Effects of Green and Blue Light on the Rate of Photosynthesis Lab Report

Effects of Green and Blue Light on the Rate of Photosynthesis - Lab Report Example This essay stresses that since photosynthesis and respiration occur simultaneously, the amount of oxygen generated by the former is cut back by the amount the former consumes. The difference between gross photosynthesis and the amount of oxygen consumed during respiration is referred to as net photosynthesis. This experiment aims to establish the dependence of net photosynthesis on light levels. This paper declares that the first experiment was conducted using the following procedure: Each group cut 10–12 leaf disks from the English Ivy leaves using the paper punch over the weighing paper. This was done to ensure that all the disks are of uniform size. Only those with no tissue damage (jagged edges) were used in the experiment. The next step involved using the syringes to drive out air from the leaf disks. This was done removing the plunger and inserting the disks in the syringe. After this the infiltration solution was added into the syringe up to the 6 ml mark, and the plunger inserted and depressed to remove air. We then covered the tip of the syringe with thumbs and drew the plunger back to create a vacuum for five seconds. The thumb was removed, and the plunger depressed severally until the leaf disks sank. This procedure was repeated to produce four sets of leaf disks for the four replicas of the experiment, hence bringing the sample size to 80. In conducting th e actual experiment, each group added 50 ml of bicarbonate buffer solution into the cylinder and then emptied the infiltration solution and leaf disks from one syringe into the beaker. ... Experiment 1 Materials The materials used in the first experiment were: Leaves (English Ivy) Paper punch Blunt probe Eight 100 ml beakers Bicarbonate solution Infiltration solution 10 ml syringes Cheese cloth Source of light (normal) Stop watches Ruler Calculator Ice bath Blue and green color filters (four of each) Refrigerator Graduate cylinder Weighing paper Method The first experiment was conducted using the following procedure: Each group cut 10–12 leaf disks from the English Ivy leaves using the paper punch over the weighing paper. This was done to ensure that all the disks are of uniform size. Only those with no tissue damage (jagged edges) were used in the experiment. The next step involved using the syringes to drive out air from the leaf disks. This was done removing the plunger and inserting the disks in the syringe. After this the infiltration solution was added into the syringe up to the 6 ml mark, and the plunger inserted and depressed to remove air. We then cover ed the tip of the syringe with thumbs and drew the plunger back to create a vacuum for five seconds. The thumb was removed, and the plunger depressed severally until the leaf disks sank. This procedure was repeated to produce four sets of leaf disks for the four replicas of the experiment, hence bringing the sample size to 80. In conducting the actual experiment, each group added 50 ml of bicarbonate buffer solution into the cylinder and then emptied the infiltration solution and leaf disks from one syringe into the beaker. We then added the rest of the bicarbonate solution into the reaction beaker, discarding leaf disks that did not sink. This was done using 8 beakers, each containing 10

Identify the characteristics beliefs and practises associated with Krishna Essay Example for Free

Identify the characteristics beliefs and practises associated with Krishna Essay And what is the significance for a devotee of Krishna. Krishna is believed to be Vishnus eight incarnations. Vishnu represents the preserver status in the Trimurti but is more frequently appreciated in his incarnation as Krishna. Krishna appears in many mythological stories but is most famously remembered for his part in the Bhagvad Gita. This scripture is believed to have been spoken by Krishna himself. Krishna is seen as a king and a conqueror of demons but his followers appear particularly fond of his childhood and youth. His love affair with the beautiful cowherdess, Radha is immensely popular with his followers. In many Indian temples dedicated to Krishna, his followers visit (Darshan) his images and present water for washing, drinking, clothes, flowers, incense and offer praise during their puja. Chanting and singing the Hare Krishna mantra is a very popular activity found in temples. The maha-mantra is a transcendental sound vibration which awakens love of God in the heart and mind. As with all other activities, music is considered a sacred offering to God. Murtis of Krishna are ritually installed temples, as it is believed that it is actually full of divine spirit of Krishna. Krishnas pictures often portray him as the young flute player, surrounded by cows, teasing the gopi girls, or occasionally as the mischievous friend and even as the charioteer who accompanies Arjuna. These different images illsurate the different forms of relations a Hindu can have with god, either as best friend, a lover or mischievous son. To achieve an understanding of Krishna it important to be aware of the events in the Bhagvad Gita. Arjuna is preparing for a battle in which he will be fighting against his own members of the family. He feels that this is morally wrong and has conversation with his charioteer. His charioteer, Krishna is the supreme lord in disguise. It is here; Krishna explains the path to self liberation and to discovering the inner atman. Krishna points out that the soul does not die in battle, but moves into a new one. The soul can not be pierced, it can not be parched, it can not be wetted, it is everwhere, immovable He reminds Arjuna of his dharma and the effects of Karma. Krishna goes further on to state that is not action itself that should be avoided but the results of it. One should not think of particular rewards for their actions but offer selflessly to the Lord. This is the function of Karma yoga. Having taught this he goes onto mentioning different paths such as jnana and yoga and presentating the need for reaching a state of samadhi through knowledge and devotion. The festival calendar varies region to region throughout India. The festival to celebrate the birth of Krishna is held between August and September and is called Janammastami. The bhagvad Purana which focuses on how to be yogi is often read out. Krishna unlike some of the other supreme deities, acknowledged that there were those who were marginalized such as the low caste and women and therefore highlighted that there were many different paths for each Hindu to reach liberation in his own way. Krishna is encompasses the perfect balance between performing his dharma in such a way that good karma is continually repeated. Through performing jnana and bhakti yoga, a devotee can offer selfless acts, which will be received with Krishnas grace and blessings. Therefore Krishnas love for Radha is the perfect example for any Hindu to achieve a harmonious union with the Lord and achieve moksha.

The Holocaust: Number The Stars :: essays research papers

The Holocaust   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The title of my book is Number the Stars by Lois Lowry and it is a historical fiction. My book was about a jewish girl named Ellen that stays with her best friend's family the Johansens to avoid being caught by the nazis and relocated along with her family. I selected this book because it was by Lois Lowry and I read other books by her so I thought that this book would be good. I also chose this book because it was a Newberry award winner.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Annemarie Johansen is the main character in the story, she is a ten year old girl that lives with her parents and sister at their home. She first appears at the beginning of the book racing her friend down a copenhagen street and throughout it and at the end. I liked her because she is strong when she needs to be, and is a friend when she needs to be. Annemarie was willing to save her friend by risking her and her life. Ellen Rosen was also one of the main characters in the story she is a nine year old girl living with her parents. Ellen appears in the story at the beginning also. Ellen a jew, who is Annemarie's friend is forced to hide with Annemaries family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My book takes place during the german occupation of Denmark in 1943. It is in Copenhagen during the fall weather.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Germans are relocating all the jews in Denmark and Ellen and her family find out that they will be relocated. Annemarie's family assumes responsibility for Ellen Rosen, Annemarie's best friend, when ellen's family flees for their safety. Annemarie and her parents take her jewish friend Ellen in to hide with their family. Ellen is almost caught when soldiers come to the house asking questions about the daughter's identity but she is still kept a secret. Ellen is taken to Annemaries uncle's house where they are able to escape to Sweden by hiding in a hidden compartment of a boat.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both Ellen and Annes family are hiding from the nazis to prevent them from being relocated. The diary of Anne Frank takes place in Amsterdam, Holland and my book both takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1943. Ellen pretends to be part of her friends family in hiding but in annes diary she and her family and friends are in hiding together in an attic.

The Brady Act: Inconsistent but Served a Purpose

The Brady Law which is technically known as The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 was signed as a law under the presidency of Bill Clinton on November 30, 1993. The law requires that whenever someone purchases a gun, he/ she should wait up to five days for a background check. As long as the Federal Bureau of Investigation has undergone the background check and for so long as the Federal Firearm License has not been issued, then a person can never obtain or own a gun (Bowling et al. , 2006).At the same time, it also required the gun dealers in each of the state should begin conducting and submitting background check requirements on their prospective buyers to the authorities to aid the process of authenticating that buyer’s capability and reliability in owning a gun (Ludwig and Cook, 2003). All states should have similar disqualifications for their applicants. These are fugitive status, court restraining orders, mental illness, and other violence convictions. Becaus e of these, of the 12 million applications that were subjected to background check by the National Bureau of Investigation, there were around 1.4 million that were rejected. However, there are also several rejections done by State and local agency background checks which were argued to be a little inconsistent to the FBI requirements (Bowling et al. , 2006). For instance, most state statutes would require firearm purchasers to have a permit or a license or an identification number right after background check to be presented to the seller before they are allowed to buy a firearm. Within these said statute laws, the background check would require around 7 to 30 days.This is inconvenient and inconsistent with the original Brady Bill because it only mandated a background check for only less than a week and 30 days is way too far from that requirement. Other state laws and agencies require that a seller should convey buyer’s information to the authorities either through mail, tel ephone, or e-mail. Accordingly, the local agencies would respond in about 7 to 10 days. The same as already mentioned, this is also a little bit inconvenient because it is only by then that they start their background check.Other than these, there were also instances were the agencies will have to encounter incomplete records of applicants in their databases which will test the capability of the buyer to purchase a firearm. There is also a discrepancy between the state and the local agencies’ reason on rejection. Federal laws would likely to applicants with domestic violence conviction or indictment. On one hand, local agencies would likely to reject applicants that are drug addicts and mentally ill. Moreover, other states provide for appeals, but only seventeen of them.All of these prove that there is discrepancy and inconsistencies in the implementation of this law (Bowling et al. , 2006). However, despite this, I think the law is still very useful in the maintenance of pea ce and security of the country. This is because the law even when it has been implemented inconsistently by the federal and the state government, it still outlines very concrete requirements and methodology in granting and denying the right of every citizen to possess firearms.This law is obviously concerned on the circumstances that would entail the irresponsible handling and owning of a dangerous weapon like the firearm. It mainly aims to secure the safety of very citizen in the United States and to prevent ruthless assassinations. References Bowling, M and Hickman, J. (2006). â€Å"Background Checks for Firearm Transfers, 2005†. Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin. US: US Department of Justice. Ludwig, J and Cook, P. (2003). Evaluating gun policy: effect on crime and violence. USA: Brookings Institution Press.

