of fictional letters being exchanged between two fictional characters known as Antipasti and Luke. Antipasti is a benefactor from Rome, and Luke is a physician and author of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Luke is also the main person who Antipasti goes to throughout the novel for knowledge and answers to his many questions. The story is very well written and gives the reader an idea of what the first century Church was like.The letters also illustrate a vivid picture of Chrism's life and the effects his addict lifestyle had on the ancient culture. Antipasti, a self-established benefactor, resides from the cities of Tree and Caesar in Rome and is a worshipper of Jupiter and Culprits. Culprits, a nobleman from the city of Ephesus, went away when he suddenly lost his firstborn child. Due to his absence, Antipasti became quickly acquainted with Luke, whom was very wise and passionate about his beliefs in Jesus Christ.After An tipasti and Luke began writing to each other for a while, their conversations started to lean more towards the topic of spiritual matters and specifically towards Lake's decision to follow Jesus Christ and his works on Chrism's life. After much historical and spiritual discussion, the two moved to the topic of the gladiatorial events, in which people were slaughtered in front of hundreds of other people for entertainment. Antipasti was beginning to question the events and the morality of it all.As the two grew deeper into their spiritual conversation and Luke shared more of his views of Christ, Antipasti grew very curious. He began reading a narrative by Luke about Jesus Christ, and told Luke his thoughts and opinions about his work. Antipasti' curiosity soon led him to join a fellowship of Christians in his town led by a an named Notations. He met with the group regularly and saw what a huge effect Christ had on their modern culture. Antipasti grew to know more about Christ and bel ieved he was indeed the Son of God.His passion for him grew, and he knew that he should begin worshipping Christ and not Jupiter. As Antipasti' faith grew stronger he soon found himself protesting against the gladiatorial events. He discovered that his Christian brother, Demerits, was to be murdered and decided that he could not allow such an act to happen. Antipasti sacrificed himself for Demerits and was killed in his place by being earned alive. The reader knows that Antipasti sacrificed himself for what he believed in, all for the glory of God.I found it quite interesting that Antipasti had grown so passionate and loyal to the Christian religion in such a short time period. He made himself aware and educated and joined the other Christians in faith even though he knew they were highly unaccepted in their culture. He opened himself up to a new way of life and left behind his old beliefs that he stood by for years. Was amazing how Antipasti could grow so loyal to a religion he jus t learned of, than o one he had been worshipping most of his life.He grew so loving and faithful toward his new Christian beliefs that he was willing to die for another man and for a God he had just started to follow. Issues discussed in today's modern culture consists of many people believing that Christians are harassed for their beliefs and persecuted for their worships. However, whatever conflict they encounter today has no comparison to the effects of being Christian in the first century. Today there are many Christians but few who actually have a strong passion for the Gospel.There are thousands of people today who are proud to call themselves Christians, but would there still be as much if the consequences were still being beaten or murdered in front of a crowd? Does the passion of Christ lit inside of Antipasti still exist in any Christian today? Although the story was fictional, the portrayal of the first century was accurate. There were many people like Antipasti who were killed for standing up for their beliefs; perhaps the message here is for all modern day Christians to reevaluate the way they're following Christ, and to use Antipasti' passion and loyalty as an example to live by.

