International Criminal Court on Prosecution of Serious International Crimes Essay

First adopted in a diplomatic conference in Rome on the year 1998, 17th day of July, the Rome Statute is considered as the main treaty that has estblished the formation of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Officially set into force on the first day of July 2002, the ICC now hadles various cases in different categories of identified international crimes. More so, the ICC now has a pool of its respected members coming from 108 different states and countries across the globe. Although some may argue that the formation of ICC will never be effective in resolving the issues and problems of serious international crimes and that there are countries who doubt the functions of this treaty, it can not be denied that ICC has a huge potential in portraying significant contributions when it comes to handling severe international crimes. For instance, the case of Augusto Pinochet, a long-time dictator in Chile for 17 years, is a serious legal case where the ICC could function in delivering justice to the people who have been victimized by his tyranny. For a certain period of time, Pinochet has been cheating the process of justice despite the extensive efforts exerted by many of the European Ledears, as he is accused of ordering massive killings, tortures and abductions of about a thousand Chileans for him to stay in power for 17 long years. As for this type of case, ICC could make a difference in such a way that it could act as the proper court that would primarily handles international criminal acts like Pinochet’s, say that the efforts of local leaders, as similar to the actions of European legislators to bring Pinochet to justice, is no longer effective to protect the welfare of the people. Thus, ICC could make a difference in such a way that it could serve as the global eye of justice amongst leaders who violate the rules of the law againts massive killing and spreading of violence, which could primarily bring them to prosecution and deliver justice for the people and the country. More so, in times like this where violence and ill driven wars are just around the corner, the fuinctions of ICC could indeed serve a significant difference in bringing peace and order to the prosecution of serious international crimes. Through its given set of rules and laws, the ICC could primarily define and classify the offensive actions of powerful countries, whether these agressions has probable cause or is just subjectively motivated to gather extension of power and gain supremacy. In this case, ICC could contribute to the process of prosecution of serious international crimes, as this mainly provides transparency and uniformity to prosecute individuals who commits crime listed under the international law. From a personal point of view, the establishment and ratification of the ICC is indeed a positive development to further strengthen the stability of international law and community. Apart from its positive connotation in delivering justice to the people and sentencing offenders as well as individuals that violates the crimes under its laws, the ICC could as well be named as the defender of human rights in the global as it generally covers international crimes and human right offenses such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of agression. With its specialized function and primarily position in d elivering justice in the international, the ICC could make its own significant contribution in the prosecution of serious international crimes in such a way that it could handle a speedier court proceeding, as it only handles special legal cases which are that of serious international criminal acts. Lastly, the International Criminal Court or the ICC could significantly contribute in the process of prosecution of international crimes through a fair and reliable handling of legal cases, as it is and remains to be an international independent legal court with the support of different countries in the world. More so, the ICC could make a difference in delivering justice in the international crime scene through its credibility and equality as an independent legal entity that represents both the ordinary and powerful people in different countries and states around the globe.

Blood Promise Chapter Sixteen

Denis and his two unpromised friends, Artur and Lev, were ecstatic that I was going to be part of their posse. But if they expected me to share their crazy enthusiasm for reckless Strigoi hunting, they were about to be sorely disappointed. In fact, it didn't take long after I joined them before they realized that I was approaching the hunt very differently than they were. Denis's friend Lev had a car, and we took turns driving to Novosibirsk. The drive was about fifteen hours, and even though we stopped at a hotel for the night, it was still a lot of continuous time to be cooped up in a small space with three guys who couldn't stop talking about all the Strigoi they were going to kill. In particular, they kept trying to draw me out. They wanted to know about how many Strigoi I'd slain. They wanted to know what the battle at the Academy had been like. They wanted to know my methods. Anytime my mind turned to those topics, though, all I could think of was blood and grief. It was nothing I wanted to brag about, and it took about six hours on the road for them to finally figure out that they weren't going to get much information from me. Instead, they regaled me with tales of their own adventures. To be fair, they'd slain several Strigoi-but they'd lost a number of their friends, all of whom had been in their teens, like these guys. My experiences weren't that dissimilar; I'd lost friends too. My losses had been a result of being outnumbered, though. Denis's group's casualties seemed to have been more due to rushing in to without thinking. Indeed, their plan once we got to Novosibirsk wasn't really that solid. They reiterated that Strigoi liked to hunt at places that were crowded at night, like dance clubs, or in remote places like alleys, that made for easy pickings. No one noticed as much when people disappeared from those kinds of places. So Denis's plans mostly involved trolling those hot spots in the hopes that we'd run into Strigoi. My initial thought was to immediately ditch this group and strike out on my own. After all, my main goal had been to simply get to Novosibirsk. With everything I'd learned now, it seemed logical that Siberia's largest city would be the next best place to look. Then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that jumping into the Strigoi scene alone would be as stupid as one of the unpromised gang's plans. I could use their backup. Plus, since I didn't actually know where Dimitri was yet, I had to come up with a method of getting some information. I'd need help for that. We made it to Novosibirsk at the end of the second day of driving. Despite hearing about its size, I hadn't imagined it would be anything like Moscow or Saint Petersburg. And true, it turned out to be not quite as large as they were, but it was still just as much a city, complete with skyscrapers, theaters, commuters, and the same beautiful architecture. We crashed with a friend of theirs who had an apartment