Problem on Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is one of the biggest problems facing our schools and businesses today. A week rarely goes by without a reminder of the pervasiveness of sexual harassment as a social problem. Sexual harassment is a growing problem in the government agencies, schools, and the corporations of the world; however, many corporations are now adopting new anti-harassment policies. (Conta) The definition of sexual harassment is any unwanted or inappropriate sexual attention. That includes touching, looks, comments, or gestures. A key part of sexual harassment is that it is one sided and unwanted. There is a great difference between sexual arassment and romance or friendship, since those are mutual feelings of two people. Often sexual harassment makes the victim feel guilty, but it is important for the victim to remember that it is not their fault, the fault lies totally on the person who is the harasser. Many times fear is involved in sexual harassment because it isn't about physical attraction, it's about power. In fact, many sexual harassment incidents take place when one person is in a position of power over the other; or when a woman has an untraditional job such as a police officer, factory worker, business executive, or ny other traditionally male job. Typical victims of harassment are young, single, college-educated, members of a minority racial or ethnic group (if male), in a trainee position (or office/ clerical positions if male), or have an immediate supervisor of the opposite Presently, it is hard for courts and others to decide when sexual harassment has taken place because the definition of sexual harassment is much too broad. Clearing up the legal definition of sexual harassment would discourage and punish harassers and bring comfort to the victims. Here are some points to remember in deciding hen sexual harassment takes place: Sexual harassment is one-sided and * It is about power and not attraction. * Subtle sexual behavior is sometimes socially acceptable, but some would consider it offensive and want it stopped. * Moderate sexual behavior is not socially acceptable, reasonable * Severe sexual behavior is never acceptable. (Swisher 28) Sexual harassment is a major problem in public schools, colleges, and universities. Surveys on college campuses show the number of respondents reporting to have been sexually harassed ranging from 40-70 percent. Only two percent of campus harassment ases involve a professor demanding sex in return for a good grade. Most cases involve male and female students. In public schools current sexual harassment definitions are inappropriate, since bad sexual behavior of today's children isn't sexual harassment, but it is a reflection of the vulgar, violent, and the sexually explicit nature of our media and culture. When little six-year-old children get suspended from school for kissing girls on the cheek, it is not an example of sexual harassment but of political Sexual harassment is still a big problem in schools and every school district in Washington now has an antiharassment policy. Junior high or middle school has the biggest problem with sexual harassment mainly because of their immaturity and out-of-control hormones†. Says Viki Simmons of the YWCA. â€Å"Many times in high school, students don't think anything about it when harassment happens, but schools are now cracking down on it†. Simmons interview) In the business world employers are now on notice that sexual harassment will no longer be tolerated in the workplace. Claims brought against alleged harassers include wrongful termination, invasion of privacy, violation of due process and free speech rights, efamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Sexual harassment usually happens to women in low-paying jobs, or women that have to have a job in order to support themselves and children. If sexual harassment happens at work, write down a detailed description of what took place, so that it is well recorded and you don't have to think back to the incident. You should keep a note pad handy for this purpose, or write it on a napkin to help you * What actually took place and what the offender said Another way to do this is to write a letter to the harasser. Be sure to keep a copy. Tell the person clearly in the letter that his behavior toward you is unwanted. Tell the person that he will be reported if the behavior doesn't stop (Kolbert). According to the research group Catalyst, recent studies have found that 40 percent to 60 percent of woman say they have been harassed sometime in their Employers have a duty to investigate allegations of sexual harassment, and their employees have a legitimate interest in knowing what activities could result in their termination. Ever clearer definitions of sexual harassment are being implemented by more and more corporations around the country. As this happens, an ncreasing number of companies are searching for new ways of protecting themselves against allegations, adopting their own anti- harassment policies to combat this growing problem. CEO's should do a variety of things to stop sexual harassment in the work place. The most important thing is senior management makes it clear to workers that harassment in any form won't be tolerated. If top managers don' take the issues seriously, employees won't either. Managers must also understand they are responsible for their Companies need an explicit written policy on sexual harassment that is widely available in the workplace. Most consultants advise companies to do more than just post the policy on bulletin boards. They should distribute it company wide, repeatedly. Copies should be included in new employee orientation packets. Employees should have clear definitions of what sexual harassment is Many companies are now offering employee training sessions on sexual harassment, and many say that follow up training is a good idea. Training programs should include all employees, rather than just managers. The tone should be gender neutral and avoid heavy discussions on male harassment that might cause some resentment among the male employees. Many times programs aren't effective because they spend a lot of time just attacking men and not the crime. Companies need a good system to deal with complaints. A clear process for handling complaints shows that a company takes them seriously. Until 1991 it was harder for woman to make allegations of sexual harassment, since woman felt like there was nothing that they could do about it. But the highly publicized hearings of Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill in 1991 changed everything. During the fall of 1991, the subject of sexual harassment grabbed news headlines. Everyone began discussing this issue and motions ran high. Judge Clarence Thomas was nominated to be a Supreme Court Justice, which is America's highest court, and Supreme Court Justices have their jobs for life. They cannot be fired. Before a person can be made a Justice, he or she must be questioned and Judge Thomas was ounce the head of a U. S. agency called the EEOC. The EEOC makes sure everyone is treated fairly when applying for a job. It also enforces laws against sexual harassment. Anita Hill is a law professor who worked with Judge Thomas at the EEOC many years ago. A few weeks into the Congressional Questioning she came orward and accused Thomas of sexual harassment. She claimed that he used to constantly ask her for dates and spoke to her about pornographic films he had seen. Anita Hill said that she was deeply offended by these remarks but felt that she could not complain. Clarence Thomas was her boss, and she thought that her career could be Anita Hill was a very believable witness. But Judge Thomas denied her charges in the strongest possible terms. Who was telling the truth? The country was divided. But the issue was being discussed everywhere. Women from all across the nation told of their experiences with sexual harassment. And many men admitted being Finally, the senate voted to approve Judge Thomas. But the vote was close. Many senators had doubts about Thomas's character. Others did not the, Thomas's career should be destroyed because of one person's story. They said there was not enough evidence to prove there was wrongdoing. In the end, everyone agreed that sexual harassment is a serious problem everyone must become more sensitive It's important to know that men have trouble too. Women are not the only victims of sexual harassment. More and more men are being harassed in the workplace, classrooms, and locker rooms. Whoever is in the position of power tends to be the harasser. Men can be victims of both woman and other men Sexual harassment is very wide spread, but there are ways of avoiding it, such as: Keeping everything strictly on a business level. If working in the same room as the harasser, create a barrier between the two work stations with a desk or file cabinet, etc. Do not ask for personal favors or special treatment from the harasser so that he won't feel he is owed anything. Do not talk about anything personal. Sexual harassment is always wrong. No one deserves it. And it is always hurtful to the victim.

Analyzation of By Any Means Necessary Essays - Identity Politics

Analyzation of By Any Means Necessary Essays - Identity Politics Analyzation of "By Any Means Necessary" Danielle Dawkins Principles of Speech Howard University November 26, 2017 Malcolm X, a brilliant and radical Black Nationalist Leader, delivered his "By Any Means Necessary" speech at the Founding Rally of the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) in June of 1964. He delivered his speech in the Audobon Ballroom in Washington Heights, which is bordered by Harlem to the south. This exact place plays a major role in his technique, as Harlem was a predominantly black neighborhood in Manhattan. It's safe to assume that he wanted to start his organization and amplify his message of black liberation in a densely populated area mostly occupied by African Americans. Malcom's goal was to create an ideology, and outlined in is speech was an ideograph that consisted of the following sections: Establishment, Self-defense, Education, Politics Economics, Social. As he elaborated on each of the five sections, he utilized rhetorical devices through zealous language that implanted the central theme of "by any means necessary" in the minds of millions across the natio n. One should understand that Malcom's central theme was not a cry of revenge, but a cry for unification and self-reliance of African Americans. The topics and the sheer arrangement allows for a better flow and it ultimately helped Malcom drill down his message. Malcom began his speech with the words, "Salaam Alaikum" meaning "Peace be onto you". He then continued to acknowledge everyone in the audience, including his enemies. It's interesting that he should do that, but in his own words, ".You'll get freedom by letting your enemy know you'll get anything to get freedom" Not only did he establish a common ground with his "brothers" and "sisters", but he also established somewhat of an odd mutual understanding between him and his adversaries. The entirety of Malcolm's speech follows a timeline. He begins by explaining that he had been in Mecca, which is in Saudi Arabia, and in various independent nations of Africa where he tried to open his own mind and discover new solutions to problems at hand. He then continues to the current situation, and compares the "progress" that America had made to the progression of nations in Africa. Malcolm tells the audience that he had decided to model his newly formed organization after the Organization of African Unity, as he was impressed by how all nations were willing to work toward the elimination of colonialism by disregarding all differences. After a detailed explanation of the purpose of the OAAU, he continues with the "Basic Aims and Objectives of the Organization of Afro American Unity;" and dives into his ideograph. Beginning with establishment, Malcolm helps guide the audience by explaining why the sole purpose of it. Self-defense preaches that self-preservation is the first law of nature, and that the audience possesses the right to protect themselves and their property by whatever means necessary. Education focuses on the audience's right to educate themselves as a means of rediscovering and preserving their identity. During the politics economics section of the speech, the audience is reminded of the two powers within the United States that are structured to hold African Americans back. The arrangement and powerful delivery of each of these sections galvanized the audience and replenished their sense of empowerment. After revitalizing the audience, Malcom moves to the operational part of the organization, now that they are mesmerized, and explains the modest membership fees. The conclusion of this speech consisted of more details on the organization and its separation from the beliefs and practices of Black Muslims. Malcom X was not responding to a specific situation with his speech, not that he needed to do so. The racial turmoil of 60s was drastic enough for him to speak on. The outrage that flooded cities across the nation (particularly in the south) fueled his passion thereby allowing him to deliver a clear cut message with the help of newfound knowledge he acquired overseas. As mentioned before, Malcolm is separating himself From one hand, there was Martin Luther King, who was the preacher of the civil rights and liberty across the globe, regardless of race, gender and nationality. On the other hand, thereduti was Elijah Muhammed's Nation of Islam, founded in Detroit

