Ise Determination of Fluoride Content in Various Substances

ISE Determination of Fluoride Content in Various Substances CHM 222 – A 4 / 20 / 2007 Introduction:The ion selective electrode used was made up of a silver / silver chloride reference electrode and a glass electrode. The pH of the electrochemical cell is determined by monitoring the electrical potential difference between the half-cells. The glass electrode is an ion selective electrode (ISE), which only responds to the hydronium ion concentration / activity in a solution under a large range of conditions. In this experiment, we are measuring the fluoride ion concentration, which means our electrode responds to fluoride ion concentrations. Procedure And Data: |Standard Solutions | |Concentration (M) |Potential (mV) | |0. 9967 x 10-6 |15. 0 | |0. 9967 x 10-5 |1. 4 | |0. 9967 x 10-4 |-42. | |0. 9967 x 10-3 |-101. 1 | |0. 9967 x 10-2 |-160. 8 | |0. 9967 x 10-1 |-219. 0 | Unknown #6 was used for this lab group. It produced a potential difference of -196. 8 mV. This was then used in the equation derived from our standard solutions and found to have a [F-] = 0. 0618 M. Preparation of the toothpaste sample was done by a sonicator. Then, the electrical potential difference was measured again, just as in the standard solutions and unknowns. It was found to have a potential of -85. 6 mV. Inserted into the equation, [F-] = 3. 31 x 10-4 M. Calculations:See attached sheets. Results:Toothpaste [F-] = 3. 31 x 10-4 M Unknown #6 [F-] = 0. 0618 M Label Value in Toothpaste 0. 15% w/v Calculated Value in Toothpaste 0. 8 mg / g 0. 8 mg/g converted to w/v (g/100 mL) is approximately 0. 1144% w/v. In comparison with the label, the calculated error is found to be about -24%. A potential source of error could be found in the method of dissolving the toothpaste. There were a lot of bubbles formed, thus allowing for greater possibility of misreported volumes of solution. Also, the pH / V meter had difficulty settling on values during the standard measurements, which would alter the regression line. The ISAB seemed to work better with stronger concentrations of [F-], as the regression line fit better toward the latter part of the plot. However, the pH region seemed to be less important than the [F-] concentration.

Admission Essay for Counseling Psychology Program

My country, Serbia, underwent a period of terror and wars, especially during the NATO Bombing in 1999. This marking event in our history taught me more than what my formal education could. Before this disaster struck, I was a full-time student and the University of Pristina majoring in English Language and Literature. During the high of political upheavals, the situation in Kosovo was already tense.Minorities had constant provocations, and hatred had a firm imprint on the people. My life was heavily influenced, as well as my education. I had experienced first hand what it means to be â€Å"persona non grate† in the your childhood community.I wished everyone could understand what this meant for all of us, regardless of who we were and where we came from. Being prosecuted and not having the right to enjoy our college days was a sour memory, but something I live by as a source of my strength. I experienced biases and prejudice, yet I stand firm.I was treated badly, but my dreams never blurred from my sight. I was emotionally affected, but I was more inspired to pursue these dreams, and become a counselor. Freedom in this country was taken for granted, and our college life overlooked.The war made it necessary for me to leave Pristina and Kosovo. Shocked and scared, I came back to a home where fires, bombings and NATO planes assailed my daily itinerary. The screeching sirens did not help our situation. It seemed that we merely waited for the bomb to drop on our heads and defy us from mere existence.During all the madness, I tried to suppress my stress by being optimistic for my family and friends.   As a child, I have been my family's â€Å"corrupter of words†, as I've always seen myself as one of Shakespeare’s fools. My mom always pointed out my ability to rearrange words and it's meanings to create a personal â€Å"philosophical† statement.I would often add humor when the our lives would seem bland, other times when we feel the panic crawling through our bones, and fear completely etching our faces. The bombings taught us this.As you watch the planes every day, you'd get to realize that there are things you can do as not to be so stressed. Since we could not prevent the many disasters in our lives, we can re-frame the fear and pain to something more positive. The idea was to live your life as normally as possible, by teaching yourself to be blind of some of the negative events in our lives.It wasn't all that bad during those terrifying days. There were positive outcomes as well, like in social gatherings where the unique humor and spirit in my culture gave me a good faith and optimism to survive next days. If I couldn’t eliminate stress by changing or ignoring the situation, the least I could do was offer social support.My profound interest in teaching English to people of different languages didn’t falter due to the war. It allowed me to complete my education on time, and start my career as an Eng lish teacher. In the classroom, it is particularly important for me to understand the point of view of the student, and use humor and real-life situations to get my points across.I developed my interest in researching about language through my undergraduate studies. My greater interest is on how sociocultural factors have an impact on the awareness, design, implementation, and assessment of a second language in a multicultural community, in comparison to those in culturally homogeneous communities.ESL classes in Serbia were more British oriented, both in linguistics and culture. As a young teacher, I have always been open to new teaching methods. I also tried to add novelties into the curriculum. My decision to spend a year in the United States was supported by my desire to learn more about the American culture.I believe this will broaden my perspectives on cultural diversity and different systems of education. Furthermore, this will heighten my personal and professional development . I can say that life can be very unpredictable because my one year visit become a life of adventure and possibilities by studying psychology.You would know if you are experiencing life if the wind pushes you in all directions. My senses were surrounded with uncertainty as I involved myself in a different culture. I knew how it felt to be a little fish in a big pond. Being an international student from Eastern Europe did not prepare me for the many interesting things a new country can offer me.The initial knowledge gained from textbooks, and the places I've traveled to see, were put to waste as I stepped onto unknown territory. I felt helpless, and wanted desperately to go home. I could have been with my family, a cup of cappuccino and the newspaper within my grasps. However, even though I experienced culture shock, I believe hands-on education is still the best teacher.Soon after arriving in a new country, I was caught between my old values from my native culture, and the new value s of the host culture. I was pressured to adapt in order to survive. Adjusting to a new culture, new system, and new life, was not an easy task. But my ability to adapt allowed me to face any obstacle. My goals were always set whenever I face any challenge. I never let my self-esteem falter.I love to feel challenged because it makes me work twice as hard. I proved this by obtaining my second undergraduate degree (BA in Liberal Arts/Psychology) and graduating with the highest honors.   I always tried to reach for the stars.   But the opposite side of the coin is nostalgia. Something that is present when I am working, studying, eating, and even when sleeping.Being an international student among fellow foreigners in the US made me realize how much social support and understanding was necessary to challenge and achieve academically in other countries. By considering the problems students have in the US, and by developing different approaches and solutions, I believe I can be a great counselor in a multicultural world. Just by the thought of it made me eager to learn more, and increase the repertoire of counseling styles and skills alongside others.During my senior year of college, I conducted an extensive literature review on â€Å"psychosocial adjustment issues of international students and the need for social support†. I refined my research skills in data analysis using SPSS, as well as my ability to present my findings in the manner of an accepted professional research paper.I enjoyed conducting the literature review the most, approaching it as a scavenger hunt and considering the quantity and quality of information found as my reward. This project, along with my other undergraduate studies, prepared me for the rigors of graduate study and the parameters of successful research. Professional experiences, research, and undergraduate courses at Menlo College have further stimulated my interest in psychology and reinforced my conviction that I am well su ited to the field.Although these varied research experiences have provided me with fundamental skills, I still feel the need for more training. In retrospect, college was one of the most stimulating periods in my life, and I found tremendous determination to achieve my goal of helping others through the study of psychology.Looking from the prospective of a student gave me more retrospection on my teaching profession, which I love so much.   However, life is an intriguing railroad with many stations.   Some of those stations I got off at were good experiences and some bad. But over all, it has been a journey that continues on.Helping others reach their goals, having a positive attitude, and dedicating both personal and professional growth were the traits I held when I entered Menlo College.   They remain as an integral part of my work ethic today.My international student experience, and many research projects, have helped me achieve a theoretical foundation for the important wo rk of helping students succeed in college. We must have an understanding and compassion for diverse student populations. I learned this from the years of teaching experience. Furthermore, I am able to demonstrate my strengths and abilities to relate effectively with individuals from all levels and cultural backgrounds.These experiences have not only taught me valuable lessons about student life, but have also reinforced my interest in pursuing my career in counseling psychology. Graduate school will enable me to develop vital research and counseling skills, and the solid academic background that I need to be a successful counselor and researcher.A master's program in counseling psychology will not only cultivate and refine my involvement in research, but also equip me to deal with the challenges of an MS program. The combination of MFT and my counseling degree will enable me to fulfill my career aspirations and passion for helping students in need. Furthermore, I can prepare myself in facing the complexity of psychotherapy and unpredictability when dealing with emotional issues of individuals and their families.I have all the traits needed to be a good counselor. Undoubtedly, my devotion to my education will be the greatest asset of all. Being able to successfully help   individuals in the future will be my greatest reward for the effort and investment I will put myself into

