Marijuana and its Legalization

The legality of marijuana has been a hot topic debated upon for years. However, upon close inspection of studies and articles, it is clear that it is in the better interest of the government to lift the ban on marijuana. The first thing I learned from the inquiry into this issue was that prohibition fails to control the use and production of marijuana. On the contrary, the illegal aspect tickles the curiosity of teenagers, resulting in opportunists seizing this chance to sell marijuana to them.The marijuana is distributed in schools by student dealers who learn to make easy money, and these students may be lead into the crime industries. The problem exists in the ubiquitous nature of marijuana and it not being the highest priority of the police. The distribution is not being controlled and neither are sources of the marijuana, which misses the reason of existence for prohibition.In fact, through legalizing marijuana usage, the government can earn a plethora of money through taxing, t he price can be controlled to be of proper value instead of the underground pricing, and the number of illegal dealers would decrease due to marijuana not being as profitable. In a survey conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, they reported that â€Å"teens could more readily access pot than beer or prescription drugs. What makes alcohol different from marijuana is that alcohol is legal, regulated through age restrictions, and taught in public education about its awareness. For instance, in high school, there are no such things as alcohol dealers or tobacco dealers, which leads to the need of a middle-man who is of age to buy such products. That middle man is often an older student who has to go out of his way to buy alcohol or tobacco which is a great hassle, whereas marijuana is easily found within the student population.People may argue that it is the pure danger of marijuana that led to its prohibition, but contrary to popular belief, it is said that marijuana was made illegal in the US for population control of Mexicans and Black people. Harry J. Anslinger, the director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics remarked that the reason for the ban of marijuana was â€Å"its effect on the degenerate races. † There is no scientific evidence that such known side effects as schizophrenia, heart attacks or cancer are actually caused by marijuana and therefore the danger of the drug cannot be the reason being illegal.However, due to marijuana smokers being disoriented and having loss of coordination and logical thought, it would be more reasonable to make certain activities or actions illegal when influenced by marijuana instead, similarly to alcohol. Lastly, the research showed that keeping marijuana illegal is more expensive than lobbying it. Apparently the government’s â€Å"War on Drugs† results in millions of dollars in losses when locking people related to marijuana in prison, paying for th eir food, housing, health care, attorney fees, and court costs.All this is paid by taxpayer money which are meant for and could be used for other things concerning the country. Also, as stated in the above, the government is missing out on tax opportunities that could be in turn used for more effective drug education programs. If marijuana were legal the government would have much more money to spend on important problems. Even in our neighbourhoods, hundreds of students are smoking cannabis. Instead of having a large portion of our population having to smoke illegally, it would be more advisable to free the ban and profit from the perks of legalizing marijuana.

Three Generation By Nick Quackin

CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERIZATIONS:Anastacia- the old lady who told the heantation to Agueda Agueda- the young lady who bravely to see his husband to be on the midnight of May Day eve. Badoy- the man who fell in love with Agueda and eventually became his wife.PLOT:The story is about a girl who happened to believe that he could see his husband to be on a May Day eve. It was an old wives take but it ought to be true when he married the man he saw on the mirror. In one part, Joaquin intends to present the circumstances of Agueda describing her encounter with the devil in the mirror to her young daughter. The child is keen in fact sees a similarity of his father to the description of the devil by her mother. The ambiguity of Agueda weeping towards the end renders innumerable possibilities. In yet another part Joaquin is more determined to show the circumstances of Don Badoy Montiya’s recollection of seeing a witch in the mirror. Teary eyed, he recalls to his grandson that he saw sta nding before the mirror the witch.Some have been guilty of looking at the story as a simple tale for little children, but Joaquin aims at something grander and loftier. His attention to present a man and a woman holding on to love until the death of them is worthy of note. His intention to exhibit the hazy romance of the old world, the quiet consummation of their love, itself an elevated thought, is a result of his great imaginative power. THEME:It was a love story that came in seemingly impossible superstitions.POINT OF VIEW:The author is the one who narrated the storySUMMARY:May Day eve of 1847 when Agueda tried to take a peek of the one she would  fated Mary. She walked down the living room and made the incantation when the young Badoy Montiya appeared before her. Agueda was really annoyed with Badoy and later on she had been offended and bit the knuckles of the young Badoy Montiya. Badoy wan to have revenge when he found himself falling in love with Agueda. Years have passed a nd they were already married and had a family. Agueda told her daughter what happened to that May Day Eve of 1847.Badoy reminisce on how he fell in love with Agueda on that evening, telling the story to his grandson. And the memories of him and her late wife keep coming back.SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE:According to the story, one could see his or her husband or wife to be when they peer in a mirror at the midnight of May Day eve. The superstion was said to be done at May Day eve and the story emphasizes the title May day eve. Three Generation by Nick Quackin SETTINGS:Philippines,1847 Philippines,1890CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERIZATIONS:Anastacia- the old lady who told the heantation to Agueda Agueda- the young lady who bravely to see his husband to be on the midnight of May Day eve. Badoy- the man who fell in love with Agueda and eventually became his wife.PLOT:The story is about a girl who happened to believe that he could see his husband to be on a May Day eve. It was an old wives take but it ought to be true when he married the man he saw on the mirror. In one part, Joaquin intends to present the circumstances of Agueda describing her encounter with the devil in the mirror to her young daughter. The child is keen in fact sees a similarity of his father to the description of the devil by her mother. The ambiguity of Agueda weeping towards the end renders innumerable possibilities.In yet another part Joaquin is more determined to show the circumstances of Don Badoy Montiya’s recollection of seeing a witch in the mirror. Teary eyed, h e recalls to his grandson that he saw standing before the mirror the witch. Some have been guilty of looking at the story as a simple tale for little children, but Joaquin aims at something grander and loftier. His attention to present a man and a woman holding on to love until the death of them is worthy of note. His intention to exhibit the hazy romance of the old world, the quiet consummation of their love, itself an elevated thought, is a result of his great imaginative power.THEME:It was a love story that came in seemingly impossible superstitions. POINT OF VIEW: The author is the one who narrated the story SUMMARY:May Day eve of 1847 when Agueda tried to take a peek of the one she would  fated Mary. She walked down the living room and made the incantation when the young Badoy Montiya appeared before her. Agueda was really annoyed with Badoy and later on she had been offended and bit the knuckles of the young Badoy Montiya.Badoy wan to have revenge when he found himself falli ng in love with Agueda. Years have passed and they were already married and had a family. Agueda told her daughter what happened to that May Day Eve of 1847.Badoy reminisce on how he fell in love with Agueda on that evening, telling the story to his grandson. And the memories of him and her late wife keep coming back.SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE:According to the story, one could see his or her husband or wife to be when they peer in a mirror at the midnight of May Day eve. The superstion was said to be done at May Day eve and the story emphasizes the title May day eve.

My College Experience in University of La Salette Essay

A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from a private university, La Sallete revels in my undergraduate days and shares the ups and downs of transitioning from secondary school to college. Along the way in second semester I found a little bit more worried. The college experience is one that holds many pleasant memories for me. I began the journey as a scared rat out in the open desert that have many prediators, but made the best of it and I think forward to become a willful man. It all started after I completed secondary school knowing that the next sure step was College, which made me worried and every thought of it. It started from â€Å"What should I study?† to â€Å"Where should I go?† and ended with the fear, â€Å"Will I survive on my own?† The saddest thing about embarrass on this journey towards my tertiary education is that many childhood high school friends have to be left behind and many times than not, the comfort of your own home as well. With all this in mind, I began for my search and discovered that Business Administration Major in Marketing was best suited for me in terms of course outline and career pathway. I enrolled in a college in U.L.S which meant that I had to stay out, as it was ridiculous to think of travelling to and Santiago from Roxas every week. I signed up for my courses for the First semester I enrolled in University of La Salette – Roxas Campus. The experience is good but I have a feeling that I don’t deserve to study again in our home town so in second semester I decided to transfer in the main campus of U.L.S which in Santiago City. Picked out a room or a boarding in Santiago nearby in the school campus is hard because there is a lot of room to offer but minimal the quality I want. But in my 2 semester of college and first time in Santiago I choose a boarding near in our school. In my first day of staying in our boarding I met my entire roommate which is kaka, graysom and jp and the n we waited for the first day to begin. I distinctly remember stepping into my first class. The lecturer was rather amusing and he gave us time to settle in that day. It wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be. In fact I suddenly found myself gaining more confidence and determination from that week on. I began reshaping my work style and schedule to fit into the mold of college life! The first thing that hit me was the workload. It was definitely much heavier and intense than what I was used to in high school. The major challenges to get past were the large volumes of reading, the short deadlines and the intensive writing, writing and more writing. On some of these long, seemingly endless nights of mugging the books and writing, it is only natural for one to long for the good old days when friends were around to mull over a problem together and my step mother was there to take care of my dietary needs and quick fixes of rice and egg. But hang in there. Trust that this will pass when morning comes. Whatever you do, don’t make major decisions about your courses, your major or even what you’re going to do the next day during one of these down periods. However, even with these initial challenges, college was the phase in my life where I started finding myself. I grew to learn what I really like and dislike, what work style was best suited for me and most importantly what I was naturally good at. In other words, being forced to be independent was push in action that I needed at that time. Once I grew comfortable with myself, I began to enjoy the difficulty to detect opportunity given; to meet new friends. I ran for student council when I was in Roxas Campus and elected as business manager of the board but it was cancelled when I was transfer here in Main Campus and I also joined in Filipino Club. Getting involved in Filipino Club and handling â€Å"Buwan ng Wika†was challenging. I wanted to excel academically and get good grades but I realized that in spending most of the day in college, I had to give more to gain more. But in Santiago it is different story, it is hard to get grade and there is a lot of attraction that attract me to be stun and relax my life but that is not a good thing because when I discover that when I enjoying my grade is falling. One thing I remember best is when we have a commercial competition we try our best and give the entire thing that we have. The completion is about radio commercial and T.V commercial in T.V commercial lost and I think we are 5 or 4 placer but in our radio commercial we won and we accepted to the final exam. In this competition I meet new friends and enemy in the sense of competition. In this past 2  ½ years experience a lot, experience that remarkable in my life, to be drunk, to be bullied or bullying anyone, to be love and to be unloved. I learn a lot of these college life but now I see myself that many thing have change to me, my pubic hair was grow, voice was become loud, attitude that even my father didn’t know me now, but even they see me like that I always say that I am Jhon Marco S. Bulanadi yes is a change man but a man with experience that will suited in the outside world of college that prepare in the true life and not scenario anymore. These moments are the special things in college that one will not get to experience at work or elsewhere. All in all I found college life to be demanding and unexpected, but I had my fair share of fun, and that’s what mattered most. I successfully made the transition from high school, to college, to the working world, with my sanity and health intact. Considering all things past, I would change if I had a chance, developed new skill if ever it is needed, Iam a innovative person that willing to change every day if it is needed. THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES THAT I EXPERIENCE AND MY LEARNING FROM THESE ABUSES Human rights are basic freedoms that all people are entitled to enjoy. But in every place even where human rights are acknowledged, people may not enjoy them equally. I experienced human rights abuse when I was still young. I was 7 yrs old when I had a teacher who was very cruel and strict. There was a time when I came to school late and she let me stand under the sun f0r a very long time. My freedom from cruelty and punishment was violated. Another is when my phone was confiscated at school and my teacher read all my text messages without my consent. She violated my privacy. My right to freedom of religion was also violated when someone was asking me to join a religious group even when I already said no because I am already happy with a religion I am already engaged with. I also have experienced inequality both at home and school. My parents sometimes do not treat us equally. Sometimes they give everything that my siblings ask for but when it comes to me, it takes much time and effort to convince them. In school, some teachers do not give equal and reasonable grades with students who exerted equal efforts. Sometimes, they give higher grades to their favorite students. As a human being, we should treat each other equally. We are all entitled to human rights regardless of age, race, color, sex, language, religion, property, birth, nationality an economic status. And of course, we should always remember the golden rule; do not do unto others what you don’t want others do unto you.