The Feast of the Tabernacles Essays

The Feast of the Tabernacles Essays The Feast of the Tabernacles Essay The Feast of the Tabernacles Essay Essay Topic: East Of Eden The Feast of the Tabernacles Name: Course: Date: The Feast of the Tabernacles The Feast of the Tabernacles is considered as among the seven annual biblical festivals. The feast was introduced to the Israelites during the exodus. It is considered as a pilgrimage whereby all Jews journeyed to Jerusalem to observe the feast. As one of the feasts observed by the Jews, The Feast of the Tabernacles is considered as a means provided by God in order to fulfill his plan for mankind. This feast is deemed as a banquet that was a celebration of the blessings of God that were provided in abundance in order to coincide with the harvesting which occurred during fall. The Feast of the Tabernacles is also a representation of God’s faith to the Israelites after their exodus from captivity in Egypt, a memorial of their wandering through the wilderness, and life in the tabernacles. Essentially, the deepest meaning to Christians from the feast is the return of Christ and the commemoration of his return for his rule on earth. Literature provides that Jesus was probably born during the fall period that is relative to The Feast of the Tabernacles. The coinciding events, the birth of Christ, and the season of harvesting in the fall were an indication of the abundance of the blessings of God (Stalley, 2000). Christ is termed as man’s greatest gift from God. God provided mankind with Jesus Christ as an indication of his willingness to provide man with an avenue to redeem himself and reunite with God. Essentially it was an indication of the desire by God for man to save himself after the disappointing fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. Hence The Feast of the Tabernacles is essentially fulfilled in the second coming of Christ. The second coming will provide Christ with an opportunity to tabernacle among his flock. This will be made possible as Jesus Christ will assume the title King of kings and Lord of lords and ensuring that he provides rests to all the burdened (Towns, 2002). Mankind is burdened with sin and misfortunes attributable to the fall of humanity. The second coming is termed as the ultimate and climax of The Feast of the Tabernacles. This is because mankind will rejoice at the second coming of Christ as he will provide mankind with the much needed rest from their daily burdens of sin. Additionally, the reunion of Christ with mankind is joyous as this will provide mankind with the chance for eternal redemption and a place with the Creator and Son of God in the Kingdom of God. The symbolic return of Christ is symbolic in that it indicates that achievement of eternal existence and the loss of burdens of sins and achievement of happiness and joy brought about by the resurrection of Christ and his attainment of the throne (Stalley, 2000). The achievement of the eternal life marks a pivotal point for mankind. Hence Jesus could be termed as a symbol of the feast, which is the attainment of eternal life and peace. In addition, his resurrection, ascent and return to earth for a reunion with his disciples is similar to the exodus of the Israelites from the Egyptians where they were held in captive. In addition, it is also a reward from God to the Israelites for their belief in God to lead them to the Promised Land (Morris, 1989). Hence Jesus made a promise to mankind that he would return to save those who had faith in him and who believed in his teachings. More so, it was an indication of His second coming to take his people home. Such a reunion of the body in Christ is also similar to The Feast of the Tabernacles whereby all people brought together their harvests, sacrifices and offerings. In conclusion, The Feast of the Tabernacles is symbolic to the life of Christ and his coming into the world (White, 1971). His birth in Jerusalem is presumed to have occurred during that harvest in the fall, a period which people congregated in Jerusalem in order to celebrate The Feast of the Tabernacles. This was a means of rejoicing to God for his abundance in blessings. Additionally, The Feast of the Tabernacles reaches a climax in the second coming of Christ whereby he indicates the end to human suffering and the achievement of eternal life. References Morris, L. (1989). Jesus is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company. Stalley, R. A. (2000). George Edmund Street and the restoration of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Dublin: Four Courts Press. Towns, E. L. (2002). The Gospel of John: Believe and Live: Twenty-First Century Biblical. Ed. Mal Couch and Ed Hindson. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers. White, J. (1971). The second coming of Christ: Or, A brief exposition of Matthew Twenty-four. Battle Creek, Mich: Steam Press of the Seventh-day Adventist Pub. Association.

Email Lessons from Spanish.About.Com

Email Lessons from Spanish.About.Com Need a reminder to learn a little Spanish each day? Are you looking for some quick lessons, or a random sampling of what Spanish has to offer? If so, one of our email courses may be what youre looking for. Each of our email courses features useful information as well as links to lessons and/or vocabulary pages on the site. Heres what we offer: : This is our most popular email course. Each day you will receive a new vocabulary word along with its definition and an example of its usage in a sentence. Most of the vocabulary is at an intermediate or advanced level, although even beginners can benefit from seeing how these words are used in the sample sentences. Each daily installment also has links to a lesson on vocabulary or grammar. : If youre brand new to learning Spanish, this is the email course for you. We use mostly basic words, and we keep the sample sentences straightforward so that you can better see how the words are being used. Once you finish this course, youll be ready for the regular Word of the Day. : Just what its title implies, the mini-course features links to lessons in basic Spanish. By studying a few lessons each day, the beginning student will have a knowledge of the basic concepts of Spanish grammar as well as learn some of the most essential words of the language. : Each day you receive a Spanish proverb, saying or quotation along with its translation in English the following day. This series of mini-lessons lasts about six months.

Japanese Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Japanese Economy - Essay Example An important indicator of that achievement is that Japan continues to be the only non-western nation to have had the ambition of ruling the world and the only non-western country to have implemented a policy of attempting to subjugate the whole world in modern history. Japanese economy has been described as a success in 1980s but the decade of the 1990s was a lost decade. However, data indicate that situation may have to be more accurately described. For instance, in Figure 1, we see that if gross domestic product or GDP per capita figures are not adjusted for inflation, it would appear that Japanese economy appears to be alright until the mid-1990s. However, beginning in the mid-1990s, the Japanese economy appeared to have plunged downward and started to recover sometime at the beginning of the 21st century, if not for the Fukushima nuclear and tsunami disasters of 2011. Figure 1 is a graph from the website of the Intellectual Takeout while Figure 2 is my own reconstruction of Japan’s GDP in $ at current prices based on data set of the International Monetary Fund. At least for Japan, the insight that can be obtained based on the GDP per capita in $ is that the key insight that can be developed from Figure 1 is correct: Japanese economy was on a steady rise from 1980 to around 1995 but nose-dived before slowly recovering upward. Figure 3 compare the GDP per capita in current US$ of select countries and compare them with Japan. It is worth noting that Figure 3 suggests that in terms of GDP per capita, the overall context is that Japan still belongs to the bigger league of strong nations although Japan has been weaker in the last several years. In contrast, China may be a big economy (and some report the economy as the second biggest economy) but in GDP per capita dollar terms, the citizens of Japan appear to be in a better situation than China. Meanwhile, the key insight that can be derived from Figure 4 is that globally, the

5)'There is very little justice in the Criminal Justice System.' Essay

5)'There is very little justice in the Criminal Justice System.' Discuss - Essay Example The principle of criminal law is to offer the particular definition of what makes up a crime and to stipulate punishments for committing such a crime (Harr et al, 2012:15). No criminal law can be legitimate unless it includes both of these factors. The focus of criminal justice is, mainly concerned with the enforcement of criminal law. The National Archives, UK, deem that the chief objectives of the Criminal Justice System are to deliver justice for the inhabitants. This is done by the punishing and convicting the guilty, while aiding them to stop offending, at the same time protecting the innocent. The CJS in the UK is liable crime prevention and maintenance of justice, as well as other court duties including the collection of fines. The main functions of Criminal Justice Systems are the same all over the world, and their procedure for delivering justice are somewhat the same (The national archives 2010). On a global platform, we have the International Criminal Justice that specializes in International criminal law, which deals with individuals who are held responsible for crimes such as aggression, genocide, slavery, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture. Subsequent to World Wars one and two, the notion of an individual being held criminally accountable in an international field came into focus, predo minantly after the tribunals in Nuremberg that revealed Nazi leadership. Nowadays, many individuals who commit international crimes are prosecuted in international tribunals and mostly in the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Rome Statute created the ICC, which started operations on the 1st of July 2002. The ICC is governed by international laws, to provide justice for international crimes like genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression (Bekou & Cryer, 2004:26). It was projected to complement existing national judicial systems, and it can only