Analysis of Breast Cancer Network Australia

Write report to analysis of Breast Cancer Network Australia.   The report is based on evaluating the legal structure of an organisation named Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). The reports cover key organisational aspect of BCNA such as its history, organisational structure, mission and vision and programs among others. Furthermore, the report also describes the legal structure of the organisation such as the regulatory framework and the taxation system among others.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   BCNA is a national company which comprise network of above 110,000 members and 300 member groups. The founder of BCNA was Lyn Swinburne who was spotted with breast cancer in the year 1993 and underwent surgery and many therapies. As a consequence of her experience and knowledge, she became a committed supporter in the best interests of females with breast cancer. In the year 1998, she imagined a company which can positively impact on the manner breast cancer is measured in the community. Thus, she founded the organisation with the intention to talk openly regarding the illness and admit its vast personal influence. BCNA continues to act towards assisting females and their families to access best information, treatment, care and support. Any operational organisation requires to have certain structure in order to function effectively. For an organisation, the structure is regarded as the hierarchy of people and its functions. A typical organisation can take bureaucratic structure, flat structure, hierarchical structure, tall structure, functional structure, matrix structure and divisional structure. In this context, it can be stated that BCNA has flat organisational structure. It has few level of middle management between the members. It concentrates on empowering the members, rather than adhering to the chain of commands. By inspiring independence and self-direction, BCNA attempt to tap into the creative talents of the members to provide new information and to solve problems of breast cancer by cooperation.      Vision: BCNA acts to make sure that Australians impacted by breast cancer obtain the best possible support, information, cure and care according to individual requirements. Mission: BCNA supports, notifies, represents and associates Australians affected by breast cancer (Breast Cancer Network Australia, 2016).    The organisation value of BCNA is honesty, thoughtful, connection and resilience. The organisation aims to provide honest recommendations for people who are suffering from breast cancer. It built engagement and capability for the members and provide healthcare and social support. It constantly expands and improves the ranges of activities and programs to fulfil the requirements of Australians who are affected by breast cancer.   Cancer Support: BCNA provides professional one on one counselling support to male and female with secondary breast cancer. It is a free and confidential service intends to assist people suffered with secondary breast cancer and to cope with variety of concerns they are experiencing. Fitness Program: BCNA has also developed a fitness program named Fernwood Fitness, which is intended to assist female spotted with breast cancer to stay active and healthy (Breast Cancer Network Australia, 2014).   BCNA deals with only one customer segment which are female with breast cancer. Furthermore, it also provides support service to male with secondary breast cancer and the families. The key objective of financial report of trustee is to make sure that the trustee is publicly responsible for the stewardship of the capitals it maintains. The report must support the people to evaluate the charity’s development against the objectives and to comprehend its plans with respect to the objectives. Every charity or trust with gross income more than  £25,000 requires to submit the financial report to the respected authority. The component of annual report usually comprise management details, objectives and functions, achievement and performance, financial appraisal, plans for future and any funds that the organisation holds as custodian trustees for other charities (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, 2011). Audit is a vital activity in any kind of organisation, irrespective of the legal structure. Indeed, the kind of audit required is subject to the income and assets of the organisation. In broad context, an independent evaluation is essential if the income is between  £25,000 and  £1 million and audit is also essential where gross income surpasses  £1 million. An audit is also necessary when the total asset surpasses  £3.26 million and the organisation’s gross income is above  £250,000. Irrespective of thresholds, an external audit of accounts in essential if it is required by the organisation’s governing document.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are various legal structures for starting an organisation such as sole proprietorship, partnership, limited company, trust, not for profit and charity among others. BCNA is formed on the basis of not for profit structure. It is basically a kind of trust with no specific legal entity. This type of legal structure is used for charitable purposes as with the case of BCNA (Bourgeois, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   BCNA is registered as a fundraiser company in every state and territory of Australia. It is a registered charity which is listed under Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC). BCNA comprise board of directors with 11 key members, comprising the chairman, CEO. Furthermore, in the year 2014, the membership of the company increased to about 100,000 members who share their experience and support volunteering activities.   Charity has technical legal meaning and structure. The legal structure must satisfy the charity’s requirement and permit for future development. Charities have ranges of framework such as incorporated or unincorporated. In this context, BCNA follows the unincorporated framework. It is a trust with unincorporated association with less formal structure and no distinct legal individuality (Commonwealth of Australia, 2011).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Licencing requirement: Trustees require to hold a Registrable Superannuation Entity licence issued by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. This organisation supervises banks, financial institutions, credit unions, societies, general insurance and other superannuation industries. Furthermore, trustees should obtain Registrable Superannuation Entities (RSEs) licence before starting its operation. An organisation seeking RSE licence must pay the proper fees. The schedule fees are specified in r.3A.06 of the regulations which are subject to the type of RSE licence (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, 2011).   Under the organisational structure, not for profit organisation such as BCNA generally registered as public company which has limited guarantee. Limited guarantee in this context signify that the responsibility of the key members are restricted to the amount the members commence to support the assets of the organisation. BCNA is also registered under the Corporation s Act 2001 which is a commonwealth legislation managed by the ASIC (Australian Securities and Investment Commission, 2016).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Laws and Regulations: Nor for profit organisations such as BCNA exists to undertake charitable liabilities and thus the company is highly regulated. Apart from fundraising and grant prospects, the profit resulting from such functions in BCNA is usually exempted from federal and state income tax. Since, BCNA serve the citizens for noble purposes they enjoy specific tax status and are based on significant national regulations.   Non-profit organisations perform under various designations. Diverse tax exemption requirements exist on the basis of the kind of the company. However, in order to enjoy tax exemptions, the organisation required to be devoted to undertake the activities which are not typically conducted for profit making. No revenue is permitted to provide monetary advantage to the organisational members or the shareholders. Variety of tax allowances are also exist for BCNA for example income tax, FBT, FBT rebate, GST concession for charity and gift deductible and refunds for franking credits among others. Regulations for BCNA are quite similar to those incorporating for profit business. BCNA is able to obtain foundational grants and the procedure of gaining tax exempt status is more straightforward in comparison with other companies which are not incorporated. However, it requires to complete requests for tax exception on the state government level. The organisation must also define the organisational goals along with any corporate goals. BCNA qualifies for income tax exemption under section 50-10 item 2.1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act of 1997 as a not for profit company created for social service.  Ã‚  Ã‚      BCNA in the simplest variation is an organisation for which profit making is not key objective. However, it does not signify that BCNA cannot earn profit. It generates various services and earns profit accordingly in the anticipation for enhancing the revenue. Nevertheless, every earning requires to go back to the company, i.e. there is no profit sharing among the organisational members. Generally, there are no specific owners in BCNA. There are three kinds of non-profit organisations identified by the federal government which are a corporation, unincorporated company and trust. In this context, BCNA is recognised as a trust, which has narrow interest in comparison with other two not for profit entities. The laws which oversee BCNA are established with charitable trusts (Community Tool Box, 2016).    In not for profit organisation, the mission statement must be clear. It is statement about the existence of the company. It is ambitious in nature and can never be accomplished completely. BCNA has clear and ambitious mission statement. The mission statement defines why the company act in specific manner and how its work is done. Besides, BCNA also has a vision which signifies what the company looks like. It delimits the potential strategy of BCNA and also the boundaries of the company. The boundaries within which BCNA performs define its value (Australian Taxation Office, 2015).   Receiving gifts is a vital method of obtaining financial support for BCNA. However, there are certain regulations which apply to both the donors and the company accepting the gift. In order to deductible the gift must comply with relevant gift condition and must be a gift of money or certain kind of property. The donors require to give gifts without obtaining any benefits or services in return. On the other hand, BCNA which provides financial support to possible donors can lead to loss of tax except status of the company. Besides, BCNA is required to register fundraising functions with the government in which it propose to solicit gifts. BCNA is endorsed as Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) under section 30-20 and subdivision 30-B of the Income tax Assessment Act of 1997 as a specific health recipient. Every gift values more than $2 and over is tax deductible (Breast Cancer Network Australia, 2016).   Shareholders forms a major part of the operations of the companies in the present day business context. It is believed that the role of the shareholders mainly comprise of their association with the business in the form of putting considerable investments and acquiring return for the same. This can be justified from the fact that shareholders plays an external role with regard to considering the manner in which the business could be able to attain its objectives of higher revenue and profitability in the long run.   In this particular study, focus has been on the analysis of the operations of Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), which is one of the notable companies operating in Australia. The accountability of the shareholders mainly comprise of involving in the decision making of the business and at the same time contributing towards the attainment of the goals of the organization in the long run. The shareholders are also responsible for assuring that the company is meeting t heir goals and objectives in terms of environmental and social responsibility. BCNA is a not for profit organisation which intends to provide support to the Australian people who are suffering from breast cancer. It provides relevant information treatment and care to the people. It is registered as a fundraiser company and has above 100,000 members. As a not for profit company, BCNA enjoys various facilities such as tax exemption and gifts among others. However, in order to act according to its vision, it must enhance the fundraising activities and develop various programs which can truly help the people in need.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. â€Å"Instruction Guide Application Form – RSE Licence.† Last modified 2013.   Australian Taxation Office. â€Å"Tax-deductible gifts†. Australian Government. Last modified 2015. Accessed June 16, 2016.  Ã‚   Australian Securities and Investment Commission. â€Å"Registering not for profit or charitable organisations†. For Business. Bourgeois, D. J. â€Å"Legal Structures for Charitable and Not-for-Profit Organizations†. Butterworth’s. Last modified 2002.   Breast Cancer Network Australia. â€Å"Annual Review 2014†. Last modified 2014. Accessed June 16, 2016.  Ã‚   Breast Cancer Network Australia. â€Å"Legal Information†. Last modified 2016. Accessed June 16, 2016. Breast Cancer Network Australia. â€Å"Who are we?† Last modified 2016. Accessed June 16, 2016. Community Tool Box. â€Å"Section 4: Understanding Nonprofit Status and Tax Exemption.† Chapter 43.   Commonwealth of Australia. â€Å"Why legal structure is important.† Legal Structure. Getting academic assistance from

Ratings on Risk Priority Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ratings on Risk Priority - Assignment Example Most of the materials to be used were: Pneumatic nailers, Scaffolding, Power hand tools, Cleaning agents, Sandblasters, Hammers, Hoisting equipment and Paint Sprayers. The project entails repairing a 4 story building using the above-mentioned materials. The renovation will see the building have a new look with most of the facilities being modern. The renovation process makes it possible for its users to have access to most of the equipment and services efficiently. Most nailers were found to have hazardous effects mostly on the users. Most of them are connected to a compressed air stream by a long hose, which is a nimble hazard as workers do move and climb up in the construction site. Power hand tools become hazardous if improperly used. There are several power tools based on the source of energy they are used. For instance, it becomes hazardous to use power hand tool while holding the cord or the hose. All equipment should be used appropriately and in a timely manner to avoid such effects. It is the responsibility of the project management team to ensure that the aim of the renovation is achieved in a safe and sound manner.  