Applying Problem Solving Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Applying Problem Solving - Essay Example There are many methods, which can be used to find a perfect solution to any specific problem. Two of the most widely used methods are persuasive thinking and scientific thinking. In this paper, I will show how I made use of these methods to solve some problems, which occurred in my life. After I got my graduation degree from a university, I decided to do job to earn some money and get professional experience. I applied in a number of companies for the job but did not succeed to get a suitable job in accordance with my educational qualifications. Some companies called me for interviews. Wherever I went for the interviews, the selection committee members required some professional experience, which I did not have at that time. In my home city, I applied in almost every renowned company but did not succeed in finding a good job. After almost six months of job search, I found a job in a marketing firm located far away from my living place. I was recruited in the department of outdoor sales and my salary was very less as compared to my educational qualifications. The salary was so less that it was very hard for me to save any money for my family. I was not satisfied with that job. I did that job for almost a year when I decided to go abroad in order to find a better employment. My parents did not support my decision of moving abroad and insisted me to remain in my home country and continue my job search. In the problem, which I discussed above, I made use of persuasive thinking to convince my parents. I had two main reasons of going abroad for employment. One reason was to find a better employment while the second reason was the huge difference between the economy levels of my home country and the country where I was planning to go for employment. My parents were not supporting my decision initially as they insisted me not to go abroad. I told them that it would be wastage of my precious time

Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 19

Psychology - Essay Example I have a sound educational backing with a minor in Psychology. My educational experiences have taught me the importance of staying organized, studying diligently and meeting deadlines. I have greatly enjoyed learning about the theories and theorists in my Psychology courses and have a great desire to further my studies in this area so I can help other people overcome obstacles in their lives. In addition to my educational experiences, I have work related skills that make me a good candidate for your Mental Health Master’s program. I have worked for the past year as a teacher. I have had the opportunity to work with many types of children. Some are motivated and excited by learning. Others have many problems, both cognitive and emotional. These are the children that I was most concerned with helping. Some days the work was exhausting. Helping these children that had so many problems has taught me to never quit. This attitude of perseverance has served me well in my current teaching position and will serve me well in my studies in your program. Difficult problems often take time and tenacity to overcome. I have learned this by working with these children. Another attribute I have learned as a teacher is how to communicate clearly with the children’s parents. Many of these parents are difficult to deal with because they are frustrated by their child’s academic performance. I have learned that showing empathy for these parents and clearly expressing expectations to them helps them to cope with their child’s behavior in school. I realize that as I enter the field of professional mental health, these types of parents and children may be my clients. As a result of my teaching experience, I have gained a great desire to help these people that struggle to cope with their daily lives. A final attribute I have acquired as a result of work experience is compassion. I have experience working as a

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 10

Project Management - Essay Example oppages in delivery of passable resources to set up project requirements; budgetary and workers transforms; and, imperfect research or knowledge of the project manager. These risks guide quickly to holdup in release dates and financial plan overages that be able to harshly weaken assurance in the development and in the project manager (Martin et al, 2004). There are lots of risk those are attached to the project development and cause a serious problem for the better management and administration of the project. These risks are also the main cause for the breakdown of the most of the projects. From project management viewpoints, project managers have to find out the most recent insights, methods, and developments in project management field. This will provide him a better understanding regarding the efficient project management and solutions for emerging risks (Johnson et al, 2005). Good qualities of project risk judgment. If a project manager is able to distinguish the key stakeholders and make sure that they evidently recognize the project scope and main objects of the project (Anderson). Project management basically comprises the phases that independently add to the achievement of a task. These stages are independent but mutually related. Here in the first stage we conduct a detailed analysis the problem situation and device an appropriate solution for that stage. Then we plan for the achievement of our goals. This plan includes the cost and human resource allocation for the project management. Here we also carry out a risk measurement study to find out the potential risks in the project. The quality assurance stage is aimed to assure the quality of the project and determine if the expected results have been achieved. The final stage of the project management involves the analysis of the results accessed for the project implementation to declare the project success or failure (Monk and Wagner). This project is about the implementation of the wireless sensor

Deciphering Yoko Ono's Artworks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Deciphering Yoko Ono's Artworks - Essay Example The essay "Deciphering Yoko Ono's Artworks" explains the artworks of Yoko Ono. One of Yoko Ono’s works that testifies to her use of conceptual art is that of the ceiling painting which is shown in Figure 1. The artwork consists of text on paper, glass, metal frame, metal chain, magnifying glass and painted ladder. In this well-known Ceiling Piece (1966), the seeker’s journey up a ladder is rewarded with a benevolent "yes." Yet the word can’t be easily read. A magnifying glass hanging nearby must be used, reminding the viewer that it is their desire to know and see that carried them to this moment of affirmation. There is not so much subtlety in the Line element besides from the fact that the words were written so as to produce the desired effect of curious thinking. The simplicity of the shape, a three dimensional ladder, induces the mind as it makes the viewer wander about where the ladder is leading to. Its effect is that it arouses curiosity and such is the wa y to make others view your work. When it comes to texture, the artwork seems to suggest of the smooth transition as the viewer climbs the stairs. We see that when it comes to space, there is that little space where the ladder is focused. There is no boundary for the negative space and it is this vastness that the viewer is attracted to the artwork. We see that the stairs were highlighted. The contrast between the ladder and its surrounding serves to further emphasize that this ladder is not just an ordinary ladder but something more. That placement of the common ladder makes it so conspicuous that someone passing by would be interested in taking a glance at the artwork. The lightness value of the way the ladder was emphasized somehow gave it a glint of mystery which made it more mysterious to behold. After having read the words yes with the magnifying glass, the whole work achieves harmony with the viewer as he now feels the aura of mysteriousness and the sense of fulfillment. Perha ps the movement in the artwork is the climbing of the stairs, usage of the magnifying glass and reading the words. Each movement leads the viewer more to the essence of the artwork and makes him internalize the meaning of what he has just experienced. I could not agree more with what Bowen (2003) tells us that Ono "Ceiling Piece encourages us to ponder where we're heading..emphasizing the visual nature of this quest by linking spiritual affirmation to the seeker's curious gaze. On the other hand, what is finally found is a word, not an image. This substitution makes the mental nature of vision apparent." Another work of art of Ono is the invitation to her exhibit This is Not Here (1971). The invitations were written on partially fixed then folded photographic paper. When the invitation was opened and exposed to the light, the image imprinted disappeared. Instead, what was left was Onos name and telephone number. The recipient was left with a blank sheet of paper and an afterimage of its contents. The feeling of being puzzled and awe was for Ono what art should be and that is "wonderment". This use of photographs, as she called it, is "a tool with which to picture our world, mediate our desires, fulfill our goals, and yet it too exists in flux, perpetually afloat and ridden with life". The question that now faces us is how to delineate the elements of art in this work. Can we consider the lines that gave semblance to the imprints as having some artistic

New Curriculum from Teaching Tolerance Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