Mobile computing and wireless communication Essay

Mobile computing and wireless communication - Essay Example This exploratory approach towards making things small yet sophisticated promises much more for the future. While analyzing the evolution [2] of mobile technology, it can be safely assumed that the size and power consumption patterns are on a decline while the bandwidths available for communication will continue to increase. Such trends lead us to believe that mobile communication is bound to play an increasingly important role in everyday life through a variety of new applications often referred to as "ubiquitous or pervasive" computing. The emergence of powerful portable computing devices, along with the advances in wireless communication technologies, has made mobile computing a reality. Sensor Networks: One typical application for mobile communication is the sensor network, used for gathering information about the surroundings of the mobile equipment. Such a network consists of small integrated devices scattered over a specified area in order to collect and share information. The goal in undertaking such exercise is to discretely observe, augment, analyze or control an environment in an automated manner. Mobile networks got further enhancement with the help of wireless communication and sophisticated sensors. ... work on the basis of fixed cell based infrastructure. Coverage is provided by base stations which manage the radio resources from a central location thus integrating the services. Depending upon the area being covered by the cell, certain amount of bandwidth is allocated for mobile subscribers. These cells make use of location-based routing protocols for transfer of information packets from sources to destination. Depending upon the bandwidth allocated, an upper limit is fixed for the number of subscribers that one cell can support. Sensor networks, in particular require to support a large number of 'subscribers', resulting in an increase in density per cell. Such networks are often used for short-range temporary communication. Therefore, implementing an infrastructure supporting such a large sensor network becomes very expensive. Mobile ad hoc networks [3, 4] on the other hand allow direct communication between wireless devices operating within the nearby areas and short distances of each other. Such devices prove to be very useful in disaster prone areas. In case of disaster, whole communication infrastructure may be destroyed. In such cases the intercommunicating ability of mobile ad-hoc networks within short range proves to be very useful. For communicating between two mobile devices which are located beyond range are the method of forward messaging messages via intermediate neighbors is used. Decentralization of an ad hoc communication network also eliminates the need for a fixed infrastructure, and results in greater cost reductions. The most widespread notion of a mobile ad hoc network is a network formed without any central administration which consists of mobile nodes that use a wireless interface to send data

'At the end of the day, competition is the only thing that motivates - Essay

'At the end of the day, competition is the only thing that motivates - the theories revisited' - Essay Example The responsibility of a manager lies in lifting employees from on level to the next one. The approval of primary or the basic needs does not create contentment; the denial of which however unleashes new phase of discontent. At this time the secondary requirements begin to take the control. Physiological needs are the basic needs which a human being requires for his or her survival. This is the most powerful of all needs. This group includes need for oxygen, food, drink, protection from extreme temperature etc. In an organizational context the basic needs of an employee is represented by his concern for remuneration and fundamental working conditions. It is the responsibility of a manager to ensure the fulfillment of basic needs of the employees, so that the latter can strive to attain the next level in hierarchy. Once the primary needs are satisfied, safety needs arise as motivators. This set of needs correlate to factors like job security, safe working environment, salary increment etc. Managerial practices to ensure employees’ safety needs include insurance, pension scheme, provident fund, secured work conditions and many more. The needs for the sense of belonging and love comprise the third phase in the pyramid of needs. This type of needs manifests itself i n the craving for compatible task group, acceptance from the peers, professional friendship and more on. Effective supervision with friendly behavior pays off. In an organizational environment self esteem comes from job title, challenging work, responsibility, and recognition from peers and supervisors. Self actualization is associated with the desire for excellence and scope for innovation in the job place. This theory has been highly appreciated for providing an effective tool to the managers in motivating their subordinates to strive towards excellence and innovation (Learning Southwest, n.d). The dual factor theory was based on the survey conducted on approximately

Physical security Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Physical security - Term Paper Example How these threats occur and what techniques an intruder may use to enter into and hack a system, has been given a consideration. Next, the approaches that can be used for the determent of physical attacks and the security measures that can be taken to secure the hardware, network and the power supply, have been discussed in detail. Suggestions have been given to improve measures to deter political security threats which are growing in today’s world of increasing violence. Proper monitoring of physical security systems is also very important and has been talked about. This report provides a good and basic understanding of the field of physical security and its importance in sustaining livelihood and success of an organization or a home-made business with a foolproof system to avoid physical access of the enemy. Physical security is generally defined as the measures taken to ensure the security of workforce, system devices and equipment, resources, documents and sensitive information stored on physical media (like hardware programs and networks) from damaging proceedings like unauthorized access, fire, espionage, burglary, theft, vandalism, accidental loss or intentional crime that could cause severe harm to an activity, organization or establishment. In addition to this, physical security also provides assistance on scheming of such structures which help in deterring hostile operations. In terms of computers and internet, physical security is defined as a blockade placed about a computing system using secured operating systems and other protective measures to prevent unauthorized access to the information stored on it. This kind of physical security can also be referred to as computer security or cyber security or logical security in which information is protected by operating systems and special softwares from unauthorized access. Moreover, the physical security of hardware has to be made

Introduce your research topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Introduce your research topic - Essay Example The first element is a state of human mind that is beyond that of other animals and this means consideration of happiness must go beyond what animals can feel. A consistent attitude over a long period and that is strong enough to overcome challenges is another element of happiness and this disqualifies short-term pleasures from being categorized as happiness. The long-term attitude must further be of satisfaction with a person’s environment and embedded in the person’s mind. The definition identifies significance of factors that influence a person’s attitude to happiness of the role of mediator factors on effects of the primary factors on a person’s level of happiness. An understanding of the actual definitions of spirituality and religion is therefore important for investigating and explaining possible effects of the two factors on happiness. Spirituality is the aspect of a person’s inner being and how the person relate to his or her environment. It has been associated with such concepts as morality, holiness, and sanctity (Young and Koopsen 9, 10). Religion is, however, the practical manifestation of spirituality and is often visible through such aspects as culture and behavior. It is a social characteristic, unlike spirituality that is an individual trait and may be embedded too deep to be perceived from an outward look (Young and Koopsen 89, 90). The two however defines an individual’s personality, the individual’s interaction with the environment, and are therefore important in a person’s attitude towards contentment with the environment. A person’s moral conscience, an element of spirituality that can be manifested in behavior, can therefore define the individual’s value for other people in an environment and the people’s possessions. An understanding that spirit cont rols forces in an individual’s environment and that it is not an individual’s responsibility to

Physical security Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Physical security - Term Paper Example How these threats occur and what techniques an intruder may use to enter into and hack a system, has been given a consideration. Next, the approaches that can be used for the determent of physical attacks and the security measures that can be taken to secure the hardware, network and the power supply, have been discussed in detail. Suggestions have been given to improve measures to deter political security threats which are growing in today’s world of increasing violence. Proper monitoring of physical security systems is also very important and has been talked about. This report provides a good and basic understanding of the field of physical security and its importance in sustaining livelihood and success of an organization or a home-made business with a foolproof system to avoid physical access of the enemy. Physical security is generally defined as the measures taken to ensure the security of workforce, system devices and equipment, resources, documents and sensitive information stored on physical media (like hardware programs and networks) from damaging proceedings like unauthorized access, fire, espionage, burglary, theft, vandalism, accidental loss or intentional crime that could cause severe harm to an activity, organization or establishment. In addition to this, physical security also provides assistance on scheming of such structures which help in deterring hostile operations. In terms of computers and internet, physical security is defined as a blockade placed about a computing system using secured operating systems and other protective measures to prevent unauthorized access to the information stored on it. This kind of physical security can also be referred to as computer security or cyber security or logical security in which information is protected by operating systems and special softwares from unauthorized access. Moreover, the physical security of hardware has to be made

We Are All Madoffs, We Are All Human Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 27

We Are All Madoffs, We Are All Human - Essay Example The crucial argument against the article written by professor Barash, entitled â€Å"We are all Madoffs†, is that it puts greater importance on the environment as the end, whereas true economists place human life as the end to all his endeavors. There is a critical error in the assumption of the writer that we are all Madoffs simply because of â€Å"modern civilization’s exploitation of the natural environment† (Barash): The difference lies in the fact that Madoff has been exploiting other men for his own benefit. By the very mode of operation of Ponzi schemes, Madoff has no responsibility for the people under him including if they fail in their investments in the company. He also cannot be held accountable by the government because the extent of his operations depends on people getting more people, nor is he taxed for all his earnings. We, as an economic force, utilize, and perhaps to some extent, exploit the environment and its resources. Madoff, on the other h and, exploited people for his own profit and he has completely ignored the dignity of human life. The use of resources as means to an end is justifiable because resources are there precisely to improve human conditions. Madoff and his Ponzi scheme used people as means to his own end, to improve his own condition. According to Adam Smith, we as individuals are â€Å"led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of (our) intention† (Barash). That end is the improvement of human life- and fulfilling this end makes us nothing like Madoff. This argument about â€Å"our fundamental relationship to the natural world† can swing both ways, just as the argument of population growth can have its advantages and disadvantages. One can view population growth in a purely detrimental outlook: more needs and wants to satisfy means more produce required means more carbon emissions and pollution.

Corporate finance Essay Example for Free

Corporate finance Essay There are three main reasons companies purchase investments in debt or stock securities. The first reason is if corporations have extra cash that they don’t need for immediate purchase of operating assets. The second reason is; Companies purchase investments to generate earnings from investment income. The third reason companies purchase investments is for strategic reasons. A company can exercise some influence over a customer by owning a significant, but not controlling, interest in that company. Or, a company may purchase a non controlling interest in another company in a related industry in which it wishes to establish a presence. (Weygandt, Kimmel, Kieso, 2010). Sometimes corporations will have excess cash for investment reasomns. It may invest in things, incase in the future the economy falls then it has money to fall back on when money is gone, or low. 3. Low-risk, high-liquidity, short-term securities such as government-issued securities are best when investing for short periods of time. 4. Debt securities, from banks and other financial institutions and stock securities from mutual funds and pension funds generate earnings when investing. 5. 6. Stocks of companies in a related industry or in an unrelated industry that the company wishes to enter Q: E12-2 Foren Corporation had the following transactions pertaining to debt investments. Jan. 1 Purchased 50 8%, $1,000 Choate Co. bonds for $50,000 cash plus brokerage fees of $900. Interest is payable semiannually on July 1 and January 1. July 1 Received semiannual interest on Choate Co. bonds. July 1 Sold 30 Choate Co. bonds for $34,000 less $500 brokerage fees. Instructions (a) Journalize the transactions. (b) Prepare the adjusting entry for the accrual of interest at December 31. A. Jan. 1 Debt investments $50,900 Cash $50,900 July 1 Cash $2000 Interest rev.$2000 July 1 Cash $33,500 Debt Investment $33,540 Gain on sale $2,960 Dec. 31 Interest receivable $2000 Interest revenue $2000 References Weygandt, J. J., Kimmel, P. D., Kieso, D. E. (2010). Financial accounting (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons.