Most Common Behavioral Disorders of Childhood Essay

This makes ADHD a major health concern. Up to 60% of these children will continue to have symptoms into adulthood. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than a million children take prescription medicines to control hyperactive behavior. The estimated cost to schools is about 3 billion dollars. There are other ways of treating ADHD and throughout this study we will discuss how to treat ADHD as well as explore how ADHD affects youth. ADHD is not only over diagnosed, but it is often mis-diagnosed, according to a recent study out of Germany. According to this research, many child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychologists in Germany have a picture in their heads of what an â€Å"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder â€Å"child or teen looks like, or acts like, and then a child or teen that fits that picture gets the diagnosis. In this process actual diagnostic criterion takes a back seat to â€Å"experience† or â€Å"heuristics. † But does this mean that ADHD is being â€Å"over diagnosed† because of poor diagnostic criteria, or due to poor diagnostic tools? No. Rather the problem is in the lack of using either diagnostic criteria or diagnostic tools. The reason for â€Å"over diagnosis† of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is sloppy diagnostic workups by these professionals. But the study was a little sloppy too. It draws â€Å"real world† conclusions from â€Å"pretend† or â€Å"theoretical† situations. No one examined actual patients or even their charts. So how do they know that in the â€Å"real world† that ADHD is being over diagnosed? The answer is that they don’t. But they do have a better understanding of the process that busy professionals use in interpreting â€Å"case vignettes† that may or may not be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Abdekhodaie, April 2012) Introduction The main focus of this paper will be to examine ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and how it affects kids? I will also be exploring the cause of ADHD and what can be done to control this disorder without the use of medication. I predict that ADHD affects kids both mentally and physically. Mood swings are an emotional side effect of ADHD, affecting those of all ages with the condition. This symptom may prove hard to pinpoint, as changes in moods may also relate to stress or tense life situations, such as a divorce, moves and changes in school or jobs. Impulsivity is an emotional side effect of ADHD, which may cause individuals to become impatient and react inappropriately. Children with ADHD may receive discipline in school for blurting out comments and displaying seemingly rude behaviors. Anger is a normal human behavior. Individuals with ADHD, however, may have more trouble focusing on tasks and dealing with stress, which may cause frustration and heighten anger. (Martinez M, 2008) I predict that ADHD is not a result of bad parenting Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is not the result of â€Å"bad parenting† or obnoxious, willful defiance on the part of the child. Yes, a child may be willfully defiant whether he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or not. Defiance, rebelliousness, and selfishness are more often â€Å"moral† issues than neurological issues. We make no excuses for â€Å"immoral,† â€Å"selfish,† or â€Å"destructive† behaviors, whether from individuals with ADD ADHD or not. It may be true that the child or teen’s parents may need further or more in-depth training on parenting defiant children. We are constantly amazed at how many young parents today themselves grew up in homes where their own parents were gone all day. We now see â€Å"grown up latch key kids† trying to parent as best as they can, but without having had the benefit of growing up with good parental role models. This is a problem that can be solved with some training. But it is not Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD (Dawson, Catherine, 2002) I predict that ADHD can be controlled without medicine. If you or your children are struggling with ADHD, you need to understand that no matter how effective your medical treatment intervention might be, if you or your child is eating a bunch of junk – your symptoms from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will not improve! No treatment – no matter how powerful – can overcome eating junk foods. We have found that this ADHD Diet makes a huge difference with about 20% to 25% of those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder that try it even without using any other intervention. We strongly believe that whether one is using a medication such as Ritalin, or using a natural alternative such as Attend, that this type of eating program plays a big role in achieving success when used as a part of a treatment plan. Mentally Families considering treatment options should consult a qualified mental health professional for a complete review of their child’s behavioral issues and a treatment plan. Children with ADHD are often more emotionally immature than their non-ADHD counterparts. This can be very pronounced, with children being several years below the emotional level of their classmates or slight, with just a small difference noted. ADHD can often cause problems in social situations, diagnosed children may have a hard time making friends or relating to other children the same age. In addition to emotional immaturity, self-esteem can be an issue. A child with ADHD may feel â€Å"different† or isolated, creating a low self-esteem. Emotional disorders, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar are also common in people with ADHD. These problems are persistent and usually cause difficulties in one or more major life areas: home, school, work, or social relationships. Clinicians base their diagnosis on the presence of the core characteristics and the problems they cause. Not all children and youth have the same type of ADHD because the disorder varies among individuals. Some may be hyperactive. Others may be under-active. Physically Methylphenidate, more commonly known as Ritalin, can be used as part of a treatment program for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. According to Medline Plus, Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant and acts to change certain substances in the brain. Before you agree to give your child Ritalin, you should know how Ritalin affects physical development in children. As a stimulant, Ritalin can have an effect on the physical development of children. According to MayoClinic. com, stimulant medications may be associated with a lower growth rate in children. This growth slowing pertains to both a child’s height and weight. One common side effect of Ritalin is a loss of appetite, and this can even lead to weight loss while on the drug. According to Novartis, the manufacturer of Ritalin, children who take Ritalin seven days a week throughout the year showed a temporary slowing of growth. This growth did not rebound while on the drug, and was consistent throughout the three year period studied. Non-medical Control Studies show that a high-protein, low-sugar, no-additive diet combined with ADHD-friendly supplements like fish oil and zinc can drastically improve ADHD symptoms in children with no side effects. Good nutrition can make a significant difference in the lives of children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD). Many parents are eager to try foods and supplements to help their kids manage ADHD symptoms, but they often don’t know where to start. I have identified and addressed the concern. A concern is identified for which there is no ready answer. The concern has arisen because of an interest, and has been present for a long time. This is now a research problem. Every person can be a bit absent-minded, restless, fidgety, or impulsive. So why these same patterns of behavior are considered normal for some people and symptoms of a disorder in others? It’s partly a matter of degree. With ADHD, these behaviors occur far more than occasionally. They are the rule and not the exception. Unless a child understands his or her intellectual strengths and understands the potentially negative impacts of the ADHD, they may be confused by their inability to sustain success. Self-understanding (often aided by counseling) goes a long way in helping a person with this unique combination of traits and talents attain his or her fullest potential. Review of Related Literature (Background) Earlier studies point to the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to be similar around the world. There is, however, a wide variety in estimates. The prevalence of ADHD in youth has never been examined in France. Method: Starting with 18 million telephone numbers, 7,912 numbers are randomly selected. Among the 4,186 eligible families, 1,012 (24. 2%) are successfully recruited. A telephone interview is administered to all families about a child in the 6 to 12 age range. It covered family living situation, school performance, symptoms of ADHD, conduct disorder (CD), and oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD), and other features of ADHD. Results: The prevalence of ADHD in France is between 3. 5% and 5. 6%. The population prevalence of treatment for ADHD is 3. 5%. ADHD youth are more likely to be men than women, and, compared to non-ADHD children, ADHD children are more likely to have CD and ODD. Having ADHD is associated with a family history of the disorder. The ADHD youth are more likely to have had learning difficulties, to have repeated a grade, and to be functioning academically below grade level. (Lecendreux, August 2011) Father residency appears to share some relationship with symptoms of ADHD, but when symptoms reach the level for a clinical diagnosis, father residency appears to share little relationship with severity of symptoms of ADHD. (Sulak, 2012) The results of pair wise comparisons showed that children with a family history of ADHD performed significantly worse than those without family history in the time production tasks and the time reproduction task. Logistic regression analysis showed duration discrimination had a significant role in predicting whether the children were suffering from ADHD or not, while temporal processing had a significant role in predicting whether the ADHD children had a family history or not. (Huang, 2012) Methodology (Methods) Outline for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and how it affects kids? Research Process: 1. Formulating the Research Problem is the first and most crucial step in the research process. – Main function is to decide what you want to find out about. The way the problem is formulated determines almost every step after. Research in this study revolves around People and Problems: †¢ People- a group of individuals †¢ Problems- examine the existence of certain issues or problems relating to their lives; to ascertain attitude of a group of people towards ADHD 2. Extensive Literature Review: -Essential preliminary task in order to acquaint myself with the availab le body of knowledge in ADHD and how it affects kids. -Literature review is integral part of entire research process and makes valuable contribution to every operational step. Reviewing literature through the following functions: a. Bringing clarity and focus to the research problem; b. Improved methodology; c. Broaden my knowledge of ADHD; d. Contextualize my findings. 3. Developing the objectives; -Objectives are the goals I set out to attain in this study. -They inform a reader what is to be attained through the study. -It is extremely important to word them clearly and specifically. Objectives will be listed under two headings: a) Main objectives; b) Sub-objectives. 4. Preparing the Research Design including Sample Design; The preparation of research design, appropriate for a particular research problem, involves the consideration of the following: 1. Objectives of the research study. 2. Method of Data Collection to be adopted 3. Source of information—Sample Design 4. Tool for Data collection 5. Data Analysis– qualitative and quantitative 5. Collecting the Data; Having formulated the research problem, developed the study design, constructed a research instrument and selected a sample, now I will collect the data from which inferences and conclusions for the study will be drawn. Then I will conduct interviews, research journals, and make observations. 6. Analysis of Data; Processing and analyzing data involves a number of closely related operations which are performed with the purpose of summarizing the collected data and organizing these in a manner that they answer the research objectives. The Data Processing operations are: 1. Editing- examine the collected raw data to detect errors and omissions and to correct these when possible. 2. Classification- arranges data in groups or classes on the basis of common characteristics. 7. Generalization and Interpretation; It is useful in both academic reports and work-related reports to include a section which shows how the research can be continued. It is useful to include this section because it shows that you are aware of the wider picture and that you are not trying to cover up something which you feel may be lacking in your own work. 8. Preparation of the Report of Formal write ups of conclusions reached. Include in your discussion how you will determine the validity and reliability of data collection tools. (Creswell, J. W. (2005). ) Validity is essential in research data. The data must be, in fact, what they are believed or purported to be. In other words, did we actually measure what we intended to measure, based on the focus of our ADHD and its affect on children? Validity of data obtained from the administration of tests (quantitative data) has been determined through examining various sources of evidence. (Mertler, C. ;amp; Charles, C. 2011. ) Reliability, a second essential characteristic of data, refers not to authenticity but to consistency. If you administer a certain test repeatedly under identical circumstances but find that you get different results each time, you would conclude that the test is unreliable. If, however, you get similar results each time you administer the test, you would consider the results reliable and therefore potentially useful. In this research we conclude that our results are reliable and therefore potentially useful. (Mertler, C. ;amp; Charles, C. 2011. ) Conclusions and Recommendations The current study aimed to investigate Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and its affect on children grades k through 6. ADHD affects millions of people-some 3 to 5% of the general population. It covers how to manage ADHD with medication or without, what parents can do to help, and how to thrive with ADHD throughout the lifespan. It also offers effective academic and behavioral interventions for school, and helpful accommodations for the workplace. After several interviews with teachers currently dealing with students that have been diagnosed with ADHD, all agreed that most cases are mis-diagnosed and those students are placed on medicine without further examination. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is not the result of â€Å"bad parenting† or obnoxious, willful defiance on the part of the child. It is my recommendation that there be a more structured procedure that will not allow a child to be diagnosed with this disorder without additional psychiatric treatment. References Martinez M, et al. Psychopharmacology. In: Hales RE. Textbook of Psychiatry. Arlington, Va. : American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008. Plizska S. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology. 2007; 46:894. Abdekhodaie, Zahra; Tabatabaei, Seyed Mahmood; Gholizadeh, Mortaza,†The Investigation of ADHD Prevalence in Kindergarten Children in Northeast Iran and a Determination of the Criterion Validity of Conners’ Questionnaire via Clinical Interview†, Research in Developmental Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, v33 n2 p357-361 Mar-Apr 2012 Booster, Genery D. DuPaul, George J. ; Eiraldi, Ricardo; Power, Thomas J. , â€Å"Functional Impairments in Children with ADHD: Unique Effects of Age and Comorbid Status† Journal of Attention Disorders, v16 n3 p179-189 Apr 2012 Bruchmuller, Katrin; Margraf, Jurgen; Schneider, Silvia, â€Å"Is ADHD Diagnosed in Accord with Diagnostic Criteria? Over diagnosis a nd Influence of Client Gender on Diagnosis† Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, v80 n1 p128-138 Feb 2012 Creswell, J.