New Curriculum from Teaching Tolerance - Article Example informality incorporates more expression in the article and reflects the author’s ability to connect with the audience, which is primarily teachers in this case. Supporting the arguments with examples e.g. offering learning targets as an example to elaborate how the authors went beyond the literacy standards enhances the understanding of the audience. The article ends with a question for the audience which is an effective way of keeping the sound echoing in the minds of the audience after the article has been read. This article is fairly expressive and yet concise. The contemporary American society is made up of people that belong to a variety of backgrounds in terms of culture, race, religion, and beliefs. Traditionally, the curriculum in American schools has not been customized to address the needs of an ever-diversifying American society. Introduction of the anti-bias education at every grade level is the first and the foremost step to a truly diverse

Non-Punitive Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Non-Punitive Environment - Essay Example After personal beliefs are put aside, managers f healthcare units need to think about others. Is the decision going to hurt anyone and if so, who This question is very important in ethical decision making. Managers need to take into account employees feelings and well-being as well as the well-being f the company. If someone is going to be hurt by the decision, a manager may want to reconsider their decision. Hiring employees based on color or race hurts more people than it helps. A decision for hiring a candidate should not be based on color, race, sex or religion it should be based on their performance, education, and skills. The organization may not see the harm they are doing but they are unintentionally hurting themselves by basing their decision on anything other than skill, education, or experience. Diversity within a workplace is very beneficial to an organization. When organizations hire based on race, they are forfeiting their ability to be diverse. When organization values diversity, they can find new ways to overcome unconventional problems because they have many different resources and perspectives being involved in the decision making. Americans rely on the healthcare system for the maintenance and improvement f personal health, which often involves care in the hospital setting. Most patients believe that the American healthcare system provides the highest quality and safest care in the world. It is estimated that four out f every one hundred hospitalized patients in the United States suffers a serious adverse event, such as a nosocomial infection, medication error, or injury related to improper use f equipment or treatment. Clinical issues must be connected to conceptual models f nursing. This substantiates the clinical issue as valid to the practice f nursing. Jacqueline Fawcett (2000) provides a comprehensive review nursing practice, considered from the vantage f widely recognized nursing conceptual frameworks and models. Fawcett suggests that the systems category f knowledge identifies actual and potential problems in the function f systems and delineates intervention strategies that maximize efficient and effective system operation; change is f secondary importance. Most nursing theories utilize the four metaparadims: nursing, health, client, and environment. Safety concerns are relevant to nursing theory because safety is a direct result f the environment. Using Jean Watson' caring theory, Dorothea Orem's, Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory and Patricia Benner's Novice to Expert nursing theory, this paper will discuss several approaches to ensuring patient safety. Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory (SCDNT) can be applied during illness or wellness at any time f life. This theory also works in a variety f care settings with little or no modification. Orem believed nursing should be autonomous in providing care and SCDNT should focus on the patient not the nurse. Nurses provide care for patient's through acting, teaching, supporting, or providing a supportive environment. Acting or doing for another is the usually the first method f assisting with a self-care deficit. This method meets basic needs and doesn't require extensive knowledge or technical ability. Because nurses

Technology in Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Technology in Society - Essay Example Where once ‘robots’ simply meant ‘robotic arms exhibited in the science lab’, today they have evolved into full-on automatons. Where once cellphones were extremely huge, bulky and cumbersome, they can now fit anywhere and be carried anywhere one goes. Music players that were once the size of a small filing cabinet can now be easily held in one hand. Truly, our fascination for technology has allowed us to create great things, and this will no doubt continue to be the case for years to come. This fascination also shows in various areas of pop culture. Works such as Ghost in the Shell or the long-running Gundam franchise are both examples of the lengths to which we envision or predict that technology will evolve, while others such as the .hack franchise portray how technology has very much become hardwired into our lives. This particular paper aims to review two such works – the novel Halting State and the first Terminator movie – due to their rel evance especially in today’s day and age. ... While nowhere near the status of such smash hits such as the Harry Potter series, for example, this novel has still managed to gain more than a modest degree of success for itself – enough to be nominated for both the Hugo and Locus awards (Worlds Without End, 2008). The story begins on a relatively mundane note – a faux job offer email sent to Nigel MacDonald for a stint as a home-based programmer for Hayek Associates LLC. At the same time, within the MMORPG known as Avalon Four, a cybercrime has taken place. Specifically, a small band of orcs together with a dragon had been found to have stolen thousands of euros’ worth of prestige items from the game’s central bank. And while this could easily have been written off as a mere in-game offense, it is soon discovered to be much worse when Hayek stocks and cryptographic keys are found to have been compromised in the process. From then on, the story introduces us to three more central characters: Sue, a polic e officer (herald); Elaine, an investigator (mentor); and Jack Reed, a programmer who happens to be a hardcore gamer. While each of their story lines at first run parallel to each other, they eventually intertwine as these three characters team up to unravel a conspiracy. Eventually, Jack and Nigel are revealed to be one and the same – Nigel MacDonald being the pseudonymous identity. However, soon enough, an even more earth-shattering revelation is revealed – that the entire European network backbone has been hacked into by Chinese hackers. This is the climax at which all pretenses of things being a game are dropped, and also where Jack and Elaine begin to fall in love. Together, the couple make use of Spooks as a sock puppet in order to

Cross-Cultural Ministry Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cross-Cultural Ministry - Assignment Example Changing such a relationship to a positive one may be difficult due to the corrupted or dependency mentality created in the minds of the poor. It is thus necessary to build healthy relationship from the very start. A relationship of the giver on one hand and the recipient on the other hand is bound to fail. Such a relationship is unhealthy, unsustainable, and fails to empower the poor. Over-dependency on the giver harms the poor in the long-run. The people in the Third World country have been made to believe that they are meant to be poor. This is a wrong mentality that harms their confidence level as well as development. Such mentality needs to be banished if at all Third World countries have to believe in their own economic empowerment. Developmental progress calls for the mutual collaboration of all the parties. It is not possible to develop by simply depending on the support of others. Instead, both the giver and the recipient must come together and chart away forth for the development

Strategic Marketing Strategy Essay Example for Free

Strategic Marketing Strategy Essay This analysis provides both an offensive and defensive strategic context through which to identify opportunities and threats. Competitor analysis is normally with the focus on the competitors as „rivals? and the objective is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the rivals in order to develop strategies to „fight the battle?. The focus of competitor analysis is thus not only to gain an advantage over direct competitors but also to search for starting points for collaboration. (Jooste, Strydom, Berndt du Plessis, 2008, p. 96). The focus will be to answer the following: Who Woolworths? present and potential competitors are What positions they have established in the market What their strategic objectives and thrusts are What their present and future strategies are What their strengths and weaknesses are What their response patterns are In order to answer these questions effectively, a framework for competitor analysis will be used. This framework is comprised of four main components (divided into sub-components), each of which will be discussed in detail. These four main steps in performing a competitor analysis include: identifying the competitor; analysing strategic groups; analysing key competitors and forecasting likely response strategies. 1. 1 Identifying the competitor The first step or component of this framework is to identify the competitors, bearing in mind that competitors can be classified into different categories. Identifying one? s competitors might seem like a straightforward task, but in actuality the range of actual and potential competitors faced by an organisation is much broader than appears to be, even though it is much more difficult to ascertain who „potential? ustomers are. 3 1. 2 Direct competitors versus potential competitors According to Unisa (2010), competition is an activity that occurs between rival companies that produce similar offerings and between industries that compete to satisfy similar needs of the same customers. For example, rival companies would include BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi and rival industries would include motor car and motorcycle industries. These rival companies are called competitors and two common methods used to identify direct competitors include customer perceptions and strategic groups. Identifying competitors using customer perceptions means asking customers whom and what they consider when making their purchase choices. The second method involves identifying competitors whose competitive strategies conflict with organisation? s strategies. These competitors can be labelled as „direct?. Direct competition include: competitors competing to satisfy the same customer need; industry competition; product line competition; organisational competition and brand competition. 1. Identifying Woolworths’ competitors As noted above, it is possible to classify competitors according to different levels. Woolworths is a company that competes against different competitors in different product categories. According to Cant and Machado (2010), Woolworths? competitors in the retail super market field include Spar, Checkers, Pick „n Pay, Shoprite and Massmart. In the retail clothing market, Woolworths? direct competition includes Truworths, Foschini, Edgars, Mr Pric e, Jet and Ackermans/Pep. 2.