Interaction Between Major Environmental Systems

Interaction Between Major Environmental Systems ‘Explain how the major environmental systems (atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere and biosphere) interact and are interrelated’ In this assignment I will discuss and explain how our four major environmental systems the atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere and biosphere interact and are interrelated. I will explain each one individually then go onto detailing how they link with one another with examples of photosynthesis, respiration and precipitation with the help of conceptual diagrams, lecture notes and my own personal knowledge. Our planet is made up of four basic ‘spheres’ or also known as ‘the four great realms of earth’ (Strahler and Strahler, 1994, pp. 7-7). Each serves a purpose and is interrelated with one-another and requires each other to form the life-cycle we live in. Figure 1 below shows a basic form of how our four main environmental systems interact: Figure 1: Interactive processes (Lal, Kimble, and Follett, 1997, 4.) Our atmosphere consists of many elements and plays an important part in making our planet inhabitable and sustainable for life. It comprises of around 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon and a small trace of gases such as carbon dioxide (earth system pp). There are also several layers which can be split up which are the Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere and the Ionosphere (White, 1984, pp. 71 -71). The atmosphere today has been derived from the Earth itself by chemical and biochemical reactions (White, 1984, pp. 68 68) and also plays a vital role in creating our Earth’s weather systems. The hydrosphere is the Earth’s liquid cycle; it contains our rivers, lakes, oceans, streams, glaciers and groundwater and is linked into our water cycle. It’s our most dominate environmental system and covers around 70% of the earth’s surface which it contrives of features for plants and animals to inhabit. It also contains 1.4 billion cubic kilometres of water and water is essential to life and required for the survival of organisms (Strahler Strahler, 1999, pp. 7 7). The biosphere can be referred as the part of our environmental system where life exists. The term biosphere is used to describe either this veneer of life, or these organisms together with the surface environments in which they interact (White, 1984, pp. 128 128). It consists of abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components and it extends from our deepest oceans all the way to around 10km above sea level (earth system pp) and incorporates all different kinds of organisms and species. The Pedosphere is the Earth’s outer layer which contrive of soils and soil formations. It can also be linked in with the Lithosphere but has its own determined category. It provides a solid foundation for sustainability for plants and other organisms to live. The major factors influencing soil and soil development are parent material, climate, vegetation and time (Strahler Strahler, 1999, pp. 240 240). There are two main classes of soils which are primary and secondary which vary in terms of substance. Photosynthesis is the process by which higher plants, algae, and certain species of bacterial transform and store solar energy in the form of energy-rich organic molecules (Eaton-Rye, Tripathy, Sharkey, 2011, pp 1-1) and is a direct interaction between the atmosphere and biosphere. The process occurs from when the sun releases energy rays into our atmosphere which are absorbed by the biosphere within plants via their leaves, they then use this energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen, sugar and starch which is used as a food source by plants. Plants contain chloroplasts which makes the scenario of photosynthesis possible. They then release oxygen back into our atmosphere which humans intake and release back carbon dioxide to complete the cycle. This interaction between the atmosphere and biosphere in terms of collaborating and enhancing organisms. Photosynthesis also contributes towards ‘fossil fuels’ (i.e., coals, oil, and gas) that power the industrial s ociety. The fuels provide energy to fuel factories, homes and also raw materials such as plastics and other materials (Bassham, 2014). Figure 2 below shows the basic process in which photosynthesis occurs and how the cycle works: Figure 2: Diagram showing Photosynthesis (n. d.) In return, respiration occurs from the process of photosynthesis in animals and plant life contributing to the atmosphere where energy is released from glucose and other substances. Respiration, which occurs in mitochondrial and bacterial membranes, utilizes energy present in organic molecules to fuel a wide range of metabolic reactions critical for cell growth and development (Eaton-Rye, Tripathy, Sharkey, 2011, pp 1-1). There are two types of respiration, the first being aerobic which are common in all higher plants and animals and the process occurs within living cells and oxygen. It is a permanent process that continues throughout the life of plants and animals. The second is anaerobic and is common in microorganisms but very rare in higher plants and animals. The process occurs in the absence of oxygen and can be toxic to plants and animals (‘Major Differences’, n.d.). Respiration breaks down food molecules which occur inside cells to release energy, this is known as the oxygen cycle which animals and humans consume oxygen discharged by plants through the basis of metabolism. Carbon dioxide is then released by animals and humans in which plants then absorb and the whole cycle begins again starting with photosynthesis which forms part of an interrelated system and sustainability for life. Figure 3 below shows the process of the oxygen cycle with respiration between animals and plants in working order: Figure 3: The Oxygen Cycle (n.d) Precipitation is a direct interaction between the hydrosphere and the atmosphere. Water exists in the air in the form of humidity, clouds, fog and precipitation (Introducing physical geography p 77). Precipitation can form in two ways. In the first, cloud droplets collide and coalesce into larger and larger water droplets that fall as rain. In the second, ice crystals form and grow in a cloud that contains a mixture of both ice crystals and water droplets (Strahler Strahler, 1999, pp. 86 86). There are many forms of precipitation which include rain, freezing rain, snow, sleet and hail which form a part of the water cycle. It also plays a part in creating our weather system which can affect the environmental systems on our planet. Rain develops when the droplets clouds hold become too heavy to sustain and eventually fall to the ground producing rain. Rain can also start out as being small ice crystals which then turn into snowflakes and as the temperature gets warmer with the flakes falling they warm up and melt into rain droplets. These rain drops can benefit organisms in the biosphere such as plants for food and growth. Snow is formed by the process of water vapour turning into ice crystals from within clouds, the process is called sublimation (‘Sublimation from Snow and Ice’, n.d.) and the snow never melts on its way down to the ground. Hail is the process of where raindrops collaborate and freeze and when the clumps get too heavy for clouds to hold they fall to the ground. Hail can form in all different sizes from tiny pebble shapes to anything up to the size of a cricket ball. Sleet is the simple form of frozen raindrops which melt then refreeze in sleet as it falls to the ground. It begins as either rain or snow which falls through layers of cold air which contains temperatures below freezing. Figure 4 below shows the water cycle with precipitation incorporated into it: Figure 4: The water Cycle ‘USGS’ U.S Dept. of the Interior, U.S Geological Survey In conclusion our planet contrives of many different environments which contain contrasting forms of organisms and life. Us as humans have categorised and produced cycles in which all these processes occur. The cycles play a major role in how life is sustained on our planet and each cycle relies and interacts with one another in maintaining the constant flow needed. Having these processes helps us understand how things work and how we can help make a difference to insuring to managing our environment for future generations. Word count References: Bassham, J. A. (2014, August 27). Photosynthesis (biology). In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/458172/photosynthesis (n. d.) Retrieved 6 December 2014, from https://biochemunrated.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/jgjffjf.jpg (n.d.) Retrieved 30 November 2014, from http://www.ecoregionproject.weebly.com/nitrogen-oxygen-and-carbon-cycles.html Major Differences. (n.d.) Retrieved 6 December 2014, from http://www.majordifferences.com/2013/05/difference-between-aerobic-and.html Sublimation from Snow and Ice. (n.d). Retrieved 7 December 2014, from http://link.springer.com/referenceworkenentry/10.1007/978-90-481-2642-2_686 The Water Cycle. (n.d.). Retrieved 7 December 2014, from http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html Bibliography: Dury, G. H. (1981). Introduction to Environmental Systems: Tchrs’. United Kingdom: Heinemann. Eaton-Rye, J., Tripathy, B. C., Sharkey, T. (2011). Photosynthesis: Plastid Biology, Energy Conversion and Carbon Assimilation. Gresswell, R. K., Cooper, H. J. (1971). The geography of the earth as a globe. Amersham: Hulton Educational Publications Ltd. Organizations, B. on I.S and Affairs, P. and G. (2009) Frontiers in Soil Science Research: Report of a Workshop. United States: National Academies Press. Strahler, A. and Strahler, A. (1994) Introducing Physical Geography. United States: John Wiley and Sons (WIE). White, I. (1984) Environmental Systems. London: Chapman Hall.

The Effects of a Change in the Minimum Wage Essay -- Economics Workfor

The Effects of a Change in the Minimum Wage In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed and ever since, the United States has required that all firms that do at least $500,000 worth of business per year pay their workers a minimum wage (â€Å"Handy† n.pag.). Because it affects so many workers in so many different aspects of the economy, the minimum wage plays a big part in the cost of labor and how firms deal with those costs. A change in the minimum wage, which would seemingly affect only workers, can actually be felt sometimes all the way down to the consumer, who might end up paying for it in the end—unless the firm finds another way to pay for the mandatory raise for all its workers, such as a decrease in its workforce or a change in the production process. These changes the consumer might not noticeably feel. A change in the minimum wage has several short-term and long-term effects on the economy that can be either beneficial or devastating to society at large. The arguments for and against the minimum wage have been ongoing. On one hand, it’s simply a supply and demand issue. As prices (or wages) rise, the demand for that product (or labor) decreases—in other words, employers will simply stop or slow down their hiring. If the minimum wage increases too much, then it could even force some smaller firms out of business. Then even more people will be out of work. On the other hand, better paid employees could feel more motivation to increase their productivity. And increase in a company’s productivity could be high enough that, in order to keep up supply, it might need to hire even more employees. In this case, raising the minimum wage has increased employment. So who’s right? Almost all studies of minimum wage ef... ... "Handy Reference Guide." ESA/WHD: Wage Hour Division Home Page. U.S. Department of Labor. 21 April 2001 . Neumark, David and William Wascher. "Employment Effects of Minimum and Subminimum Wages: Panel Data on State Minimum Wage Laws." Industrial & Labor Relations Review Oct 1992: 55. EBSCOhost MasterFILE Premier. 22 April 2001 . Partridge, Mark D. and Jamie S. Partridge. "Do Minimum Wage Hikes Reduce Employment? State-Level Evidence from the Low-Wage Retail Sector." Journal of Labor Research Summer 1999: 393. EBSCOhost MasterFILE Premier. 22 April 2001 . Wimmer, Bradley S. "The Minimum Wage and Productivity Differentials." Journal of Labor Research Fall 2000: 649. EBSCOhost MasterFILE Premier. 22 April 2001 .

