Balance in the administration of justice

The term justice refers to canal provision of rights to every citizen in a given century. This concerns equal distribution and proper allocation of good things like wealth, and power. For a country to have justice in practice, people should be governed by laws which are well defined in a constitution. Such laws assures citizens freedom in all their activities for instance, one can have a freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of movement among others. Through justice, one should have a right of access of any requirement like medical care, job opportunities, education and also settlement.At the same time, a country should ensure retributive of justice which mainly deals with rights response to law violators. This is facilitated by penalties administered to wrong doing. The major issues concerning legal environment in which justice and security administration operates includes natural laws which involves the system of results which naturally deserves from any action or choice. For every action taking place, there must be an equal opposite reaction which makes administration of justice to be universal and absolute concept.Authority in command is another environment in which justice operates. The country formulates rules and regulations which governs the people. Whatever is not allowed in the rules is termed as injustice. The state than has the mandate to administer the rules to the people concerned through its authority to command. Justice should also operate under mutual agreement of everyone concerned. For this case, the formulation of laws in a country should not favor any group. The biasness leads to unequal administration of justice which in turn can lead to imbalance in the state.The issue of fairness should be considered where by each person should have equal right to the whole system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all. The least advantaged should have fare equality of opportunity to social and economic ineq ualities. Right history plays a major role especially in ownership of property. Each individual should be entitled to having the right kind of history be it from just acquisition especially by working or unowned things or just transfer, from sale or free gift but not from unlawful means like grabbing and stealing.Retributivism is another issue concerning legal environment which justice operates. It involves dealing with justice violators. For instance when one is denies his/her right, that should be reported to authority for necessary steps to be taken. Wrong doing should be balanced/made good which is achieved through punishment administration. Justice administration should portray a high independency in investigation of truth. For instance, during judgments, the lawyers and magistrates should not be bias but drill on truth of the matter to know the reality of a phenomenon.Joint terrorism task force is another area where justice and security administration operates which is a small cell of highly trained, locally based argent for law enforcement in monitoring and investigating terrorists. Obscenity prosecution task force is another field of justice and security operation which deals with protection of American’s families and children through being involved in their nation’s obscenity laws.Assistance to victims of crime, prisoners and ex-offenders and also women from domestic violence is guaranteed by organization of faith based and community initiatives task force in US through provision of funding opportunities within the federal government. Violence in schools has been prevented by the department of justice and department of education through provision of guide to help schools and communities to educate each other on safeguarding their children. Drug abuse is another issue which has affected the communities’ development.This has been prevented through mobilization of citizens, use of policing strategies and to school children, through u se of after school recreation program. Voting is another area, where justice and security should be exercised. Every citizen is allowed by the law to freely choose the leader he/she requires without any influence. Justice also prohibits interference with access to reproductive health clinics or places of religions worship. Such should be accessible to every citizen. The changes in technology and mass communication has posed a positive effect administration of justice and security.Such includes establishment of the police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 A century ago before introduction by the police and criminal evidence, police used to interview suspects generally through transcription of questions and answers from memory. This led to recommendation of gradual introduction of audio recording of police interrogation in police stations which facilitated subordinate legislation to be drafted in such away to leave the rules regulating the police in the exercise of their investigative po wers, including interview recording with suspects.Advancement in technology has also led to public awareness of the laid down regulations through use of medias, law books and magazines. This enables the citizens to learn about the new rules and adhere to them appropriately. Technology and mass communication has led to revolution in telecommunications technology since 1978. If changed from making of calls on a wire and almost all transoceanic communications in radio communications to today’s technology which has reversed, as mot long-haul communications are on wire and local calls often travel by air.Other wholly new methods are also in place today like use of cell phones and e-mail which were not popular in 1970s. These new developments in technology play a vital role in restoring of security in different parts of world because information is acquired immediately after. Use of detection methods has contributed highly in maintenance of justice and security. This is acquired th rough use of well trained groups like intelligence groups who can be able to acquire a certain information before the disaster occurs.Change in technology and mass communication on the other hand can have negative effects in justice and security in that, for instance in times of world wide crisis, direct conveyance of first hand information can lead to incitation into other parts, hence lead to more damages. Technology also enables violators to use advanced destructive methods like bombings as for the case in US 1987 bombing Technological change also enabled citizens to know about the democracy. This automatically ruled out the traditional dictatorship leaderships and opened people’s mind to learn about their rights.The issues involved with individual rights versus the needs of the justice system should be balanced to maintain order and public safety. This has been achieved through regulating rules which are not bias to certain group of citizens. For instance, the right of sp eech should be available to every citizen. This enables everyone to express his/her self everywhere in the country. Every citizen is also entitled to a freedom of religion. A government should not decide on where and who people should worship but this should be based according to their faith.Assemble is another individual right whereby citizens should congregate anywhere and address their issues. The laws formulated by the government should abide to such rights for maintenance of order and security. Every citizen should be entitled to right of press in order to express his/her issues to others. The laws should not forbid this right because not unless one expresses himself, the shortcomings in the citizens cannot be known to the government. Voting is another issue whereby an individual should decide wisely on who to elect.In case of any malpractice, this can result to disagreement among the citizens hence lead to civil war in the country. Education opportunities should be available t o every citizen in the country. This should be achieved through provision of similar education system of the same quality to all students irrespective of poor or rich families. Health facility is another issue which should be available to every citizen. In order to balance this issue with the justice system, the government should have well stipulated laws allowing free acquisition of medical care to the aged and the children.Employment opportunity is another issue which should be available to every citizen. The provision of this aspect should be justified according to ones qualification. The government should ensure this through setting rules to guide the concerned bodies of employment distribution. Disabled citizens should be treated like any other individual. The government should ensure they are given the first priority in issues like employment opportunities. Equal protection should be available to every citizen.Such protection should be under the law which ensures security to c itizens either from assaults or injury by fellow citizens. This represents the right to live surveillance free and not to be identified as a suspect or to live suspiciously. The issue making decision about ones choice should be available to every citizen. For instance one should decide on marriage and reproduction which should be guarded by law and order. There should be provision of justice in issues of inheritance. This should occur after death of ones mate whereby his/her wealth should be inherited by the one who is left back.The issue of privacy should be observed as an individual right to every citizen. The law should ensure people’s security in their persons, honses and effects, against unreasonable searches. Another issue includes trial by jury. When one has been arrested, he should be proved guilty through trial. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused should enjoy the right to a speed and public trial and be notified. About the nature of cause of accusation; to be confronted with the witness against him to have a compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor and look for help for his defense.Cruel or unusual punishment is another issue which should be justified by the law to ensure public safety and order. Once an individual has been arrested the issue of demanding excessive bail should not be practiced. Such an individual should be judged and if proved guilty, required punishment should be undertaken without imposing excessive fines or inflicting cruel and unusual punishments which in turn can lead to total harm to the victim. The issue of right to own and enjoy property has been an important aspect of human right.The law should justify that no individual should be deprived of either life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public usage and yet there is no compensation from the government. Such property include land, among others. References: Washburne G,(1923). Imperial control of the Administration of justice in the thirteen American colonies,1984-1776. New York. Brussels P, (12/9/2002). Finding the Balance. Cittation from internet. http://www. crisisgroup. org/