A Good Accounting practise is Vital to a Company's Success Research Proposal

A Good Accounting practise is Vital to a Company's Success - Research Proposal Example The key to the success of a business lies in the true accounting of the above elements in financial accounting. The public put trust on the transparency of the accounts and it will tell upon the good will of the company. If the accounting fails to meet the situations, the company will perish. Therefore, the qualitative characteristics of financial statements such as understandability, relevance, reliability and comparability should be enforced while preparing the financial accounting of a company. The qualitative characteristics will provide the necessary information to the creditors as well as the investors for keeping a watch on the performance of the company. This study is focused on the financial accounting practice related to a company with a very small investment. For a company instituted with a capital of â‚ ¤1000 the quantum of financial transaction will be very low. The labour management as well as the administrative costs will also be put to the minimum, accordingly. Here, the role and concern of the stakeholders are comparatively seen at the bottom level. The purpose of this research is to show that a good accounting practice is vital to the success of a company. In order to establish this, the different aspects of accounting practices are to be taken into consideration focusing on how a good accounting practice can be conceived and implemented, in the case of a small venture which has a very low capital and low labour cost. To achieve this, it is necessary to analyse the general principles and possibilities of a good accounting practice and the way how it is applied to a small concern towards maintaining its existence. In business, the entrepreneur is at stake because he has invested money to run the business. In big companies with large investment, the public may also put money in the capacity of share holders. This

Consumer Behaviour towards CO2 emissions from aircrafts Essay

Consumer Behaviour towards CO2 emissions from aircrafts - Essay Example But, studies stressing on the need to bring about social transformation as a likely and effective tool to combat the ongoing global environmental crisis, are rare. There is a global consensus on the measures that need to be implemented in order to achieve a substantial reduction in carbon emissions. Some of these measures point to increasing the use of environmentally friendly products which have lower carbon foot prints. If such a reduction is to be achieved, it would call for a major change in our lifestyles. This paper on Consumer behavior towards CO2 emissions from aircrafts seeks to stress on this very aspect and investigate and analyze the level and extent of awareness of UK consumers in relation to eco friendly modes of transport. Transportation plays a fundamental role in accelerating a countrys economic development; however, the transportation sector must adhere to the ethical aspects of their businesses by adopting and implementing policies that avert global environmental threats. The aviation industry alone, accounts for a 3% of carbon emissions. Considering the spurt in public spending on transport, particularly aviation, this percentage could rise significantly posing a major threat to the global environment. A fundamental goal of the firms operating in this industry, thus, must be to strive to reduce carbon emissions and seek greener and sustainable options. Currently, there has been a major transformation in consumer attitudes in the UK towards sustainable products and services and are increasingly demanding greener and eco friendly products. The market for eco friendly products has not only emerged but has come to dominate the industry over time. Surveys and researches conducted in this behalf furthe r substantiate this fact. The spurt in globalization has increased the importance of mobility but at the same time,

Leadership and Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Leadership and Management - Essay Example The company’s name is Sweet Nature Limited. Besides the Marketing department, the company had three other major departments: Finance department, Purchasing and Supply Chain department, and Human Resource department. In the department, I was a member of a certain group charged with the responsibility of making important decisions concerning sales and marketing. The group was under Bill, who was the Vice President, Mary, the Manager, Stella, Frank and I who were market researchers whereas Peter and Jane were public relation assistants. The table below delineates the responsibilities and attributes of each of the people in the group. ... ws with the media Chatty Experiences Friendly sociable Name :Peter Sex : Male Age :30 years Public relations Chooses the right form of advertising Media spokesman of the company Conduct interviews with the media Friendly Introverted Table 1: A table showing the names, age, exposition, duties and the basic attributes of each of the members in the Sales and Marketing decision making group At one instance, the company was contemplating introducing a new line of products. We held a meeting in the company’s boardroom for several hours to discuss on various matters concerning the new product, with regard to sales and marketing. The company’s top management needed to seek our opinion as to whether the new product would be lucrative to the company. As the marketing department, we had extensive knowledge about the target market of the new product and the strategies required to successful introduce the product. However, during the meeting, there arose various disagreements among the group members basing on a variety of issues. Some members could not agree about the market entry strategy, the initial pricing of the product, the means of advertisements to be used to promote the product, matters to do with market segmentation, among many others. Thus, in the meeting, there was increased communication breakdown. Bill, the Vice President in sales and marketing department, chaired the meeting. He veneered a rough time controling the group as there was heated debate in various aspects. An eminent example which depicts how the group could not come to consensus so easily involves the pricing strategy to be adopted during the introduction of the new product. The table below depicts what transpired during the discussion regarding price strategy Member View on pricing strategy Bill He

Anti-Death Penalty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Anti-Death Penalty - Research Paper Example As the paper outlines many imaginative and cruel ways of implementing the death penalty have been witnessed through time – from the guillotine to the garrote to firing squads to gas chambers to electric chairs -- before the more â€Å"humane† lethal injection has been made the manner of choice in countries that consider themselves civilized. However, there still are some countries in the world that use cruel ways of implementing capital punishment. Worse, these are for crimes that in many jurisdictions would not warrant the death penalty, or in some cases, any punishment at all. In Sudan, for example, a married person found guilty of adultery is executed by stoning; an unmarried person receives 100 lashes. In Afghanistan during the Taliban regime, a woman and a man were stoned to death in public using palm-sized stones for non-marital sex. The man died within minutes but the woman had to be finished off by dropping a large chunk of stone over her head. This paper will a rgue that the death penalty should no longer be used as a form of punishment. Four main arguments will be forwarded. First, the irrevocability of the death penalty means that there is no hope of correcting an injustice committed against a convict later found to be innocent. Second, it violates the principle of restorative justice, which should replace the principle of retributive justice. Third, it has been proven by empirical evidence that it in no way deters crime or helps in crime prevention. Fourth, racial biases affect any objective application of the death penalty law.  Human errors and frailty, as well as the lack of adequate forensic facilities in some countries, have led to many convictions that later turn out to be wrong. In a situation where the maximum penalty that may be meted out is life imprisonment, the State may still be able to provide reparation for an innocent man wrongly convicted. He will be allowed to go free and will even be given damages. In a country wher e the death penalty is legal, the finality of the sentence of death renders any mistake in convictions irreversible.  The problem is seriously considering that, according to a death penalty information website, "since 1973, at least 121 people have been released from death row after evidence of their innocence emerged. During the same period of time, over 982 people have been executed. Thus, for every eight people executed, we have found one person on death row who never should have been convicted."  This issue has generated widespread public outrage and is perhaps one of the more compelling reasons as to why the anti-death penalty advocates are gaining ground. Says Haines (125):  An analysis of newspaper coverage suggests that flawed convictions, in which possibly innocent persons either suffer or narrowly escape execution, are especially potent threats to public support for capital punishment. The injustice brought about by sending an innocent man to prison is magnified a th ousandfold by the horrific idea that such an innocent man might be wrongly executed. There can be no recompense that may be provided to the dead. In recent times, we have seen a paradigm shift from retributive justice, where a convict is made to pay for grievances to the community he belongs to, to restorative justice, wherein a recognition is made that a crime has been committed and a wrong has been done, but the convict is still a member of the community and is perceived as a human being with the capacity for reform.  