Minimum Wage Good or Bad

Minimum Wage Good or Bad Rachel L. Hathaway Professor Myung Han Economic Problems and Issues – ECO 40500816 March 15, 2009 Whether minimum wage is good or bad, has been an ongoing debate since before 1938 when the government set the first federal minimum wage at $0. 25/hr thanks to the Fair Labor Standards Act. The federal minimum wage is currently at $6. 55/hr with yet another increase to come July 24, 2009 to begin the federal minimum wage up to $7. 25/hr. Minimum wage was ideally set to help the working poor to stay out of poverty. Let’s do the math $6. 5* 2080=$13624 per year. 2008 HHS Poverty Guidelines SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 15, January 23, 2008, pp. 3971–3972 Well, based on the 2008 poverty guidelines if you are a single person you are considered above the poverty line, however, if you are a head of household say a single parent with a child you now fall below the poverty line. It is easy to see that minimum wage will not cut it to make end s meet and provide for just basic needs for food and shelter and the need for child care that you have to have in order to work for the minimum wage of $6. 55/Hr. A hike in minimum wage is fun to talk about, but, in the end, economically speaking, it isn’t a worthy option. Higher wages mean higher costs, which mean higher prices across the board. With a $10 minimum wage, the ninety-nine-cent value menu at Wendy’s becomes the $1. 99 value menu, and so on, so what’s the point? If $7 an hour isn’t supporting your current lifestyle, then you have other options: a) team up with a friend or family member to help cover living expenses, B) change your lifestyle, or C) use that job as the stepping stone it is meant to be in you quest for better opportunities. Shepard, 2008, page 229-230) Ok so the minimum wage is increasing to $7. 25 in July 2009 that will make the annual income a total of $15,080. Congratulation! Single parents working at minimum wage you are now technically above the poverty line, however, you can almost bet on the cost to purchase everyday items to also go up as well. Economically in a mixed market like o urs in the US this is the normal course of things as costs to produce goods or services go up so will the sales price for the goods or ervices will follow suit to compensate for the increased labor cost, i. e. the $0. 70 raise from $6. 55/Hr to $7. 25/Hr come July. I found that even though we have federal minimum wage-state minimum wages vary widely with â€Å"27 states + DC being above the federal minimum, 12 states being equal to federal minimum wage rates, 6 being less than minimum wage, and 5 states do not have a minimum wage rate at all. â€Å"Note: Where Federal and state law have different minimum wage rates the higher standard applies. †Ã¢â‚¬  (WHD, 2008, consolidated table and p. 1) Why do the states vary so? The cost of living of within each state is so different the main logical reasoning. Some states are proactive with their higher wages by linking their increases to the Consumer Price Index in hopes to keep up with inflation. Others are lower but are held to the federal minimum wage anyway. The attempt to at least keep up with inflation is an honorable one however the output effect of inflation seems to keep the wages on the lagging side. You would expect minimum wage workers to typically be teenagers or young adults working their first jobs trying to gain skills and experience. However, many older adults are also filling those minimum wage jobs as while taking away taking away valuable experience needed to move on to higher paying positions. So how do we make more jobs? In our current state of recession in this country and the jobless rate mounting, we should consider placing a freeze on the minimum wage instead of adding to the unemployment rate with the next increase due in July 2009. By holding wages steady businesses are more likely to hire more laborers instead of letting go of laborers due to increase costs. We need all the help we can get to lower or at least slow the unemployment rate. It is estimated that for every one entry level/minimum wage position opening there are now 5 to 7 applicants. Minimum wage, good or bad, it is not helping those it was intending too. References Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and Dimed. New York: Owl Books Henry Holt and Company, LLC Messerli, J. (2007, December) A 20-Point Plan for Fixing America. Retrieved March 10, 2009 from http://www. balancedpolitics. org/editorial-point_plan. htm Sharp, A. , Register, P. , and Grimes, P. (2008). ECO 405 Economic Problems and Issues third custom edition. USA: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Shepard, A. (2008). Scratch Beginnings. Chapel Hill, NC: SB Press The 2008 HHS Poverty G _uidelines, _One Version of the [U. S. ] Federal Poverty Measure. (2009, February). Retrieved March 13, 2009 from http://aspe. hhs. gov/poverty/08poverty. shtml WHD. _ _(2008, December), Minimum Wage Laws in the States – January 1, 2009, Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http://www. dol. gov/esa/minwage/america. htm Wikipedia. (2009, February), Minimum wage in the United States, Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Minimum_wage_in theUnited_States Minimum Wage Good or Bad Minimum Wage Good or Bad Rachel L. Hathaway Professor Myung Han Economic Problems and Issues – ECO 40500816 March 15, 2009 Whether minimum wage is good or bad, has been an ongoing debate since before 1938 when the government set the first federal minimum wage at $0. 25/hr thanks to the Fair Labor Standards Act. The federal minimum wage is currently at $6. 55/hr with yet another increase to come July 24, 2009 to begin the federal minimum wage up to $7. 25/hr. Minimum wage was ideally set to help the working poor to stay out of poverty. Let’s do the math $6. 5* 2080=$13624 per year. 2008 HHS Poverty Guidelines SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 15, January 23, 2008, pp. 3971–3972 Well, based on the 2008 poverty guidelines if you are a single person you are considered above the poverty line, however, if you are a head of household say a single parent with a child you now fall below the poverty line. It is easy to see that minimum wage will not cut it to make end s meet and provide for just basic needs for food and shelter and the need for child care that you have to have in order to work for the minimum wage of $6. 55/Hr. A hike in minimum wage is fun to talk about, but, in the end, economically speaking, it isn’t a worthy option. Higher wages mean higher costs, which mean higher prices across the board. With a $10 minimum wage, the ninety-nine-cent value menu at Wendy’s becomes the $1. 99 value menu, and so on, so what’s the point? If $7 an hour isn’t supporting your current lifestyle, then you have other options: a) team up with a friend or family member to help cover living expenses, B) change your lifestyle, or C) use that job as the stepping stone it is meant to be in you quest for better opportunities. Shepard, 2008, page 229-230) Ok so the minimum wage is increasing to $7. 25 in July 2009 that will make the annual income a total of $15,080. Congratulation! Single parents working at minimum wage you are now technically above the poverty line, however, you can almost bet on the cost to purchase everyday items to also go up as well. Economically in a mixed market like o urs in the US this is the normal course of things as costs to produce goods or services go up so will the sales price for the goods or ervices will follow suit to compensate for the increased labor cost, i. e. the $0. 70 raise from $6. 55/Hr to $7. 25/Hr come July. I found that even though we have federal minimum wage-state minimum wages vary widely with â€Å"27 states + DC being above the federal minimum, 12 states being equal to federal minimum wage rates, 6 being less than minimum wage, and 5 states do not have a minimum wage rate at all. â€Å"Note: Where Federal and state law have different minimum wage rates the higher standard applies. †Ã¢â‚¬  (WHD, 2008, consolidated table and p. 1) Why do the states vary so? The cost of living of within each state is so different the main logical reasoning. Some states are proactive with their higher wages by linking their increases to the Consumer Price Index in hopes to keep up with inflation. Others are lower but are held to the federal minimum wage anyway. The attempt to at least keep up with inflation is an honorable one however the output effect of inflation seems to keep the wages on the lagging side. You would expect minimum wage workers to typically be teenagers or young adults working their first jobs trying to gain skills and experience. However, many older adults are also filling those minimum wage jobs as while taking away taking away valuable experience needed to move on to higher paying positions. So how do we make more jobs? In our current state of recession in this country and the jobless rate mounting, we should consider placing a freeze on the minimum wage instead of adding to the unemployment rate with the next increase due in July 2009. By holding wages steady businesses are more likely to hire more laborers instead of letting go of laborers due to increase costs. We need all the help we can get to lower or at least slow the unemployment rate. It is estimated that for every one entry level/minimum wage position opening there are now 5 to 7 applicants. Minimum wage, good or bad, it is not helping those it was intending too. References Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and Dimed. New York: Owl Books Henry Holt and Company, LLC Messerli, J. (2007, December) A 20-Point Plan for Fixing America. Retrieved March 10, 2009 from http://www. balancedpolitics. org/editorial-point_plan. htm Sharp, A. , Register, P. , and Grimes, P. (2008). ECO 405 Economic Problems and Issues third custom edition. USA: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Shepard, A. (2008). Scratch Beginnings. Chapel Hill, NC: SB Press The 2008 HHS Poverty G _uidelines, _One Version of the [U. S. ] Federal Poverty Measure. (2009, February). Retrieved March 13, 2009 from http://aspe. hhs. gov/poverty/08poverty. shtml WHD. _ _(2008, December), Minimum Wage Laws in the States – January 1, 2009, Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http://www. dol. gov/esa/minwage/america. htm Wikipedia. (2009, February), Minimum wage in the United States, Retrieved February 13, 2009, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Minimum_wage_in theUnited_States