Prehistory and antiquity Essay

Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant watercraft. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing, entertainment, public safety, and warfare. Historically, a â€Å"ship† was a vessel with sails rigged in a specific manner. Ships and boats have developed alongside humanity. In armed conflict and in daily life they have become an integral part of modern commercial and military systems. Fishing boats are used by millions of fishermen throughout the world. History The first known vessels date back to the Neolithic Period, about 10,000 years ago, but could not be described as ships. The first navigators began to use animal skins or woven fabrics as sails. Affixed to the top of a pole set upright in a boat, these sails gave early ships range. By around 3000 BC, Ancient Egyptians knew how to assemble wooden planks into a hull.[10] They used woven straps to lash the planks togetherand reeds or grass stuffed between the planks helped to seal the seams. A panel found at Mohenjodaro, depicted a sailing craft. Vessels were of many types Their construction is vividly described in the Yukti Kalpa Taru, an ancient Indian text on shipbuilding. This treatise gives a technical exposition on the techniques of shipbuilding. It sets forth minute details about the various types of ships, their sizes, and the materials from which they were built. The Swahili people had various extensive trading ports dotting the coast of medieval East Africa and Great Zimbabwe had extensive trading contacts with Central Africa, and likely also imported goods brought to Africa through the Southeast African shore trade of Kilwa in modern-day Tanzania.[21] Before the introduction of the compass, celestial navigation was the main method for navigation at sea. In China, early versions of the magnetic compass were being developed and used in navigation between 1040 and 1117. Renaissance Until the Renaissance, navigational technology remained comparatively primitive. This absence of technology did not prevent some civilizations from becoming sea powers. Examples include the maritime republics of Genoaand Venice, Hanseatic League, and the Byzantine navy. The carrack and then the caravel were developed in Iberia. After Columbus, European exploration rapidly accelerated, and many new trade routes were established.[38] In 1498, by reaching India, Vasco da Gama proved that the access to the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic was possible. These explorations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans were soon followed by France, England and the Netherlands, who explored the Portuguese and Spanish trade routes into the Pacific Ocean, reaching Australia in 1606 and New Zealand in 1642.[39] A major sea power, the Dutch in 1650 owned 16,000 merchant ships. Specialization and modernization During the first half of the 18th century, the French Navy began to develop a new type of vessel known as a ship of the line, featuring seventy-four guns. This type of ship became the backbone of all European fighting fleets. These ships were 56 metres (184 ft) long and their construction required 2,800 oak trees and 40 kilometres (25 mi) of rope; they carried a crew of about 800 sailors and soldiers. Ship designs stayed fairly unchanged until the late 19th century. The industrial revolution, new mechanical methods of propulsion, and the ability to construct ships from metal triggered an explosion in ship design. Factors including the quest for more efficient ships, the end of long running and wasteful maritime conflicts, and the increased financial capacity of industrial powers created an avalanche of more specialized boats and ships. Ships built for entirely new functions, such as firefighting, rescue, and research, also began to appear. In light of this, classification of vessels by type or function can be difficult. Even using very broad functional classifications such as fishery, trade, military, and exploration fails to classify most of the old ships. This difficulty is increased by the fact that the terms such as sloop and frigate are used by old and new ships alike, and often the modern vessels sometimes have little in common with their predecessors. Today In 2007, the world’s fleet included 34,882 commercial vessels with gross tonnage of more than 1,000 tons,[42] totaling 1.04 billion tons.[1] These ships carried 7.4 billion tons of cargo in 2006, a sum that grew by 8% over the previous year.[1] In terms of tonnage, 39% of these ships are tankers, 26% arebulk carriers, 17% container ships and 15% were other types.[1] In 2002, there were 1,240 warships operating in the world, not counting small vessels such as patrol boats. The United States accounted for 3 million tons worth of these vessels, Russia 1.35 million tons, the United Kingdom 504,660 tons and China 402,830 tons. The 20th century saw many naval engagements during the two world wars, the Cold War, and the rise to power of naval forces of the two blocs. The size of the world’s fishing fleet is more difficult to estimate. The largest of these are counted as commercial vessels, but the smallest are legion.Fishing vessels can be found in most seaside villages in the world. As of 2004, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimated 4 million fishing vessels were operating worldwide.[43] Types of ships[edit] Ships are difficult to classify, mainly because there are so many criteria to base classification on. One classification is based on propulsion; with ships categorised as a sailing ship, a steamship, or a motorship. Sailing ships are propelled solely by means of sails. Another way to categorize ships and boats is based on their use, as described by Paulet and Presles.[46] This system includes military ships, commercial vessels, fishing boats, pleasure craft and competitive boats. In this section, ships are classified using the first four of those categories, and adding a section for lake and river boats, and one for vessels which fall outside these categories. Commercial vessels Commercial vessels or merchant ships can be divided into three broad categories: cargo ships, passenger ships, and special-purpose ships.[47] Cargo ships transport dry and liquid cargo. Dry cargo can be transported in bulk by bulk carriers, packed directly onto a general cargo ship in break-bulk, packed in intermodal containers as aboard a container ship, or driven aboard as in roll-on roll-off ships. Liquid cargo is generally carried in bulk aboard tankers, such as oil tankers which may include both crude and finished products of oil, chemical tankers which may also carry vegetable oils other than chemicals and LPG/LNG tankers, Passenger ships range in size from small river ferries to very large cruise ships. This type of vessel includes ferries, which move passengers and vehicles on short trips; ocean liners, which carry passengers from one place to another; and cruise ships, which carry passengers on voyages undertaken for pleasure Special-purpose vessels are not used for transport but for other tasks. Examples include tugboats, pilot boats, rescue boats, cable ships, research vessels, survey vessels, and icebreakers. Most commercial vessels have full hull-forms to maximize cargo capacity.[citation needed] Commercial vessels generally have a crew headed by a captain, with deck officers and marine engineers on larger vessels. Special-purpose vessels often have specialized crew if necessary, for example scientists aboard research vessels. Commercial vessels are typically powered by a single propeller driven by a diesel or, less usually, gas turbine engine.[citation needed] The fastest vessels may use pump-jet engines.[citation needed] Naval vessels Naval vessels are those used by a navy for military purposes. There have been many types of naval vessel. Modern naval vessels can be broken down into three categories: surface warships, submarines, and support and auxiliary vessels. Modern warships are generally divided into seven main categories: aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines and amphibious assault ships. The distinction between cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and corvettes is not rigorous; the same vessel may be described differently in different navies. Battleships were used during the Second World War and occasionally since then, but were made obsolete by the use of carrier-borne aircraft and guided missiles.[48] Most navies also include many types of support and auxiliary vessel, such as minesweepers, patrol boats, offshore patrol vessels, replenishment ships, and hospital ships which are designatedmedical treatment facilities.[49] Fast combat vessels such as cruisers and destroyers usually have fine hulls to maximize speed and maneuverability. They also usually have advanced electronics and communication systems, as well as weapons. Fishing vessels Fishing vessels are a subset of commercial vessels, but generally small in size and often subject to different regulations and classification. They can be categorized by several criteria: architecture, the type of fish they catch, the fishing method used, geographical origin, and technical features such as rigging. As of 2004, the world’s fishing fleet consisted of some 4 million vessels.[43] More than 60% of all existing large fishing vessels[51] were built in Japan, Peru, the Russian Federation, Spain or the United States of America.[52] Fishing boats are generally small, often little more than 30 meters (98 ft) but up to 100 metres (330 ft) for a large tuna or whaling ship. Aboard a fish processing vessel, the catch can be made ready for market and sold more quickly once the ship makes port. Weather vessels[edit] A weather ship was a ship stationed in the ocean as a platform for surface and upper air meteorological observations for use in marine weather forecasting. Surface weather observations were taken hourly, and four radiosonde releases occurred daily. [54] It was also meant to aid in search and rescue operations and to support transatlantic flights. Proposed as early as 1927 by the aviation community,[56] the establishment of weather ships proved to be so useful during World War II that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established a global network of weather ships in 1948, with 13 to be supplied by the United States. Their crews were normally out to sea for three weeks at a time, returning to port for 10 day stretches.[54] Weather ship observations proved to be helpful in wind and wave studies, as they did not avoid weather systems like other ships tended to for safety reasons.[58] They were also helpful in monitoring storms at sea, such as tropical cyclones.[59] The removal of a weather ship became a negative factor in forecasts leading up to theGreat Storm of 1987.[60] Beginning in the 1970s, their role became largely superseded by weather buoys due to the ships’ significant cost.[61] The agreement of the use of weather ships by the international community ended in 1990. The last weather ship was Polarfront, known as weather station M (â€Å"Mike†), which was put out of operation on 1 January 2010. Weather observations from ships continue from a fleet of voluntary merchant vessels in routine commercial operation. Inland and coastal boats Many types of boats and ships are designed for inland and coastal waterways. These are the vessels that trade upon the lakes, rivers and canals. Barges are a prime example of inland vessels. Barges towed along canals by draft animals on an adjacent towpath contended with the railway in the early industrial revolution but were out competed in the carriage of high value items because of the higher speed, falling costs, and route flexibility ofrail transport. Riverboats and inland ferries are specially designed to carry passengers, cargo, or both in the challenging river environment. Rivers present special hazards to vessels. They usually have varying water flows that alternately lead to high speed water flows or protruding rock hazards. Changing siltation patterns may cause the sudden appearance of shoal waters, and often floating or sunken logs and trees (called snags) can endanger the hulls and propulsion of riverboats. Riverboats are generally of shallow draft, being broad of beam and rather square in plan, with a low freeboard and high topsides. Riverboats can survive with this type of configuration as they do not have to withstand the high winds or large waves that are seen on large lakes, seas, or oceans. Lake freighters, also called lakers, are cargo vessels that ply the Great Lakes. The most well-known is the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, the latest major vessel to be wrecked on the Lakes. These vessels are traditionally called boats, not ships. Visiting ocean-going vessels are called â€Å"salties.† Because of their additional beam, very large salties are never seen inland of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Because the smallest of the Soo Locks is larger than any Seaway lock, salties that can pass through the Seaway may travel anywhere in the Great Lakes. Because of their deeper draft, salties may accept partial loads on the Great Lakes, â€Å"topping off† when they have exited the Seaway. Similarly, the largest lakers are confined to the Upper Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron,Erie) because they are too large to use the Seaway locks, beginning at the Welland Canal that bypasses the Niagara River. Since the freshwater lakes are less corrosive to ships than the salt water of the oceans, lakers tend to last much longer than ocean freighters. Lakers older than 50 years are not unusual, and as of 2005, all were over 20 years of age.