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

English - Essay Example In the communication field during the current period, cell phones are widely regarded as the essential and reliable means of communication. The major notable advantage of using a cell phone is the aspect of mobility. A cell phone can be carried in the pocket wherever one goes. This is very important because it allows people to stay connected and cell phones give people the freedom to communicate with their loved ones at any time regardless of geographical locations. Unlike fixed landline phones, cell phones are convenient in various ways. In cases of emergence, it is easy to call for help by simply pulling out the mobile phone from the pocket. There is no need to look around for fixed telephones. When one is involved in an accident, he or she can easily call for help without moving from the scene of the accident. This is a basic necessity in times of emergency or other life threatening situations which would require the services of qualified rescue specialists such as fire services o r ambulance in the event that someone has been seriously injured in an accident. The use of cell phones can be disadvantageous in different ways. Some studies have suggested that the overuse of cell phones can lead to brain and ear damage. ... Other studies have also suggested that cell phone usage can cause male infertility symptoms though nothing of this sort has been proved yet (Pandey 2010). There is need to take safety precautions when it comes to the use of cell phones though no study has directly proved the major disease caused by the use of cell phones. The other major advantage of a mobile phone is that it is a multimedia gadget that lets you enjoy all the comforts in a single device (Markely 2010). Mobile phones are becoming a basic necessity each day in our lives as a result of the new innovations that are characterising the gadget. Indeed, the world will be in your pocket when one is carrying a slim mobile phone with multimedia purpose functions. The latest cell phones during the contemporary period such as smart phones are multi-purpose phones. Apart from making audio calls or text messages, cell phones now have the ability to perform other various functions. Cell phones can support other media such as video, MP3 player, radio, television, internet, games, and calculator among other services. All these features are found in one gadget so there is no need of carrying a camera or an MP3 player separately since these can be found in one device. This is a great advantage in that one does not need to carry a lot of devices but can simply carry a mobile phone. It can also be noted that a cell phone also plays the entertainment function where music as well as videos can be played to avoid boredom. Nowadays, the internet is another medium of communication that is fast gaining popularity than any other form of communication. Latest cell phones have the facility that supports access to the internet and there is no need for someone to have a computer in order to access the internet. This is

Pearl Harbor ( history ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pearl Harbor ( history ) - Essay Example Research suggests that the United States had been intercepting coded messages, one of which discussed the plans for the attack. Other information alluded that President Roosevelt wanted to enter the war and finally had a reason. Still others believed that Roosevelt manipulated the United States into the war by withholding information from the American people. This paper will explore if Roosevelt did or did not covertly maneuver the United States into the Second World War and if he had access to information that could have prevented the attack upon Pearl Harbor. In the 1930’s Japan’s aggressive actions were causing concern in the United States. Japan was in control of Manchuria by 1931 (DeAngelis, 13). By September of 1941, Japan had signed an agreement with Germany and Italy. Upon hearing of this pact, Roosevelt instituted an embargo on oil and gasoline shipments to Japan (DeAngelis, 13 -14). Essentially, the United States cut off strategic materials that Japan needed to keep up their war on China. Japan had claimed to represent global Asian interests, the racial beliefs at the time, when in fact they had only Japan’s military/economic interests in mind. As the supplies from the United States dwindled, Japan claimed they were forced to sneak attack the United States in hopes of forcing our economic hand. Japan expected the United States would be so stunned and would sue for peace after a cursory attempt at fighting back. The Japanese thought that the U.S. citizenry was soft and lacked the Japanese fighting spirit, called bushido. The basic argument at this time was Roosevelt attempted to use negotiations to force Japan’s back to the wall. However, the U.S. had a large interest group that eventually were known as the China First Lobby (Post World War II) that felt the Japanese were preying upon Chinese weaknesses at the time. It was politically expedient for Roosevelt to press the Japanese into backing off using the U.S.’s economic card