Bangladesh Liberation War: Conflict Analysis

Bangladesh Liberation War: Conflict Analysis Conflict Analysis Case Study –Bangladesh Liberation War Background and Internal Factors West Pakistan had four provinces: â€Å"Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and the North-West Frontier.† Province number 5 was East Pakistan, and it was the largest province out of all. West Pakistan had control over all the provinces, and used up most of the resources. â€Å"Between 1948 and 1960, East Pakistan made 70% of all of Pakistans exports, while it only received 25% of imported money. In 1948, East Pakistan had 11 fabric mills while the West had nine. In 1971, the number of fabric mills in the West grew to 150 while the number in the East went down to 26. About 2.6 billion dollars of resources were also shifted over time from East Pakistan to West Pakistan. Although East Pakistan had the largest population among all the provinces, it had much less political power than West Pakistan. Although the economy was an issue, there was also the issue of language that caused East Pakistan and West Pakistan to have dispute for several years.† (bdallinone) In 1948, Mohammad Ali Jinnah announced that Urdu was the official language for Pakistan. However, this was not fair because only the people in the West and the Bihari’s in the East spoke Urdu. Majority of the West Pakistanis spoke Punjabi and Sindhi, while East Pakistanis spoke Bangali. Therefore, East Pakistan was against the movement of Urdu being the official language for Pakistan. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the Awami League (top political party in support of East Pakistan), wanted more economic and political power, all of these political changes resulted in the war of independence. The war involved two parts of Pakistan: East Pakistan VS West Pakistan in a war for liberation and freedom from West Pakistan. The war lasted throughout March 26th – December 16th 1971. The Pakistan Army began a genocide called â€Å"Operation Searchlight† by attacking the innocent Bangaladeshi’s of Dhaka city (Dhaka is the capital city of the province Bengal). The Pakistani army massacred 40,000 Bengali people, whether they be poets, teachers, police officers, etc and ignited a brutal war against the Bengalis of East Pakistan to stop them from being independent. They also invaded homes and held families on gun point, burned down schools, destroyed sacred architecture and purposely ruined 80% of agriculture lands, which caused Bangladesh to be in a famine. They killed sons and daughters and raped women and the West Pakistani army got away with ALL these crimes, and nothing was accounted for until at least 30 years ago, when activists convinced the police department to open up old cases. East Pakistan didn’t have an army since it was not yet officially a country, so they were just a group of freedom fighters. Eventually, India joined in to support East Pakistan’s Freedom Fighters, and then they formed the Mukhti Bahini, which translates to The Liberation Army. They used the guerrilla method and just basic armed forces, which they got from the support of the Indian Army, and through a lot of gruesome war, they eventually fought until they gained their liberation, and Bangladesh was declared an independent nation. The West Pakistani government was not willing to make peace with the East Pakistani government due to political differences such as political power due to economic, language and racial issues, since West Pakistan was considered one large province, the politicians that were on the West Side did not allow East Side of Pakistan to develop their own stable government since the East Side always got outweighed. External Factors Throughout the war, there was involvement from several other countries such as India. India played an active role. Indira Gandhi (Prime minister of India) wanted to protect Bangladesh. Since India had a lot of protection (bombs, nuclear weapons, great military), they â€Å"mounted a three-pronged movement on Dhaka from the Indian province West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. The Indian soldiers, Air Force, and Navy defeated the Pakistani army, while the Bangladeshi Navy helped India. On the ground, three groups of Mukti Bahini and Indian forces fought the Pakistanis. The Pakistanis attempted to fight back and they did not give up, but failed to resist them and ended up surrendering† (Murtala Sadeh) This surrender was the largest surrender from an army since World War 2. This was not a proxy war because the East Pakistan and West Pakistan communicated directly with each other, and did not use any other source to have the war fought for them; they fought on each other’s land. International Response: United Nations Pakistan’s plan to invade and bomb India’s land got the United Nations involved, and they stepped in and tried to force India to agree to a cease-fire. The â€Å"UN Security Council† came together on December 4 1981 to talk about the situation and find any possible way of making peace. After much convincing and long discussions, on 7 December, the United States came up with the idea for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of troops. Stalinist Russia rejected the resolution twice. In light of the Pakistani atrocities, Britain and France restrained and kept their distance from the situation. The Indian army quickly overran the country. Pakistani forces were unable to effectively fight the brutal attacks, since â€Å"they had been deployed in small units around the border to counter guerrilla attacks by the Muhkti Bahini. Unable to defend Dhaka, the Pakistanis surrendered on 16 December 1971, the largest surrender since the Second World War. Bangladesh gained adm ission to the UN with most voting in its favour, but China rejected this as Pakistan was its key ally, as was the United States, which was one of the last nations to accord Bangladesh recognition. United States of America â€Å"The US administration feared that an Indian invasion of West Pakistan would mean the domination of the region by Stalinist Russia. That, in turn, would seriously undermine the global position of the US and the regional position of America’s new tacit ally, China. In order to demonstrate to China the reliability of the US as an ally, and in direct violation of the US Congress-imposed sanctions on Pakistan, Nixon sent military supplies to Pakistan, shipping them through Jordan and Iran. China was encouraged to increase arms supplies to Pakistan†. (Wikipedia) The Nixon government completely uncared for the reports it received of the genocidal and brutal activities that the Pakistani Army was getting involved in (to dominant the Bengalis), including all the deaths of innocent Bangali’s and all of the rapes. However, Russia supported the Indian army and Mukti Bahini during the war because they knew that the independence of Bangladesh would make their rivals weaker. It also assured India that if the US or China tried invading India, Russia would have their back. Therefore, the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty was signed in August 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War. When Pakistan’s defeat was obvious, â€Å"Nixon sent the aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, to the Bay of Bengal, a move which ratcheted up nuclear tensions in the region. USS Enterprise arrived on station on 11 December 1971. On 6 and 13 December, the Russian navy sent out two groups of ships, armed with nuclear missiles, from Vladivostok. They trailed the US task force in the Indian Ocean from 18 December until 7 January 1972. At the end of the war, the Warsaw Pact countries of Central and Eastern Europe were the first to recognise Bangladesh as an independent country.† (Wikepedia) Stalinist Russia gave credit to Bangladesh on 25 January 1972. The United States also eventually gave them credit in April. â€Å"On 2 July 1972, the Simla Accord was signed between India and Pakistan, which stated the goal to normalise relations between India and Pakistan, including the return of Pakistani prisoners of war. Pakistan officially recognised Bangladesh in 1974†. (Wikiped ia) China Since China is an ally of Pakistan, the Peoples Republic of China reacted with productively towards situation in East Pakistan and the prospect of India invading West Pakistan. They know that an Indian attack was about to happen, so Richard Nixon (President of U.S.A) encouraged China to gather together its armed forces along India’s border. The Indian Army was prepared and had deployed eight mountain divisions to the â€Å"Sino-Indian border to guard against such an eventuality.China instead threw its weight behind demands for an immediate ceasefire.† (Wikipedia) When Bangladesh wanted a place to get involved in the United Nations in 1972, China rejected their application because of two United Nations resolutions regarding the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners of war and civilians had not yet been implemented.† (Wikipedia) China was one of the last countries to recognise the liberation of Bangladesh and denied to until 31 August 1975. Effect of Temperature on Plant Physiology | Experiment Effect of Temperature on Plant Physiology | Experiment Abstract The physiological processes of many organisms are sensitive to temperature. In order to see this effect of temperature, we examined the heart rate of a Daphnia magna over a range of different temperatures. Being an ectothermic animal, the Daphnias body temperature is dependent on water temperature. It was hypothesized that since most physiological processes are faster at higher temperatures, the Daphnias heart rate will be faster at higher temperatures and slower at low temperatures. This was, in fact, true and a pattern was evident which showed that heart rate increased as temperature increased. The Q10 was high at higher temperatures which show elevated sensitivity at higher temperatures. Clearly, Daphnia have an optimal temperature range outside which they do not function to their full potential. A Daphnias heart rate, then, was proved to be dependent on temperature. Introduction Daphnia magna is a widespread freshwater zooplankton. Since Daphnia are ectothermic animals, their body temperature fluctuates with environmental temperature. Hence, these animals are ideal to study the effects of temperature. Most such animals function well at certain specific temperatures. They have an optimal temperature range, outside which they are unable to perform physiological processes effectively (Lamkemeyer et al. 2003). It is believed that most physiological processes take place more rapidly at higher temperatures and that changes in temperature can influence physiological rates (Ziarek et al. 2010). In order to investigate this, we questioned whether the heart rate of a Daphnia is different at different temperatures. Q10, which is the temperature sensitivity of a reaction, was a useful tool. We hypothesized that the Daphnia will have different heart rates at different temperatures and hence that temperature will affect heart rate. It was also hypothesized that Q10 will d iffer at different temperatures. This hypothesis was tested by exposing the Daphnia to different water temperatures, letting it equilibrate to the water temperature and counting its heart beat in a systematic way. Since most physiological processes increase at higher temperatures, we predicted that if the temperature is higher (close to 35 °C) then the heart rate of the Daphnia will be faster and if the temperature is low (close to 5 °C) then it would be slower. In addition, we predicted that Q10 will be higher at low temperatures and lower at high temperatures. In view of the fact that Daphnia had an optimal temperature range, it would be understandable if the Daphnia was more sensitive to temperatures outside this range and consequently reacted by altering its heart rate. Methods A Daphnia was placed on a small smear of Vaseline on the bottom of a culture dish (Olaveson and Rush 2011). Aged water at room temperature was added to the dish. Five minutes were allowed for the Daphnia to adjust to the water temperature and the temperature of the water was measured and recorded. Under a dissecting microscope, the Daphnia was placed and the 4X lens were used to locate the heart and count the heartbeats. The number of beats was counted over a 10 second period which was followed by a 10 second pause in counting and then 10 seconds of counting again. In order to get 9 measurements of the heart rate, this pattern was repeated for 3 minutes. Then, ice and water were mixed in a beaker to make a water mixture between 5 °C to 10 °C. To replace the tap water in the culture dish with chilled water, a Pasteur pipette was used. Five minutes were allowed for the Daphnia to reach equilibrium and then the heart beat was counted to obtain 9 measures of heart rate (heartbeats/ 1 0 seconds). The values were recorded. The temperature was then increased in 5 °C increments till 35 °C and heart rate was measured at each point. Small amounts of the colder water were replaced with the warmer water (obtained from a water bath) till the desired temperature had been reached. Five minutes were always allowed for equilibration and using the same method, 9 measures of heart rate were recorded. The 9 estimates of heart rate taken at each temperature were used to find the average heart rate at each temperature. These values were entered into an excel document by all students and later used for analysis. Results Statistical analysis and data processing shed light upon the effect of temperature on the heart rate of a Daphnia. The Statistical t test analysis proved that the Ho could be rejected for all the three tests proving that temperature does have a significant effect on the heart rate of a Daphnia. The Q10 as well as the average heart rates at different temperatures provided evidence that supported the hypothesis that temperature would affect Daphnia heart rate too. At the temperature interval of 4 °C to 14 °C, the Q10 was found to be 1.31 (Table 1). Although this was not the highest Q10 value and hence not the most sensitive temperature interval, a decrease in heart rate was evident at the lower temperature of 4 °C compared to other higher temperatures (figure 1). The heart rate at 4 °C was found to be 106.74 beats per minute where as the heart rate at 14 °C was 140.10 beats per minute. The significant decrease in heart rate at 4 °C compared to heart rate at the ambient temperature (24 °C) was supported by the t test analysis (sample t statistic: 14.3938; critical t statistic:1.978; df:136; p = 0.05). The temperature interval from 14 °C to 24 °C showed increased sensitivity (Q10:1.40). This indicated the increase in heart rate at 24 °C compared to lower temperatures (figure 1) and was supported by the t test analysis as the Ho (hypothesis that no change in heart rate would be evident) was rejected (t statistic: 8.6519; criti cal t statistic:1.978; df:136; p = 0.05). During the temperature interval from 24 °C to 34 °C, the highest Q10 was noted (table 1). This sensitivity to high temperatures was obvious when heart rates at the two temperatures were compared (heart rate at 24 °C: 196.32 beats/min; at 34 °C: 277.92 beats/ min). The H0 was hence rejected (t statistic: 9.7792; critical t statistic: 1.978; df: 136; p = 0.05). All the three tests provided evidence that suggested that temperature had an effect on the Daphnias heart rate. At higher temperatures, the heart rate was faster and at lower temperatures, it was slower. Generally, as temperature increased so did the Daphnias heart rate (figure 1). Discussion All organisms have an optimum temperature range over which they function best. Consequently, at certain temperatures, the physiological processes of a Daphnia magna are at its utmost potential. Some hypothesized that Daphnia optimize their fitness by allocating the time spent in the different habitats depending on the temperature gradient (Kessler Lampert, 2004). Hence, evidently temperature has an effect on the performance of a Daphnia. Specifically, as hypothesized, temperature affected the heart rate of Daphnia. It was noticed that the Daphnias heart rate increased at higher temperatures (close to 34 °C) and decreased at lower temperatures (close to 5 °C). Since Daphnia are ectothermic, their body temperature varies with environmental temperature. Since Daphnia cannot thermoregulate, their body temperature experiences variance following à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uctuations in the environment (Ziarek et al. 2010). Hence as the temperature of the water increased, so did the Daphnias heart rate. The data supported this prediction. This is simply because most physiological processes take place more rapidly at higher temperatures. In addition, research has shown that increases of heart rate by significant values were measured in D. Magna as a function of temperature (Paul et al. 2004). One reason why the heart rate of Daphnia increases with temperature would be because less oxygen is present in the warmer water. Consequently, lack of oxygen could result in insufficient amount of oxygenated blood and hence the heart would have to work harder to pump blood around the body. For this purpose, it makes sense that the heart rate would increase. Very little research has been done about oxygen levels at different temperatures and Daphnia heart rates and perhaps more such research will provide more clarity on this topic. The little research that has been done, though, suggests that a reduced aerobic scope allows only time-limited survival at temperatures outside the optimal ran ge (Lamkemeyer et al. 2003) in organism such as Daphnias. Other research has also shown that high temperatures increase a Daphnias metabolic rates by increasing their heartbeat rates (MacArthur Baittie, 1929), and consequently their oxygen demands (Ziarek et al. 2010). It is also important to note that although it was predicted that Q10 would be higher at low temperatures and lower at high temperatures, the data did not support this prediction. The opposite, in fact, was evident. At higher temperatures the Q10 was higher and at lower temperatures it was lower. This could be possible merely because the Daphnia was more sensitive to changes in temperature at higher temperatures. It could also be possible that Q10 was higher at higher temperatures because of other errors. For instance, when the ice was added to the water in order to obtain low water temperatures (5 °C), it was difficult to obtain the exact temperatures. Although the temperature obtained (about 8 °C) was lower than room temperature (or ambient temperature), it is possible that it wasnt low enough to trigger major physiological changes. A significant fact to keep in mind is that since temperatures are increasing due to global warming, water temperatures are going to increase as well . This could lead to problems for organisms such as Daphnia which cannot function well outside of their optimal temperature range. It has been suggested that rising temperatures associated with global warming present a challenge to the fate of many aquatic organisms (Doorslaer et al. 2009) In conclusion, Daphnia heart rate is affected by temperature and tends to increase at high temperatures and decrease at low temperatures.