More stewardship is needed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

More stewardship is needed - Essay Example In terms of the planet's resources, stewardship would simply entail taking care of what one has, whether an individual, family, company, or government. Now we come to the crux of the problem, being the aforementioned. Everyone is different and there is no common agreement in regard to "the needs of the people." In thinking stewardship, fashion takes a back seat. In developed nations, fashion is part of success. Since each nation and government is divided into sections of differing cultures, we can view the United States as a good example of where stewardship takes on different meanings; The region of the Pacific Northwest carries the trophy for being ecologically aware, having begun some of the nation's first recycling programs for glass, aluminum and plastic back in the '70's. One part of stewardship is responsibly disposing of waste, and as the population grows, so does waste. The term, "reduce, reuse, recycle" abounds in stewardship thinking. Stewardship is a big inconvenience. It means we must think about what we do, what we use and how we get rid of it.

Compare and Contrast the 1991 and 2003 Iraq War Case Study

Compare and Contrast the 1991 and 2003 Iraq War - Case Study Example In addition was the allegation that Kuwait was stealing Iraqi oil from the Rumaila oil field by using slant drilling technology. Lastly, Kuwait had refused to allow Iraq access to the Persian Gulf. As a result, in May 1990, the world saw Saddam Hussein openly attacking the Kuwait economic warfare in the Arab League meeting. As Hinnebusch (2007) points out, even after the Iraq threat of military action if Kuwait failed to control over-production, the tiny nation remained firm on its decisions; and the support, undoubtedly came from the US. This fact is evident from the understanding that the US military was preparing for a war against Iraq. For example, in 1989 itself, America had revamped its military doctrine in the Middle East. To illustrate, General Normal Schwarzkopf had already started war games in which US troops fought the Iraqi troops even before the Iraqi aggression on Kuwait. In addition is the fact that the US could not produce any proof to support their claims of Iraqi tr oop deployment against Kuwait. This is especially important considering the fact that Russia produced such satellite imageries that show no important troop deployment from the part of Iraq that threatened Kuwait. Here, one has to again remember that there was no movement from the President to promote diplomacy and negotiations. Evidently, the US wanted to reduce the power and influence of Iraq in the oil rich region of Middle East. So, for the US, a war was necessary. This becomes very evident from the American aggression on Iraq a second time, and this time, on an even weaker and unbelievable basis. The allegation was that Iraq had a role in the 9/11 attack. Though the US could not come up with a believable story up to this time, the idea was supported by the hardliners in the nation. As Kitfield (n.d.) states, another allegation was that there were WMDs but even after the war, no such evidences were brought to the world. In total, one can say that the aggression of Iraq on Kuwait was not a matter of more concern to America than to United Nations. According to Kitfield (n.d), if it took special interest in the matter, it had its own interests to be protected. In order to gain international support, America went on asserting that Iraq was violating Resolution 1441 of 2002 that mandated Iraq to fully declare and eliminate its WMD programs. Also, America got the opinion of other nations including France, Germany, Russia, and China that Iraq was not properly following the guidelines. However, they were not in agreement with the American interest in an immediate attack as they thought the UN efforts should be given more time. Admittedly, the United Nations exhibited its inability and vulnerability to the world in the Iraq wars. For example, the Council used its Chapter VII powers to allow the coalition under the US to take military actions. Soon, there was Operation Desert Shield and Storm, but there arose the issue that the military action was not authorized. For the purpose, Security Council Resolution 687 was passed on 29 November 1990. Here, the council, instead of showing any clearly defined responsibility, made the vague statement that the Security Council be regularly informed. According to Resolution 687, all weapons of mass destruction had to be removed. So, the sanctions for military action under the resolution would remain in force until this end

SAB 310 UNIT 7 ASSIGN Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

SAB 310 UNIT 7 ASSIGN - Assignment Example The requirements include a specific numbers of different sports available for women and men, participant’s minimum numbers and number of events for different sports, criteria used to schedule the games, and overall financial awards in terms athletics for the students involved. The mens football institutional teams are also grouped into 3 divisions which include within the first group I-A, group 2 or I-AA, which is related to team attendance registers and competiveness. Most competitors who have taken part in these games have not only grown with the competitions but have also enhanced their skills. The NCAA contests of championship have become the focal point of continental media through merchandising efforts. Additionally, the most institutional championships have been the Basketball Tournament for men. This is evident from the sale of broadcast rights by televisions for above game tournament which were sold in 1999 to CBS. The total cost was for $545 million per year on average. Most of the profits made on the championship and game events which include broadcast rights were directed to institutions to support athletics membership programs. This has greatly helped in managing and running championship events which support different world wide initiatives. The most common members and requirements of the NCAA body include marketing strategies, licensing requirements, and promotions that deal directly with the NCAA promotion of different brands within the NCAA championships. The NCAA membership or service division of the national office has a main responsibility of helping institutional members from different universities and colleges to comprehend comply and understand different and vital legislations in relation to NCAA. Membership functions are vital in service provision. These functions include providing the institutions and the public with available access to knowledgeable

Religious Life of Planet Earth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Religious Life of Planet Earth - Essay Example Finally, in traditional ceremonies, people from Ghana in Africa were noted to consult with traditional priests who act as the link between people and their gods (Brahm, 2005). This indicates the existence of some religion that makes people believe that these priests represented them before a higher power. The place of religion among the societies in the Earth would be said to be complex, fitting into social organisation as a whole and dominantly functioning in each of its part. Religion plays a critical role in fulfilling psychological needs. It helps human beings confront death and explain it. It relieves them of anxieties and fears of the unknown. During life’s crises such during serious illness, humans would turn to religion to ease their stress. It guides humans in making life’s decision, making them know what to do and at what time, thus providing the much needed psychological relief. Religion also serves to fulfil the social needs of human beings. It reinforces gr oup norms hence bringing about social homogeneity. This uniformity of belief plays a critical role in reinforcing group identity and binding people together. Hamilton (2010) further notes that religion sacralises norms and by promoting group goals, it makes social order legitimate. It plays a major role in giving identity. Finally, the social control function of religion has been appreciated, defining what would be considered as wrong or right. Rightful actions earn approval from gods while wrongful actions could cause supernatural retribution. For example, Quran, the sacred text of Islam provides a list of crimes which if committed would lead to punishment and describes mundane tasks such the specific foods to eat. Nonetheless, there have been other... The place of religion among the societies in the Earth would be said to be complex, fitting into the social organization as a whole and dominantly functioning in each of its parts. Religion plays a critical role in fulfilling psychological needs. It helps human beings confront death and explain it. It relieves them of anxieties and fears of the unknown. During life’s crises such during serious illness, humans would turn to religion to ease their stress. It guides humans in making life’s decision, making them know what to do and at what time, thus providing the much needed psychological relief. Religion also serves to fulfill the social needs of human beings. It reinforces group norms hence bringing about social homogeneity. This uniformity of belief plays a critical role in reinforcing group identity and binding people together. Hamilton (2010) further notes that religion sacralizes norms and by promoting group goals, it makes social order legitimate. It plays a major r ole in giving identity. Finally, the social control function of religion has been appreciated, defining what would be considered as wrong or right. Rightful actions earn approval from gods while wrongful actions could cause supernatural retribution. For example, Quran, the sacred text of Islam provides a list of crimes which if committed would lead to punishment and describes mundane tasks such the specific foods to eat.Nonetheless, there have been other interpretations of religion that goes against the functionalist approach.

Identity analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Identity analysis - Essay Example This is something significant in that the difference is nothing more than just race and colour. Statistics constantly brings in the fact that women are more likely to be poor than men. In fact, women are more susceptible and more exposed to hunger because of the universal subordination and gender discrimination they contend with in education, healthcare, employment, and in controlling resources and political authority. Although violence against women is existent across all economic groups, women who are suffering from poverty experience it more frequently and they have less possessions or means with which to deal with the situation. Poverty among women is a global truth that reveals itself differently from one country to another; nevertheless, the factors and figures in global gender discrimination are blindingly comparable: gender disparities in wages, work-related discrimination, dangerous employment conditions, and uneven necessities in household and childhood care among others. B y and large, this social development in terms of gender has aided in the explosion of feminist movement. My case is not only a contention of how Hispanic women are being represented – and just because I am a Mexican – but it is about the subordination of women on the sole basis of gender and how this has caused social stratification and elitism. Rummaging through the vast array of literature, I have found a strong resemblance in Hua Mulan, a fictitious character who made a resounding message throughout the world by proving that women can do what men can do. Hua Mulan disguised herself as a man to be allowed to join the Imperial army in order to protect their community. Hua Mulan then became an icon not just within the context of the text in which she has been storied, but even in various forms of media. Her valiant determination to join the army despite her femininity – she’s short, skinny, and very demure – was an index to the changing roles of wo men during her time. Women during her time were expected to stay at home as wife or helper and nothing more. For someone who has no background or anything about the character and the film in general, Hua Mulan may appear to express connotations beyond Chinese traditions. Her figure encourages an act to decode the essence of translatability. Today, an increasing proportion of the world’s population suffering from poverty signified women. Women as an object of gender criticism, extreme subordination, and social stratification established the specious ontology of women, which happens to have defined the belief of the kind of society dominated by paternal mentality. This implies a striking reality that the feminization of poverty continues to become a concerning truth. The mainstream media has described women in myriads of way. As aforementioned, these descriptions have formed the false ontology of what is supposed to be the bearer of burden and icon that signified bravery and ch ange. Violence According to various studies, a great majority of women are victims of human trafficking that is manifested in various forms such as prostitution, which is considered to be the most common and widespread form of human trafficking (UNICEF 11). This then contributed to the way women became interpretant of weakness. Worsening of living conditions usually forces children to quit school in order to help the family survive, placing them susceptible to exploitation and violence. For instance, some young girls in Zimbabwe are trading sex in exchange for food for