downtown, a dhampir named Tamara. Her English wasn't very good, but from the sounds of it, she was another unpromised one and just as excited as everyone else to rid the world of Strigoi. She was a little older than the rest of us, which was why she had her own place, and was a cute brunette with freckles. It sounded as though she waited until whenever the guys came to town to hunt, which I took as a small blessing. At least she didn't go out alone. She seemed particularly excited to have another girl around, but like the others, she quickly picked up that I didn't share their enthusiasm. When our first night of Strigoi hunting came around, I finally stepped up into a leadership position. The sudden change in behavior startled them at first, but they soon listened with rapt attention, still caught up in my superstar reputation. â€Å"Okay,† I said, looking from face to face. We were in Tamara's tiny living room, sitting in a circle. â€Å"Here's how it's going to work. We're going to hit the nightclub scene as a group, patrolling it and the alleys behind it for-â€Å" â€Å"Wait,† interrupted Denis. â€Å"We usually split up.† â€Å"Which is why you get killed,† I snapped. â€Å"We're going as a group.† â€Å"Haven't you killed Strigoi by yourself, though?† asked Lev. He was the tallest of the group, with a long and lanky figure that was almost Moroi-like. â€Å"Yes, but I got lucky.† That, and I also just thought I was a better fighter than any of them. Call me arrogant, but I was a damned good guardian. Or near-guardian. â€Å"We'll do better with all five of us. When we find Strigoi, we've got to make sure we take care of them in an isolated place.† I hadn't forgotten Sydney's warnings. â€Å"But before we kill them, I need to talk to them. It'll be your job to restrain them.† â€Å"Why?† asked Denis. â€Å"What do you have to say to them?† â€Å"Actually, it's what they have to say to me. Look, it won't take long. And you'll get to make your kill in the end, so don't worry about it. But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This next part went against my grand plans, but I knew I had to say it. I wouldn't get them killed for the sake of my own quest. â€Å"If we get ourselves in a situation where you're trapped or in immediate danger, forget the talking and restraining. Kill. Save yourself.† Apparently, I seemed confident and badass enough that they decided to go along with whatever I said. Part of our plan involved going â€Å"undercover,† so to speak. Any Strigoi who was close or got a good enough look would immediately recognize us as dhampirs. It was important that we not attract any attention. We needed a Strigoi scanning for victims to pass right over us. We needed to look like other human club-goers. So we dressed the part, and I was a bit astonished at how well the guys cleaned up. Denis, crazy or not, was particularly good-looking, sharing the same dark gold hair and brown eyes that his brother Nikolai had. My few changes of clothes weren't quite up to partying standards, so Tamara delved into her wardrobe for me. She seemed to take a lot of delight in finding things for me to wear. We were actually similar in size, which was kind of amazing. With her tall, super-slim build, Lissa and I had never been able to share clothes. Tamara was my height and had a similar body type. She first offered me a short, tight dress that was so similar to the one Viktoria had worn that I just shook my head and handed it back. The memories of our argument still hurt, and I wasn't going to relive that night or in any way play blood whore dress-up. Instead, Tamara settled for dressing me in black jeans and a black tank top. I consented to hair and makeup too, and studying myself in the mirror, I had to admit she did a good job. As vain as it was, I liked looking good. I especially liked that the guys looked at me in a way that was admiring and respectful-but not like I was some piece of meat. Tamara offered me jewelry too, but the only thing I'd wear was the nazar around my neck. My stake required a jacket, but she found a sexy leather one that didn't take away from the rest of the outfit's appeal. Setting out around midnight, I couldn't help shaking my head. â€Å"We're the goddamned hottest vampire hunters ever,† I muttered. Denis led us to a club where they'd found Strigoi before. It was also apparently where one of their unpromised friends had been killed. It was in a seedy part of town, which I guess added to its appeal for Strigoi. A lot of the people there were middle- and upper-class young people, apparently drawn in by the â€Å"dangerous† aspect. If only they'd known just how dangerous it was. I'd made a lot of jokes to Dimitri about Russia and Eastern Europe being ten years behind in music, but when we entered, I discovered the ground-thumping techno song playing was something I'd heard in the U.S. just before leaving. The place was crowded and dark, with flashing lights that were actually a little annoying to dhampir eyes. Our night vision would adapt to the darkness and then be blasted when a strobe light kicked on. In this case, I didn't need my sight. My shadow-kissed senses didn't feel any Strigoi in the area. â€Å"Come on,† I said to the others. â€Å"Let's dance for a while and wait. There are no Strigoi nearby.† â€Å"How do you know?† asked Denis, staring at me in wonder. â€Å"I just do. Stay together.† Our little circle moved to the dance floor. It had been so long since I'd danced, and I was a bit surprised at how quickly I found myself getting into the rhythm. Part of me said I should have stayed ever vigilant, but my Strigoi alarm system would immediately snap me awake if any danger came. That nausea was kind of hard to ignore. But after an hour of dancing, no Strigoi had appeared. We left the dance floor and started circling the club's edges, then moved outside to sweep that area too. Nothing. â€Å"Is there another club nearby?† I asked. â€Å"Sure,† said Artur. He was stocky, with close-shaved hair and a ready smile. â€Å"A couple blocks over.† We followed him and found a similar scene: another secret club hidden in a run-down building. More flashing lights. More crowds. More pounding music. Disturbingly, what started to bother me first was the smell. That many people generated a lot of sweat. I had no doubt even the humans could smell it. To us, it was cloying. Tamara and I exchanged looks and wrinkled our noses, needing no words to convey our disgust. We moved to the dance floor again, and Lev started to leave to get a drink. I punched him in the arm. He exclaimed something in Russian that I recognized as a swear word. â€Å"What was that for?† he asked. â€Å"For being stupid! How do you expect to kill something that's twice as fast as you while drunk?† He shrugged, unconcerned, and I resisted the urge to hit him in the face this time. â€Å"One won't hurt. Besides, there aren't even any-â€Å" â€Å"Be quiet!† It was creeping over me, that weird stirring in my stomach. Forgetting my cover, I stopped dancing, scanning the crowd for the source. While I was relying on my senses to feel Strigoi, spotting them in the crowd was a bit harder. I took a few steps toward the entrance, and my nausea lessened. I moved toward the bar, and the feeling increased. â€Å"This way,† I told them. â€Å"Act like you're still into the music.