Defining The Concept Of Terrorism

Defining The Concept Of Terrorism The phenomenon of terrorism has become a major concern of the international community. It is elevated to the foremost foreign policy problem of the states. The terrorists power is growing day by day. The new and faster modes of transportation and communication technologies have made it easier for the terrorists to reach their targets and strike them without any difficulty. This has magnified the threat of terrorism and made it more sinister than it has been in the past. Although the menace is very dangerous and terribly affecting our daily lives, the states and even the academics have so far failed to comprehensively define and build a consensus on the term terrorism. The analysts face difficulty when it is considered that some forms and classes of terrorism are justifiable whereas others are not.  [1]   This article is an effort to highlight the complexities in defining terrorism, and to find out some ways to reach at least a partial consensus among states. The article is divided into four parts. The first part focuses on the definitional problems as far as the term terrorism is concerned. In the second part an attempt has been made to distinguish between terrorism and freedom fighting. The third part deals with the changing meaning and nature of terrorism over a period of time. And the last part discusses some practical approaches to reach a partial consensus over the definition of terrorism. II. PROBLEMS IN DEFINING TERRORISM Who will define terrorism? A victim state or a society, a stronger state, any international or regional organization, or the Super Power? Terrorism is a relative term and expresses different meanings to different people. To Israel terrorism means when a suicide bomber blows himself up in a market place. To Palestinians, it means when Israeli troops bulldoze a house or shoot stone-throwing kids. India views Pakistan sponsored militancy in Kashmir as terrorism. On the other hand, overwhelming majority of the Kashmiris calls it freedom fighting and resorts to the use of brutal force by the Indian troops as state terrorism. Terrorism is sometimes properly or sometimes improperly used as a synonym of rebellion, insurrection, guerrilla warfare, coup detat, civil strife, or any of many other related terms that produces fear or terror. Most of the times, such lackadaisical and random use of the term may make the understanding of the specific meaning and nature of terrorism more murky and intricate. Although the literature on terrorism offers plenty of definitions, most of them give a very narrow vision of the concept of terrorism. While some view terrorism in political terms, others insist that it should be defined in legal terms. Still some believe that it is related with morality. Undoubtedly, academics works on terrorism have helped understand the problem, but their contributions have not even materialized to create a consensus among the political circles. The academics themselves are divided on the very particulars of the concept. Experts on terrorism, such as, E.V. Walter  [2]  , Grant Wardlaw  [3]  , Leonard Weinberg  [4]  , Steven Spiegel  [5]  , Thomas Mathieseu  [6]  and Richard Overy  [7]  have all defined terrorism in the political context. (See Box 1). For them, terrorism is mainly a sophisticated violence, politically exploited by a group or organization with a religious, ideological or ethnic appeal. Box 1: Definitions on terrorism Terrorism is a process of terror having three elements: the act or threat of violence, the emotional reaction to extreme fear on the part of the victims or potential victims, and the social effects that follow the violence (or its threat) and the consequent fear. (E.V. Walter: 1969) Political terrorism is a sustained policy involving the waging of organized terror either on the part of the state, a movement or faction, or by a small group of individuals. (Grant Wardlaw: 1982) Terrorism is a politically motivated crime intended to modify the behavior of a target audience. (Leonard Weinberg: 1989) Terrorism is the use of violence by an individual or group, designed to create extreme anxiety in a target group larger than the immediate victims, with the purpose of coercing that group into meeting certain political demands. (Steven Spiegel: 1995) Terrorism is violent and arbitrary action consciously directed towards civilians, with a political or ideological goal more or less clearly in mind. (Thomas Mathieseu: 2002) Terror is not an organization or a single force. It is related to a variety of political confrontations, each of which has to be understood in its own terms. (Richard Overy: 2004) However, political biases increase difficulties in defining the term because of its subjective nature. The subjectivism is captured in a popular saying that one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter, for whom terrorism is a calculated tactic of the weak against the strong and established authority. The problem is how can one get out of this relativist enmesh? Similarly, the US State Department in its annual document, called, Patterns of Global terrorism, defines terrorism as politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.  [8]  The problem with this definition is that it does not clearly explain non-combatants, and the perpetrators, according to the definition, are non-state actors (sub-national groups and clandestine agents), while exclude the state terrorism. Moreover, the interpretation of political motivations is very broad. Some intellectuals have tried to define terrorism in legal terms and consider it a criminal act. J. Dugard notes that when a person commits an act which threatens the stability of other states or undermines the international order, he ceases to be a political offender and becomes a criminal under international law, like the pirate or hijacker.  [9]   But the problem with legal definitions is that they completely ignore the political aspects of violence. Treating a terrorist as a criminal undermines the legitimacy of political violence. In other words, the political notion in any terrorist activity cannot be discarded, which, again, becomes the major source of confrontation to reach an international consensus on the definition of the term terrorism. The moral connotations of terrorism have further divided the experts between right and wrong. Do all the nations take moral values uniformly or there are different patterns and orders of priority? Moreover, in this world of power politics, where states give priority to their national interests, what will be the extent of relationship between moral values and power? The common observation is that states are unwilling to give equal status to non-state actors which challenge their authority, and try to deal with them sternly by using brutal force. There are five major problems in defining the term terrorism and building a consensus. The first major problem faced by the academics and even the nations in defining terrorism is the relativist enmesh of the concept. For one it is a freedom fighting, while for the other it is terrorism. This aspect in defining the term has made the task more difficult. Second problem is related to the contents of the definition. If it is described as violence against the innocent people or non-combatants for achieving various goals, the application of the term, then, becomes too broad. It is very difficult even to define non-combatants. What if a soldier is not on the battlefield or he is performing peacekeeping duties under the aegis of the UN, attacked by a suicide bomber of a warring faction? Or would the terrorist attack on the U.S. Pentagon Building on September 11, 2001, not qualify as terrorist act? Moreover, the indiscriminate use of violence does not include those who employ terrorism against specific targets, such as, political assassinations. Third, when it is referred to spreading fear among the audience, one cannot distinguish between terrorism carries out by any individual, group or organization, and the state itself. This is also a major problem in defining terrorism that all the definitions portray non-state actors as terrorists, while completely ignore terrorism perpetrated by the state. Instead, it is called as the gross violation of human rights. It is also a fact that the incumbent political regimes have used terrorism as a means of repressing elements in their populations they view as a threat, real or imagined, to the continuation of their rule.  [10]   Amalendu Guha emphasizes that the recent use of power hegemonism by certain global nations, can be regarded as state terrorism, in the sense that its symptoms, behavior and actions as well as effects are, either the same, or, similar to the terrorism launched by fundamentalist beliefs or ideologies. Both are anti-human, anti-social and frightful.  [11]  The history is full of the tragic incidents, where state, instead of protecting its citizens, has unleashed reign of terror and has become responsible for their annihilation. The fact is that the state terrorism has killed more people as compared to terrorism by non-state actors. Fourth problem in defining the term is whether the act of terrorism is seen in terms of historical continuity or every incidence is considered as a unique in history and dealt with separately. Those who believe in the historical continuity, analyze this phenomenon since the French Revolution. They insist on the unity of terrorism throughout ages.  [12]  Others view each act a unique and absolutely different from the previous one.  [13]  So the rivalry is between the two extremes. Fifth problem in defining terrorism is: whether any act of violence should be analyzed by considering means or ends. As all ideologies sanctify the ends for which every mean is justified. The ideological indoctrination compels the terrorists to the righteousness of their cause and to justify any violent means to accomplish it. On the other hand, many researchers believe that the unethical means may also question the legitimacy of the cause. It is because of the above-mentioned problems in defining the term terrorism, that making distinction between terrorism and freedom fighting has become very difficult. However, there are some aspects which help differentiate between a terrorist and a freedom fighter. III. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TERRORISM AND FREEDOM FIGHTING It is a well-known fact that the subjectivity of the term terrorism has made it very difficult to distinguish it from freedom fighting. In this process, another difficulty is which forms of violence should be recognized as legitimate and which should not. Martha Crenshaw  [14]  opines that revolutionary violence and terrorism are two different phenomena and should not be confused with each other. The activities of freedom fighters cannot always be termed as terrorism, because their target is the repressive government. John Gearson raises some pertinent questions: What, if anything, is legitimate dissent using violent means? When is being a freedom fighter acceptable?  [15]  Labeling any group terrorist is very difficult particularly when the same group becomes the part of the negotiation process, and the governments have to sign peace deals with them. Nelson Mandela himself has provided perhaps the most satisfying answer to this perennial question. Pointing out that many people once described as terrorists are leading governments today, Mandela says: When you succeed people are prepared to accept you and have dealings with you as head of state. You become a terrorist if your aims and objectives fail.  [16]   In my opinion, the distinction between freedom fighting and terrorism must be made on the grounds of the legitimacy of the movement for independence, recognized by the UN. Article 1(2) of the UN Charter recognizes the right of self-determination of the peoples. It emphasizes the respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of the peoplesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ã‚  [17]   Article 7 of the Definition of Aggression adopted by the General Assembly in 1974 authenticates the right of self-determination. It states: Nothing in this definition, and in particular Article 3 (which gives an inventory of the acts that are regarded as aggression) could in any way prejudice the right of self-determination, freedom, and independence, as derived from the Charter, of peoples forcibly deprived of that right and referred to in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, particularly peoples under colonial and racist regimes or other forms of alien domination; or the right of these peoples to struggle to that end and seek and receive supportà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.  [18]   Similarly, Article 12 of the International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (1979), which came into force on June 3, 1983, clearly recognizes the means used by the people for their right of self-determination. It states: [The] Convention shall not apply to an act of hostage-taking committed in the course of armed conflicts as defined in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Protocols thereto, including armed conflicts mentioned in article 1, paragraph 4, of Additional Protocol of 1977, in which peoples are fighting against colonial domination and alien occupation and against racist regimes in the exercise of their right of self-determination, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.  [19]   The liberation movements are deprecated as terrorists by the governments against which the struggles for independence are conducted. While analyzing the independent movements in Kashmir and Palestine, one may disagree over the means; it is beyond any doubt that both the movements are recognized by the UN. Terming these movements terrorist may also undermine and question the legitimacy of the UN itself. So, one can say, here, that the movements for freedom fighting are those movements whose legitimacy is recognized by the UN. Besides this, in both the cases, the role of state is very repressive and brutal. Both India and Israel have illegitimately occupied the land of the Kashmiris and the Palestinians respectively. Moreover, both states, since the inception of disputes, have been continuously denying the right of self-determination to these people. For this, they have also completely ignored the UN resolutions. So, if anyone calls struggle movements in Kashmir and Palestine as terrorists, it not only refutes the UN resolutions, which give right of self-determinations to the oppressed nations, but also legitimizes the power of the strong over the weak. According to Moulaye el-Hassen, the former Mauritanian Ambassador, The term terrorist could hardly be held to apply to persons who were denied the most elementary human rights, dignity, freedom and independence, and whose countries objected to foreign occupation.  [20]   Now the question arises why is there no consensus on the definition of terrorism? The most convincing reason is that the meaning and nature of terrorism have frequently been changed over a period of time. IV. CHANGING NATURE / MEANING OF TERRORISM The lack of consensus among the nations on the definition of terrorism has caused a continuous change in its nature and meaning. According to Jonathan White, the rise of modern terrorism in the West is linked to the struggle for freedom in the Western World in the 1700s and early 1800s when most Europeans did not enjoy freedom, and America was still only an experiment. A change in social perceptions and actions, however, revolutionized the system and structure of Western governments. Many forms of violence accompanied the struggle for democracy; terrorism was one of them.  [21]   The popular use of the term terrorism occurred during the French Revolution. Contrary to todays usage, terrorism at that time was seen in a positive context. The Jacobins reign of terror was purely a political in nature, which was a deviation from the old sacred terrorism. Also, that terrorism was unleashed by the State to protect the Revolution on the basis of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. The terrorism during French revolution provided a model to the other revolutionary groups in Europe to use it as a strategy to transform their societies as they wished. But the failure of the 1830 and 1848 revolutions compelled the revolutionaries to change their strategy. However, the use of force to bring any revolution remained the main weapon at the hands of revolutionaries. The 19th century witnessed the rise of nationalist movements, which struggled against the colonial powers for the self-government. Although the nationalists adopted violent means to achieve their objectives, unlike anarchists, they considered themselves freedom fighters. Anarchists were socially isolated, but the nationalists could hope for the possibility of greater support. Governments labeled them terrorists, but nationalists saw themselves rather as unconventional soldiers fighting in a patriotic war. They opted only the tactics of anarchists.  [22]   During the inter-war period, a new form of terrorism emerged in Europe, known as Right-wing terrorism. The purpose of this terrorism was to preserve the status quo. There were two important factors, which contributed to the surfacing of Right-wing terrorism in Europe. First, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which gave confidence to the socialist movements in other European countries to bring a possible change in their societies as well. So, such movements were considered a great threat by the respective governments and the elements which wanted to maintain status-quo. A second factor was the establishment of fascist governments in Italy and Germany during the same period. They justified violence by uprooting the communists and anti-nationalist elements in their societies. The dominant form of violence in the post-War period, aimed at either de-colonization or social revolution, was rural-based guerrilla warfare.  [23]  The major success stories were those of Mao-Tse-tung in China, Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, and Fidel Castro in Cuba. But there were also less publicized failures. Guerrilla insurgencies were defeated in Greece, Malaya, and the Philippines. In some of these instances, both the successful and unsuccessful, terrorism was used by those groups pursuing national liberation (Vietnam) or social revolution (Greece).  [24]   During 1960s and 1970s, the world witnessed this sudden upsurge in the form of Left-wing terrorism. This confused the experts on political terrorism, who saw terrorism as a new and unprecedented phenomenon, something that was essentially a response to injustice.  [25]  This meant that the focus was on to address the root causes of terrorism, which could be political, economic, social or religious grievances. The end of Cold War was followed by an eruption of religious terrorism in a large number of countries, particularly in the Middle East, South and Central Asia. The Soviet disintegration provided an inspiration to the Islamic movements particularly in South and Central Asian regions to launch an organized offense against their respective states to: 1) seek freedom; 2) capture the state apparatus; and 3) replace the old communist system with the new Islamic order. The vacuum, which was created because of the Soviet disappearance, also provided a great amount of solidarity among the Muslims all over the world as it gave them a confidence that they were the main force behind the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Furthermore, the American neglect to Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, added to the already existing political chaos. Out of this situation, the Taliban emerged as an organized political force with the support of Pakistan and to some extent Saudi Arabia. Afghanistan under the Taliban proved to be a place for socializing Islamic radicals from all over the world. The Saudi-born millionaire and Afghan war veteran, Osama Bin Laden, was one of them who took refuge in Afghanistan under the Taliban government. He had resentments against the Saudi Royal family for permitting the Americans to stay on the holy soil after the Gulf War in 1991. As his criticism against the Royal family got severe, he was compelled to flee Saudi Arabia. His nationality was cancelled. The stateless Osama then entered Sudan. But under the U.S. pressure, Sudan expelled him in 1996. Then he moved to Afghanistan, where the Taliban government was recently established. To run the state machinery, the new government badly needed financial assistance, which was provided by Osama and his organization, Al-Qaeda. Consequently, Osamas influence on the Taliban leadership increased. In a unique sense, Afghanistan became a terrorist-sponsored state. Taking advantage of his influence, Osama not only established links with other militant groups in Pakistan, Egypt and other Muslim countries, but also posed himself as a highly religious figure, who could issue a fatwa (Islamic ruling). In 1998, he issued a fatwa, stating, To kill Americans and their allies, both civil and military, is an individual duty of every Muslimà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦until their armies, shattered and broken-winged, depart from all the lands of Islam, incapable of threatening any Muslim.  [26]  Since then, a series of terrorist attacks can be observed on the U.S. civil and military installations. The September 11 catastrophe could be seen in this connection, though Al-Qaeda did not take the r esponsibility of it. The September 11 incident has further changed the meaning and nature of terrorism. The incident has characterized terrorism as transnational with religious orientation. The purpose of these groups is not only to overthrow their respective governments, but also to establish a worldwide authority on the basis of their own religious interpretation. Today, terrorism has become very lethal and destructive. Technological changes in the fields of transport, military and communication have added to the strength of terrorists. In such a scenario, it is indispensable to evolve a consensus, at least partial one, over the definition of terrorism. V. HOW TO REACH A CONSENSUS: SOME PRACTICAL APPROACHES The world has now entered a New Age of Terrorism.  [27]  Three important factors confirm this hypothesis. First, the terrorists are equipped with deadly weapons and sophisticated technology at their disposal. Second, the religious orientation has compelled them to believe the rightness of their cause. In other words, the ideology and cause of the terrorist group or organization attracts the potential terrorists to join it. Third, the transcendence of national boundaries has further complicated the issue. In the presence of such emerging threats, it is necessary to evolve a working definition with little disagreement. Although it is extremely difficult for the nation states to compromise over their national interests, still there must be some starting point because there is almost a consensus among the states that the modern transnational religious terrorism is the major threat to the world peace and stability. To begin with, it is the responsibility of the academics to provide some basic roadmap which can help the states reach a consensus on the definition of the term terrorism. First, the academics task is not to label any individual or a group as terrorist but to objectively analyze circumstances which compel the weaker to take arms against the stronger. In doing so, we consciously or unconsciously put all the freedom fighters into the category of terrorist, as well as we also question their legitimacy. This must be kept in mind that a freedom fighter can be distinguished from a terrorist on the basis of the legitimacy and mass support to the organization and the cause. If these factors are absent, then a person or a group can be termed as a terrorist. Second, states must stop defining the term on their own, because the problem starts when two rival states or parties define terrorism by themselves and believe in the authenticity of that definition. In contrast, they should discuss and debate this issue in the UN, particularly in the General Assembly, to reach a consensus. It must be noted that there is no universal definition of terrorism that can be applied to every act of political violence. Besides, every act of violence should be analyzed separately, while keeping in view the motivations of the perpetrator. It means that there must not be any generalization. While analyzing any violent act to be qualified as terrorism, following aspects need to be kept in mind: If the motives are abstract, meaning if any individual or a group aims to commit violence with the purpose of achieving goals on the basis of religious interpretation of its own. If the struggle is transnational in character, meaning affecting the political, social and economic life of the other country. If the struggle is not recognized by the UN. If the violence is not aimed at against the repressive government. If the target is innocent people who have nothing to do with the government policies. So, if any violent activity fulfills any one or all the five aspects, should be considered as terrorism. VI. CONCLUSION As discussed above, todays terrorism is distinct from the past terrorist activities and tactics. The emergence of transnational religious terrorism, coupled with the advancement in military, communication and transportation technologies, has enhanced the power of the terrorists and intensified their brutalities. Despite all such known threats and hazards, the world community is still far from reaching a consensus on the definition of terrorism. The disagreement between one mans terrorism, another mans freedom fighting is still there. A collective and mechanized effort on the part of the international community is needed to overcome this relativist entangle. A genuine understanding of the phenomenon can only be achieved if it is considered beyond the propaganda purposes, and concerted efforts are made to discuss and analyze this menace at international forums, with the consideration that terrorism is equally threatening the peace and stability of the whole world.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - The Influences Parents Have On Th