The advertising world Essay Example for Free

The advertising world Essay The youths are highly influenced when they hit their transitional period from adolescence to the teenage years. They are dealing with the changes in their bodies and minds. Businesses are cashing in on the ability to target these children with their products; companies have focused advertising their products to young girls. The advertising world is also using younger models to sell their products. They are using the youth to sell anything from candy to underwear for their companies. The federal government should ban advertisers from allowing young girls to model as grown women. Advertising companies has used women to model as early back as the 1890’s The ideal of a beautiful woman has changed over the decades. Women and young girls look at magazines, movies, and movie stars and they desire to look like them. This may not be a problem for some women, but it has become a problem for the young girls today. The advertising world should be limited to how the youths are used in advertising. The writer remembers a story, which was overseas, a young model about ten years old was hired to model underwear, and she had on so much make up that it made her look like she was in her twenties, and she was wearing underwear that was for a grown woman. Neither the make-up nor the underwear was appropriate for this young girl to wear and/or to be advertising for other young girls to want to purchase. Young girls should not be exploited in this manner. A lot of young girls have a negative body image of themselves. When they desire to be something or somebody, they are not can or will cause the girls to develop eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating. The young girls want to be beautiful and thin because of the ideal body image that the advertising world is demonstrating in their ads, this how they are supposed to look to be accepted within a glamorous world. The perception of a better life is you are beautiful and thin. Most people are aware of anorexia, and bulimia is eating disorders were a person eats food, and then they use laxatives or force themselves to vomit to become and stay thin. The person who has anorexia or bulimia sees themselves as fat, and they may be very thin. Most people, such as the writer have not heard of binge eating as an eating disorder. Our nation is concerned as being obese. The writer has not heard of binge eating being explained as a cause for some people may be overweight. On the House of Thin website, it talked about binge eating and suggested there is help for these people through a support group. Another eason why advertisers should not use young girls to model as grown women, they put all this make-up on a young girl and have them pose as if they are grown women. There are predators out in the world, and young girls are their targets. The writer believes young girls should look like young girls (youthful and innocent appearance) and should not look like grown women, there may be less of this problem. There are numerous website that is exploiting young girls in various ways. The writer was in disbelief while doing my research. The police are also online looking for these predators of the children. Advertising is big business, and our nation operates on a Capitalism system. The writer likes, the statement from our textbook, â€Å"Citizens are entitled to protection from harmful actions by others (Lunsford 2010). Using young girls to advertise merchandise like they are grown women is a harmful action. Body image and the media has become big business at the expense of the youth. The children are not happy with themselves, and parents are allowing this to happen. When is enough, enough? Stop exploiting our children for the price of a dollar. Adults have the responsibility to ensure children keep their innocence, and children don’t become an adult before their time. Children must be talked to about themselves, and children should be encouraged to increase their self- esteem. A positive and nurturing environment is what children need to help fight the advertising world. The writer knows that advertising to the young is not going to change overnight, just like the problem didn’t start overnight. Parents do have a voice and can make a change within our households. Parents also need to be aware of what their child is doing. Growing up back in the 60-70’s children was always watched by somebody, whether it was a teacher, parent, family member or just the neighbor. Somebody was involved with the children; parents need to become more involved. Today, adults lead a very busy life, demands on the job, making sure to work hard and not make mistakes for fear of losing a job. The time invested in the children will make difference. The influence of the television, magazines, movie stars or their peers on the youth we will have more and more youth with eating disorders and vulnerable to predators. The United States economic system is a Capitalistic and people will say that the advertiser has the right to make money. People can argue that the parents are responsible for managing their children spending habits. Base on a survey in 1994; found that 40% of 9 years old have been on a diet (Derenne, and Beresin). Parents should limit the amount of time children are exposed to various forms of media. Monitoring the children and talking about what the children are seeing is another method to use with media. Parents are not responsible, and the federal government needs to look out for the well-being of the youth. Every society has a way of torturing its, women, whether by binding their feet or by sticking them into whalebone corsets. The American culture has come up with its designer jeans (Derenne, and Beresin). Nothing else can say it better than this statement.