† My tension was contagious, and I saw the anticipation sweep them-as well as a little fear. Good. Maybe they'd take this seriously. As we headed in the bar's direction, I tried to keep my body language oriented toward it, like I was seeking a drink. All the while, my eyes swept the crowd's periphery. There. I had him. A male Strigoi was standing off in a corner, his arm around a girl close to my age. In the dim lighting, he almost seemed attractive. I knew closer examination would reveal the deathly pale skin and red eyes that all Strigoi had. The girl might not have been able to see them in the darkened club, or the Strigoi might have been using compulsion on her. Probably both, judging from the smile on her face. Strigoi were able to compel others just as well as a spirit user like Lissa could. Better, even. Before our eyes, I saw the Strigoi lead the girl down a small, unnoticed hallway. At the end, I could just make out a glowing exit sign. At least, I presumed it was an exit sign. The letters were Cyrillic. â€Å"Any idea where that door goes?† I asked the others. The guys shrugged, and Denis repeated my question to Tamara. She answered back, and he translated. â€Å"There's a small alley out back where they keep trash. It's between this building and a factory. No one's usually there.† â€Å"Can we get to it by going around the club?† Denis waited for Tamara's response. â€Å"Yes. It's open on both sides.† â€Å"Perfect.† We hurried out of the club by the front door, and I divided our group into two. The plan was to come at the Strigoi from both sides and trap him in the middle-provided he and his victim were still out back. It was possible he could have led her elsewhere, but I thought it more likely he'd want to subdue her and get his blood right there, particularly if it was as deserted as Tamara said it usually was. I was right. Once my group had split off and peered around behind the club, I saw the Strigoi and the girl lurking in the shadow of a trash can. He was leaning over her, mouth near her neck, and I silently swore. They didn't waste any time. Hoping she was still alive, I came charging down the alley, the others on my heels. From the alley's other side, Denis and Lev also came running. As soon as he heard the first footfall, the Strigoi reacted instantly, his staggeringly fast reflexes kicking in. He immediately dropped the girl, and in the space of a heartbeat, he chose Denis and Lev over Artur, Tamara, and me. Not a bad strategy, really. There were only two of them. Because he was so fast, he probably hoped to incapacitate them quickly and then turn on us before we could flank him. And it almost worked. A powerful hit sent Lev flying. To my relief, a couple of trash cans blocked him from the building's wall. Hitting them wouldn't feel good, but if I had the choice, I'd rather hit metal cans than solid bricks. The Strigoi pounced on Denis next, but Denis proved remarkably fast. Unfairly, I'd assumed none of these unpromised had any real fighting skills. I should have known better. They'd had the same training as me; they just lacked discipline. Denis dodged the blow and struck out low, aiming for the Strigoi's legs. The hit landed, though it wasn't strong enough to knock him over. A flash of silver showed in Denis's hands, and he managed to partially swipe the Strigoi's cheek just before a backhanded slap knocked the dhampir into me. A cut like that wouldn't be lethal to the Strigoi, but the silver would hurt, and I heard him snarl. His fangs gleamed with saliva. I sidestepped Denis quickly enough that he didn't knock me over. Tamara grabbed his arm, holding him so that he wouldn't fall either. She was fast too and had barely steadied him before leaping up at the Strigoi. He swatted her away but didn't manage to hit her hard enough to push her far. Artur and I were on him by that point, our combined force knocking him against the wall. Still, he was stronger and the pinning was brief before he broke free. A responsible voice in my head-that sounded suspiciously like Dimitri's-warned me that that had been my window to kill him. It would have been the smart and safe thing to do. I'd had the opening, and my stake was in my hand. If my crazy interrogation plan failed, the others' deaths would be on my head. As one, Artur and I leapt out again. â€Å"Help us!† I yelled. Tamara threw herself against the Strigoi, landing a swift kick to the stomach as well. I could feel him starting to shake us off, but then Denis joined in too. Between the four of us, we wrestled the Strigoi down so that he lay back-first on the pavement. But the worst wasn't over. Keeping him down wasn't easy. He thrashed around with incredible strength, limbs twisting everywhere. I heaved myself up, trying to throw my body's weight across his torso while the others restrained his legs. Another set of hands joined us, and I looked up to see Lev lending his strength too. His lip was bleeding, but his face was determined. The Strigoi hadn't stopped moving, but I felt satisfied he wouldn't break away anytime soon, not with all five of us holding him. Shifting forward, I placed the point of my stake at his neck. It gave him pause, but he soon resumed his struggle. I leaned over his face. â€Å"Do you know Dimitri Belikov?† I demanded. He shouted something incomprehensible at me that didn't sound very friendly. I pressed the stake in harder and drew a long gash against his throat. He screamed in pain, pure evil and malice shining out from his eyes as he continued swearing in Russian. â€Å"Translate,† I demanded, not caring who did it. â€Å"What I said.† A moment later, Denis said something in Russian, presumably my question since I heard Dimitri's name in there. The Strigoi growled back a response, and Denis shook his head. â€Å"He says he isn't going to play games with us.† I took the stake and slashed at the Strigoi's face, widening the gash Denis had made earlier. Again, the Strigoi cried out, and I prayed club security wouldn't hear any of this. I gave him a smile filled with enough malice to match his own. â€Å"Tell him we're going to keep playing games with him until he talks. One way or another, he dies tonight. It's up to him whether it happens slowly or quickly.† I honestly couldn't believe those words had come out of my mouth. They were so harsh†¦ so, well, cruel. I'd never in my entire life expected to be torturing anyone, even a Strigoi. The Strigoi gave Denis's translation another defiant response, and so I kept on with the stake, making gashes and cuts that would have killed any human, Moroi, or dhampir. Finally, he shot off a string of words that didn't sound like his usual insults. Denis immediately translated. â€Å"He said he's never heard of anyone named that and that if Dimitri's a friend of yours, he'll be sure to kill him slowly and painfully.† I almost smiled at the Strigoi's last effort at defiance. The problem with my strategy here was that the Strigoi could be lying. I'd have no way of knowing. Something in his response made me think he wasn't. He'd sounded like he thought I was referring to a human or a dhampir, not a Strigoi. â€Å"He's useless then,† I said. I leaned back and glanced at Denis. â€Å"Go ahead and kill him.