[62] The St. Mary’s Challenger, built in 1906 as the William P Snyder, is the oldest laker still working on the Lakes. Similarly, the E.M. Ford, built in 1898 as the Presque Isle, was sailing the lakes 98 years later in 1996. As of 2007 the Ford was still afloat as a stationary transfer vessel at a riverside cement silo in Saginaw, Michigan. Architecture[edit] Some components exist in vessels of any size and purpose. Every vessel has a hull of sorts. Every vessel has some sort of propulsion, whether it’s a pole, an ox, or a nuclear reactor. Most vessels have some sort of steering system. Other characteristics are common, but not as universal, such as compartments, holds, a superstructure, and equipment such as anchors and winches. Hull For a ship to float, its weight must be less than that of the water displaced by the ship’s hull.[63] There are many types of hulls, from logs lashed together to form a raft to the advanced hulls of America’s Cup sailboats. A vessel may have a single hull , two in the case ofcatamarans, or three in the case of trimarans. Hulls have several elements. The bow is the foremost part of the hull. Many ships feature a bulbous bow. The keel is at the very bottom of the hull, extending the entire length of the ship. The rear part of the hull is known as the stern, and many hulls have a flat back known as a transom. Common hull appendages include propellers for propulsion, rudders for steering, and stabilizers to quell a ship’s rolling motion. Other hull features can be related to the vessel’s work, such as fishing gear and sonar domes. Hulls are subject to various hydrostatic and hydrodynamic constraints. The key hydrostatic constraint is that it must be able to support the entire weight of the boat, and maintain stability even with often unevenly distributed weight. Hydrodynamic constraints include the ability to withstand shock waves, weather collisions and groundings. Propulsion systems Propulsion systems for ships fall into three categories: human propulsion, sailing, and mechanical propulsion. Human propulsion includes rowing, which was used even on large galleys. Propulsion by sail generally consists of a sail hoisted on an erect mast, supported by stays and spars and controlled by ropes. Sail systems were the dominant form of propulsion until the 19th century. Mechanical propulsion systems generally consist of a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, an impeller or wave propulsion fins. Steam engines were first used for this purpose, but have mostly been replaced by two-stroke or four-stroke diesel engines, outboard motors, and gas turbine engines on faster ships. Nuclear reactors producing steam are used to propel warships and icebreakers, and there have been attempts to utilize them to power commercial vessels For ships with independent propulsion systems for each side, such as manual oars or some paddles,[64] steering systems may not be necessary. In most designs, such as boats propelled by engines or sails, a steering system becomes necessary. The most common is a rudder, a submerged plane located at the rear of the hull. Rudders are rotated to generate a lateral force which turns the boat. Rudders can be rotated by a tiller, manual wheels, or electro-hydraulic systems. Autopilot systems combine mechanical rudders with navigation systems. Ducted propellers are sometimes used for steering. Some propulsion systems are inherently steering systems. Examples include the outboard motor, the bow thruster, and the Z-drive. Some sails, such as jibs and the mizzen sail on a ketch rig, are used more for steering than propulsion. Holds, compartments, and the superstructure[edit] Larger boats and ships generally have multiple decks and compartments. Separate berthings and heads are found on sailboats over about 25 feet (7.6 m). Fishing boats and cargo ships typically have one or more cargo holds. Most larger vessels have an engine room, a galley, and various compartments for work. Tanks are used to store fuel, engine oil, and fresh water. Ballast tanks are equipped to change a ship’s trim and modify its stability. Superstructures are found above the main deck. On sailboats, these are usually very low. On modern cargo ships, they are almost always located near the ship’s stern. On passenger ships and warships, the superstructure generally extends far forward. Equipment[edit] Shipboard equipment varies from ship to ship depending on such factors as the ship’s era, design, area of operation, and purpose. Some types of equipment that are widely found include: Masts can be the home of antennas, navigation lights, radar transponders, fog signals, and similar devices often required by law. Ground tackle includes equipment such as mooring winches, windlasses, and anchors. Anchors are used to moor ships in shallow water. They are connected to the ship by a rope or chain. On larger vessels, the chain runs through a hawsepipe. Cargo equipment such as cranes and cargo booms are used to load and unload cargo and ship’s stores. Safety equipment such as lifeboats, liferafts, and survival suits are carried aboard many vessels for emergency use. Design considerations Hydrostatics[edit] Boats and ships are kept on (or slightly above) the water in three ways: For most vessels, known as displacement vessels, the vessel’s weight is offset by that of the water displaced by the hull. For planing ships and boats, such as the hydrofoil, the lift developed by the movement of the foil through the water increases with the vessel’s speed, until the vessel is foilborne. For non-displacement craft such as hovercraft and air-cushion vehicles, the vessel is suspended over the water by a cushion of high-pressure air it projects downwards against the surface of the water. A vessel is in equilibrium when the upwards and downwards forces are of equal magnitude. As a vessel is lowered into the water its weight remains constant but the corresponding weight of water displaced by its hull increases. When the two forces are equal, the boat floats. Hydrodynamics[edit] The advance of a vessel through water is resisted by the water. This resistance can be broken down into several components, the main ones being the friction of the water on the hull and wave making resistance. To reduce resistance and therefore increase the speed for a given power, it is necessary to reduce the wetted surface and use submerged hull shapes that produce low amplitude waves. To do so, high-speed vessels are often more slender, with fewer or smaller appendages. The friction of the water is also reduced by regular maintenance of the hull to remove the sea creatures and algae that accumulate there. Antifouling paint is commonly used to assist in this. Advanced designs such as the bulbous bow assist in decreasing wave resistance. A simple way of considering wave-making resistance is to look at the hull in relation to its wake. At speeds lower than the wave propagation speed, the wave rapidly dissipates to the sides. As the hull approaches the wave propagation speed, however, the wake at the bow begins to build up faster than it can dissipate, and so it grows in amplitude. Since the water is not able to â€Å"get out of the way of the hull fast enough†, the hull, in essence, has to climb over or push through the bow wave. This results in an exponential increase in resistance with increasing speed. This hull speed is found by the formula: or, in metric units: Where L is the length of the waterline in feet or meters. When the vessel exceeds a speed/length ratio of 0.94, it starts to outrun most of its bow wave, and the hull actually settles slightly in the water as it is now only supported by two wave peaks. As the vessel exceeds a speed/length ratio of 1.34, the hull speed, the wavelength is now longer than the hull, and the stern is no longer supported by the wake, causing the stern to squat, and the bow rise. The hull is now starting to climb its own bow wave, and resistance begins to increase at a very high rate. While it is possible to drive a displacement hull faster than a speed/length ratio of 1.34, it is prohibitively expensive to do so. Most large vessels operate at speed/length ratios well below that level, at speed/length ratios of under 1.0. For large projects with adequate funding, hydrodynamic resistance can be tested experimentally in a hull testing pool or using tools of computational fluid dynamics. Vessels are also subject to ocean surface waves and sea swell as well as effects of wind and weather. These movements can be stressful for passengers and equipment, and must be controlled if possible. The rolling movement can be controlled, to an extent, by ballasting or by devices such as fin stabilizers. Pitching movement is more difficult to limit and can be dangerous if the bow submerges in the waves, a phenomenon called pounding. Sometimes, ships must change course or speed to stop violent rolling or pitching. How it has been convincingly shown in scientific studies of the 21st century[65][66], controllability of some vessels decreases dramatically in some cases that are conditioned by effects of the bifurcation memory. This class of vessels includes ships with high manoeuvring capabilities, aircraft and controlled underwater vehicles designed to be unstable in steady-state motion that are interesting in terms of applications. These features must be considered in designing ships and in their control in critical situations. Lifecycle A ship will pass through several stages during its career. The first is usually an initial contract to build the ship, the details of which can vary widely based on relationships between theshipowners, operators, designers and the shipyard. Then, the design phase carried out by a naval architect. Then the ship is constructed in a shipyard. After construction, the vessel is launched and goes into service. Ships end their careers in a number of ways, ranging from shipwrecks to service as a museum ship to the scrapyard. Design A vessel’s design starts with a specification, which a naval architect uses to create a project outline, assess required dimensions, and create a basic layout of spaces and a rough displacement. After this initial rough draft, the architect can create an initial hull design, a general profile and an initial overview of the ship’s propulsion. At this stage, the designer can iterate on the ship’s design, adding detail and refining the design at each stage. As environmental laws are strictening, ship designers need to create their design in such a way that the ship -when it nears its end-of-term- can be disassmbledor disposed easily and that waste is reduced to a minimum. Construction[edit] Ship construction takes place in a shipyard, and can last from a few months for a unit produced in series, to several years to reconstruct a wooden boat, to more than 10 years for an aircraft carrier Generally, construction starts with the hull, and on vessels over about 30 meters (98 ft), by the laying of the keel. This is done in a drydock or on land. Once the hull is assembled and painted, it is launched. The last stages, such as raising the superstructure and adding equipment and accommodation, can be done after the vessel is afloat. Once completed, the vessel is delivered to the customer. Ship launching is often a ceremony of some significance, and is usually when the vessel is formally named. Repair and conversion Ships undergo nearly constant maintenance during their career, whether they be underway, pierside, or in some cases, in periods of reduced operating status between charters or shipping seasons. Vessels that sustain major damage at sea may be repaired at a facility equipped for major repairs, such as a shipyard. Ships may also be converted for a new purpose: oil tankers are often converted into floating production storage and offloading units. End of service Most ocean-going cargo ships have a life expectancy of between 20 and 30 years. A sailboat made of plywood or fiberglass can last between 30 and 40 years. Solid wooden ships can last much longer but require regular maintenance. Carefully maintained steel-hulled yachts can have a lifespan of over 100 years. As ships age, forces such as corrosion, osmosis, and rotting compromise hull strength, and a vessel becomes too dangerous to sail. At this point, it can bescuttled at sea or scrapped by shipbreakers. Ships can also be used as museum ships, or expended to construct breakwaters or artificial reefs. Many ships do not make it to the scrapyard, and are lost in fires, collisions, grounding, or sinking at sea. There are more than 3 million shipwrecks on the ocean floor, the United Nations estimates. Buoyancy A floating boat displaces its weight in water. The material of the boat hull may be denser than water, but if this is the case then it forms only the outer layer. If the boat floats, the mass of the boat (plus contents) as a whole divided by the volume below the waterline is equal to the density of water (1 kg/l). If weight is added to the boat, the volume below the waterline will increase to keep the weight balance equal, and so the boat sinks a little to compensate.