Benefits of Organic Food Essay Example for Free

Benefits of Organic Food Essay Organic food, once only found in health food stores, is now a consistent element at local supermarkets. So what is the difference between a conventionally grown apple and an organic one? The answer is in the way the crop is grown and what it is and is not exposed to. In order to be labeled â€Å"organic† the farmer who grew it used renewable resources and conservation of soil and water methods. Also, organic farmers do not use conventional pesticides or weed killers, which may contain synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge. According to Fisher, Sewage sludge from municipalities waste may contain heavy metals and toxins . . . † (1). Rather, organic farmers use sophisticated crop rotations, spread mulch and manure, and even hand pull weeds to keep them away. Instead of applying pesticides, they use beneficial insects and birds or traps to keep pests from harming the crop. The organic apple at the grocery store was never exposed to pesticides, chemicals, additives or preservatives. Pesticides may cause harmful effects to the nervous system and mild skin and eye irritations. Chemicals used in additives and preservatives may disrupt the natural rebuilding of cells and your resistance to disease diminishes after continued exposure to these chemicals according to Lagerquist. According to the USDA, instead of these harmful ingredients, the organic apple has higher levels of minerals, vitamin C and antioxidants. Vitamin C is helpful in protecting your immune system, decreasing cardiovascular disease and promotes healthy skin. Antioxidants protect cells against free radicals that create destructive processes in the cells. Besides being beneficial to your health, organic food has a positive impact on the environment. Farming organic food allows for less groundwater to become contaminated that in the process of farming conventional crops. This is because organic crops are never exposed to harmful chemicals that can seep into the ground and infect our groundwater. This absence of chemicals in the ground water also means that the quality of the soil is greater. When the soil is not exposed to chemicals such as pesticides and insecticides, it is able to be of better quality. With better soil quality, comes stronger crops for years to come. Another benefit to the environment is that organic crops increase biodiversity. Biodiversity is created because the absence of chemical inputs creates a habitat suitable for wildlife. Also, because there is no insecticides used farmers of organic farms are forced to use natural pest control methods. This means that to control one type of pest, the famer has to bring in other pests to kill it, creating a diverse farm. Organic farms also do not use synthetic fertilizers, so one way to keep the soil up is to bring in different types of worms, arthropods, and microbes. These animals stabilize and detoxify soil. Organic farming also helps the environment by using conservation methods. Organic farms are planted where the crops could grow naturally, instead of clearing away land for the purpose of planting there. They also conserve soil by not only planting the crop, but also planting other vegetation where there are places crops are not growing to make sure the topsoil does not get blown away by the elements. Crop rotating is also used. This is when the farmer plants more than one crop in the same place. For example, one year the farmer might plant corn in field, but the next year he plants beans. This process of crop rotation increases the soils productivity and reduces need for farm land. Organic farmers do not use harmful fertilizers. Instead, they take advantage of reusable waste options. These options include human waste and waste from the farm animals. These natural fertilizers do not contain harmful ingredients and it also allows farms to ‘go green’ in a sense that the waste is not going elsewhere. Another environmentally-friendly practice that organic farmers use is tilling. Tilling stirs up the topsoil of farms and makes it so that the soil does not become compact. Compacted soil can result in soil that is unable to create a run-off surface. If this happens, the water will be unable to seep into the soil and irrigate the crop. Tractors passing over soil can cause this compaction to occur, which is why tilling is a more effective way to stir up the soil. And as a bonus, tilling can help get rid of weeds, so it is a win win. Pesticides and preservatives are not only harmful to human beings, but they are also harmful to our environment and ecosystems. Pesticides used in organic farming may run-off and contaminate nearby bodies of water. If enough contaminated run-off from pesticides and artificial fertilizers get into water, it is able to poison animals and fish that live there. According to Raloff, recent studies have demonstrated that exposure to hormones has a substantial effect on the gender and reproductive capacity of fish, throwing off the natural cycle, (1). This is not only harmful to the animals that live there, but if enough fish are dying because of poisoned run-off, the fish industry could suffer and it will affect humans as well. The same chemicals that poison bodies of water could seep into our groundwater and affect the well water we drink and use daily. This does not happen with organic farming, because no chemicals are ever sprayed on the fields and there is much more run off because of tilling practices. Organic farming does not only include crops. There is also organic eggs and meat produced by livestock raised on organic farms. During normal farming of animals, conventional farmers use medications, hormone shots, and antibiotics to promote the health and growth of the animals on their farm. On these conventional farms, animals are forced to be crowded together in dirty, indoor spaces. The living conditions make it necessary for these animals to receive regular medication to fight of diseases that may be caused by their poor living conditions. Because so many animals are crowded together, their manure accumulates rapidly and for convenience for the farmer, is sometimes poured into lagoons which can leak into local water sources and may contaminate our water. Scientists are studying the question that if humans eat hormones found in the meat of animals injected with hormones, if it can affect our human hormones the same way it affects the animal it was injected into. â€Å"Scientists believe about two-thirds of American cattle raised in for slaughter today are injected with hormones to make them grow faster and America’s dairy cows are given a genetically-engineered hormone .. . to increase milk production,† (Raloff, 1). These injected hormones are also a scare because if the animal is digesting them, it means that these chemicals are also in their manure, which is spread on the fields of crops we eat and may be dangerous. Not only could it affect the crop, but also the topsoil, and in turn the groundwater. And again, if it gets into a water source, it has the opportunity to harm the aquatic life living there. In one case, cattle injected with artificial growth hormones revealed serious health problems. These included deformed calves and an increase of a bacterial infection in the udder. In order to treat the infected cows, it needed antibiotics and eventually became reliant on them. Cattle are often forced to produce so much milk that they cannot keep up the nutrients they are losing in the milk and the amount they are given in their food. This imbalance causes them to become malnourished and it makes it easier for them to get more diseases. This type of mistreatment and malnutrition does not happen on organic farms. Healthy plants and animals are more disease resistant. This fact means that as long as the plants and animals are kept clean and healthy, there is little to no need for use of antibiotics or medications. Organic farmers keep the facilities clean to reduce the amount of diseases caused by poor living conditions. Organic farmers allow livestock to live in outdoor conditions with plenty of grazing room. This extra room can greatly decrease the number of diseases in the livestock because they won’t be crowded together to closely. On a conventional farm, livestock is kept indoors and fed possibly unhealthy grains made to make them grow. This is not the case on organic farms. Livestock is kept on a balanced diet and fed using a rotational grazing process. Rotational grazing means that once the livestock has eaten all the grass and vegetation from one field, the farmer will move them to another to allow the vegetation to grow back. This helps maintain the health of the farmland and also keeps the livestock happy by keeping them in an area with enough food, if the livestock is well fed, there is less of a chance that it will get sick as well. If livestock are kept healthy, there is no reason to give it medications, which may not be healthy for the consumer. Organic foods are never bioengineered. Bioengineered foods are foods that are manipulated through their DNA to have traits that are desired. For example, many foods are bioengineered to be resistant to insects, herbicides, and diseases. These crops may seem like a good idea, but many have wondered if these genetically altered crops could be harmful to humans. Crops resistant to bugs and weeds have caused Mother Nature to fight back with â€Å"superbugs† and â€Å"superweeds†, bugs and weeds that have evolved to overcome genetically altered plants. Cases like this cause scientists to turn it up a notch and create a new crop that can defeat the â€Å"supers†. But when is enough enough? Soon the weeds and bugs could become resistant to every type of herbicide resistant plant. There are many health scares associated with bioengineered foods. One is that if a gene is injected into a crop to make it have a more desirable trait, this gene may cause an unexpected danger to the consumer. One such danger is allergic reactions. For example . . . â€Å"bean plants that were genetically modified to increase cysteine and methionine content were discarded after the discovery that the expressed protein of the transgene was highly allergenic† (Villano, 1). Sometimes these dangers can be detected before it is introduced into the public, but sometimes it is not found until several people are affected. Another health risk concerned genetically engineered foods is that for most plants, it is simple to tell that the genetic altering caused an unusual problem in the crop, but in some cases, this is not easily seen. If it is a very obvious problem, the crop may be discarded immediately based on the appearance. However, if the genetic altering caused a problem in low or uneasily seen genes, it may become a problem for the consumer especially if the mutation is in the edible portion of the plant. Again, most of the time these problems would be detected before it is presented to the public, but it may not always be found that soon. This is a very dangerous risk to take. In addition to not being bioengineered, organic food is never exposed to radiation. Food irradiation is frequently used on conventional food because ionizing radiation is can be used to kill bacteria and other germs that may be found in certain foods. These conventionally grown foods are passed through radiation waves on a convention belt. This type of radiation attacks the unwanted organism’s DNA beyond its ability to repair. It can also be used to stop the natural ripening process of fruit in order to prolong the food’s shelf life, and it can be helpful in managing bacteria and other harmful organisms There is much criticism about ionizing radiation. One concern is that irradiation may disguise spoiled food by means of altering the natural growth process of the food. The radiation prolongs its shelf life, but there is reason the food has an expiration date. Some believe that the natural decay of food should not be tampered with. Another scare to some critics is that these chemical changes may not be healthy for the consumer. There are many regulations and inspections in food plants that use irradiation practices, but many critics believe that there is not enough extensive research done of the subject. Critics have several arguments against food irradiation. They argue that food preservation techniques are inefficient because it is unable to undo food spoilage that happened before the radiation treatment. This means that the food is ‘stuck’ in a certain stage of maturity that may not be ideal for the consumer. Another argument is that the radiation process, while getting rid of unwanted organisms, may also remove nutrients that are vital or helpful for the consumer. There are several risks associated with buying conventional foods. These foods may contain pesticides, chemicals, additives, or preservatives that are not natural and may be very harmful for the consumer. When buying organic food, there is never a risk of ingesting any of these harmful substances. Organic farmers use only natural methods of keeping insects, diseases, and weeds away to unsure safety for the consumer. Unlike conventional farms, organic farms are more diverse, more conservative, and use reusable and environmentally friendly practices to keep the earth in good physical shape for years to come. Instead of being concerned with convenience, organic foods focus on health. There are never artificially introduced hormones, sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation exposed to organically grown foods. The most disturbing fact about conventionally grown foods that is that little has been tested in the procedures used to grow the food conveniently. It is not proven that food exposed to radiation, bioengineering, pesticides, herbicides, medications, hormones and antibiotics given to livestock are harmless to humans. Many critics believe that these practices could cause extreme damage to humans in the future if it is not tested more thoroughly. So why not play it safe? Organic foods have none of these health risks and actually have higher levels of minerals, Vitamin C, and antioxidants.