Throughout our lives we're influenced by many. It can have an effect on the way we view issues within societal boundaries. One of the major influences children have in their lives comes from their parents. The parents of a child can have both a positive and a negative influence on their lives. In the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird", there are two excellent examples of how parents can be a major influence on their children. Atticus Finch, father of Jem and Scout Finch, plays the loving, kind and knowledgeable father. He is an example of how parents can have a positive influence on their children. Bob Ewell, father of Mayella Ewell, plays the drunken, abusive, and neglectful father. He is an example of how a parent can be a negative influence on their children's lives. Both fathers are very influential on the psychological development of their children. Parents can influence how their children behave, feel, and act towards the outside world. If a child is brought up with hatred and anger, they can learn to view the world in a very negative way, by being critical and prejudice towards other people. However if a child is brought up with caring and nourishment, they can learn to see the world from all different angles. Atticus Finch raises his children with love and care, and teaches them to consider all angles of a situation before you judge someone; "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view"... "Until you clim...

Australia: A Happy Place! Essay example -- Australia Essays

Australia conjures up thoughts in one’s head of a country, and a continent, where kangaroos and koalas roam freely, and where people are generally laid-back. This assumption of happiness of the Australian people is even supported by the World Database of Happiness Rank Report 2014, which ranks Australia’s happiness at a 7.3 out of 10, an extremely high number. One can only wonder, then, what does make Australia one of the happiest countries on Earth? Many factors can go into deciding what exactly makes the citizens of a country the happiest. In Australia’s case, however, location, size, and other various points help to create a country that is almost perfectly content. Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere in the Pacific Ocean. Although Australia is near Indonesia and New Zealand, this continent is basically stranded in the middle of the ocean, with no other continents close. This large amount of space in between Australia and the other countries can lead one to believe that the location has a large amount to do with Australia’s happiness rating. Countries that are extremely close together, such as Zimbabwe, Ukraine, and Jordan, have a much lower happiness rating, according to the World Database of Happiness. Australia is not landlocked, which always has a great deal to do with the citizens’ happiness, seeing as though the majority of the population lives on the eastern and southeastern coast of Australia (â€Å"Australia,† n.d.). Weather is another factor that can greatly affect the moods of people all around the world. Australia’s weather varies greatly around the country, from tropical to Mediterranean an d even desert-like climates (â€Å"Australia-Geography and Climate,† n.d.). In the southeastern part, though, ... .... Retrieved October 9, 2011, from http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States List of United States cities by population. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population Peen J., Schoevers R.A., Beekman A.T., Dekker J. (2009, July 13). The current status of urban-rural differences in psychiatric disorders. Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information website: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19624573 Still healthy, wealthy and wise – but dropping in productivity. (2011). Retrieved from the Australian Bureau of Statistics website: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbyCatalogue/5BD0CF73B112325CCA25792000141D51?Opendocument Tiffen, R., & Gittins, R. (2009). How Australia compares (2nd edition). Cambridge, GBR: Cambridge University Press.

A New Era for Advertisers

In his article, â€Å"The Post Advertising Age,† Bob Garfield describes the end of advertising as we know it.   According to the author, a substantial number of television and print advertisers may soon find themselves out of work because online advertising is increasing.As a matter of fact, numberless viewers of television and readers of print media have already been seduced by the world wide web, which now caters to their viewing and reading needs better than television and print media ever could.The world of the Internet is interactive, allowing users to fulfill their viewing or reading needs depending on their demands at any given time.   The television and print media, on the other hand, do not carry the advantages that the Internet has.   In short, the kinds of choices available to users of the Internet cannot be matched by the advantages of television or print media.The only choice for a television viewer is to change the channels until he or she finds something o f interest.   The reader of a print magazine, on the other hand, has to purchase a new magazine if the one that he has already bought does not suit his interests.The Internet, on the contrary, is not only cheap, but also has the advantage of presenting all kinds of information to the user.   Hence, the advantages of online advertising surpass the advantages of television and print media advertising based on the basic benefits of Internet use as compared to television and print media.The number of people viewing MTV has been drastically reduced, thanks to the virtues of the Internet which allows the MTV generation to now enjoy online videos.[1]   Also according to Garfield:In December 2005, Viacom spun off CBS, the so-called Tiffany Network, lest the broadcast business impede growth and depress shareholder value.Just before Christmas 2005, Time Inc. laid off 100 employees.   Just after Christmas, inJanuary 2006, Time Inc. laid off 100 more employees.   In April 2006, Time I nc. laid off 250 more employees-the last round of job cuts, the company said.   In January, Time Inc. laid off300 more employees.   No wonder.   Since 2001, Time Warner's market capitalization has shrunk to $82 billion from $193 billion.Last fall, ostensibly to promote their new seasons, five broadcast networks bypassed their local affiliates and gave away new programs online.In October 2006, NBC announced a $750 million cost cutback, including 700 jobs and amoratorium on scripted programs in the first hour of prime time.In November 2006, Clear Channel-the boogeyman of media consolidation-sold to private- equity owners and declared that it wants to unload its TV and small-market radio stations.The sale fetched $38 a share.   In 2000, the stock sold at $100 a share.The Minneapolis Star Tribune, acquired by McClatchy in 1998 for $1.2 billion, was sold to private investors in December 2006 for $530 million.In 2000, Chicago-based Tribune Co. was valued at $12 billion.   It the n bought Times-Mirror Co. for more than $8 billion.   At this writing, with Tribune Co. for sale as a whole or in part, the value of the merged company is $7.34 billion.[2][1] Bob Garfield, The Post Advertising Age, Advertising Age, 78(13): 26 March 2007.