† It was what Denis had been dying to do. He didn't hesitate, his stake striking hard and swift through the Strigoi's heart. The frantic struggling stilled a moment later. The evil light faded from the red eyes. We stood up, and I saw my companions' faces watching me with apprehension and fear. â€Å"Rose,† asked Denis at last. â€Å"What are you hoping to-â€Å" â€Å"Never mind that,† I interrupted, moving over to the unconscious human girl's side. Kneeling down, I examined her neck. He'd bitten her, but not much blood had been taken. The wound was relatively small and bled only a little. She stirred slightly and moaned when I touched her, which I took as a good sign. Carefully, I dragged her away from the trash can and out into the light where she'd be most noticeable. The Strigoi, however, I dragged into as dark a place as I could, almost completely obscuring him. After that, I asked to borrow Denis's cell phone and dialed the number I'd kept crumpled in my pocket for the last week. After a couple of rings, Sydney answered in Russian. She sounded sleepy. â€Å"Sydney? This is Rose.† There was a slight pause. â€Å"Rose? What's going on?† â€Å"Are you back in Saint Petersburg?† â€Å"Yes†¦ where are you?† â€Å"Novosibirsk. Do you guys have agents here?† â€Å"Of course,† she said warily. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Mmm†¦ I've got something for you to clean up.† â€Å"Oh dear.† â€Å"Hey, at least I'm calling. And it's not like me ridding the world of another Strigoi is a bad thing. Besides, didn't you want me to let you know?† â€Å"Yes, yes. Where are you?† I put Denis on the phone briefly so that he could explain our specific location. He handed the phone back to me when he finished, and I told Sydney about the girl. â€Å"Is she seriously injured?† â€Å"Doesn't look like it,† I said. â€Å"What should we do?† â€Å"Leave her. The guy who's coming will make sure she's okay and doesn't go telling stories. He'll explain it when he gets there.† â€Å"Whoa, hey. I'm not going to be here when he arrives.† â€Å"Rose-â€Å" â€Å"I'm out of here,† I told her. â€Å"And I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else that I called-say, like, Abe.† â€Å"Rose-â€Å" â€Å"Please, Sydney. Just don't tell. Or else†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated. â€Å"If you do, I'll stop calling when this happens. We're going to be taking down a few more.† God, what next? First torture, now threats. Worse, I was threatening someone I liked. Of course, I was lying. I understood why Sydney's group did what they did, and I wouldn't risk the exposure. She didn't know that, though, and I prayed she'd think I was just unstable enough to risk revealing us to the world. â€Å"Rose-† she tried yet again. I didn't give her the chance. â€Å"Thanks, Sydney. We'll be in touch.† I disconnected and handed Denis the phone. â€Å"Come on, guys. We're not done tonight.† It was clear they thought I was crazy to be interrogating Strigoi, but considering how reckless they were sometimes, my behavior wasn't quite weird enough for them to lose their faith in me. Soon they grew enthusiastic again, high on the idea of our first kill on this trip. My uncanny ability to sense Strigoi made me even cooler in their eyes, and I grew confident they'd pretty much follow me anywhere. We caught two more Strigoi that night and managed to repeat the procedure. The results were the same. Lots of insults in Russian. No new information. Once I was convinced a Strigoi had nothing to offer us, I'd let the unpromised go in for the kill. They loved it, but after that third one, I found myself growing weary both mentally and physically. I told the group we were going to go home-and then, while cutting around the back of a factory, I sensed a fourth Strigoi. We jumped him. Another scuffle occurred, but we eventually managed to pin him as we had the others. â€Å"Go ahead,† I told Denis. â€Å"You know what to-â€Å" â€Å"I'm going to rip your throat out!† the Strigoi snarled. Whoa. This one spoke English. Denis opened his mouth to begin the interrogation, but I shook my head. â€Å"I'll take over.† Like the other Strigoi, he swore and struggled, even with the stake against his neck, making it hard for me to talk. â€Å"Look,† I said growing impatient and tired, â€Å"just tell us what we need to know. We're looking for a dhampir named Dimitri Belikov.† â€Å"I know him.† The Strigoi's voice was smug. â€Å"And he's no dhampir.† Without realizing it, I'd called Dimitri a dhampir. I was tired and had slipped up. No wonder this Strigoi was so pleased to talk. He assumed we didn't know about Dimitri turning. And like any arrogant Strigoi, he was happy to tell us more, clearly in the hopes of causing us pain. â€Å"Your friend has been awakened. He stalks the night with us now, drinking the blood of foolish girls like you.† In a split second, a thousand thoughts raced through my head. Holy crap. I'd come to Russia thinking it would be easy to find Dimitri. I'd had those hopes dashed in his hometown, nearly causing me to give up, and I'd swung the other way, resigning myself to the near impossibility of my task. The thought that I might be close to something here was staggering. â€Å"You're lying,† I said. â€Å"You've never seen him.† â€Å"I see him all the time. I've killed with him.† My stomach twisted, and it had nothing to do with the Strigoi's proximity. Don't think about Dimitri killing people. Don't think about Dimitri killing people. I said the words over and over in my head, forcing myself to stay calm. â€Å"If that's true,† I hissed back, â€Å"then I've got a message for you to deliver to him. Tell him Rose Hathaway is looking for him.† â€Å"I'm not your errand boy,† he said, glowering. My stake slashed out, drawing blood, and he grimaced in pain. â€Å"You're anything I want you to be. Now go tell Dimitri what I told you. Rose Hathaway. Rose Hathaway is looking for him. Say it.† I pressed the point to his neck. â€Å"Say my name so I know you'll remember.† â€Å"I'll remember it so I can kill you.† The stake pressed harder, spilling blood. â€Å"Rose Hathaway,† he said. He spit at me but missed. Satisfied, I leaned back. Denis watched me expectantly, stake poised and ready. â€Å"Now we kill him?† I shook my head. â€Å"Now we let him go.†

Establishing National Identity on a Nation-State Essay

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International Business Alliance (based on the Business Strategy Game) - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that management structure at both partners’ state will need specialized modification that will factor in the alliance management needs. Strengthening the management teams’ attention will require formulation of a collaboration committee in the initial stages of the alliance, bearing the management oversight mandate. The initial stage of carrying the appropriate alliance management design will, therefore, include the appointment of the alliance committee for further managerial design negotiations. A managerial design structure will be negotiated and agreed among the committee representatives. To ensure that the highest form of commitment and cooperation is obtained from both partner firms, the highest level of management and administration will be brought on board. Management design at the two firms will determine the final structure adopted by the alliance. The popularity of the alliance among the employees is very important in the creation of a solidly committed team in the implementation. In light of the importance of the management gesture, the involvement of the board of directors in the agreed structure will be necessitated. This structure will incorporate two board members, five senior managers including the finance managers and the elected committee representatives. Improvement will be the main focus of the alliance hence a proposal for appointment of the most versatile manager-leaders will be forwarded at first hand.