Social and Economic Changes in the Atlantic World Due to Contacts Among Western Europe, the Americas, and Africa. Essay

From 1492 to 1750, there were many changes in the Atlantic world that were both social and economic. This occurred because of the new contact among Western Europe, the Americas, and Africa. There were several social changes that took place in Western Europe, the Americas, and Africa due to their contacts with the Atlantic world. Also, within these three regions, there were several economic changes as well. By 1750, Western Europe came to dominate both the Americas and Africa socially and economically.There were many social changes involving these three regions. When Western Europe came into contact with the Atlantic world, it underwent many changes, both good and bad. The declining of prices was helpful because it allowed the Europeans to be able to pay less for the necessities that were needed for everyday living. Now they were able to comfortably afford it. The Europeans had more money, and more of what they wanted and needed without having to worry. The Western Europeans also had more access to goods because of the 13 colonies.The colonies allowed them to obtain more necessary crops and foods that they needed to sustain a healthy lifestyle for themselves, and for their families. Industrialization was another social change, but this had more of a negative impact. Cities became overcrowded, which led to copious amounts of people living there. This is never helpful for society. The Americas contact with the Atlantic world led to several social changes. The Spanish conquistador Cortes invaded and conquered the Aztec Empire in 1519.Pizarro conquered the Incan Empire in 1532. When the Europeans invaded the New World it caused the religion of the native people to change drastically. Their religion became Christianity. The Bible was taught amongst all schools. This had an impact on all the children’s education in the Americas. They grew up learning the ways and faith of Christianity. Therefore, generations to come would grow up Christian. Source Cited: http:/ /www. antiessays. com/free-essays/341484. html

What attitudes does consumers have on purchasing genetically modified foods (GMF)?

â€Å"Genetically modified (GM) foods are food items that have had their DNA changed through genetic engineering. † (Mavis 2008). As the population of the world has continued to grow, the supply pressure of food has become more and more significant. With the development of Genetically Modified biotechnology, GM Foods have been come into our daily lives. Though GM foods can help to improve the quality of life, there are risks to complete trust in GM foods. What’s more important, a part of consumers still have doubts about the understanding towards GM food. The question† What attitudes does consumers have on purchasing genetically modified food? † is meaningful because that the issue about GM foods is becoming increasingly controversial. The controversies towards GM foods generally focus on environmental ethics, food security, poverty alleviation and environmental conservation. As customers are divided on their relative importance, some supporters claim that the GM technology can solve the problem of food crisis and poverty. They also consider that GM foods are beneficial to environment such as they can protect soil and water. However, opponents think that GM foods should have some potential threat to human health and they violate the rules of nature by mixing genes among different species. The purpose of this research is to gain a deep understand about the consumers’ attitudes towards purchasing GM foods and find out if most of consumers can accept GM foods. (Hutchison, 2004) Literature review In the last few years, many articles on the consumers’ attitudes toward GM food have appeared. There is a concise review of existing literature that evaluates consumers’ attitudes as following. Most of the information on European attitudes comes from a journal by Bredahl, Grunert, and Scholderer (2003). The article focuses on posted and answered four questions on European consumers’ attitudes towards the use of GM food. These four questions are: (1) how negative are consumer attitudes to the event â€Å"GM technology applied in food production†? (2) How do these negative attitudes affect the preference of consumer for GM products? (3) How deeply does these attitudes rooted in customers’ opinion? 4) Will the new information and experience change the customers’ attitudes? Bredahl, Grunert, and Scholderer (2003) believe that these four questions are central for understanding the consumers’ attitudes about GM food. The article use some tables to evaluate the consumers’ attitudes about genetic modification in food production in seven European countries which are the UK, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway , Italy and Sweden. The data shows that most of the customer have negative attitude towards GM food, the average support for GM foods is quite low. The national differences can also be showed through the table: the attitude is most positive in Italy, and is most negative in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, while Finland and the UK in a middle position. And the article also showed some other surveys to support this result, for example, the Eurobarometer surveys, which is a most well know one, have also shown that most of consumers do not like GM foods (Frewer & Shepherd, 1995 and Durant, Bauer & Gaskell, 1998European Commission, 1997, European Commission, 2000,) For the question how these negative attitudes affect the preference of consumer for GM foods, Bredahl, Grunert, and Scholderer (2003) have design a research about yoghurt. In general, consumers prefer the low-Fat yoghurt, but the yoghurt will become non-attractive consistency if they produced based on skimmed milk. Though using additives can improve this problem, many consumers don’t like additives. However, by using GM technology, the yoghurt can be enough consistency, fat-free and no additives. It provided a good basis for the consumer preferences. In the research, consumers inspected the three products which are normal yoghurt, additives yoghurt and labeled GM yoghurt and rank them according to preference. And they must explain the reason for the ranking. The result showed that most of consumer rank GM yoghurt to last choice. And the common reasons are that the GM technology is not familiar and not trustworthy, they don’t know if the product is healthy, and it harms nature. The conclusion is explicit: the attitude to GM food has a strong influence on the preference of consumers. The third question and the last question were researched in another study. Respondents were asked to take part in a taste test of eight cheeses. Two weeks later, they participated in another taste test which only provides two kinds of cheese. One cheese was the same taste as the one which obtain the highest preference in the first test and it was labeled â€Å"produced with genetically modified technology†; the other one was the some taste as the one which obtain a medium preference in the first test. The results showed that when the most popular cheese labeled genetically modified technology, the preference was reduced. So, the study shows the attitude on GM food is deeply rooted in consumers’ opinion and is not easily to change by experience. There are also some other important researches about consumers’ attitudes towards GM food. Hamstra (1995) evaluate the acceptance of consumers toward GM food through three studies of Dutch consumers. Product characteristics and consumer characteristics are included in these studies. In the first study, consumers participated in a face-to-face interview about their attitudes and willingness to buy nine different GM foods (Hamstra, 1991). Means-end chain theory was used in the second study to further research these aspects in some focus group discussions (Hamstra, 1993). The third study used the sample of consumers to evaluate the model which developed in the second study (Hamstra, 1995). As a result, the studies showed that perceived benefits have a greater impact on consumers’ attitudes than perceived risks and there is no link between attitudes and knowledge of the genetically modified technology. Kutznesof and Ritson (1996) investigated Irish and British consumers’ attitudes through focus group discussions. The results divided the consumers’ attitudes towards genetically modified foods into three types: â€Å"triers†, â€Å"undecided consumers† and â€Å"refusers'†. A large number of consumers were classified into the second group, and the rest of consumers were equally classified as refusing or accepting genetically modified foods. Through the research, Kutznesof and Ritson (1996) found that there are some factors can increase the acceptability of genetically modified foods such as perceived consumer-related benefits, price consciousness, increased product quality (especially the taste), and increased purity of products. They also found that the acceptability of consumers depends on the types of genetically modified foods: the genetically modified technology used on vegetables, fruits and dairy products can be more acceptable than eggs and meat. Some studies have analyzed consumers’ attitudes towards GM foods at a more broadly level. The attitudes of consumers have been proved to be more positive towards applying genetically modified technology to plants than to human genetic material or animals. Frewer, Hedderley, Howard & Shepherd, 1997) The study which completed by Cook and Moore (2002) indentifies the relative importance, nature and strength of influences on New Zealand consumers’ intentions towards purchasing genetically modified foods. The study used four methods to evaluate the consumers’ attitudes which are focus groups, the questionnaire, statistical methods and distribution. Results delivered questionnaires to 289 consumers and received 266. The respondents contain 171 females and 95 males. In the received questionnaires, 159 respondents had an intention or strong intention not to purchase GM foods, 27 respondents had an purchasing or a strong purchasing intention and 80 respondents had no intention to purchase GM foods. Through the analysis with â€Å"Ordered logit analysis† and â€Å"Marginal effects for the extended model† which related to self-identity, attitude, SN and PBC, Cook and Moore (2002) found that self-identity, attitude, SN and PBC can provide a positively influence on consumers’ attitude towards purchasing GM food. Males may more easily to feel in control over purchasing the food than females, on the contrary, females may easily to feel in control over not purchasing the genetically modified food. In addition, other related research shown that the New Zealand public may be slightly less against with purchasing GM food. A national survey about farmers’ attitudes found that 49% farmers not willing to purchase GM food and 12% farmers had positive attitudes to purchase (Cook et al. , 2000). Sallie and Michael, B (2004) choice modeling methods to analyze in what conditions the Australian consumers are willing to purchase GM food, and they also discuss these preferences in the report. The results of the report suggest that if there has a discount on the consumers’ favorite food, they will have an intention to purchase the genetically modified foods. The report also showed that genetically modified technology which used on animals seems to be more unacceptable to respondents than that use on plants, especially among female respondents. In addition, another condition which can influence the consumers’ attitudes for a certain type of food is age of the consumer; the results found that older people generally more accept of genetically modified technology than younger people. In conclusion, the above literature shows that most consumers have the negative attitudes towards purchasing genetically modified foods, and these negative attitudes are not easy to change that can affect the preference of consumers. Furthermore, some conditions such as age and sex of consumers, the species that be applied with GM technology and the discount of genetically modified foods can also effect the consumers’ attitudes. Methodology: The main method of this research is questionnaire which contains online questionnaire and a paper-based survey questionnaire. And the responds assumed to be truthfully. The online questionnaire will be designed on the official websites of large-scale supermarkets. And the links of questionnaire should also be sent to the email of the consumers who are the VIP or the regular consumer of these supermarkets. In addition, the questionnaire will not exceed 8 minutes. The questionnaire should contain open-ended questions and close-ended questions. The sample open-ended questions should be â€Å"Do you have a positive attitude or negative attitude towards purchasing genetically modified foods? Why? † and â€Å"How you access the knowledge about genetically modified technology†. On the other hand, the close-ended question must contain the sex and the age level of the respondents, the questions should be designed like â€Å"I have a intention to purchase foods produced using genetically modified technology (very strongly disagree, disagree, agree or very strongly agree)† â€Å"what do you think your family members’ or friends’ opinion would be when you purchasing genetically modified foods? (Extremely unfavorable, unfavorable, favorable or extremely favorable)† â€Å"Do you think your family members’ or friends’ opinion will change your attitudes towards purchasing genetically modified foods? Very strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or very strongly agree)†. These three questions are very important to understand the consumers’ attitudes towards purchasing genetically modified foods. The advantage of online questionnaire is that it is a less expensive way to investigate more people, and it can also invest igate the people who are at a far distance. Furthermore, the questionnaire can be quickly done and anonymity ensures more valuable responses. But there are also some drawbacks about online questionnaire that must be foreseen. For example, in general, the responds to online questionnaire are from younger people and the response rate should be limited because that not everyone can access to the website. All these conditions should be considered on the result of research. The paper-based survey questionnaire will be sent to the consumers in supermarkets. In order to attract the consumers, the people who accept investigate can get a small gift as an incentive that can increase the participate rate. The age of participate range should between twenties and sixties. And the details of paper questionnaire may be same as the online questionnaire. The drawback of paper-based survey is that poor handwriting may be appeared on the space of open-ended question and some of them cannot be identified accurately. Secondary research is also needed in order to assist the evaluation about results of questionnaire survey. The secondary sources can be found in three areas: sales report of a well-known company which produces genetically modified foods, customer database of this company and primary data. Newspapers, previous research reports, journal content, and government statistics could provide the primary data to secondary. The limitations of secondary research should also be considered during the process of research. For example, some secondary data may not be helpful to the research evaluation because that some data can be vague and general. On the other hand, the source of data must be checked in order to ensure the data is accurate. Moreover, the data maybe out of date. At last, the results of questionnaire and secondary research should be collect together to evaluate the respondents’ attitudes toward purchasing genetically modified foods and calculate if most of consumers can accept GM food. Conclusion: There should be two results of this research; one result is that most of consumers can accept genetically modified foods. It means as genetically modified technology becoming increasingly more oriented lifestyle, the consumers are increasingly familiar with the technology about genetically modified foods, more and more people can trust in GM food. The other result is that most of consumers cannot accept genetically modified foods, and the questionnaire can affect the reasons. It means people still have doubts about the safety and technology of genetically modified food. Genetically modified food is new technology products, though it still exist some problems, but with the development of science and technology, it will be more and more perfect. As long as follow the certain rules, life will be more superior with the healthy and orderly development of GM technology.