The Several Factors Which Are Behind The Cultural Penetration Cultural Studies Essay

The Several Factors Which Are Behind The Cultural Penetration Cultural Studies Essay This research paper explains the several factors which are behind the cultural penetration of west in Pakistani Elite society. It discusses how culture has become a bond that ties and differentiates the people of various society, region and community together. The research will give awareness to the people of our society about conserving Pakistani culture; about how it plays an important role in making them united and unified. It also identifies the different segments which are behind the increased globalization that has penetrated the western culture in Pakistani society, especially through media, lifestyle, language and family systems. KEYWORDS: Culture, Globalization. THE CULTURAL INCURSION OF WEST IN PAKISTANI ELITE SOCIETY CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background The term culture has been used by various philosophers since decades. Raymond Williams claim it to be the most difficult word in English language The word culture has different meanings to evaluate human activity (Williams et al., 1976). Culture means to cultivate (Harper, 2008). Findley and Rothney describes it as, systems of symbols and meanings that even its creator contest, it lacks fix boundaries that are completely in flux and they interact and compete with one another (Findley and Rothney et al., 2006). All these authors describe it of being system of symbols that have blur boundaries. The bottom line is that how do we recognize them as those symbols? The answer to this is provided by Williams who say they culture is what is embedded in music, scriptures, literature, lifestyle, painting, theatres and other related things (Williams et al., 1976). These symbols are somehow alike in all the cultures. Due to rapid globalization and interaction of the past, these dimensions influen ce one culture or the other. This study will discuss the impact of western culture on Pakistani culture. Cultural penetration is the incorporation of other culture and language into ones own. Cultural penetration can take the form of general attitude as well. In this study, the focus is on the Western culture penetrating inside Pakistani Culture. Western cultures have been influencing other cultures worldwide. This is so because people equate Westernization (adoption of Western customs) with Modernization (adoption of scientific development). Westernization can be defined as a process whereby societies adopt the western culture in matters of trade, machinery, political affairs, finances, law, standard of living, diet, language, belief or morals. Westernization had an enveloping and fast influence across Pakistan in the last few centuries. This ever increasing era of globalization has increased the power of western culture in Pakistan, amongst the rich especially because of their easy contact with the western foodstuffs, media and other products. Many western food chains can be seen in the major cities of Pakistan. Western dress has become a symbol of status and honor among the youth and the business industry. Families no more share the family time together they use to in the past; rather they are more cautious about their privacy. Obsession with English is the major issue. People who read and write English very well can hardly understand Urdu. Even those who cannot speak English, try doing so as to look stylish. 1.2 Statement of the Problem The study identifies the factors behind the cultural penetration of West in Pakistani Elite society. It has been observed that people of Pakistani society feel pride in exercising westernized culture and tradition. They are being deviated from their own cultural norms and are adopting a more westernized approach. The main role played in increasing such behavior is because of the media, which is spreading the norms of the west. Pakistani societys lifestyles, family relations, dressing, education has changed drastically and is not what it used to be some years back. 1.3 Purpose of the Problem The study targets the characteristics which plays a significant role on the influence of western culture into Pakistani culture. 1.4 Research Question What are the main factors behind cultural penetration of west which are influencing Pakistani Elite society? 1.5 Justification of the problem The study can give awareness to the people of our society about conserving Pakistani culture; about how it plays an important role in making them united and unified. It can help people to understand the urgency to preserve Pakistani culture by providing a documented form of material that highlights the good and bad effects of adopting western culture. Fundamentally, culture makes use of artifacts and rituals to pass on notions of identity, which is observed to be missing in the Elite class of our Pakistani society. 1.6 Scope and Limitations Due to limited time span and shortage of research tools available the research was conducted only by the help of BBA and BSSS first and second year students who targeted the questionnaires on the elite class of Karachi. Chapter 2 Literature Review Culture is the awareness of traditions, ethics and way of life of a group of people. It is represented through various customs and traditions, arts, literature and costumes. Culture exists in different forms in different parts of the world. The surroundings greatly influence the lifestyle of people in that region, indirectly shaping cultures. (Manali Oak, Nov 15 2008). In Oaks et al., (2008) article she states that culture is the one common link that connects people of different religions or communities together. The traditions a group of people follow, the events they celebrate, their attire, food and above all the cultural beliefs they share, bring them together. Cultures are affected by people who accept its change and who resist them too. All these cultural ideas and beliefs for a matter of fact can change. Communal argument and the developing technologies give rise to changes within a society by altering social dynamics and advancing new cultural models or giving way to them. These social shifts are accompanied by ideological models and other cultural variations, for instance, people observing western cultures through media and then exercising them in their lives. Most prominently, western influence is observed to be seen in the Pakistani elite society. Their complete lifestyle and mentality is of the west and they, in no manner represent to be Pakistani. It can be seen clearly that how Pakistani elite class is discouraging their own culture to adopt modernization. (Dr Manzur Ejaz). The influence of west on the elite is basically being transferred through media. Media is playing a very vital role in portraying western culture, which is seemingly very attractive. Media is an agent of socio-political, cultural and economic change in our age and can strengthen or destabilize a society. The elite families of Pakistan can afford to live such a life which is full of westernized culture. They are moving away from their own culture (Muhammad Abbas, 2003). Muhammad Abbas et al., (2003) stated that its high time to fortify our socio-cultural practices. Our values are being invaded by the west through Cable TV. Media should lay their role in constructing faith and pride in our wonderful past, our values and the way of living. We have glorious norms and social strata which ought to be preserve, strengthen and encouraged. He emphasized on the fact that media can remove the negativity from Pakistani elite class because they are in transition. Their lifestyle is changing becau se of media and education and this particular change needs to smooth the progress in a positive manner. The elite families in Pakistan live a life closely similar to western families. for example the concept of family is different in west as compared to other Asian countries. Most western families consist of parents with average of 1-3 children. It is very common that parents are employed full time and are at work while their children are at school or daycare facility. Same is the case with Pakistani society. The children are now use to of living alone and independently without their parents at home. S, Venier (2004) stated that the American culture moves through every communicating medium. English as an international language for trade and politics is the strong tool for transmission of western culture. As English makes it way becoming a global language, it also becomes clear that although the forces driving the language and culture differ greatly but the two cannot be separated. Journalist S.M Hussain states that due to the increasing globalization; it is difficult to predict the impact of western culture on eastern cultures lifestyle in the future. Due to all of this Pakistanis have opened themselves up. Scholars in Pakistan admit in Daily Times Monitor (2008) that the extreme westernization has swept Pakistani culture. The extended family system, a feature of Pakistani cultural society has died away, especially amongst the elite classes who are exposed to American culture and now care more about their privacy. The young generation now seldom cares about their elders. Meal choices changed from Rice and Chapatti to KFC, McDonalds and Pizza Huts. Traditional drinks have switched to Coke and Pepsi. They feel pride in speaking English than Urdu. Dr. Ahmed Rashid Malik (2009) states that perhaps it is some colonial chip we are carrying on our shoulders, which focuses on us to acknowledge the western culture as cool and hip. Perhaps, we are still so much in awe of the white men that we cannot even see their faults and our own virtues. It is not as if it is just one area of the city that is affected by this, day by day it is seen that the entire place divided into little elite clutches of people is affected by this westernization. The influenced drive the latest cars, chatter away on their latest cell phones and wear designer Italian clothes, no matter if they do not even know how to pronounce their names properly. Hence we are a race of people with a culture that spans generations of grandeur, yet we want to throw that all away for just a small place in our minds that resides as pro-western elite. (Hussain, S.M) CHAPTER 3 3.1 FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS This study describes the important factors which are playing a significant role in bringing change to the mentality and lifestyle of the Pakistani elite society. 75 questionnaires were filled and analysis was concluded. The sample size was of 75 persons, out of which 34 were female, representing 45.3% and 41 male who are 54.7% of the total population. The age is dispersed from 18 to 62. Majority of respondents lie in the age group of 20 to 26. Respondents agreed that media is playing an important role in bringing western approaches. They justified that family relation is the segment of life which is affected the most by western culture. It has been proved that western incursion does exist in the Pakistani elite society. People of elite society are in many forms and segments of life adopting western ideology. There is a crisis of self identity prevailing within the people. It is revealed by the research that educational sector is the least affected segment of life by the western cultural penetration. The greatest change brought about by the western incursion is on the lifestyle of the elite Pakistani people. It is exposed after the research that family values are at stake because of the cultural penetration. Individual ambitions and benefits are more prioritized over mutual goals. Urdu being the national language is undermined and English is given more encouragement officially and unofficially. American lifestyle is commonly believed to be the most fascinating and appealing lifestyle, which is taken as most trendy and popular. 3.2 RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOLUTIONS As it is revealed to us that western cultural penetration exists in our society, there lie some responsibilities for us to undertake. Since it has rooted underneath the surfaces so immensely, it will not be easy to remove it from the society in a short span of time, for it requires much of hard work and struggle from everyone. Firstly, it is the job of the parents of our society to give correct guidance from the very beginning to their children so that they learn to appreciate their own culture. It is very important to differentiate between the cultures and to accept what is ours and like it from within. Secondly, all the educational institutions must also encourage their students to celebrate the national and traditional customs and festivals, rather than celebrating foreign ones. These institutions should also try to preserve the true value of Urdu as our national language. They must struggle to maintain the level of Urdu in the eyes of the students and to make them understand that it is good to speak English but Urdu must never be forgotten. Thirdly, the responsibility lies in the hands of each individual. Every one of us should encourage and appreciate our own Pakistani culture and should feel pride in doing so. We all should try to make people the importance of being under the label of ones own culture and country. As media is approached by everyone, it plays a very important role in portraying our culture. It should promote and preserve Pakistani culture in all the ways possible. Media should discourage the portrayal of those programs which in any way harms our culture. When lifestyle is considered, it is good to be advanced and technologically developed but we do not need to adopt those segments of lifestyle which deviate us from our culture and religion. Because one can only look best in exercising own culture and lifestyle. To cope up with the identity crisis, it is important to make the victims understand that following others just for the sake of fashion is no good to anyone. One should always be confident about his/her own talent and abilities and never under estimate oneself. 3.3 CONCLUSION It has been observed that the elite society in Pakistan are opposing their own culture and are more interested to follow western culture in their daily life. This can be called upon as western cultural penetration, which is slowly eroding Pakistani culture unnoticeably. This is referred as a problem because in the cycle of the society the new traditions are set from the upper social class and then followed by the lower social classes. Therefore it is very necessary that the elite class should be very conscious towards this social issue and takes care of what they think as culturally acceptable tradition.