Corporate Social Responsibility In The Banking Sector Finance Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility In The Banking Sector Finance Essay Since ancient times banking practices have always played a significant role in the development and progress within an economy. Banks facilitate financial transactions by collecting deposits from savers and lending loans to those in need of credit. Thus, it enables those that have surplus funds to meet with those who need further funds for expansion and investment purposes. However, it is often the case that mismatches occur between the period at which a depositor wants to save his money and the period at which a borrower would be able to pay up the amount owed by him. Therefore, as an intermediary a bank has to find ways with which to manage the mismatch between short term liabilities of the bank (such as deposits) and long term assets (such as loans). First and foremost a bank needs to be perceived as being trustworthy and thus needs to gain the publics confidence in order to attract financing. It is needless to say that if a particular bank were to go bankrupt, apart from its shareholders, the general public would also suffer considerably. The collapse of a bank might result in the loss of lifetime savings of individuals and families which were held at the particular bank. This would consequently undermine peoples confidence in the financial sector and drive other people to withdraw their money from their own banks which may in turn result in having other sound banks facing serious difficulties to cater for high volumes of withdrawals since a bank in its own nature of doing business holds only a percentage of the funds acquired by depositors and invests the rest in less liquid assets with longer maturities (such as mortgage loans). It is therefore of prominent importance that for an economy to prosper and grow, and thus for the general wellbeing of the whole community, there needs to be at its core a sound and efficient financial system and that the general public also perceives the system to be sound and trustworthy. In trying to address this issue policy makers have sought to achieve healthy financial systems and to promote public confidence through numerous legislations and regulations. In fact, the financial market is one of the most regulated markets in any economy, particularly the banking sector so as to minimise the risks that a bank is exposed to. For decades banks were severely restricted with respect to the services offered to clients, as well as methods allowed for financing and investments. This hindered the ability of banks to be competitive with other financial institutions that were not classified as banks and that had more lax regulations which enabled them to offer a wider range of services and take up more risks to finance their operations. Because the highly regulated financial environment was stifling competition between banks and non-banks, regulators loosened up their regulatory requirements so as to create a level playing field for all the financial institutions. With more lax regulations banks are able to take up more risks and offer a wider range of services to clients meaning also that banks have higher risks to fail or that the publics confidence will be more prone to be undermined because of riskier activities performed by banks. Higher risks and loss of confidence would lead to financial instability and, in some cases, to financial crises where the whole financial market is depressed. This in turn slows down the whole economy since the financial sector is the backbone of an economys financing. It is thought that one of the factors that in fact contributed to the 2008-09 financial crisis was a highly deregulated environment (Shah Gilani, 2005-2011). It is also typical that after financial crises regulators start reviewing their supervisory and regulatory standards and reregulate the industry once again. After the financial crisis of 2008-09 regulators are now imposing new regulations in order to ensure that another world financial crisis is avoided. The new amendments require banks to hold even more capital as a buffer for a given amount of risk it is exposed to than it was already required by law. This process of regulation, deregulation and reregulation is a continuous process that changes as the market itself develops and creates new services and thus is exposed to new risks. Deposit Insurance Agencies are set up for public safety against bank failures. However, in essence it is ultimately the tax-payers themselves that pay the price as the government intervenes to bail-out problematic banks. Because managers running banks are aware of the fact that if the bank fails the government will intervene, it is more likely that they engage in more risky activities and do not exert appropriate due diligence in the running of the business. This problem is known as moral hazard. Thus banks are more likely to engage in hazardous behaviour since if they fail the government will intervene and will not allow the bank to go bankrupt in order to safeguard the public interest. Also, banks are more difficult to have their performance evaluated than other businesses because of the complexity of the business itself. Thus this creates the problem of asymmetric information or, stated in other words, the problem that not everyone has the same opportunities to access the same information. Managers and interns within the banking institution have better information on the performance of the bank than outsiders have access to. This is diminished partially through required disclosure and other regulations that deal with insider dealing in order to promote transparency in the financial markets which again will enhance public confidence. However, it is not the first time that we hear about insider dealings or that disclosure of misleading information was presented to the public. It is therefore clear that although regulation plays an important role in ensuring market stability, efficiency and fairness it is not enough. As John R. Boatright (1999:7) brilliantly describes in his book Ethics in Finance the law is not the only guide within the financial sector. What is legal is not necessarily moral. He then goes on to define the law by saying that it is simply a crude instrument and cannot be used to regulate all financial activities because of their complex nature. Excessive regulation stifles competition, hinders innovation and it is difficult to regulate certain issues that arise within the financial industry such as the issue of conflicts of interests. Therefore self-regulation is nonetheless important in this highly regulated market and the implementation of CSR within the banking industry has yet a unique and special role as much as the role of a bank itself is unique within a community. History: BAnking Practices and Society Banking practices in the past were mainly carried out through the acceptance of gold and deposits to then issue loans with those deposits. Bankers profits consisted mainly in hefty interests received from loans. Bank customers consisted mainly of kings and the papacy during the 1500s up to 1600s and large loans were lent to finance wars and elections. Few can be said with regards to CSR before the 1900s in the implementation of banking practices as is the case with other businesses of the time. However, one may mention the Fugger Family which was one of the greatest banking dynasties after the Medici in the late 16th century. Namely Jacob Fugger established a community for the poor, known as the Fuggerei, which was built in Augsburg in 1519 and is still in use today (Bamber, 2001). This shows evidence of the paternalistic ideology that strongly characterised the economic sphere and business tendencies till the late 1800s. One may also note the great influential power that the banking sector exerted as early as the 16th century as the Fugger family financed Maximilians grandson Charles to bribe his electors; while in the 19th century the Rothschild family financed all of Napoleons enemies. The decisions undertaken by the bankers obviously had an impact on the outcome of events (Bamber, 2001) which shows that from the early stages of the industry banking practices had a strong influence on political, economic and social outcomes. As banking and lending practices were developed, these were not always considered as fair and just as we may know them today. Banks and other financial institutions tended to arbitrarily choose to whom financial services are given, often denying these services to people of colour or the poor. This could be freely done by banks after the process of deregulation giving them more leeway in their practices then before. This discriminatory practice is known as redlining because some bank managers used to arbitrarily mark residential areas occupied by coloured or poor people in red on geographic maps during the 1930s. Areas marked in red were denied financial services and this had a serious impact on urban development since these lacked the funds necessary for investment and developments leading to further urban decay (Boatright, 1999:101). It was not until 1968 that banks were prohibited by law to discriminate on housing lending through the enactment of the Fair Housing Act followed by a series of other regulations thereafter (Hunt, 2005). CSR initiatives developing in the 1950s in the business industry had a ripple affect also on the banking sector were through sanctions and regulations concerning environmental issues on polluting companies banks were also forced indirectly to take action and exercise more attention in the selection of corporate clients in order to safeguard their reputation. The 1980 Superfund in the U.S. and the Directive on Civil Liability for Damage Caused by Waste adopted by the European Commission in 1989 are namely two regulations relating to environmental concern emanating from business operations (IISD, 2010). The Fleet Factors Case of 1990 was one of the first proceedings in the U.S. that directly attributed responsibility for environmental damages caused by their corporate clients as the courts decided that lenders held the capacity to influence the borrowers waste management decisions even if it actually did not do so (IISD, 2010). The UNEP Financial Institutions Initiatives; (UNEP FI) was launched in 1992 with the collaboration of Deutsche Bank, HSBC Holdings, Natwest, Royal Bank of Canada and Westpac in an attempt to garner financial institutions to promote awareness on the pivotal role that the financial sector has in sustainable development and environment protection and to unravel further on the relationship between economic development, environmental protection and sustainable developments (UNEP FI, 2011). During the same year the UNEP Statement by Financial Institutions on the Environment Sustainable development was drafted articulating further the role and responsibility taken over by financial institutions in contributing towards sustainable development in businesses and safeguarding the environment (UNEP FI, 2011). Another Green Paper set out by the European Commission in 1993 required that liability was assumed by the polluter and in case where the responsible party is not identified or unable to pay joint compensation funds financed by the industry should meet such costs on their behalf. The commission addressed also the problems of causation and insurability where more responsibility was exerted upon the shoulders of financial institutions (IISD, 2010). The UNEP was a main contributor to spread awareness and foster a socially responsible attitude in the way business was conducted within financial institutions through international round table meetings and global surveys on the environmental practices of the financial services sector (IISD, 2010). Thus, banks started experiencing more pressure to avoid the so called sin stocks and pay attention to the social performance of corporate clients and not only to financial performance. Many other international guidelines have been developed recently and it is important not to forget to mention the contribution of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which is a member of the World Bank Group towards sustainable development and in promoting fair, open and competitive markets in order to fight poverty (IFC, 2010). Their common shared values found on the IFC website are depicted as follows: To fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results. To help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity, and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors. In 2003 the IFC drafted the Equator Principles, a set of guidelines that may be voluntarily adopted by banks aimed to facilitate and aid these institutions wishing to carry out operations in a socially responsible manner. Essentially, the Equator Principles are nothing more than a financial industry benchmark for determining, assessing and managing social environmental risk in project financing (The Equator Principles, 2006). The Principles are targeted towards the financing of corporate clients whose investment projects are environmentally and socially responsible and include also advisory services offered by financial institutions with regards to project financing.  [1]   Who Cares Wins was an initiative undertaken by the financial industry, the UN Global Compact, IFC and the Swiss Government during 2004 (UN Global Compact, IFC, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, 2009, 2010:3). According to this report, the main aim of this initiative is to support the financial industrys efforts to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into mainstream investment decision-making and ownership practices through a series of high-level meetings with investment professionals. Again, here the goal is that of promoting socially responsible project financing through SRI. The United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment Initiative (PRI) are a set of six principles set up in 2005 in collaboration with some of the worlds largest institutional investors (UNPRI, 2011). This initiative was set up in partnership with the UNEP FI and the UN Global Compact. These principles posit the idea that since environmental, social and corporate governance issues may affect the performance of investment portfolios, thus it is important that an investor takes these issues into consideration when making investment decisions and therefore contribute also to the general wellbeing of society (UNPRI, 2011). One may mention numerable banks that are truly committed towards the maxim of doing well by doing the right thing and that actively participate with International NGOs to contribute towards the general wellbeing of communities. Deutsche Bank, HSBC Holdings, and UBS are amongst the most known environmentally and socially driven banks in Europe. For the purpose of this thesis I will now proceed on to scrutinising and analysing the CSR policies of the banks mentioned to then compare them with those policies of three leading Maltese banks namely APS Bank, Bank of Valletta (BOV), and HSBC Malta in a later chapter. All information related to the CSR initiatives undertaken by the foreign and Maltese banks selected was extracted from their respective websites and CSR Reports. The main aim is to evaluate the transparency adopted by the Maltese banks and thus the extent to which they inform the general public in the way they go about their commitments towards society relative to well-establish ed and successful foreign banks. CSR Policies of Foreign Banks This section will give an insight on how some foreign banks known as being committed towards sustainable development, environmental and socially responsible project financing are currently engaging in CSR policies in order to achieve their goals and manage to be profitable and attract business by undertaking such activities given the existing highly competitive environment from other financial and non-financial institutions. For the purpose of this dissertation, the three foreign banks chosen are headquartered within the European Union territory since the Maltese way of doing business is very similar to the way it is conducted in Europe even CSR-wise and therefore it will facilitate comparison between foreign and Maltese banks. Furthermore, HSBC Holdings was selected specifically since it is the parent company of HSBC Malta which will be discussed in detail in the next chapter. Deutsche Bank Deutsche Bank is a leading German and European financial institution successfully expanding its business globally with a work force of over 100,000 employees in 74 countries and offering a vast selection of financial services worldwide (Deutsche Bank AG, 2011). Deutsche Bank mission statement can be found on its official website as follows: We compete to be the leading global provider of financial solutions, creating lasting value for our clients, our shareholders, our people and the communities in which we operate. From the mission statement itself we may denote that the bank is committing itself not only towards its shareholders, clients and employees but their mindset is also headed for the benefit of the communities and their social needs. The banking institution has also formulated a set of values which drive its business orientation. One of these values set out on the banks website is trust where the bank claims confidently its trustworthiness, reliability and honesty. Other values mentioned are performance, teamwork, innovation, and client focus. Finally, the bank also promises stakeholders that the corporation will be operating with responsibility, keeping in mind not only current factors and issues in their decision making but also future consequences and factors that may arise due to todays decisions (Deutsche Bank AG, 2010). We may note by glancing briefly at the way the bank presents itself that it already carefully depicts itself as being socially and environmentally responsible in all aspects of its structural organisation. This however, is nothing new as all businesses especially banking institutions wish to be alleged as being ethical, trustworthy, honest and socially responsible so as to foster public confidence in their business. The bank has also received numerous awards or been ranked first for several social, environmental and corporate governance categories during 2010 some of which include Environmental Rankings, Art and Work Awards, and Top Companies that Care among others. In 2011 the bank has already been awarded the Charity Organisation of the Year 2010 and the European Employee Volunteering Awards 2011 (Deutsche Bank AG, 2011). Deutsche bank is renowned for its CSR initiatives internationally nurturing social and environmental awareness while working to alleviate such issues in communities where it operates. According to the banks official website (Deutsche Bank AG, 2011), Deutsche Bank focuses its CSR strategy in the areas of corporate volunteering, social investments, art music and education. The Communications CSR function is responsible of the banks global CSR initiatives followed by the approval of such initiatives by the Chairman of the Management Board (Deutsche Bank AG, 2011). Coordination of CSR operations is prepared at headquarters and then delegated to and implemented locally by the institutions regional teams (Deutsche Bank AG, 2011). This ensures effectiveness and efficiency through its initiatives and as perceived by the bank itself, it makes sure that it is acting as a responsible corporate citizen showing quite clearly that the bank favours and adopts the Corporate Citizenship Theory expl ained in the first chapter of this thesis. Deutsche Bank has set up ten CSR units in total till now dispersed globally which are namely the Deutsche Bank Foundation, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, Corporate Citizenship UK, Deutsche Bank Africa Foundation, Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation, Deutsche Bank Mena Foundation, Alfred Herrhausen Society, Historical Association of Deutsche Bank, Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP), and finally Deutsche Bank Donation Fund (Deutsche Bank AG, 2010). Through these organisations the bank manages its CSR operations worldwide and creates what the bank calls social capital through sustainability, corporate volunteering, social investments, art music, and education (Deutsche Bank AG, 2011); thus, the bank is CSR oriented at all levels of its operational, and organisational structure. Figure 2.1  [2]  : CSR at Deutsche BankFounded: 1992 Budget 2009: à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 3.2 m. The non-profit Alfred Herrhausen Society is the international forum of Deutsche Bank. Its work focuses on new forms of governance as a response to the challenges of the 21st century. The Alfred Herrhausen Society seeks traces of the future in the present, and conceptualizes relevant themes for analysis and debate. It works with international partners across a range of fields including politics, academia, and business to organize forums for discussion worldwide. www.alfred-herrhausen-society.org/en The banks total investments for the year end 2009 amounted to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬81.1 million of which 39% were invested in social investments, 29% were attributed to education and 27% were allocated to art and music (see figure 2.2 below). Deutsche banks investments were mainly targeted towards Germany, with total investments amounting to 45% at the end of 2009, followed by the Americas at 23%, and 12% of these funds were allocated to Asia Pacific and the UK. Deutsche Banks investments in Europe/Middle East and Africa amounted to only 8% of the funds (see figure 2.3 below). Figure 2.2  [3]  Figure 2.3  [4]   Regional split of total CSR investments Share of total investments per area of activity Kate Cavelle, Director of Corporate Citizenship at Deutsche Bank in the UK, stated that the four main reasons why investment banks care about CSR are social responsibility, staff motivation, client and public perception during an interview conducted by The Gateway in 2010. She also argued that at Deutsche Bank it is recognised that the bank should be highly committed towards CSR. In the UK, Deutsche Bank engages in initiatives such as promoting education so that young people may reach their full potential (The Gateway, 2010). Social Investments undertaken by the bank also include work with the homeless and unemployed persons and works closely with several other UK organisations such as the Globe Theatre and Design Museum. The bank also supports young artists through the sale of art acquired by the bank while keeping employee morale high by changing its art collections through time (The Gateway, 2010). Deutsche Bank is also involved in a microfinance programme where loans are granted with lower interest rates to persons who otherwise would not be able to be granted any credit. According to Kate this is also a good and safe investment undertaken by the bank and thus microfinance is beneficial for the business as well. The bank also encourages employees to get involved in voluntary work and helps out in finding activities that employees may engage in (The Gateway, 2010). On another note, according to an article written in the Financial Times of 23rd March, 2011, Deutsche Bank was sued for breaching its duties when the bank sold a complex interest rate product to a corporate client. The bank was fined à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬541,000 to compensate for the damages inflicted on the client as judge Ulrich Wiechers claimed that the bank should have been clearer when advising the client about the risks involved. Apparently the bank is involved in other eight similar cases at the federal court level involving complex financial instruments known as swaps while it has 17 cases at lower courts (The Financial Times, 2011). This may indicate that although the bank is highly committed and publicly declares its commitments towards sustainable business in its operations, there is still some work to be done in implementing such goals in the day to day transactions and operations undertaken by the bank. HSBC Holdings HSBC is one of the largest financial institutions in the world and is headquartered in London. It operates in 87 countries across the globe. According to the banks official website the bank was established in 1865 to cater for the increasing trade between China and Europe and was named after its founder which is The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. The bank offers a wide range of financial services to cater for different customer needs including Personal Financial Services, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Private Banking (HSBC Holdings plc, 2011). The banks values can be summarised into four concise points found on its official website. HSBC is open to different ideas and cultures; connected with its customers, community and each other; and finally dependable and doing the right thing (HSBC Holdings, 2011). The bank is thus promoting itself as embracing an inclusive environment between employees, and has effective and efficient communication throughout all levels of the organisation including communication with its stakeholders while undertaking sustainable and responsible business practices. By managing risks the bank aims at addressing business opportunities in a sustainable manner and by taking into consideration present and future impacts upon the environment and communities, in particular poorer areas (HSBC Holdings plc, 2011). The bank is also enlisted and involved in a number of external organisations among which are the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UNEP FI, UN Global Compact, Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Global Sullivan Principles, OECD Principles for Multinational Enterprises and the Equator Principles (HSBC Holdings plc, 2011). HSBC believes that through robust business and sustainable revenues it is also primarily contributing towards the economy, the environment and to the communities and hence, maximising also stakeholder needs (HSBC Holdings, 2011). This statement, in my opinion, is almost synonymous with the arguments put forward in the SVT Theory and Adam Smiths invisible hand that by maximising shareholder wealth, one is also contributing to the benefit of the other stakeholders automatically. The bank is also involved with NGOs so that it may identify how to manage better sustainable risk, while it also works with NGOs to raise financial awareness and help customers on how to manage their finances, thus reducing risks of loan defaulting and keep their home ownership, while of course reducing further the banks risks related to these loans (HSBC Holdings, 2011). According to the banks website, it also engages in SRI investments and responds to several surveys and indices from various organisations. HSBC considers managing the environmental and social impacts of providing finance to our customers as part of business as usual. (HSBC Holdings, 2011). Thus, HSBC describes its commitment towards CSR through the assessment of their corporate clients as being ingrained in the nature of their business, and it seems that the bank acknowledges that this is the right way of doing business. Apart from abiding by the Equator Principles, HSBC has also set up a set of risk policies for sensitive areas such as chemicals, defence, energy etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (HSBC Holdings, 2011). Through its financial services operations the bank is committed to reducing carbon emissions and because climate change impacts directly the banks customers and its own operations, according to the official website, the bank perceives that it is of utmost importance that these issues are included in its strategies. The bank also engages with microfinance institutions (MFIs) which provide loans and other services to cust omers. According to the HSBC official website, in India the bank is working with 11 MFIs to provide for financial services to people in rural and urban areas (HSBC Holdings, 2011). The bank also provides for financial services in rural areas situated in China making it easier for farmers and people living in these areas to access such services. The bank also provides for funds in constructing better water infrastructures (HSBC Holdings, 2011). The bank feels that it is contributing towards the communities it operates in by providing services to clients, employment, meeting its regulatory obligations and other obligations to suppliers, investments in local business and through financial donations or voluntary work and in this way it also secures its success as a bank (HSBC Holdings, 2011). Following to the information found on its website the bank allocated the sum of $100 million to community investments as at the year ending 2009. The bank entered into a partnership with SOS Childrens Villages in 2006 and established Future First to aid less fortunate children around the world with their educational needs. This initiative has expanded significantly throughout the years and over 500,000 children benefit from this programme around the globe (HSBC Holdings, 2011). JA More Than Money is an initiative monitored in promoting financial awareness among the youth and is run by HSBC volunteers. Children attending this educational p rogramme range from seven to eleven years old. The bank has also set up other programmes namely the HSBC Climate Partnership which is a five year programme targeted to reduce climate change and its impacts on society and the environment and HSBC Eco-Schools Climate Initiative to raise awareness in school on climate change and what action can be taken to reduce its impacts (HSBC Holdings, 2011). In the section dedicated to sustainability reporting on the official website of HSBC one may find a number of sustainability reports. The following table was extracted from the HSBC Holdings plc Sustainability Report for 2009 illustrating the implementation of the Equator Principles in the granting of loans. Table 2.1  [5]  : Adoption of Equator Principles in the Granting of Loans The bank granted only 5 loans which fall under Category A, meaning that these loans may have adverse social or environmental impacts that are diverse, irreversible or unprecedented. Although small in number, the bank still granted such loans to its clients, with a total value of 1,296 almost 7 times larger than the value granted in 2008 of 178. In 2009 the Category B and Category C amounted for the most part of loans granted by the bank. Figure 2.4  [6]  : Division of Clients Compliance with HSBC Environmental Policies Most of the clients comply with HSBCs policy totalling 75% and amounting to 82% in loan value while there are still some clients that do not comply at all with this policy even though these are very small in number and even smaller in value. The banks community investments where mainly allocated towards education, which amounted to 45% while 29% where allocated to environmental investments as illustrated in figure 2.5. The bank also encourages employees to engage in voluntary work, and it works towards reducing carbon emissions on its premisses (HSBC, 2009:16). Figure 2.5  