T205_TMA02 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

T205_TMA02 - Essay Example And whoever opposes this idea is seen as going through a regression. And even though it has been known that white students don’t necessarily outperform black students while writing the same exam, but the proponents of white supremacy still hold on to their claim to feel superior. On other hand, self-fulfilling prophecy points out how an individual could achieve his/her self purposes while taken into consideration to attitude of the others. Self fulfilling can be better understood through the Pygmalion Effect described below in the diagram (Merton, 1968): 2. The Concepts of Power Visible and Invisible: The concept of visible and invisible power in an organization has been discussed on several occasions. It is interesting to notice an organization works like a system with a structure fashion out to show those in the positions of power. For instance, everyone understands that a company’s president or managing director wields some visible executive power within that organization: they could order the production of a certain product or fire an wayward employee. However, the question about what or who holds invisible power in an organization has been asked on several occasions. Research on organizational management has demonstrated that one of the invisible power-holders in an organization is the culture of the organization. The culture in an organization demands that every employees of the organization conforms to the rules and regulations laid down for their activities (Lockett & Spear, 1980). Another source of invisible power in an organization is the financial capability of the organization. This invisible power of money compels the organization to dream and project its goals within the limits of its financial capability. 4. Peter Senge (1990) says we tend to blame outside circumstances for our problems. Systems thinking says

Macro & Micro economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Macro & Micro economics - Essay Example In the last quarter of 2012, growth rate in the economy was estimated to be 7.9% (BBC, 2013). However, immediately in the first three months of the current year (2013) the growth rate dropped notably. The government of China noticed this fluctuation early in 2013 and decided to take expansionary policies to pull up the growth rate. This paper aims at studying an article titled â€Å"China to continue ‘proactive fiscal, prudent monetary’ policy† written by Siwu and Zhi and published in Xinhuanet on March 5 2013. The article presents a report on the present growth rate of China and discusses the government’s policy prescription with regard to this growth situation in the country. At present annual growth rate of the country is 7.7% and the central bank has taken expansionary monetary policy to boost up economic activities in the country (BBC, 2013). The fiscal policies adopted by the government have also been discussed in the article. The discussion presented in this paper identifies the major causes that have affected the growth rate of the Chinese economy and comments on the policy adaptations of the government as discussed in the news article. The impact faced by the Chinese society on account of this economic slowdown has also received light in the scope of this discussion, alongside the discussion on the aggregate demand and supply in the economy. Aggregate demand in the Chinese economy has declined as a result of this declining growth rate. The government has focused on improving domestic demand conditions in order to boost up the economy. Discussion on the economic problem The growth momentum in the country has been showing a lack of vigour since the beginning of 2013. The measures of various economic variables in the country are indicative of a low performance level in the economy, which implies that there is no strong point of evidence that might show that the economy has any prospect for recovering soon. In 2013, estimate of t he growth rate of the economy has been 7.7% from January to March, while economists had forecasted that growth rates would reach 8%. In response to this economic situation the government of China has declared that it would sustain the â€Å"proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy† (Siwu and Zhi, 2013) throughout the year in 2013. Proactive monetary policies have been maintained by the Chinese government since the 2011, with the aim of bringing stability in the economy, to make the economic structure flexible for future improvements and more forward-looking and target-oriented. This would ensure steady economic growth. While bringing economic growth the government aims at keeping the price level in the economy stable and guard against the occurrence of any regional or systemic financial risk. The government has vowed to guide the financial institutions, to make them operate prudently, oversee the financial activities of the institutions and take account of the ri sks associated with off-balance sheet activities, so as to make the financial sector's more sustainable and capable of supporting long term economic development. Causes of the problem The article by Siwu and Zhi (2013) reflects that the government of China has been actively making policy prescriptions that are aimed at improving the economic conditions of the country. Further research on this issue reveals that growth of the Chinese economy has been highly dependent on its export sector. The major markets for Chinese exports are the USA and the European countries. The country mainly exports, garments, toys, accessories, other plastic products, machinery, transport equipments, rubber, metallurgical products, textile materials, chemical products, refined oil and crude oil, as well as food items (Peopledaily, 2001). China follows

Profit Maximization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Profit Maximization - Essay Example Businesses have developed a heightened interest in promoting awareness on ethical responsibility. Issues concerning environmental damage, improper work regulations and inappropriate employee treatments and faulty production of products which either cause inconvenience to customers or danger public safety are resolved through the links on their objectives and actions. Value-based decision-making through integration of clearly-defined values into organizational structures of numerous organizations proactively address a broad range of community dilemmas. These organizations which attach functional aspects of operations to public welfare include various companies ranging from pharmaceuticals, automobiles, consumer goods to services. Corporate social responsibility, described as the alignment of a company's activity to public expectations, governs organizations which clearly show that public concerns and not profit maximisation is the common objective among organizations. British organizations alone would prove that improving the quality of human life is the primary objective of their operations. Consider GlaxoSmith Kline, a pharmaceutical company established in London whose aim is to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. The mission to contribute to the improvement of lives guides the company in developing innovative medicines and products that help millions of people around the world. It does research for medicines and vaccines for the World Health Organization's priority diseases that include HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The company shows its care to Third World countries where debilitating diseases affect millions of people by providing discounted medicines to let more patients acquire necessary cures. These cost reduction schemes applied by the company in its business operations entailed losses from probable profit collections. Actual earnings have been reduced as a result of the pro spects that considered lowering of prices through discounts. The corporate strategy is indeed a way of the company to provide value to consumers and society notwithstanding the objective of financial advantages and profit maximisation (GlaxoSmith Kline, 2001). In the early part of the 21st century, the company made efforts to lower its prices on HIV/AIDS drugs for the benefit of developing countries in relation to their commitment to deliver ways to reduce costs and pass the savings to patients. As a result of their action, patients suffering from the illness in various developing countries were able to take medications and these constitute live of millions of individuals. Due to its desires to continuously improve access for healthcare products, the company gained international recognitions for its decisions that reduced barriers in the consumption of health products (Baker, 2003). In the pharmaceutical industry, social responsibility is not a practice of a single organization. Aside from the GlaxoSmith Kline, another international company with British operations that promotes global corporate social responsibility is Astra Zeneca. Corporate social responsibility is an integral part on how operations are run by the company

Personal Statement for Admission to UCSD Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

For Admission to UCSD - Personal Statement Example I did not have the usual experiences that children have. I never asked my mom to buy anything special for me because I knew how hard she was working just to put food on the table. During middle school, when my mom gave me lunch money each day, I chose not to buy anything. In fact, when I came home, I put the money back into her purse without her knowing about it. When I was 14 year-old, I found my first job doing construction work. As soon as I finished school, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and went straight to my job; I wouldn’t get home until 11 p.m. While I was there, I mopped, painted, and operated jackhammers and drills to break up concrete. The job was physically hard; at times I was left with dry blood around my finger nails. Moreover, my feet hurt so bad due to the cheap shoes I was wearing, but I did not let my mom notice how difficult life was for me. I did not give up on my schoolwork because school was incredibly important to me. The reason is that I wanted somethi ng better for my family! I did not want my would-be kids to experience what I did. However, attaining an education in Baghdad was difficult due to the limited resources we had; there were no internships, field trips, labs, technology, or anything like that. To make it even worse, the standard of education deteriorated after the war because everyone was scared to go to school; even the teachers did not care about their students. I had no choice but to come to the United States to seek for a better future. When I was 16, I heard about the UN refugee agency. I applied right away and explained that I wanted a better future. As soon as I realized that I might be coming to the United States, I began improving my English skills; I started working twice as hard in school. A couple of years after I made an application to the UN refugee agency, I was accepted and received a flight appointment. I first came to the U.S. in 2009. In two months after I arrived I got my first job where I was event ually promoted to the position of manager. After this, I was able to buy my first car and put some money aside for my savings. The reason why I am writing this personal statement to apply to UCSD is because I want to accomplish the dream that I have always wanted for myself and my family. Coming to the U.S. was the proudest moment in my life; it helped give me a different perspective on things. Furthermore, it made me see how important education is. I now have confidence in myself and I realize that I can do anything in this world: there is nothing that I cannot achieve. What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field - such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities - and what you have gained from your involvement. Ever since I was a small child wandering around aimlessly at the clinic of our neighborhood dentist, I found myself constantly gazing at the anatomical diagram of the human body that hung on the front door. This was the same diagram that all the other kids were scared to look at. All that blood, flesh, and bones did not intimidate me; it actually perked up my interest. I have always been extremely fascinated by the human body and how it functions. After the war began in Baghdad in 2003, there were a couple of explosions in the neighborhood next to my family. These