Police discretion is essential part of policing

Police discretion is essential part of policing Police discretion is a constant consideration within Police services. It is seen by many to be both an essential part of policing as well as a constant source of issues. Issues such as the potential for racism, sexism and socialism are ever-present in everyday policing. This essay will look at both the over policing of some areas of the law, such as public order offences and the under policing of other areas, such as domestic violence matters. It will look at why these issues are present and what has been implemented to try and tackle the problem. The ability for Police to use discretion has a lot of positive aspects. According to Reiner (2000 as cited in Rowe, 2007), the lack of resources in some situations mean that not every infringement on the law will be enforced and that even if the relevant law was precise there would still be variations in the interpretation. This makes discretion an important and inevitable part of modern policing. Discretion also gives police the ability to take alternative action with some minor matters such as public disorder offences. When circumstances surrounding offences are taken into account, discretion can and should be considered in many of these cases. To explain some of the issues surrounding public order offences lets consider this scenario. A young male is in town with some friends. He has recently come of age and is quite intoxicated by alcohol. As often happens with young males, the alcohol causes him to lose inhibition and he gets a bit noisy, possibly a bit aggressive and is bringing attention to himself with both other members of the public as well as Police. He is seen by Police and taken aside. He is cooperative with the officers and subsequent checks revealed that the young man has not come to police attention before but is far to intoxicated to remain in the current situation. At this point the officer has two options, Either arrest him and make him sleep it off in the cells, possibly leaving him with a criminal record, or they could put him in a taxi and get him home, leaving him with nothing more then a hangover and a bit of a wake up call for his behaviour. Either one of these options is going to achieve the same basic result, getting the young man out of the current situation and therefore keeping disorder to a minimum. Research has suggested that Police are more likely to use discretion a lot less often in situations like these. According to Edwards (1998), Police officers have greater freedom with public offences in that they are often the witnesses and sole evidence suppliers. This means that, while others who are drinking alcohol in town may not be offended or simply dont care about the young mans behaviour or they dont see the behaviour of an individual as disorderly, a police officer may see otherwise. The subjective view of the officer will come into play and the offender will likely be arrested. From this example, the use of the officers discretion is probably the best course of action as the likely outcome from a court hearing will be Police diversion, in which the charge will be withdrawn as a second chance. However, on the other side of the argument is that, there are likely to be many onlookers and they are all interested to see the outcome. If police decide to use discretion, that this may be seen to be the soft option and therefore undermining the authority of the police. This may lead to others thinking they can get away with disorderly behaviour and the Police in the area may lose control. However, if the situation is such that the young man, in his youthful exuberance, is uncooperative with police, this opens up a new issue which is commonly referred to the attitude test, whereby a bad attitude will see the use of discretion a more and more remote possibility. It is widely reported that there is a higher rate of arrest where the distain and aggression has been directed at police and caused the arrest to occur for other reasons then the greater public good. Therein lays one of the fundamental flaws with police discretion. It gives an individual officer the ability to let personal beliefs and objectives control their willingness to give discretion. Reiner (2000 as cited in CRIM215 course notes, Module 3, pg 50) has found that the group most likely to be targeted by the police are young, black and of a poorer socio-economic background. Coupled with this is the statistics that Maori have a larger youth population and are therefore more likely to be seen in public. Over 34 percent of Maori were under 15 years old in 1997, which is approximately twice that of the European population (New Zealand Statistics, 1997 as cited in CRIM215 course notes, 2010, Module 3). According to his research, Borrero (2001 as cited in CRIM215 course notes, 2010, Module 3) suggests that young people are more likely to have adverse feelings about the police. This may be due to the perception that youth are more likely to commit offences. According to a study by White and Perrone (1997), of 383 young people, nearly all of them had been stopped by the police while in public and half of them were taken to the police station for some reason. That is a high percentage of contact and is perhaps anecdotal evidence that the perception of youth offending is present in policing. With the high level of police interaction with young people, it is interesting to note the types of crime recorded by police for this group. Maxwell and Morris (1999 as cited in CRIM215 course notes, 2010, Module 3) found that only 10 percent of crimes committed by youth related to violence and three quarters related to dishonesty and property damage. This study is now over ten years old but its findings are still relevant in todays youth, many youths will see disorder and property damage as more of a laugh and violence is not a desired trait or fun thing to do. Family violence situations often fall prey to relaxed decision making with regard to using discretion. Often times when police were called to such an incident it was commonly thought to be someone elses responsibility and not real police work. Historically and according to White and Perrone (1997), Domestic violence was considered to be a hands off area when police were involved. It was considered to be a private matter and best dealt with by the family. This attitude is, for the most part, waning as a result of improved legislation and police attitude towards domestic violence as well as the increasing advertisements denouncing domestic violence. Most domestic violence callouts are a result of the victim or a witness calling police instead of Police actively seeking and patrolling. This is the reason that this type of crime generally goes under policed as opposed to more commonly found crimes such as street disorder and traffic related matters. Edwards (1989) also says that Police w ill often not make an arrest in a Domestic violence matter regardless of the facts that it may be warranted and prudent in the situation. To present a comparison to this point, it would be more likely that if two people are fighting in a public area, and are found by Police or it is reported by onlookers, and then it is more likely that they will be arrested then if they were fighting behind closed doors so to speak. Other research suggests that Police often refer to their own beliefs and judgments of the situation to make decisions of discretion instead of relying solely on the facts and evidence at hand. Edwards 1989) this means that that officers individual perception of the problem will influence the decision made. The issue with this is that, a crime may go unpunished purely because the officer might believe that he she provoked the other and that if the offenders attitude towards the officer is favourable, then discretion is appropriate. Likewise, personally beliefs about race and socio-economic status are used as markers for a result. Edwards (1989). Edwards (1989) goes on to say that Police may be less inclined to offer adequate assistance to women who are black or women from poorer backgrounds as well as those who offer some resistance to the attending Police. For example often family violence situations carry a high level of stress and aggression and the woman who has just been violentl y assaulted may direct some of her anger and perhaps for lack of a better word helplessness of the situation at attending Police. Edwards (1989). Evidence from New Zealand research shows this trend for Police to downplay the violence within domestic matters. Cross and Newbold (2010, as cited in CRIM215 course notes, 2010, Module 3), found that of the calls that violence and assaults occurred, only 20% of these matters resulted in an arrest. Further to this, when the victim received some tangible form of injury, still only 44% of these cases resulted on an arrest. What is interesting about these statistics is that in 1990 New Zealand Police introduced a policy whereby if an offence was disclosed and evidence exists to support that charge, then the offender must be arrested and brought before the courts. This directive was put in place due to the negative impact it was having on the Police service when officers were overusing their discretionary powers. CRIM215 course notes, (2010) .The system however still allows for Officers to reach an interim conclusion for all parties as often the victim does not want any action taken for f ear of retribution from the offender, remember that this type of violence more often than not involves husband and wife and defacto partner relationships and children are often present. On some occasions the decision not to arrest at the time or to gloss over the assaultive nature of some events simply because it may be more productive to allow outside agencies to help guide the victim to seek help such as Protection orders, family counselling and anger management among other options. It is also important to note that some victims have already had, in some cases, extensive dealings with police. They may have a dislike for the police and be uncooperative with Police but they may be more likely to respond to help offered by the other agencies, such as Womans refuge and victim support. As Walklate (2001) points out, by arresting a person, this must prove to be a deterrent and if there is a fear of retribution against the victim, then the arrest will only serve to get the person away fo r a short time and may in fact make a peaceful resolution more difficult. In CRIM215 course notes, (2010, pg 13) three disadvantages to the mandatory arrest policy are listed. One of those relates to the above mentioned retaliation of the offender. Another provides a scenario that Police encounter in many cases. The victim does not always want the offender arrested, they simply wan the violence to stop. It also must be noted that when the victim does not want any action and in some cases wasnt even aware that the police had been called. This puts the officers in a difficult situation if for instance the victim is injured and it is clear that it we a result of an assault, that without the early assistance of the victim, a successful prosecution is extremely unlikely. These situations are where other outside supporting agencies may be able to obtain a better result for the victim. What this essay shows is that while police discretion can be overused in some instances there are and will continue to be evolving thought on the effectiveness of the police discretion system. It also shows that for Police discretion to work effectively, policy must continue to be updated so that the personal beliefs of individual police officers cannot become the driving force behind their decision making, instead ensuring that common sense is the only non mandated thought process that enters into decision making.