The Increasing Value of Information Technology

Information technology is any field that involves computer technology. This includes hardware maintenance, software development, networking solutions and technical support. Modern businesses all over the world rely on computers to function and maintain high standards of efficiency and customer service. Without IT professionals, companies would not have qualified professionals to help maintain the technological elements inherent to their daily business needs. Why does I. T needed on Business? Speed Nowadays what the businesses need is the sheer speed at which computers and related technologies can process information. Email is a perfect example, as it eliminates the need to wait several days for a packet of documents to reach a client or business associate. IT can speed up the time it takes new products to reach the market. Computer-assisted design and manufacturing software speed up decision making. From innovations in microprocessors to efficient drug delivery systems, information technology helps businesses respond quickly to changing customer requirements. Efficiency Increased speed often leads to increased efficiency. While eliminating the need to wait for packages or sensitive materials to arrive, businesses are able to receive and respond to changes instantly. This improved response time almost guarantees a higher chance at eliminating potential issues by allowing businesses to react quickly. * Multi-Tasking Another business advantage of information technologies is the ability of computers to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Provided the hardware is ble to support it, the operator may have several different programs functioning at the same time. For example you have a client and you are making conversation with him/ her but at the same time you need to complete the financial report of the company. With the help of I. T. you may chat with your client at the same time you use the excel for the fast computation. * Low Cost IT allows companies to reduce transaction and implementation costs. For example, the cost of a desktop computer today is a fraction of what it was in the early 1980s, and yet the computers are considerably more powerful. IT-based productivity solutions, from word processing to email, have allowed companies to save on the costs of duplication and postage, while maintaining and improving product quality and customer service. Uses of I. T in Business Online Advertising One of the main advantages of information technology is the ability for companies throughout many different industries to advertise their products and services via the Internet An example of this is Facebook advertising, as of now many sellers are using this social networking site to post their adds and some of them started their business in facebook . Money Transfer Online shopping, bill payments and funds transfers are also key examples of how businesses utilize information technology. By allowing consumers to access products and services from any computer, whether at work or at home, companies have made it easier than ever for people to move money. For example; nowadays in business transferring money is not a problem anymore because of I. T with just one click in Mozilla or in Google chrome you can search any online money transfer, unlike few centuries ago you still need to go to the nearest money gram. Communication One of the most powerful business tools that technology was provided is the ability to communicate worldwide almost without restrictions. E-mail and web cameras have greatly increased the efficiency of conference calls by allowing meetings to be conducted internationally. For example; cellular phones and laptops are the most useful things that were created by the I. T. with the help of cellular phones you can call any business partner you need to make an important conversation, anytime and aywhere. Portability The development of laptop computers and cellular phones have allowed anyone to work from anywhere. As technology enables us to make powerful computers smaller, we become free to travel or even exercise while still monitoring our businesses. Data Storage Every business had to maintain enormous stockpiles of paper documents, technology has enables the modern business to minimize the amount of files they must warehouse. The first rule of Information Technology management is that one copy of business data is never enough; you have to secure your business data by backing it up. An example of this is the portable flash drives. With just one click you have double copy of your file. Ihat t give us not just hard copy but also soft copies.

B2B and B2C: Their ethical, legal, and regulatory environments Essay

The marketplace of internet commerce is rapidly expanding. Although there are wide variations within each category, internet-related businesses are usually classified as being either B2B (business-to-business), or B2C (business-to-consumer) enterprises. The economic landscape in which these companies operate is always changing. For that reason, it is all the more necessary for there to be a firm concept of the ethical, legal and regulatory responsibilities within this emerging marketplace. B2Bs and B2Cs share many of these responsibilities in common. In some cases, however, there are particular nuances of operating a B2B that may call for a different framework than is necessary for operating a B2C and vice versa. The variations between these businesses are continually widening, meaning that the particulars of the ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks will differ. The overall goal of these frameworks is the same-establishing the concept of trust. Trust is the key to establishing any reputable, successful and long lasting business. Overview B2Bs (business-to-business) are business that interconnect using the internet. In other words, they are businesses that buy and sell to each other. B2Cs are businesses that use the internet to sell to the end consumer. It may be the internet site of a well-established department store, or it may be a business that uses the internet as its only point of contact with consumers. The world of internet business is still relatively new. As it continues to grow, it will have to adapt to regulatory and legal changes. The continued emergence of variations within the E-marketplace is a challenge to those concerned with ethical and regulatory issues. Far from being on the wane, these issues are more common than ever. According to market forecasters â€Å"Security and privacy issues along with e-business regulatory issues will become more prevalent† (Warholic, 2007). Ethical environment Conduct of B2B transactions is reliant on the two-way sharing of information. As a result businesses on both ends of the transaction must make sure that information platforms are secure, and accessible only to authorized personnel. Since trust is a critical element in E-business as well as more traditional forms of business, professional codes already in existence are applicable in both areas. Unfortunately, industry-wide adherence to these codes is lacking. Companies are struggling with the wide array of issues raised by internet commerce. A recent report on the publications industry highlighted one of the many potential ethical problems of conducting business in an advertising-driven media. â€Å"†¦several respondents indicated that there was too much of a blur between editorial and advertising departments† (ASBPE, 2006). Another likely area of ethical focus for the B2B industry is highlighted by Laura Spense: â€Å"What about the facilitating of fraudulent activity? (Spense, 2002). In an environment with a multitude of partners, platforms and subsidiaries how much responsibility does a B2B company bear for the actions of its partners? In Spense’s example, a B2B bank was knowingly enabling one of its partners to conduct illegal activities overseas. Again, examples similar to this could arise in any number of industries. Ethical responsibilities for B2C companies often revolve around the protection of customers’ information. Some companies have developed software limiting customer information to only a few responsible parties. Others have not been able to resist the financial lure of information sharing or selling. This division is likely to continue until it is addressed more completely by legal and regulatory efforts. In the mean time, there is an opportunity for ethical businesses to develop strong reputations that will benefit them far into the future. Legal environment Legal concerns in E-business span a wide array of areas. There are the obvious concerns such as customer security and privacy, internet fraud and identity theft that relate most often to B2C businesses. Most case law that has been developed addresses these issues. Because these crimes are the most high profile, they are the predominant focus of the legal system. As criminals adjust to these legal efforts in any number of ways it will require a sophisticated and ongoing effort to prevent their actions. There are also possible legal issues below the surface that can be just as important. For example, the difficulty of determining the legality of electronic documents can pose issues, particularly for multinational B2B companies. What appears to be a legal document may not be admissible in court as evidence. Time differences can also result in an agreed upon document bearing one date in one country but having another effective date in another country. Because B2Bs can employ many networks and partners, it can be difficult to determine legally who bears responsibility on a particular issue. These are examples of small details, in the B2B context, that can have large legal consequences if not properly attained to. Regulatory environment The internet is still relatively unregulated. That is beginning to change in a few areas, however. Most regulation is targeted toward B2C companies, coming in the form of consumer protection measures. The government is becoming more assertive in prosecuting internet fraud, gambling, child pornography and spamming violations. It is likely that additional laws in these areas will be enacted in the coming years. The issue of taxation is also currently under debate. This is of particular concern to B2Cs, which in years past have been able to lure customers by selling their product without any sales tax. That practice has already been ended in some states. As more states become cash-strapped, this process is likely to continue. B2C firms will have to innovate in order to continue the growth of their customer base. The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) applies to both B2B and B2C enterprises. The UCC outlines warranty, ownership and expert status issues, making some delineation between the responsibilities of B2Bs and B2Cs. For example, under the UCC, a business client is assumed to have a greater level of expertise about the transaction at hand. Therefore, statements or claims made to that client do not necessarily have to meet the same standards of reliability as statements made to an end user in a B2C transaction. The main regulatory concern in regards to B2Bs involves the prevention of monopolistic practices, including price fixing. The formation of some large B2B firms such as Covisint, a firm formed by Ford, DaimlerChrysler, and General Motors, has raised concerns about the potential domination of market share. Critics fear the emergence of monospony – a shift of pricing power from buyers to sellers (IGE, 2001). Conclusion The only thing that is certain about the internet business environment is that it will continue to change and evolve. The government will likely become a bigger factor in terms of laws and regulations, particularly within the B2C market. The B2B market, in contrast, is better able to self-regulate. Ethically both markets would be best served by anticipating potential regulatory and legal action. This has a dual purpose. It helps to establish the company as a trustworthy entity. Also it can help to head off future government interference in the market. The consequences of a lack of trust are particularly high for a B2B company, but the issue is important for any company hoping to operate profitably over the long-term.