Early twentieth century arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Early twentieth century arts - Essay Example The renaissance was a cerebration of the African-American heritage which was expressed through art, music, literature and dance (Watson 19). The Harlem renaissance began to wind down in the year 1929; this was partly caused by the great depression because financial necessities became of more importance than the artistic expression. Great waves, of the African-Americans, travelled to the northern cities so that they may seek employment opportunities in many factories, which were available in response to World War 1. These African-Americans were forced to settle in urban segregated housing, due to the social attitudes of the 20th century, and ended up creating metropolises. This caused that period of artistic and intellectual activity in the African American community, in New York, which finally lead to the Harlem Renaissance (Watson 19). The Harmon foundation was started by one of the many white Americans who expressed interest in the artistic eruption of the black Americans. He established the foundation in the city of New York. The main aim of the foundation was to recognize the African American achievements, in fine arts and also in other fields like, music, farming, relations, literature, race, education, science, religious service and business (Watson 19). Some scholars are today critics of the Harmon foundation. They say that the foundation puts emphasis on the celebration of the African-American cultural achievements and overlooks the difficult living conditions that are found in many black suburbs in urban settings. Many artists have been given support by the Harmon foundation. They include artists such as; Robert Russa Moton, Hale Woodruff, Palmer Hayden, Langston Hughes, Archibald Motley, Countee Cullen and Claude McKay. All the above named artists have all received various awards in fine arts and literature (Watson 19). Jackson’s works of Art

Surprise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Surprise - Essay Example This demonstrates Mrs. Louise Mallard damsel in distress constitution of having a weak physical as well emotional state of Mrs. Louise Mallard due to her heart condition. 2. Mrs. Louise Mallard is also an archetype of an opportunist gold digger. She first felt bad when the news of her husband’s death was gently announced to her. She cried and sobbed in her room alone to pretend that the world was about to end. Then her gold digging attitude overcame her – that her husband’s death could bring her freedom and with it money (his estate). At first, she was shy about the idea and realizes that it is inappropriate to think that way. But she just liked the idea of freedom from her husband too much. She was overjoyed with the idea that without her husband, she could now do anything that she wanted and also enjoy the inheritance from her husband. She now would become a truly independent woman. She even whispered to herself â€Å" â€Å"Free, free, free!†Ã‚   She however does not want people to see that she is celebrating with the death of her husband so she feigned her weeping during the wake of her husband just like any gold digg ers would do. 3. Mrs. Louise Mallard’s archetype of a witch that was hit by karma. Witches can look physically beautiful just like Mrs. Louise Mallard but deep inside they are ugly. At first they will prevail just like Mrs. Louise Mallard who have successfully duped people that she was grieving with her husband’s death but in fact she was not. In the end however, karma took over just like witches who are being punished for their bad deeds. The karma happened in an unexpected manner. Mr. Brently Mallard after all did not die from the train crash and was in fact alive. He was mistaken as somebody else and his identity was reported as dead which was reported to this wife. Richard, a friend of Brently Mallard would like to prevent Mrs.

Global Business Plan for Harbor Freight in UK Research Paper

Global Business Plan for Harbor Freight in UK - Research Paper Example The internal environment largely determines the business growth and development of a company. As such, it is a significant factor that ought to be considered. The internal environment encompasses planning, leading, organizing, implementing and controlling. For a global expansion of a business, planning plays a central role without which the expansion would not be a success. As I have earlier indicated, Harbor Freight enjoys a good established in the United States market. For it to be successful in the UK market, planning has to be done at each of its departments so as to evaluate its efficiency and effectiveness. Some of the departments that need to be considered are the distribution department, the marketing department, the finance department and the logistics and operations department. Research and development will also be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of entering the UK market. Specifically, the marketing department has the duty to analyze the UK market and introduce a n ovel advertising strategy that will enable it to succeed in the UK market. Pereira contends that a good advertising strategy will aid in the success of an organization in a new market.Leading has both a direct and indirect influence on an organization. As regards to Harbor Freight, the marketing department will be responsible for the leading. It will be responsible for consolidating all the efforts of the other internal departments so as to come up with an effective corporate planning that will increase its chances of succeeding in the UK market.

Section 3.04 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Section 3.04 - Essay Example i) to resist apprehension which the actor knows is being made by a peace officer, despite the arrest being illegal; orii) to resist force applied by the possessor or occupier of property or by someone else on his/her behalf, where the person applying the â€Å"victim† is aware that the person applying the force is doing so under a claim of right to guard the property, except that this limitation shall not hold in specific circumstances recognized by the law .      (b) The use of deadly force is illegal in this Section unless the actor is convinced that such force is justifiable to guard himself against death, serious bodily harm, kidnapping or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat;   nor is it legal in conditions specific conditions recognized by the law (Ritchie, 2009).      (c) Except as mandated by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Subsection, a person employing protective force may gauge the need thereof under the conditions as he believes them to be when the force is employed, without retreating, surrendering possession, performing any other act which he is not authorized to do or avoiding from any lawful action.  Subdivision 3: Use of Confinement as Protective ForceThe justifications provided by this Section applies to the application of confinement as protective force only in a scenario where the actor exhausts all logical measures to end the confinement as soon as he/she is aware that he/she can, unless the confined person has been apprehended on a charge of crime.

Alzheimer’s Disease Research Paper Essay Example for Free

Alzheimer’s Disease Research Paper Essay â€Å"Five million people in America have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and one in three seniors will die because of this disease of another form of dementia† ( Lawrence Robinson). Alzheimer’s is a disease that gradually worsens with time, and is incurable. This horrible disease is also hereditary and can cause a family much pain. I’ve experienced Alzheimer’s first hand. My grandfather was diagnosed in April of 2007 and passed away April of 2012. It was a long a winding journey and I remember all the stages of his illness really well. The first sign of Alzheimer’s is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. I remember like it was yesterday. The first time my grandpa did something strange that raised a red flag. Me and my brother were staying with our grandparents one weekend I was 11 and my brother 15. One night me maw told us guys (me, my brother and granddad) to get some food she had ordered from a place called Abe’s that we were oh so familiar with. We got in the truck and headed down the road, carrying on conversation we didn’t even realize that we had passed our destination. The truck stopped at Poppies, puzzled I asked what we are doing here. My grandpa looked back at me and explained that we were picking up dinner. I laughed and said we are supposed to go to Abe’s. He gave me a real dumbfounded look and said lets go inside. He proceeded to go to the counter and asked for our order that me maw had placed we begged him to get in the car we looked so stupid. Finally my brother got my grandmother on the phone and handed it to him. She chewed him out, like a dog with his tail between his legs he walked out we followed suite. At that time in my life I had not the slightest clue of any mental illness such Alzheimers but I’m pretty sure my brother did. He stared out the window, not saying a word the whole way back as me and grandpa laughed and giggled about the incident. Throughout my research I have found that â€Å"Alzheimers is hereditary and in some studies say it skips a generation†( Mayo Clinic staff). In my case could be me that inherits this disease. Knowing what I know now I’ll have check-ups annually, not because I’m scared of dying but for the quality of life I may live. â€Å"Alzheimers attacks four of the 23 chromosomes in a human’s body. It is similar to Down syndrome just happening in a later age†( Jon Glass). In the play we are talking about, in my opinion Willy has this disease and can be important because one of his sons could inherit it. I find it strange that no one in Willy’s family is concerned or wants to take him to a doctor to find out what’s going on. Alzheimers disease is a very cruel illness and I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy. I’ve seen the things that monster of a thing can do to the sick, and the loved ones caring for the victim. I’ve learned the best thing to do is to get help, be patient and love the ill unconditionally.

Analysing Result Graphs Essay Example for Free

Analysing Result Graphs Essay This graph shows the range of ages of the people that I surveyed. The majority was split evenly between the 30 40 age group and the 40 50 age group. I asked for this information so I could find out what age group I should target my business at in terms of style atmosphere and advertising to attract the most possible customers. Now I know who my target audience is I can advertise well to attract customers of that age and set an atmosphere and style to suit that age group. This pie chart shows the average amount of times that the person surveyed goes on every year. This information is vital as it is an indicator as to whether the business will have many customers throughout the year. If the chart were to show that people didnt go on many holidays then there would be no point in the business but as the chart shows the majority of people go on at least 2 holidays on average every year indicating the business will be successful. This doughnut chart shows where the ideal location for Cherry Kennels would be for the majority of the people surveyed. This is crucial to get right because it needs to be located where the public find it most convenient and also were business will be more successful from being close to a lot of potential customers. As clearly shown in the chart, the preferred location for Cherry Kennels would be somewhere situated in Brentwood. Therefore this is where I shall set up Cherry Kennels once I have found a suitable place in Brentwood. This bar chart represents how much the people surveyed are willing to pay per night of their cat/dog staying at Cherry Kennels. It is important to get the pricing correct because it needs to be cheap enough to keep the customers happy and attract more customers, but it needs to be expensive enough to make a decent profit. Thats why I asked this question, to see what the majority of people thought was a fair price. The majority of people believe that à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½30 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½35 is a fair price per night and I see this to be reasonable and enough to make a profit so therefore this is how it shall be priced. This final graph shows how much the people surveyed are willing to pay to have their dog/cat professionally groomed. I asked this question to find out whether there is any point in having the additional grooming parlours if no-one would use it but not only did the majority of people say they would use it but they also chose a reasonable price again to suit them as customers and me looking to make a profit. As the graph shows the majority of people chose à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½20 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½25 so therefore this is how it shall be priced. Competitors My main local competitor is Ladybird Kennels located in Ingatestone. This is because they to provide boarding kennels for both cats and dogs. Ladybird Kennels aim to provide their guests with an excellent standard of service and care based on over 10 years of experience. As quoted in their Ladybird brochure.  Ladybird kennels is not in a very busy area but is opposite an entrance to a very busy motorway so a lot of people are constantly driving past, this isnt too much of a problem because the front building/reception area is not that appealing from the outside. By locating Cherry Kennels in a busy place such as Brentwood I hope to gain more customers as it is more conveniently placed than having to go out of your way to get to Ladybird Kennels. Cherry Kennels will provide very similar services as Ladybird Kennels apart from the fact that Cherry Kennels will provide the additional professional grooming parlors. Another difference is that Cherry Kennels will be able to hold and take care of a considerable amount of more cats and dogs. Finally Ladybird Kennels has a Discount food shop which is not planned for Cherry Kennels but could be considered.  Ladybird Kennels is very old fashioned and has been around for ten years so the target audience for its services will probably be the same as Cherry Kennels between 30 50 years of age. This is not a problem however as Cherry Kennels will be more modern to suit this age group and up and coming generations so business will continue well.