Human Traffic into the United States Research Proposal

Human Traffic into the United States - Research Proposal Example Background of the Study Human trafficking has been a lucrative trade with an estimated income of over $30 billion per year in the international trade despite the efforts of several human rights bodies and government to stop the trade and other human rights violations. The United States government has been on the frontline to fight human smuggling and trafficking as a crime against humanity and state due to violation of immigration laws. Treaties and conventions against human trafficking and modern slavery have proved fruitless to curb the vice regionally and in internationally, necessitating the need to study and evaluate alternative means of curbing this menace. Criminal justice studies suggest the need for an alternative approach to addressing the various perspectives of international laws on human rights (Kara, 2009) and this needs to be addressed and further studies conducted if the respect of human rights and freedom has to be fully exercised. Problem Statement Despite the effor ts of Non-Governmental Organizations and the United States government efforts to stop human trafficking and smuggling, the exercise has been on the rise and a study to investigate the core factors that necessitate the transfer and smuggling of individuals in to the United States will be paramount. The rise of these activities reflects continued violation of human rights and state’s immigration laws, prospects that have led to a rise in the number of illegal migrants in to the United States majority of whom indulge in criminal activities. Criminal Justice Question: Why has the number of human trafficking incidences been on the rise in United States and what can be done to curb the vice? Research Questions: What accounts for the increase in cases of human trafficking in to the United States? What factors from the victim’s point of view or what promises do the traffickers give the victims that necessitated easy transfer and harboring? What is the major motive of these hum an trafficking activities into the United States, are they socially or economically motivated? What factors have necessitated free and uncontrolled border entry and how do traffickers manage to conduct their businesses unnoticed? What measures has the government and other security arms taken to mitigate these activities within the United States’ territory? What alternative measures have been taken by Non-Governmental Organizations and other lobby groups in addressing the rise considering their initial strategies have somehow proved unfruitful? Hypothesis: There is a relationship between poverty and globalization which has led to weakening of political and social/cultural institutions promoting decay in social and economic norms and mores. Significance of the Study By understanding factors that have led to the increase of human trafficking, the government and immigration departments will take the necessary measures to curb the vice in subsequent years. Unearthing the motives o f trafficking and smuggling will help social and economic institutions to strengthen their policies that promote equal human treatment and those that will enhance human rights and freedom watch. By evaluating the borders activities and/or the relationship of border officers with the traffickers will assist the government and relevant ministries to revise immigration laws and policies to further curb unrestricted entry. As a

POLITICS how effective is parliament in ensuring executive Essay

POLITICS how effective is parliament in ensuring executive accountability - Essay Example An accountable executive must be in a position to; meet statutory obligations and audit requirements, produce substantive evidence in court proceedings, withstand attention from and scrutiny of the media, meet set standards for accreditation and justify their actions to commissions of inquiry like parliamentary commissions and the Royal Commissions (Budge et al, 2003). Parliament is the highest representative organ of the government that individually and collectively accounts to the people. It therefore must reflect social and public concerns so as to remain legitimate and accountable in the eyes of the public. By the mandate given in the constitution, parliament has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability of the executive arm of the government and achieve this role by assuming oversight to all activities of the executive and all its auxiliary bodies. To do this effectively, parliament staff must be strengthened in their oversight role so as to deliver their mandat e as non partisan officials of the state. Parliament therefore uses a number of mechanisms to check on the transactions of the executive. In doing so, institutional accountability of parliament must also be maintained collectively. Since fosters of accountability must first show that they are accountable as well. This is achievable by the members of parliament developing a code of behaviour that will guide them as they pursue this mandate (Garnett et al, 2012). This essay is discusses the mechanisms put in place by parliament to hold the executive to account. It discusses these in detail, their pros and cons, and then concludes with an analysis of how effective they are in ensuring executive accountability. First among these mechanisms is the use of parliamentary select committees, then there is ministerial question time and finally there is prime minister question time. The following section discusses these measures into detail. Select Committees Parliamentary select committees are committees that can be appointed by the House of Commons or the House of Lords or Joint Committees drawn from both houses. Examples of these committees are the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights Respectively. Committees may be sessional, which means they are permanent or near permanent, or they may also be ad-hoc, meaning they are appointed just to complete a certain task and then disbanded (Garnett et al, 2012). Committees in parliament are formed to ensure transparency, efficiency and accountability of executive and as stated earlier of parliament itself. The work of committees is primarily to pore over the transactions of the executive and ensure executive transparency to the public. Constitutional Committee This committee of the House of Lords spans across all parties and has the mandate has the mandate of resisting constitutional change that will harm the interest of the people. It inve stigates a proposed amendment by engaging experts including members of the executive and the public before any amendments are made. Economic Affairs Committee The economic affairs committee is a committee of the House of Lords charged with the responsibility of scrutinizing the financial

Contemporary International Trade is no longer explained by Factor Essay

Contemporary International Trade is no longer explained by Factor Proportions Theory - Essay Example While some countries were naturally rich in capital resources, other had a huge population which gave rise to an abundance of labor. The nations were said to possess competitive advantage in the factors of production which was readily available in their economies. It followed from common logic that countries having natural endowments of a specific factor would always engage in a production technology intensive in that particular factor. Therefore, a capital rich economy was always considered to engage in a capital-intensive technology for the production of commodities. The same case would apply for the labor abundant economy as well. However, in that case the countries ended up producing goods produced by only one factor-intensive type of production method. Therefore, they needed to engage in mutually beneficial exchange of goods to gain access to other types of products as well. However, the contemporary trends in international trade sometimes violate the tenets of the Factor Propor tions Theory. Homogenous countries being naturally endowed with the same pattern of factor endowments have been increasingly observed to have engaged in trading with each other. In such cases, only Factor Proportions Theory cannot explain the current trends in global trade. Consequently, specialists in trade have sought to explain the contemporary trading practices with the help of a number of alternative theories. This paper has attempted to evaluate these alternative theories and investigate their explanations about modern international trade. The Classical Theory of International Trade was the first acceptable explanation of international trading practices. About 150 years after this,the Swedish economists Eli Heckscher and Bertail Ohlin had proposed the factor proportions theory or the factor endowment theory of international trade. This theory is based on the concept of the comparative advantage (or disadvantage) of a country based on its relative abundance (or scarcity) of the factors of productionavailable within its economy.The factor proportions theory advocates that a country should be engaged in the production and export of commodities that is primarily based on a factor of production which is abundantly present in its economy.Considering the framework of a two-country, two-factor and two-commodity framework of international trade, the theory states that the different nations are endowed with different proportions of the factors of production like capital and labor. Some nations have an abundance of capital resources but are short on available labor. Such a country would be capable of producing commodities using a capital intensive mode of production at acomparatively low cost. Similarly, countries having an abundance of labor resources would produce labor intensive goods at a low cost. The first country would then be inclined to export its capital intensive goods to the second nation and import labor intensive commodities from the latter. Through i nternational trade, both countries would gain access to both the types of commodities at the least cost. However, the present international scenario presents a different picture of international trade. Current world trade is dominated by the exchange of goods between homogenous countries which are found to have an advantage in the same factor (factors) of production. In such cases, trading involves commodities which are generated by a similar