Corporate Entrepreneurship Essay -- Entreprenuer

Corporate Entrepreneurship Corporate Entrepreneurship can be seen as the process whereby an individual or a group creates a new venture within an existing organization, revitalizes and renews an organization ,or innovates. Zahra’s(1986) definition of corporate entrepreneurship suggests a formal or informal activity aimed at creating new businesses in established firms through product and process innovations and market developments,whereas sathe(1985) defines corporate entrepreneurship as a process of organizational renewal. Corporate Entrepreneurship has emerged as a much needed ingredient contributing towards the growth of any organization under a changing business environment. Corporate entrepreneurship (CE) is widely considered as a vital means to stimulate and sustain the overall competitiveness of an organization. Both practitioners and researchers have recognized the challenges of pursuing entrepreneurship within a corporation. CE is the result of the joint activities of an organization’s members, activities that pursue strategic objectives and constitute strategic roles. Thus, to face the challenges that CE poses for both theory and practice we need to advance our understanding of the activities and strategic roles involved in the CE process and their implications for performance. While strategic roles have been extensively studied, most studies analyze the strategic role of top managers and ignore the contribution of middle managers. Moreover, while there is a growing body of empirical evidence of a positive relationship between CE initiatives and performance, little research emphasizes the contribution of middle managers’ strategic rol es to superior performance. Innovation and entrepreneurship are often regarded as ... ...ll as private sectors have gone international with new ventures outside the country. These companies are generating revenue, though modest compared to their overall sales revenue, by deputing their expert personnel outside. Strategic renewal is another desired outcome of corporate entrepreneurship. The new economic order and business environment has created a pace of change which requires businesses to adapt more frequently and rapidly than ever before. The changes could involve corporate structure, mergers and acquisitions, addressing new market opportunities, changing product portfolios, repositioning, adapting infrastructure, or adopting new technology. Managers in an organization must be able to take stock of its situation under changing market conditions and agree on a coherent new strategy that will meet the challenges of the present as well as of the future.

Ethics of Affirmative Action Essay -- Ethics Morals

Affirmative Action: Staying on the Road to Equality â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness† (Declaration of Independence, 1776). Who would imagine that in a country under the blanket such a brilliant, ethical and proud statement of equality, there could be so much dissention about equality? Our nation has interpreted this statement differently since it was written, and still, more than two hundred years later, we are on the road to a truly equal society. This is because racism has its seeds deeply sown into the history of America. Uprooting perceptions of peoples who are dominant and peoples who are inferior has been a long process, from the Emancipation Proclamation to affirmative action. It is important that we stay on this road to equality for all, and keep affirmative action up and running.Affirmative action has its roots in racism as a remedy to it , and racism has its roots all the way back in the colonial and imperial era. Europeans began discovering other continents in the fifteenth century, and with new continents came new ways of making money. Different European countries began to scramble to acquire colonies where they could sell goods, exploit labor, and export slaves and raw materials for cheap prices. Almost all of Africa became colonialized, with different European powers claiming control over sections of Africa, and soon colonialism spread to many new places that were discovered: the Americas, the Middle East, and later Asia and the Pacific Islands. In the process of colonialism, the Europeans were taking advantage of the resour... ...hat happens when we level the playing field? â€Å"No school that has scrapped its affirmative action program has seen minority enrollment return fully to affirmative action levels† (Kranz 26). The ultimate goal is to see minorities represent their population in education and in the work force, and at this point, to attain that goal, it is more ethical to retain the policy of affirmative action than to eliminate it. In the words of Peter Singer, â€Å"In the absence of more promising alternatives it seems worth a try† (51). Works Cited * Kranz, Rachel. â€Å"Affirmative Action.† Facts on File, Inc., 2002. * Murray, Charles. â€Å"Affirmative Racism.† The New Republic, 1984. * Rachels, James. â€Å"The Elements of Moral Philosophy,† Fourth Edition. McGraw Hill, New York, 2003. Singer, Peter. â€Å"Practical Ethics,† Second Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1993.