Gunsmoke and the Old-West Hero :: Television Media TV Essays

Gunsmoke and the Old-West Hero The program Gunsmoke, provides a vivid representation and description of the stereotypical old-west hero. It is a wholesome program that captures the listeners attention and addresses issues that were often dealt with in the 50's and hits many listeners close to home. Intelligence, concern for others and reliability are just a few of the many characteristics portrayed through Matt Dillon in this program that many other old-west heroes had in common with him. Each episode deals with a different problem and in each one of those episodes it seems as though Dillon is very well educated in whatever the problem may be. Whether he has to perform acts that a doctor would have to deal with, whether he acts as a counselor to someone, or even appearing as a detective. He appears as an overly well-rounded individual. In each episode it seems though he is always one step ahead of the enemy or perpetrator. There are many cases in which his insightfulness and intelligence permeate in to the minds of the listeners. Dillon, (as many other old-west heroes), has a deep care and concern for all people. It is his job to take care of them and to keep them safe. He is always doing what is right. In each episode he has a deep concern for what the impact the decisions of some may have on others. He also has a concern for what the outcome of their decisions will have on themselves. He does all he can to help them realize that making the right decision and being honest will provide the best route of happiness and survival. In each episode Dillon also provides a vision of reliability to the listener. It doesn't seem to matter who he encounters, that person will still feel secure in confiding in him and leaving him with responsibilities that they wouldn't otherwise trust others with. Each person admires him and looks up to him. They realize that he is responsible and reliable and that when he says he's going to accomplish something. It doesn't matter what the task, he is good to his word, and it is apparent to all those he meets. Because of Matt Dillon's intelligence, concern for others, and reliability, he has portrayed a character beyond what any man would dream he could be. He is the epitome of a true old-west