Motivation. (Literature review) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Motivation. (Literature review) - Essay Example Motivation in different areas of life and work is an important requisite and is perhaps the pathway for success in any field. Consequently, motivation is a widely recognized problem area and hence is an area of research for many years (Stauber, 31-47). As a result, there is a considerable body of literature in this area. This work would undertake a literature review on motivation applied to academic area (Rawsthorne and Elliot, 326-344). Thus, a simple strategy of literature search based on the key words, "academic", "motivation", and "academic motivation" was undertaken on the available literatures in both electronic and print media. Many journals have articles published on this topic, and the most recent were chosen to critically review them. Interesting to note is that a vast amount of literature is on management education. Mele, in his book, Motivation and Agency, has reviewed many studies to characterize motivation. Motivation is an animal instinct but is not universal across animal kingdom. Motivation is a goal-governed phenomenon. Motivated individuals have a capacity to represent goals. Therefore an attitude encompassed by motivation would have either a goal or a means to achieve it. Different individuals have different intensities of motivations, and an intentional agency to do something is always involved in a motivated attitude (Spera, 456-490). While applied to learning or motivation in academic education, it can happen in one of the two main forms, self-directed learning, where the learner has sufficient control over the process and hence over the purpose, form, content, and pace of the learning, and intrinsic motivation can only generate this. The other form of learning is expressive that need to be elucidated by the external environment, hence may need extrinsic stimulation, and goal always do not elucidate that (Mele, 4-58). Elliot and Dweck in their seminal work, competence and motivation, have correlated motivation to presence of competence, and in this book, in the section of motivation, they have conducted a literature review to define the elusive motivation. They have also commented that there are several different kinds of motivation, and as supported in the literature, the first kind of motivation is the motivation to achieve (Elliott and Dweck, 5-12). It has been demonstrated that people who are high in achievement motivation, take moderate risks and challenges to achieve. These people are attracted to tasks that are neither very hard nor very easy. These people often are motivated to strive constantly to better themselves and their accomplishments. The second kind of motivation is competence or self-efficacy motivation that refers to the persons' beliefs in their own ability to solve the problem at hand (Kinlaw and Kurtz-Costes, 295-311). Achievement motivations theorists tend to explain the ene rgization and direction of competence-based behaviour. The traditional motive theory has been replaced by finding casual attributions that are directed by the development of cognitive psychology (Boggiano, Barrett, Weiher, McClelland, and Lusk, 866-879). Debnath and coworkers deal with the problem of student motivation within the classroom, and the authors examine the influence of appropriate classroom

The Pros and Cons of Search and Seizure Laws Research Paper

The Pros and Cons of Search and Seizure Laws - Research Paper Example The paper tells that sometimes, government representatives can search individual’s property usually regarded as private for constitutional reasons. Normally, the search happens when the person possesses or permanently lives in the area of search. When a representative of the government uses control over a person so he feels he cannot liberally leave or end the interaction with the representative there is occurrence of a seizure. However, a seizure occurs only when an individual yields to the government but in case the individual avoids detention or escapes, there is no occurrence of seizure. In the police department, Search and Seizure process is a famous occurrence. Since the process is legal, any official from the law enforcement department can carry out a search on one's individual property in case there is some kind of suspicion on the individual about involvement in any kind of criminal activity. However, several rules to observe when executing a search and seizure proced ure. In the United States Constitution, the search and seizure procedure is in the fourth amendment act. However, the society regularly violates this act because it additionally offers the affected citizens the assurance to ask for security against the seizure idea. The main reason for the Fourth Amendment was to shield the personal privacy and rights of American citizens. It states that every person has the right to be safe in their persons, papers, houses, and effects against insensible searches and seizures. In addition, this amendment explains the making and execution of specific warrants. This law is very important when tackling drug cases because the way the police discover and seize the drugs is important in any drug crime case. In addition, after a thorough investigation the search and seizure can be valid admissible evidence in court (California Criminal lawyers, 2010). It is evident that the African Americans experience an uneven share of arrests and prison sentences. Alth ough this could be because of differences in the disparity flows in crime rates across population groups, it could also be because of the discrepancy being an outcome of discriminatory targeting of suspects by the police. Since the fourth Amendment law says nothing about their exercise of enforcement judgment about the pool of potential suspects, the police can target whomever they desire. Consequently, the black drivers have no legal claim in case the police officers stop large numbers of black drivers allegedly for speeding but mainly examine the presence of drugs while stopping few whites (Law.jrank, 2011). The main reason why the courts invalidated vagrancy and loitering is the acts of racism together with broad police judgment. In order to fight these two vices, the modern government is turning its focus on suspects' privacy interests and taking on a fictive view of agreement that permits a good deal of informal coercion to happen. However, this method is not effective because the police have no authority like the one present in the old regime to help them carry out effective community policing (Stuntz, 1999). The major focus of the search and seizure law is to protect privacy. "Privacy" in this case does not mean the generalized right for exclusion but rather, the interest of being free from observation. Additionally, this law helps protect the community from the evil acts in which only the police can reveal and see but the ordinary citizen cannot hence the police are able to incriminate the criminals (Law.jrank, 2011). As Agarwal (2008) affirms, the major purpose of the enforcement of search and seizure laws is to protect the society against all insecurity and delinquency. The law of search and seizure helps to respect and protect the privacy of community members. In this regard, it helps in