Womens Engagement in Politics

Womens Engagement in Politics Why are there relatively few women engaged in political activity? Introduction It is evident that women are underrepresented in government and in general do not engage in political activity in the same numbers as men do. Various explanations have been used to explain this phenomenon: entrenched discrimination on the part of candidate selectors, elite theory as well as the Supply and Demand Model. This paper visits each explanation in turn finding some value in each. Finally, the argument is made that another possibility is that the system has been created by men for men. When states and constitutions were created in today’s developing countries, women did not have the right to vote, own property or engage in any political activity. Therefore, one could argue that the terms of the social contract on which liberal democracies are based are male- centric and do not allow for the equal representation of women. Theoretical Perspectives: Women and Democracy Beyond the basic interpretation of democracy as â€Å"rule by the people†, scholars have noted that democracy has evolved, changing over time and space and responding to evolution in public affairs. As explained by Meny â€Å"it is commonly accepted that democracy has varied over time, evolving from a rather elitist and restrictive form to a more open and participatory form of government† (Meny, 2002, p.10). Dahl identifies three evolutionary waves, or â€Å"transformations† of democracy, from the Greek city- state to the republic and finally to the nation- state (Dahl, 1989). Furthermore, Dahl identifies the basic criteria for a democratic process as: effective participation, voting equality at the decisive stage, enlightened understanding, control of the agenda by the people, and equal opportunity (Dahl, 1989). Effective participation is the requirement for citizens to have an equal chance of expressing preference for the political outcome, and their choice should be weighed as equal to that of any other citizen. Enlightened understanding means that citizens should be informed in their choice and have an understanding of the system. At first glance, therefore, one would be surprised with the arguments posed by some Feminists that standard definitions of democracy such as the above are discriminatory against women and legitimize a gender- biased system. Waylen asserts: â€Å"democracy defined in these ways becomes a ‘political method’ simply an institutional arrangement to generate and legitimize leadership† (Waylen, 1994, p.332). To help us understand statements like these, we should consider the distinction between different kinds of â€Å"equality† and the historic inequality democratic systems have imposed on women. There is an important distinction between equality of opportunity and equality of result. If a system merely aims at equality of opportunity then giving women the right to vote and come forward as candidates would be an end in itself; but if equality of result is sought, then one would see that external factors diminish the value of equality of opportunity (Karam ed. 199 8). A historic overview of â€Å"democracy† reveals that as a system in application, it is embedded with inequality. The democrats in ancient Greece excluded women, slaves and immigrants and considered foreigners to be â€Å"barbarians† and therefore inferior to the Greeks. At a minimum, democracy requires that people have the right to vote, and this right was not given to women until recently: 1919 in West Germany, 1920 in the USA, 1921 in the UK and 1971 in Switzerland (just to name a few examples of developed and democratic states). In accounting for this inequality, Feminists emphasize the concept of patriarchy and the distinction between the public and private sphere. Patriarchy[1] means â€Å"rule by fathers† and mainstream political theory argues that this system has been obsolete and no longer n existence since more than three hundred years ago. Feminists, however, have always been pointing out that it still exists. Pateman argues that patriarchy has been replaced by â€Å"fraternity†[2] through the establishment of the social contract. Patriarchy has its foundations in the separation between the public and the private sphere, thereby keeping women confined in the private sphere, removed from politics: â€Å"The division of public and private life as one that differentiates the woman (private) from the man (public) is the overarching ideological tool of patriarchy† (Corrin 1999 quoting Eisenstein 1984). Liberal Democracy This system aims to check both the tyranny of the majority and the abuse of power by a government, usually through a system of checks and balances. The system merely aims at equality of opportunity (and not equality of result or of condition) and accountability through voting. It assumes that society consists of a plurality of interests which compete with each other over influence over political outcomes. As a result of this competition a stalemate may occur which means little or piece meal change to the system can be achieved and thus the status quo perpetuates. This model embraces the distinction between the public and private sphere. [3] Feminists therefore criticize liberal democracy and assert that inequalities between husband and wife reduce the value of political life for women. Feminists also feel that a â€Å"gender- neutral† approach to citizenship (as is proposed by liberal democracy) actually serves to exclude women. Phillips argues that concepts such as the individual, citizenship, rights etc are male categories (Phillips, 1991). Participatory Democracy This model requires social equality and emphasizes participation. It challenges the private- public distinction and proposes that for democracy to be meaningful in the public sphere there must also be democracy in the private sphere. Feminists agree that voting is not enough and that there must be discussion and participation. However, feminists argue that this model also creates an elite of â€Å"active† citizens. As certain categories of women such as housewives have less free time, they are less able to be â€Å"active† in public affairs and would therefore be disadvantaged. Elite Theory Elite theory assumes that throughout history there has been a group of people who â€Å"rule† and the rest who are ruled by them. Essentially this theory is about power and its distribution. Gaetano Mosca argues that the existence of the elite and its dominance depends on its organizational position and abilities. Mosca believes that the more organized minority will prevail over the less organized majority. Mosca distinguishes between an upper stratum elite (small group of political decision- makers) and a lower stratum of the elite, who perform lesser political functions. Mosca saw elite- formation as inevitable; if the mass were to rise against the elite and replace it in government, another small group would rise from within the masses and prevail over the rest. Mosca saw elite theory and democracy as compatible (Rush, 1992). Michels drew upon Mosca’s â€Å"iron law of oligarchy† and argued that like all other organizations, political parties are dominated by their leadership. Pareto diverges from the Marxist notion that the elite are defined in economic terms, and argues instead that it is human attributes such as motivation and abilities which define it (Rush, 1992). Political Recruitment The Selection Process Norris and Lovenduski identify three levels of analyzing political recruitment: a) systematic factors such as the legal system, the electoral system and the party system, which set the context for analysis, b) context- setting factors such as party organization, rules and ideology, c) factors influencing directly the recruitment of individual candidates such as resources and motivations of applicants and the attitudes of â€Å"gatekeepers† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). The recruitment process is generally evaluated by testing whether the system is democratic (involving local activists and grassroots members), whether it is fair (treating all applicants equally), whether it is efficient (as a decision- making process) and whether it is effective in producing candidates of a high standard (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). There are six main types of selection process and these are: 1) informal- centralized, where constitutional mechanisms may be in place but in essence patronage controls outcomes and rules are largely symbolic 2) informal – regional where factions bargain in order to get good positions for their candidates, 3) informal- localized where the decision over which selection procedure will be used depends on local groups and therefore procedures vary and the system is open to manipulation by small groups 4, 5) formal- centralized/ formal- regional where party leaders at national or at regional level have the power to choose candidates and 6) formal- localized where constitutional rules and guidelines create a standard procedure and all applicants are treated equally (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). According to Norris and Lovenduski: â€Å"in the long term the main change in recruitment within British parties has been in process rather than power. There has been a gradual evolution from an ‘informal- localized’ system based on patronage in the nineteenth century towards more ‘formal- localized’ system today based on more meritocratic standards† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.5). Supply and Demand In analyzing trends in political recruitment, Norris and Lovenduski present the Supply and Demand Model : â€Å"based on a ‘supply and demand’ model, the study distinguishes between the factors influencing the ‘supply’ of candidates willing to come forward and the factors influencing the ‘demand’ of party selectors in making their decisions† ((Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.14). On the Demand side, selectors choose based on perceptions of the candidates’ abilities, experience etc. Such perceptions can be affected by discrimination and stereotyping either in a positive r in a negative way. Direct discrimination is judging people as members of groups instead of as individuals. Imputed discrimination amounts to selectors favouring certain categories of candidates e.g. women or racial minorities (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). On the Supply side, selectors may argue that certain categories of people such as women do not come forward as candidates. Motivation and constrained resources may affect potential candidacies. Also, demand and supply are inter-related; some may be deterred from coming forward out of fear of discrimination (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). Applied to the case of women, the Demand side proposes that women may have lower resources in terms of money and time as well as lower levels of political ambition and confidence. On the supply side, selector may employ direct or imputed discrimination against women: â€Å"the basic problem is that selectors are not enthusiastic about women candidates. They believe the electorate does not want them. They do not see women as having the same commitment as men. They do not know how to categorize them †¦ in short, they apply different standards† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.115 quoting Mitchell 1982). Party Selection In the Conservative Party, following the Chelmer Report 1972 the rules guiding procedures were revised. This slightly strengthened the role of party members at the expense of the constituency executive committee. In 1980 the Conservative Central Office introduced managerialist selection boards to scrutinize candidates on the Approved List before they could apply. These boards aimed to produce better quality candidates and fairer procedures (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). The Labour general party modernization in the 1980s included selection rules reform. Thus, there was a mandatory reselection for incumbents, a formalized selection procedure and power shifted downwards to an electoral college of all members. To encourage more women candidates the Party altered short listing rules and introduced more training programs (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). For the general election 1997 Labour introduced women-only shortlists whereby a proportion of local parties were required to shortlist only women candidates for selection. The policy was then withdrawn as it was found in breach of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. The Electoral System According to Norris and Lovenduski â€Å"the British electoral system is commonly seen as contributing towards the localism of the selection process, by strengthening the links between individual MPs and their constituency† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.28). The British first- pass- the post system is based on a 651 plurality, single member districts and opportunities are determined by the number of seats. Voters can vote for or against individual candidates, but have no say over who is placed before them as a candidate (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). The incumbency turnover further constrains opportunities to enter parliament. The rise of â€Å"careerism† whereby MPs enter parliament at a younger age and see their position as a career further supports this proposition. The party system is a further constraint; traditionally the UK was considered a two- party system, but this has gradually been weakened in the post- war period (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). Conclusions: Accounting for Women’s Under representation The Discrimination Argument Some feel that women are discriminated against by part selectors: â€Å"discrimination by gatekeepers is probably one of the most common explanations of the social bias in our parliament† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.123). However, it is difficult to establish proof of this discrimination. Others feel that at present the system is open to women and explain the under representation in terms of structural constraints such as lack of confidence or the difficulty to combine family life with a career in politics (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995). There is also the argument that selectors may not be biased themselves, but may feel that the electorate has biased perceptions. Therefore, to avoid ‘losing’ they do not select ‘risky’ candidates such as women or ethnic minorities. In general, ‘winning’ candidates are perceived as local, white, middle class and male: â€Å"perceptions of anticipated electoral gains and losses reflect, and thereby reinforce the dominant class and racial biases within parliament† (Norris and Lovenduski, 1995, p.136). The Elite Theory argument An application of elite theory to liberal democracies at present, confirms the validity of this model. Electoral systems may mean that the voters do not have a genuine choice and that this lies in the hands of the selectorate, usually party officials: â€Å"studies in a number of countries show that in socio- economic terms the differences between successful and unsuccessful candidates are not great and that the selection of candidates is often in the hands of a small group of party leaders and activists† (Rush, 1992, p.66). The Social Contract Revisited Nadezhda Shvedova identifies the difficulties women face in achieving equal representation in government: political, socio-economic, and ideological/psychological obstacles (Karam ed. 1998). Political obstacles include: the type of electoral system ( Shvedova believes proportional representation is better for increasing women’s representation), prevalence of the â€Å"masculine model† of political life e.g. the â€Å"predator mentality† that is supposedly alien to women, and lack of party support. Arguments of socio-economic obstacles usually stem from the theory that higher development brings more democratization; Ideological/psychological obstacles are the traditional social roles assigned to women and men, women’s lack of confidence, the perception of politics as a â€Å"dirty†, and the way in which women are portrayed in the mass media. In newly democratized countries mechanisms such as quotas have been devised to ensure equal representation. Quotas are introduced to make sure that women constitute a certain percentage of the members of a public body such as a candidate list, committee, parliament assembly, or government. They usually aim at achieving at least a â€Å"critical minority† of 30-40% for women (Karam ed. 1998). The three most common forms of these mechanisms are: constitutional quotas which reserve seats in the national parliament for women, election law quotas which are written in national law, and political party quotas which are adopted by political parties to achieve a certain percentage of women as candidates. According to Dahlerup, â€Å"History seems to prove that the implementation of a quota system is made easier in a new political system than in an older one, where most seats might be ‘occupied’, and consequently a conflict may arise between the interests of new groups versus those of the incumbent† (Karam ed. 1998). Countries that have implemented quotas for women are : Uganda, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Tanzania, Belgium, Italy and Namibia (Karam ed. 1998). An example of a newly democratized state where women played an important role in creating the institutions and the foundations of the state is South Africa. According to Seidman â€Å"During the South African transition women activists played a surprisingly important role in the negotiations, in the elections, and in designing the new state. Women’s participation is already leading to new approaches in policy making and, I will suggest, to the construction of a new vision of gendered citizenship† (Seidman 1999, p. 288). This illustrates the ambiguous relationship between development and democracy, and the relationship between the role played by women in freedom or independence struggles and their subsequent role in the new state. . However, it is more difficult to implement such mechanisms in older democracies where rules of procedure and systems are entrenched. Another reason is that the liberal democratic model creates systems that are less â€Å"gendered† than the participatory democracy model, for example, would. This may not have been done to purposely discriminate against women; it may be more about the general ideology of liberal democracy. A good illustration would be the case of the USA where the founding fathers of the American Constitution aimed at creating a â€Å"free† society. â€Å"Free† however, does not imply equal in resources or in condition. Liberal democracy can be therefore criticized because the state will strive to achieve the equality of disadvantaged people; it is more likely to act as a neutral mediator or even observer in the free, pluralist system, where the strongest group/ elite will prevail. It therefore follows that in such a system, reforms to improve the r epresentation of women in political activity will be piece-meal and gradual. References Corrin, C. (1999). Feminist Perspectives on Politics, Essex, Pearson Prentice Hall. Karam, A. (ed) (1998). Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers, Stockholm, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). Waylen, G. (2003), Gender and Transitions: What Do We Know?, Democratisation, 10 (1), p. 157- 178. Waylen, G. (1994), Women and Democratisation: Conceptualising Gender Relations in Transition Politics. World Politics, 46 (3), p. 327- 354. Seidman, G. (1999), Gendered Citizenship: South Africa’s Democratic Transition and the Construction of a Gendered State, Gender and Society, 13 (3), p.287-307. Phillips, A. (1991), Engendering Democracy, Cambridge , Polity. Pateman, C. (1988), The Sexual Contract, Cambridge, Polity. Meny, Y. (2002), De la democratie en Europe: Old Concepts and New Challenges, Journal of Common Market Studies, 41 (1), p. 1-13. Dahl, R. (1989), Democracy and Its Critics, New Haven; London, Yale University Press. Rush, M (1992), Democracy and its Critics, Harvester Wheatsheaf, Prentice Hall. Norris, P. and Lovenduski, J. (1995), Political Recruitment: Gender, Race and Class in the British Parliament, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 1 Footnotes [1] Adrienne Rich defines patriarchy as â€Å"a familial- social, ideological, political system in which men by force, direct pressure, or through ritual, tradition, law and language, customs, etiquette, education, and the division of labour, determine what part women shall or shall not play† (Corrin 1999, p.8 quoting Rich 1997). [2] Fraternity means â€Å"rule by brothers† and is seen by Feminists such as Pateman as equally discriminative against women as patriarchy [3] Plato and Aristotle had made this distinction in their writings (Phillips, 1991)