Matrix Metalloproteinases Essay -- Biology, Science Experiments

Matrix metalloproteinases are members of a large family of enzymes that can degrade extracellular matrix as well as other molecules [1]. MMPs participate in a broad variety of normal and pathologic states [2], and have been implicated as potential mediators of cardiac dilation and heart failure. Indeed, in culture cells [3,4], animal models mimicking the CHF syndrome [5,6] and CHF patients [7-9], a mechanistic relationship has been demonstrated respect to myocardial MMP expression and left ventricular (LV) remodeling process [3-9]. Likewise, recent reports on endothelial culture cells [10-12] and animal models of CHF [13,14] have shown that the increase of expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 (called gelatinases) might also play an important role in the impairement of endothelial function, a key event contributing on morbidity and mortality in CHF patients [15]. However, data respect to the role of MMPs on endothelial dysfunction in the setting of human CHF is completely unknow n. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between the activity of gelatinases and endothelial dysfunction in patients with CHF. We hypothesized that a higher plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities correlate with a lower endothelial function in patients with CHF. We included CHF patients, NYHA functional class II-III controlled in a university clinical center. All patients signed an informed consent approved by our institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee. Inclusion criteria were left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ...esented here share new clinical evidence suggesting a possible participation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the genesis and progression of endothelial dysfunction, suggesting an active role of MMPs in this event. The main limitations of the present study were the limited number of patients, the presence of standard pharmacological therapy administered that may influence our results and such a correlations reported here did not demostrate a cause-effect relationship, but there is experimental evidence that could sustain our results. Further studies are clearly required to address this issue for exploring the causal relationships between these proteases and the pathophysiology of endothelial function. Acknowledgements The authors of this manuscript have certified that they comply with the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the International Journal of Cardiology [20].

Man Is Our True Enemy :: essays research papers

Once someone said Man is our true enemy. And that person was right. In the modern time (now) the word enemy means: A hostile power or force such as a nation. As an example let’s take the Middle East nations suck as Iraq. We can also be our own enemy. How? By testing nuclear devises or dispose of hazardous materials in the environment suck as potation. Why are we been our own enemy? By trying to develop our selves we extract negative effects out of our positive efforts. Example we make fire to warm our selves and to kook our food to be able to survive but in the same time we are killing our planet by the CO2 which is drown out from the fire and which enhances the green house effect which is already above normal. Another reason is that it is in man’s nature to desires more in economical and territorial means. For example a president of a certain country would give order to create weapons off mass distraction, which explode at an imaginary force. And he would use them to slather millions of innocent individuals just to achieve his goal. This was proven to us in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombing. We are also our enemy in our awry day lives. Example Transportation such as unsafe vehicles likes cars, motorcycles and airplanes. In fact 40% of all unnatural deaths occur in vehicle accidents. We also harm our self in nourishment by eating unhealthy products, which have artificial color and flavor, which result in heart diseases and strokes. Another reason we are our own enemy is because we made our selves weak and entirely dependent on technology. For example when the Y2K will come we will to totally unprepared. The water filtration, electricity, gazes, hitting, and bank machines would not work. That means on January 1 2000 we will be left in dark, cold, thirsty and hungry. We would not be able to receive money because computer does the paychecks, and we could not take money from our account because the bank machine would not work.

Primary Causes of Obesity in Memphis Essay

The Primary Cause of Obesity in Memphis: Poor Nutrition, Lack of Exercise, and Poverty It is no question that America’s obesity rates are among the highest in the world. Obesity rates are high in almost all U. S. cities but, which city is the fattest? Newsweek magazine named Memphis, Tennessee to be the fattest city in 2012 (Lollar). There is no argument Memphis’ obesity rates are ridiculously high but, there is controversy about why Memphis is the fattest city and what people can do to change. Some think that lack of exercise and poor diet is the problem. Some say that lack of education is the issue. Others even think that the government is causing obesity rates to skyrocket. I believe that poor diet and the lack of physical activity are causing Memphis to be one of the fattest cities in the world. This is only one opinion on a topic that is stirring up controversy but is also giving a bad reputation to Memphis, â€Å"The Home of The Blues. † Obesity rates in Memphis are high; that’s a fact. The controversy around this topic is based on the arguments of why obesity rates are high. There are many arguments made on this topic that will be introduced and analyzed. But first, there are many key terms that the average person might not fully understand. The first term examined is body mass index or â€Å"BMI. † BMI is a measurement that is used to deem someone as being underweight or overweight. To calculate someone’s BMI you divide a person’s mass(kg) by their height(m2) (Wikipedia. com). The BMI chart lists as follows: very severely underweight less than 15, severely underweight from 15. 0 to 16. 0, underweight from 16. 0 to 18. 5, normal (healthy weight)from 18. to 25, overweight from 25 to 30, obese class I (moderately obese)from 30 to 35, obese class II (severely bese)from 35 to 40, obese class Ill (very severely obese)over 40 (Wikipedia. com). The next term is one that is often used is â€Å"overweight. † This is a term used to designate the area between normal weight and obese. Overweight means having a BMI from 25 to 30. The next term is â€Å"obese†, which means a person has a BMI over 30. In 2012, 29. 7 percent of people in Memphis were considered obese. When a person is obese they have enough excess body fat to cause health risks such as heart disease and type II diabetes. The next key term is â€Å"food desert. † A food desert is defined as â€Å"an rea where affordable healthy food is difficult to obtain, particularly for those without access to an automobile. † (Wikipedia. com). Memphis is a prime example of a food desert being that it is fourth in the country for food deserts. A large number of various fast food chains are all around Memphis, while healthy and more natural foods are much more difficult to attain. The last key term is â€Å"saturated fat. † Saturated fats are made of triglycerides and have only saturated fatty acids. These types of fats are found in many animal fats including butter, ice cream, chocolate, and cheese. Saturated fats have been associated with many diseases in the past including cancer and heart disease (Wikipedia). Obesity is an epidemic that continues to grow among the U. S. , as well as many other countries around the world. Many ask how and when obesity first started to become such a huge problem in America. One main reason obesity has become so But, why has our society become more and more sedentary over the years? One reason that has been studied by Alabama Cooperative Extension Nutritionist Dr. Robert Keith is the electronic home media that became extremely popular during the arly 1980’s (Wile). Instead of getting physical activity from outdoor activities, children started to stay inside more and play video games or watching television (Wile). As home video game systems emerged along with newer technology in television over the past few decades, obesity rates have exponentially increases. It is also believed that high fructose corn syrup that was introduced to foods in the 1970’s. High fructose corn syrup is currently found in many foods and drinks such as soda, cookies, Juices, and candy (Wile).

Advertising Alcohol Essay

Alcohol has appeared in UK as well as around the world for many years. It plays a significant rule in the life of human. As British Medical Association in 2009, people in UK is the most of alcohol users in Europe. However, like other addictive substances, abuse of alcohol will bring a lot of bad consequences for people. Timms (2013) claimed that alcohol is the cause of psychosis, dementia, and physical problem. There are some people who claimed that government is not authorized to control the advertising of alcohol stricter than other products, but some were in the other idea that government should do it because of the bad impact from alcohol advertising to those who watch it, especially young people. This essay is aim to clarify the opinion that alcohol will result negative effect for human heath as well as social life and its advertising need to be restricted by government. Firstly, except useful of alcohol to people life, alcohol is cause of many negative problems. It is a fact that alcohol was used in to many industries such as food, heath service, and research also. Alcohol may good for heath with a limit amount. With reference from NIH (2003), in a great number of male surveyed, those who drank more than three times a week will have fewer heath risk than others who just drank less than once a week. However, according to Kenny (2012), people should not drink alcohol too much everyday. For instance, the limit of alcohol, which accepted by government, is 150–200ml for men and 100-150ml for women. Base on each habitus, drinking more than that unit may lead to sign of headache, dizzy, sickness, loss of control, etc. To reference from Hall’s research last year, 25% of deaths increase in the last ten years was caused by alcohol. It showed that most of people cannot control their drinking, and this number is increasing day by day. Thus, it is important to limit alcohol use. Secondly, alcoholics are threatening to the social life. It may be noted that drinking alcohol is dangerous not only for people but also their family. A lot of social evil and family violence are come from drunken people. When drinking too much wine or beer, the phenomenon of losing control will appear. Then, the drinker may have negative activities to people around. For example, according to Aquarius, 30% of sexual harassments were affected by alcohol. Furthermore, unfortunately, almost alcoholic was the cause of increasing unemployment (Macpherson, 1988). Then it tends to the thievery when alcoholics do not have money to buy alcohol. From those reasons, it is clear to see that alcohol is truly a hazard to people. Turning to the other side, advertising of alcohol will also bring the bad effect to people. Alcohol advertisement, like other product’s advertisement, is aim to approach people and persuade them to buy as much as possible. Actually, most of alcohol advertising content was received great evaluation from people under 23 years old (Jernigan, 2010). On the other hand, although people know the negative of using alcohol, promotion by any way will make them tend to use it naturally. Wilby (2008) claimed that people are strong affected by advertising of alcohol because they are easily to receive information provided by this advertisement. Advertising of alcohol makes people, especially the youth, image that it is the daily product. Moreover, Jernigan (2010) believed that almost alcohol companies tried to insert the combination of unmeasured features relative to cultural, religious and regulatory context on their advertising. Thus, they try using it everyday like the case that they saw on advertising. In British Medical Association (2009), researchers said â€Å"alcohol advertising and promotion increases the likelihood that adolescents will start to use alcohol and to drink more if they are already using alcohol†. Therefore, if alcohol companies are all free to do advertising by their own way, it will be dangerous for customer insight. Finally, alcohol advertising needs to be limited to protect customer from the wrong perception about wine or beer. In fact, alcohol companies have right to do advertise like other product in market. The more alcohol that they sold, the more money of tax government can earn. Follow HMRC (2013), alcohol products brought a huge number of revenue to UK, which is ? 3,323m from April to July 2013. This number illustrated for the great tax revenue that government earned from alcohol companies. However, the damage to people heath and life are bigger than that. Government had to pay more for the accident and medical insurance that come from effect of drinking too much alcohol. Therefore, limitation to the advertising content of alcohol is really necessary. In practice, government represents for the right of people, so they need to intervene to alcohol advertising for protecting customer. Although government cannot absolutely ban all the advertising of alcohol, they need to control it. For example, Hall (2012) believed that alcohol marketing â€Å"require that ads not link alcohol with sex, social success, youth culture or juvenile behavior†. In conclusion, the essay focused on difference points of whether alcohol advertising should be restricted or not, and the role of government in this situation. Obviously, whether drinking alcohol is good or not depends largely on the awareness of people who use it. Nevertheless, advertising this product widely on media will cause many bad impacts. For that reason, the strict guidelines and regulation for alcohol advertising is really needed. The government should strictly control this kind of product as well as develop propagandize for people about using alcohol in the right way. Apart from that, government also can impose more heavy taxes upon alcohol goods. This can force customer to use less alcohol and increase national income at the same time. References AQUARIUS (n. d. ) Alcohol and Violence [WWW] Aquarius. Available from: http://www. aquarius. org. uk/alcoholandviolence [Accessed 02/09/2013]. BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (2009) Under the influence: the damaging effect of alcohol marketing on young people [WWW] Available from: http://www.alcohollearningcentre. org. uk/_library/undertheinfluence_tcm41-1900621. pdf [Accessed 24/08/13]. HALL, E. (2012) Sobering up the U. K. proves difficult. Advertising Age, 83 (17), pp. 9. HMRC (2013) Tax and Duty Bulletins [WWW] HM Revenue & Customs. Available from: https://www. uktradeinfo. com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutybulletins. aspx [Accessed 01/09/2013]. JERNIGAN, D. (2010) The extent of global alcohol marketing and its impact on youth. Contemporary Drug Problems, 37 (1), pp. 57-89. MACPHERSON, N (1988) The Effect of Alcoholism on Earning Capacity [WWW] Economica. Available from: http://www. economica. ca/ew03_2p1. htm [Accessed 02/09/2013]. NIH (2003) Frequency of Light-to-Moderate Drinking Reduces Heart Disease Risk in Men [WWW] NIH. Available from: http://www. nih. gov/news/pr/jan2003/niaaa-08. htm [Accessed 31/08/2013]. Timms, P. (2013) Alcohol and depression [WWW] Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Public Education Editorial Board. Available from: http://www. rcpsych. ac. uk/mentalhealthinfoforall/problems/alcoholanddrugs/alcoholdepression. aspx [Accessed 31/08/2013]. WILBY, P. (2008) Under the influence. New Statesman, 137 (4887), pp. 17.