The Impact of E-Commerce on the US Labour Market Dissertation

The Impact of E-Commerce on the US Labour Market - Dissertation Example Moreover, the leading role of the US in E-Commerce might raise fears to otherin other countries for losing out their talent labours and their own competitiveness due to the global character of the revolution. Furthermore, the impact of E-Commerce on different industries or occupations is likely to be different; downward pressure in retail salespersons is perhaps more than offset by upward pressure in IT engineers, online customer service representatives and postal service carriers that E-Commerce generates. As wages, education and employment are highly correlated, E-Commerce does not only affect the labour market but also the national income level and qualifications that necessitate are needed to entering the industries. All of these factors indicate the high significance of E-Commerce to the economy and, therefore, , utilizing the full capacity of novelty could have overwhelming impacts to the aggregate economic performance; it is essential to perform a complete and precise analysis on this issue. This paper aims to look at the employment effect that E-Commerce has generated in the US, and particularly we will focus on analysing how the potential "'economy stream engine"' alters the employment structure in different industries. An industry-based approach is needed due to the fact that the diffusion of E-Commerce is of dissimilar magnitude in each industry; it is undoubtedly that the "Information" sector has been affected the most whilst the effect on "Construction" sector has been of "'second"' order. In the following section I shall summarize previous discussions and empirical literatures which are relevant to the theme. I shall then present the method that I employ in this research and refer to the pertinent economic theories... It's clear from the research that the current US administration under the President George W. Bush is no exception, and has: 1) signed the Internet Tax Moratorium and the Internet Non-Discrimination Act to make Internet access affordable for encouraging the evolution of E-Commerce; 2) kept the Internet a Duty-Free Zone to facilitate the growth of E-Commerce; 3) negotiated the â€Å"‘Cybercrime Convention†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ with another 28 countries to fight Internet criminals; 4) expanded and strengthened crucial E-Infrastructure Protection to protect E-businesses from cyber threats; 5) approved the New Federal Standard, now called the Advanced Encryption Standard. In conclusion, due to data and time limitations, this paper analyzed just only 3 industries and is subjected to errors. As the employment impacts of E-Commerce are very complex and contradictory interactions, further researches on this topic can be done by extending the industry-based approach to all 12 industries in the US. Combining results from 12 industries will give an overview of how E-Commerce alters the labor market as a whole. Moreover, developing another assessing method will also be useful to analyze the thesis from another point of views. Finally, as consumer behaviors and policies differ between countries, it would also be interesting to see the analysis being done in other big E-Economy, such as Australia and or the United Kingdom, or to conjoin 2 or more countries in one analysis for measuring the international labor flows and migrations begotten by E-Commerce.

Relevant Areas to the Implementation of an Enterprise-Level Business Essay

Relevant Areas to the Implementation of an Enterprise-Level Business System - Essay Example These can be integrated into another method that focuses on milestones. Milestones and sub milestones should result in an enhanced or new function versus waiting until the entire project is implemented. These methods sway management not lose interest in the project because the level of excitement can be maintained, plus one can appreciate that the investment paying off earlier. Because this is focused on an enterprise environment, it is possible that each department will need to be changed one at a time or, departments working closely together may need to be changed simultaneously. This is usually more apparent when using an implementation tool. One popular tool for system implementation is Microsoft Project, an excellent program for an enterprise system or extended project. Milestones and sub milestones, mentioned in methods, are inherent in the application. Another way of using millstones is with metrics. Metrics are used to measure progress and estimate how long a project will take based on industry standard metrics for specific task. Metrics are beneficial because they measure the effectiveness of the phases that have been implemented by starting with a baseline before any of the new components are implemented. Using metrics to measure the impact of given application will communicate the worthiness of the overall project. If one is concerned that a project is not what she hoped or promised, it might be time to jump ship. Professionally this is called change of control. At any time during the implementation process, there may be a need to change the control with minimal interruption. Provided that each phase, especially the implementation phase, has been documented thoroughly, change of control should be a smooth transition. Thorough documentation and a well-defined plan are highly beneficial. It is important for people to know what to expect and begin training. A streamlined cutover will ensure that budget, end users, and time line goals are met. Over the last decade, Enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems have emerged as an essential tool so as to obtain the competitive advantage for most businesses. ERP systems are defined as management information systems (MIS) that integrate primary business applications, including all areas and levels of an organization. Typically, ERP systems consist of applications for accounting and controlling, quality management, production and materials management, sales and distribution, project management and human resources. (Loadstone, 2003). MAS is a system of measuring and providing operational and financial information. ERPS and MAS are interrelated and have a close relationship. As "ERP is at its essence a data management tool"( Schuster & Brock, 2004, p.2) therefore, it can be said that ERP is a tool of MAS in order to give businesses a competitive advantage. The implementation cycle of an ERP system is about organizational change. It is a multi-disciplinary effort and characterized as a complexity, uncertainty and a long time scale. (Harwood, 2003, p.1). The cost and time are very important issues for an organization to consider when implementing an ERP system. ( Granlund and Malmi, 2002, p.304). However, a proper implementation of the system may provide many benefits, depending on the organization integrating the system with its own business processes. An ERP system