The Systematic Teaching of Grammar: A Critique :: Essays Papers

The Systematic Teaching of Grammar: A Critique From the writer: "The Systematic Teaching of Grammar: A Critique" is a piece that was written for my Peer Writing Consultant class, WRT 331. The assignment was rather open, we were to relate our experiences as a writing consultant to an area interest. I was inspired to choose grammar as my subject area because I found that many students came to me asking directly for help with their grammar. This piece was more of an exploratory piece than anything else. From the teacher: Cat's interest in the subject of this paper was sparked by her consulting clients repeated requests to have her "just go over the grammar" in their papers. She wondered what they meant by that. Why were they so concerned about grammar? As a result, she decided to investigate how students are instructed in grammar. This paper, her final presentation for the Peer Writing Consultant course, grew out of her research. From the editors: Through a series of questions and answers, Ayoob simply yet thoroughly examines the subject of grammar. Taking a trip back to early childhood education and the origins of many misunderstandings of the mere definition of grammar, Ayoob's style offers concrete understandings of the life span of grammar. Writing from a point of view of a writing consultant lends her paper further credibilty. Grammar this, grammar that. So much is heard about grammar, most of it negative. If you are a writing consultant, you will hear that word just about everyday: "Can you help me with my grammar?" " I hate grammar." "My grammar sucks." Where does this obsession and loathing of grammar come from? This question would probably take a whole dissertation to answer, and I do not have the knowledge to write that sort of paper. So, this essay will be more narrowly focused. In most cases this misunderstanding of grammar takes place early on in ones educational career. Most students have made their position with grammar clear before they enter high school. Many of these students who detest grammar were taught grammar systematically. It is this systematic teaching of grammar that creates such fear and hatred of grammar. In this short piece, systematically taught grammar will be analyzed and discussed. It is the intention of the author to provide a critique of this method of teaching and propose alternative teaching styles. Grammar taught systematically is ineffective and should be discarded.