Have Terrorism Laws been Helpful?

There have been numerous debates that have risen from analysis related to terrorism laws that were passed in the United States of America and Europe since the horrific attack on 11th September 2001 that killed scores of people and wounded thrice the number of the dead. The terrorism, counter terrorism and anti terrorism laws have all been scrutinized to weigh their suitability. Sharp criticism has befallen the laws, the public too is eager to know if the laws are more beneficial than they detrimental or if the reverse is actual status quo. Such debates have always led to repeals or amendments of the laws in question, one revision of the laws has proved not to be enough as there is always a word or two to adjust to deem the laws plausible by the masses, the government and the observers. I will be dissecting the whole with precision to draw a line between the merits and demerits of the laws.Proposing argumentThe main goal behind every terrorism law across the world is to prevent terrorism acts and protect its citizens from the adverse effects of it. Zooming on the American and countries under the European dynasty we notice that there has an immense reduction in attacks from both internal and external sources. Domestic and mass terrorism has been cut by more than 35% if the statistics are compared with ones taken two decades before 2001(gray-2018). This has created a business environment conducive for investors to come into the country because they have a natural feeling that they will be safe and their business will bloom. Trust on the USA government has increased as we see many foreign leaders come to the country whenever they are under threat from external sources (Beckman-2016). The security agencies have been unified by the laws and they all share information about security conditions of specific areas and individuals. Proposing defense The fluidity is one that One police department can notice a terrorist threat, pass the information for investigation to done by another unit, give the findings to the threat alert department while another can be sent to apprehend the suspect depending on their locality and expertise they have. This smooth flow of command and swift take of action has instilled a sense of security and patriotism of citizens to the governments of the. Civilians can spot a suspect and notify the relevant authorities without fear of being tracked by the suspect in the equation. Let us take a brief walk down the history lane to and peruse through the terrorist reports to get a vantage point on this issue. Statistics reveal that there had been 2608 terrorist attacks between 1970 and 2001; the year that terrorism laws were fortified, that was an aggregate of 65 attacks per year. Most of them were executed using bombs and congested public areas were the main targets. After the laws were passed, we have seen the number drop by a whopping 94% annually. This is because there have only been 8 terrorist attacks on American soil since 2001 to 2017. In these unfortunate incidences on 102 people died capped with 333 injuries. 6 out of the 8 cases have been launched by lone slayers, one executed by an American couple; the 7 acts were carried out using guns and only the Boston marathon case was a bombing attack made. This number is way low than and somewhat insignificant when compared to the fatalities of 11th September 2001. This is a case that strongly backs the argument that laws have been very beneficial as they have served their objectives and succeeded in meeting their goals. Opposing argumentI am meant to believe that the terrorism laws that were drafted and passed are not meant for the better good of civilians. There are arguments around that point is that the laws were drafted out fear and vengeance and thus failed to solicit essential views from security stakeholders and the general public. That is a claim enough to show that they are meant to serve other interests. Critics on this front argue that a lot of money is being siphoned out of the national coffers to service the numerous security departments that were formed under the laws. The money cannot be clearly be accounted and a dubious justification is given to it; it is a matter of national security (Beckman-2016). The main enemies of these laws are not terrorists but human right activists; they claim that the laws are not compatible with universal human rights and should be rephrased or better still repealed.Opposing defenseWe begin introduce this front by giving the basic definition for the word terrorism; violence against civilians to achieve military or political objectives. The media has been the casualty of the draconian laws as there right to information and freedom of expression has been gagged. The governments always hoodwink the public that all that is done for their own good; it is a matter of national se curity. Then a question arises, how news reporting become a threat to the civilians? Such questions arose when Mr. Miranda was detained in Heathrow airport for 9 hours and forced to surrender his documents and media devices to the security agencies for scrutiny in august 2013. He was on his way to Brazil from Germany. No weapon was found on him and no criminal bodies had tied links with him at any point of his life yet he was arraigned for in the British courts to answer to terrorism charges. The judges found that the evidence against him was far more blasphemous to the law practice than it was a joke to media profession. Mr. Miranda won the case and showed that the laws can be more devastating to the media practice and the civilians as they only serve the political interests (chi-2015). No appeal was made to the decision made by the court proving the main point; the laws need to reviewed from the beginning and if after the review the laws still fall below the universal human rights code then they should be abolished. Argument analysisFrom this argument we see that both fronts had their points to stress on. The claims given by the opposition are more than the proposing gave but the evidence provided by the proposing side is way more overwhelming than the evidence produced by the opponents. The narrative leaned towards the proposing side as it gave claims baked by detailed evidence. Objectivity was to be the main key; the proposers said that the laws truly served their purposed as they reduced terrorism attacks significantly while their critics did not give any link to the main topic of the team. My analysis on this case also leaned on the proposing side as the issue of security should always precede any other issue; it is the foundation that harmonizes the cultural, social and economic factors of the society. The right to privacy and freedom of privacy would not find space in the human conscious if he was constantly exposed to continuous threat and imminent demise. The opposing gave a radical approach and failed to first acknowledge that their fields exist simply because their security is guaranteed. I feel like that the claims about governments wasting civilian resources would have helped the opposing side prove their point but they failed to provide relevant evidence to that matter. All that the opposition posed were questions that they themselves failed to provide answers to; what is the main objective of the laws if the public feels disfavored by them? Who are the laws meant to serve? We are aware that security agencies have been set up to tap information from the civilian devices; what happened to the right to privacy? (Giroux-2016) Their side would be formidable if they answers and backing evidence to all of them. Journalists claim that they are affected yet they hold side on the topic. Then I formed a question, what if they report news that exposes a government hence drawing the attention of terrorists? Furthermore, they proposed that the laws be abolished but did not give a better alternative. I wish that the opposition had thought the whole issue out than leave the case in a limbo.ConclusionTruth of the matter is that the proposing side was strong and well planned compared to their critics but the points stated by the weak side on this debate hold water. The laws should be more inclusive to other sectors of human cycle and not look like it overrules all the other rules and universal privileges that come with them. State agencies always motivate people verbally by asking them to report any suspicious people or activities to them but it is high time they started acting receptive (boister-2018). That said does not admonish the fact the fact the laws are made for the better good of people and stability of all other spheres. It is important that all parties realize that the laws are as important as any other on the land and should approached with care as it defends the well being of human life. I propose that the laws be amended, not repealed.ReferencesInternational law and the use of forceC Gray-2018Comparative legal approaches to homeland security and anti-terrorismJ Beckman-2016Impossible to regulate: social media, terrorists, and the role for the UNP Wu Chi-2015Beyond the spectacle of terrorism: global uncertainty and the challenge to the new mediaHA Giroux- 2016An introduction to transnational criminal lawN Boister- 2018