Feminist Perspective in Sociology Essay Example for Free

Feminist Perspective in Sociology Essay â€Å"If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse gift will find a fitting place. † — Margaret Mead I. Prologue At present, it is quite difficult to imagine how there was a time when women were not afforded the same rights and opportunities as men. Some of these rights and opportunities include the right and opportunity to pursue a college diploma and a career, and the right to vote. At present, it is quite revolting to think how women were tagged and branded to remain at home and pursue the best interests of her family members, but not hers. It is quite difficult to imagine, but the truth of the matter is that there was such a time that all these unimaginable things and revolting things were happening, when women were to take the backseat to the men and when they were not regarded as equals. The goal of the first wave feminism was to correct all these notions and to try to achieve a position for the women when they do not take the backseat to the men, but stay beside the men as their equals. Slowly, this was achieved. Hence, women were then are given the right and opportunity to pursue a college diploma and a career, and the right to vote, among all others. All of these things are remarkable achievements and should in and by themselves, be commended. However, it cannot be denied once again, that the struggle of women does not end with the first wave feminism, after all its not apt to call it the first wave if there is no second wave. The second wave devolved around the problems that the achievements of the first wave put to fore. The sum of all these goals is ultimately for society treat woman not just as an object but as a subject — who has her own thoughts and who can speak through her own mind and with her own voice (Delmar, 2005, p. 32). The ultimate goal was to liberate woman from her reification. Thus, MacKinnon remarked: I say, give women equal power in social life. Let what we say matter, then we will discourse on questions of morality. Take your foot off our necks, then we will hear in what tongue women speak. So long as sex equality is limited by â€Å"sex difference† whether you like it or don’t like it, whether you value it or seek to negate it, whether you stake it out as a grounds for feminism or occupy it as the terrain of misogyny, women will be born, degraded and die. We would still settle for that equal protection of the laws under which one would be born, live and die, in a country where protection is not a dirty word and equality is not a special privilege (1987, p. 45). The issues and problems created by the first wave as manifested in the second wave led Bell Hooks to assert that [a]ll women are oppressed, and being oppressed means the absence of choices. The goal of this Paper then is to try to explain in a simplified but not in a simplistic manner what Bell Hooks meant when she cited the above-mentioned assertion through an exposition of some the writings during the second wave feminism. The Paper shall be divided into four parts. The first part is the Prologue, where these paragraphs fall under, which shall discuss in general the background and the goal of the Paper. The second part shall discuss in general what Bell Hooks asserted through the reference materials. The third part shall discuss in specific detail how all women are oppressed, once again through the reading materials. The fourth part is the epilogue, which shall present the conclusion and personal thoughts of the writer of this Paper. II. The New Face of Oppression Oppression presupposes two parties, one is the oppressor and the other is the object of the oppression, or oppressee, so to speak. During the first wave it is quite apparent that the oppressor is the patriarchal and machismo characteristic of society, or men in short, and the object of the oppression are women. In the second wave, one wonders how Hooks made this assertion given the fact that the men and women dichotomy and oppression were no longer as manifest. The answer is simple, while the first wave may have achieved equal rights and opportunities for women and men, there is still oppression. It is only that the faces of the oppressor and the oppressee have changed. With the second wave, other women became the oppressors. According to most critics, this was an inevitable consequence of setting equality with males as the primary goal of feminism (Jhappan, 1996, p. 25). Jhappan expounds: [i]n reality, the positions of power and privileges enjoyed by white men have only been made possible by racism and sexism, they require hierarchy, skewed power relations, inequality and the subjugation of the majority (white women and people of colour). It seems to me that white women’s â€Å"equality† with white men would only be possible of the race hierarchy were kept substantially intact since the privileges that white men enjoy depend upon a racially satisfied social system (p. 25). Simply, this means that with the goal of equality with men, women aimed for an equally oppressing position, where they are now the oppressors. While men were no longer tagged as the oppressors of all women, within the circle of women rose other oppressors in the face of fellow women who are of a different color. This is what Angela P. Harrris discusses in her article, in relation to what Catharine MacKinnon discusses in hers. Generally, the idea of the latter is that there is a universal concept of a woman so to speak. This universal concept of a woman is what was oppressed by society through male domination and supremacy before. For MacKinnon, there is just one experience, culture, heritage, needs for all women, thus, their needs are all alike. As most feminists then were white women, most of what was pushed for were for the needs of the white women. This is also known as the notion of a monolithic women experience (Harris, 2002, p. 384). Through this gender essentialism and worse, racial essentialism was likewise furthered (Harris, 2002, p. 384). Thus according to Harris, they reduce the lives of people who experience multiple forms of oppression to additional problems: â€Å"racism + sexism = straight black woman’s experience† or â€Å"racism + sexism + homophobia = black lesbian experience. † Thus, in an essentialist world, black women’s experience is always forcibly fragmented before being subjected to analysis, as those who are â€Å"only interested in race† and those who are â€Å"only interested in gender† take their separate slices of our lives (p. 384). An example for Harris is what MacKinnon does when she reduces Black women to just worse forms of white women, and not as a separate and diverse woman apart from the white woman, but not an aggravation. MacKinnon imparts: [b]lack is not merely a color of skin pigmentation, but a heritage, an experience, a cultural and personal identity, the meaning of which becomes specifically†¦ and glorious and/or ordinary under specific social conditions. It