Global Citizenship Essay -- Government

The concept of citizenship and its boundaries are contested, yet its definition in the plainest form is to be a member of a political community, such as a nation-state and possess legal rights and political duties. As can be seen from its many ideals – namely republican, liberal, bound, cosmopolitan, pluralist or solidarist – citizenship has multiple sources of meaning, be they cultural, religious, ethnic or gender related. These conceptions each have their respective merits and downfalls, which shall be assessed and measured in this essay by the extent to which they permit the best use and protection of the citizen’s rights and duties. Although the arguments of Linklater (1998) and Miller (2000) shall form either side of the examination and debate between cosmopolitan citizenship (or what shall be referred to as global citizenship in this context) and bounded citizenship, it does not mean that by the end of this analysis one shall be the better alternative. Furt hermore, the shared flaws of either shall be highlighted. This leads to the conclusion that a compromise can be found between the two; whereby the thoughts of Kant are considered (1795), particularly that of compassion towards the alien and having a representative form of cosmopolitan citizenship, yet also there is sympathy to be found within the argument that bounded citizenship promotes civic involvement and responsibility, which may be lost if a wholly cosmopolitan form was adopted. In the case made by Miller (2000) he employs the natural evolution of bounded citizenship, which initially began ‘within the walls of the city-state’ (2000, p.88), as a reason for it being the better conception, as over time it has preserved its value – potentially at the expense of excl... ...essed 7/01/12. Post, R. (2007), Religion and Freedom of Speech: Portraits of Muhammad. Constellations, 14: 72–90. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8675.2007.00423.x Pufendorf, S (1964b). DE OFFICIO HOMINIS ET CIVIS JUXTA LEGEM NATURALEM LIBRI DUO, Volume Two, The Translation By Frank Gardner Moore. 2nd ed. New York, London: Oceana Publications Inc. Wildy & Sons Ltd. p32. http://www.constitution.org/puf/puf-dut.htm#1 Date acc. 6/01/12. Rousseau, J. (1772). Considerations on the Government of Poland and its Proposed Reformations. Available: http://www.constitution.org/jjr/poland.htm Date acc. 7/01/12. Vattel, E. (1758). The Law of Nations. Available: http://www.constitution.org/vattel/vattel.htm Date acc. 7/01/12. Wendt, A. (1994), Collective Identity Formation and the International State, The American Political Science Review, Vol. 88, No. 2 (Jun., 1994), pp. 384-396

journeyhod Journey Motif in Heart of Darkness and Jasmine Essay

Journey Motif in Heart of Darkness and Jasmine  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and Bharati Mukherjee's Jasmine, the physical journey represents the setting for the psychological journey that both main characters undergo. Each stage of the journey is correlated to an emotional insight, and the implications are great enough to incur a change in the protagonists' lives. Through the discovery of distant lands and foreign ideas, Marlow and Jasmine are prompted to look internally to find the answers to their questions. Their struggles are personal, and they are driven by different guiding forces, yet both experience a greater sense of self-awareness by the end of their journey. Initially, Marlow and Jasmine embark on physical journeys involving movement over water. Marlow's fascination with the Congo River drives him to set out in search of the unknown, to fulfill his longing to explore the "blank spaces" of the map (Conrad 5). Marlow first crosses the English Channel to Brussels, a city that elicits an image of a "whited sepulcher" (7), which serves as an omen of the events that are about to unfold. The city, and the operation of the trading company, appear on the surface to be benevolent, but hidden at the very core are darkness and corruption. Jasmine's journey begins under quite different circumstances. She also crosses the ocean in search of a new and mysterious land, but for a very unique reason. Leaving Jyoti behind, Jasmine travels a long and indirect route to Florida where she intends to throw herself onto a funeral pyre in the custom of a traditional Indian widow. The further from home Marlow and Jasmine travel, the more alienated they feel from the world and the people around them. Viewing the coas... ...e face in life. Both novels address influences that guide us through our spiritual lives, and how they potentially affect our decisions and choices. Marlow does not reach this understanding until he leaves a place of modernity and travels "back to the earliest beginnings of the world" (30), returning to Europe at the end of his journey a changed man. Conversely, Jasmine is able to progress emotionally and achieve personal fulfillment once she leaves the antiquated society of India for the United States. The ambiguity of Heart of Darkness and Jasmine accurately reflects the fluid and unpredictable nature of our own existence, and the adversity we must surmount in our journey through life. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. 1902. New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1990. Mukherjee, Bharati. Jasmine. 1989. New York: Ballantine Books, 1991.   

GM crops Essay

For thousands of years farmers have used a process of selection and cross breeding to improve the quality of our crops. The problem with GM crops is that there is little known about what effect they will have in 20 years’ time. The genetic structure of any living organism is complex and GM crop tests focus on short-term effects. Not all the effects of introducing a foreign gene into the intricate genetic structure of an organism are tested. Will the pests that a crop was created to resist eventually become resistant to this crop? GM crops may also pose a health risk to native animals that eat them. The animals may be poisoned by the built-in pesticides. Tests in the U. S. showed that 44% of caterpillars of the monarch butterfly died when fed large amounts of pollen from GM corn. Very little scientific information exists about the risk of GM food on human health. One major report by Dr. Arpad Pusztai, explains how GM foods could trigger new allergies and contain toxins that may be harmful. Another concern is disease. Since some crops are modified using the DNA from viruses and bacteria, will we see new diseases emerge? What about the GM crops that have antibiotic-resistant marker genes? Marker genes are used by scientists to determine whether their genetic modification of a plant was successful. Will these antibiotic-resistant genes be transferred to microorganisms that cause disease? We already have a problem with ineffective antibiotics. How can we develop new drugs to fight these new bugs? Then there is always the possibility that we may not be able to destroy GM crops once they spread into the environment. Proponents of GM crops claim that advantages may be many, such as: Improved storage and nutritional quality Pest and disease resistance Selective herbicide tolerance Tolerance of water, temperature and saline extremes Improved animal welfare Higher yields and quality Cross-pollination is a concern for both GM crops and conventional breeding, especially with the more serious weeds that are closely related to the crops. With careful management this may be avoided. They are an ever-increasing problem and genetic engineering promises to stop it. But will genes from GM plants spread to other plants, creating superweeds and superbugs we won’t be able to control? When looking at the environmental impacts of grass- and grain-fed beef, â€Å"there is a 500% increase in greenhouse gas emissions for each pound of beef produced from grass-fed compared to grain-fed cattle. Uncontrolled nitrogen and phosphate release to the environment, 35% more water use, and 30% more land use for grass-fed cattle compared to grain-fed increases the environmental impact of strictly grass feeding. † Cholesterol content does not differ between grass- or grain-fed beef. Today, there is an estimated two-thirds of all our products in supermarkets contain genetically engineered ingredients, including; tortilla chips, drink mixes, taco shells, veggie burgers, muffin mix, and baby formulas. But only one-third of Americans are aware that their food contain genetically engineered ingredients, despite the findings of surveys that 85 to 90% of consumers want clear labeling of all genetically engineered foods. Because labeling is not yet required by government regulations, nor practiced by biotech companies, there is absolutely no way for consumers to know what it is that they are eating. The public has not been educated of the inadequacy of genetically modified ingredients in their diets and the possible risks that these foods may entail. The credibility of these geneticists is also questionable because almost all established molecular geneticists have some industrial ties limiting what they can research on, particularly with regard to safety. There is no way of knowing the overall, long-term effects of genetically engineered foods on human health. This unpredictability appears to be causing the most controversy over genetically modified foods, as there is insufficient evidence and need for further research. The effect of the insertion on the biochemistry of the host organism is unknown. The effect of the genetically engineered organism on the environment is unknown. The effect of eating genetically engineered foods is unknown. There is no basis for meaningful risk assessment. There is no recovery plan in case of disaster. It is not even clear, who, if anyone will be legally liable for the negative consequences. There are no consequences among scientists on the safety or on the risks associated with genetic engineering in agriculture. The international community is deeply divided on the issue. In addition to these, genetically engineered foods may cause the removal of important food elements. For example, genetic engineers may intentionally remove or inactivate a substance they consider undesirable in a food, which may have unknown but crucial qualities, such as cancer-inhibiting abilities. Examples such as this are perhaps especially frightening because of the potential to find cures to some of the illnesses and diseases that have already laid claim to many lives. Failure to do further research in this case would be a shame, as it could lead to an elimination of possible breakthroughs in medicine and health. The current state of biotechnology must be fixed because every living organism is affected by it because everything is composed of genes. If the food being consumed contains products of genetic modification, the public is at risk to the unpredictable effects on their own physiology and biochemistry-effects that may not be reversible. Not only could this cause problems in their own lives presently, but it could also affect future generations, in ways that are unforeseen yet preventable. Moreover there is not enough understanding of the principles of genetic engineering to categorize those genetic modifications that may pose a risk and those that may not because genes appear to react in diverse ways when spliced with other genes. Genes are a part of an extremely complex and interconnected network and are constantly reacting to their environment. Further research must be enacted, and biotech companies and the government must do their moral/ethical duty to inform the public, because ultimately, they are the ones making the decisions.