is as much socially created as, and at least in the American context no less specifically meaningful or defective than any linguistic, tribal, or religious ethnicity, all of whom are conventionally recognized by capitalization. While women on paper, were liberated from their reification, what happened really was that white women were liberated from reification. White women were no longer considered as objects —they became subjects. Black women, though they were women but because they were black, were not similarly liberated. This is because [w]hite feminists have exposed male essentialism only to replace it with another essentialism based on the notion of an essential woman. However, as it turns out, this generic â€Å"woman† is not only white, but middle class, and also able-bodied†¦Over the last couple of decades people of color have highlighted the silences of racists Eurocentric history and discourses which render all â€Å"others† invisible (Jhappan, 1996, p. 22). By virtue of the monolithic experience of women, women who did not fit the mold of the monolithic experience were oppressed in the sense that they were left with no choice. The choice was already made for them by the systems that were built in place respecting such monolithic experience. They were left with no choices as their needs were not addressed. The needs that were addressed were the needs of those who fit the monolithic experience of women. III. The Specific Instances of Oppression The specific instances of oppression that are discussed in the reference materials are enumerated below. a. Oppression in Relation to the Family Through the idea of the family wage, women were oppressed with the fact that they were made dependent on the wage of their husbands. They were made dependent with the notion that â€Å"a working man should earn enough to support his family† (Gavigan, 1996, p. 237), and consequently, the place of the woman or the wife is at home (Gavigan, 1996, p. 237). As the husband already earns enough to support the family, there is no more need for the woman to earn and augment the budget for the family. Thus, she is tasked by society to stay at home and address the needs of her family members. Such admittedly, does not require professional and personal growth. Thus, while the members of the family pursue different goals in their lives, the woman is stuck at home looking after the family members, sending them off to reach their dreams, while she stays in her place. In addition, if and when a woman earns, she is given minimum wage. The notion of minimum wage was put in place to accommodate individuals who were single and who did not have dependents to support (Gavigan, 1996, p. 238). In this wise, women were oppressed with the fact that when they earn, what they earn is not even enough to provide for their dependents, if any. b. Oppression under the Law Under the law, heterosexual relationships are afforded more advantages and privileges, in terms of â€Å"tax benefits, standing to recover damages for certain torts committed against spouses, and rights to succession and insurance benefits† (Gavigan, 1996, p. 263). The same are not afforded to homosexual relationships; thus women are oppressed. Oppression of women under the law is manifested explicitly in Welfare Law. When women seek assistance under the welfare law, especially the solo parents, they have a hard time obtaining the assistance that the law provides because of the very stiff and stringent definition of â€Å"spouse† under the laws such as the Family Law Act, RSO 1990 and Canada Pension Plan Act : â€Å"spouse† means either of a man and a woman who (a) are married to each other or (b) have together entered into, a marriage that is voidable or void, in good faith on the part of the person asserting a right under the Act x x x â€Å"spouses† means a spouse as defined in subsection 1 (1), and in addition includes either of a man and woman who are not married to each other and have cohabited (a) continuously or (b) in relationship of some permanence, if they are natural or adoptive parents if a child x x x â€Å"spouses: in relation to a contributor means’ (i) if there is no person described in subparagraph (ii), a person who is married to the contributor at the relevant time or (ii) a person of the opposite sex who is cohabiting with the contributor in a conjugal relationship at the relevant time, having so cohabited with the contributor for a continuous period of at least one year (Gavigan, 1996, p. 266) When solo parents seek social welfare assistance, there were always resort to the courts in order to determine whether or not a particular relationship was sufficiently conjugal to warrant the characteristic as spousal and consequently to warrant the benefits provided by the social services (Gavigan, 1996, p. 266). Also, the definition of the term â€Å"spouse† was too technical such that even in heterosexual relationships, there were always doubt as to whether a relationship is sufficiently conjugal to warrant the benefits granted by social services (Gavigan, 1996, p. 267). An example of the ill-effect of this law is the requirement that the spouse who should support the spouse (wife) and the children, must not live in a certain proximity; otherwise the latter cannot receive the benefits under the Welfare Law (Gavigan, 1996, p. 269). c. Oppression by Virtue of Race or Color This form was already discussed in part two. However, in addition Jhappan tells us that for colored women, race rather gender has been the primary source of oppression. †¦while white feminists have theorized the male breadwinner dependent-female, post-Industrial Revolution family form of the West as a source of women’s oppression, different family forms persist in other culture even among those living in the diasporas, For many women of colour, in fact, state actions such as iimmigration and labour policies that have separated and distorted families have oppressed them more than gender relations (p. 23). d. Oppression of Oneself by Oneself Women also admit that in and by themselves, they are oppressed. As there are women who are of different cultures, there are certain aspects of their identity that is rejected by another aspect, but which they ultimately have to deal with. For instance a woman who has both black and Caucasian heritage, the black heritage forsakes slavery while the Caucasian heritage promoted the same. There may be instances in the life of such person when decisions have to be made favoring one aspect over the other, and in such instance, the woman is the oppressor of her own self as she is left with no choice but to decide in such manner, although contrary to an aspect of her identity. IV. Epilogue Delmar has pointed out that the problem of oppression within the circle of feminism is rooted on the fact that the very definition of feminism is monolithic and abstracted. The very definition of feminism forgets or averts from the reality that there exists a multiple consciousness of women. With the realization that a multiple consciousness of women exists, then there may be the realization that there are various facets of oppression. Consequently, solutions may be afforded to these various facets in order to abolish, if not minimize the same. This is why at the beginning of this Paper a quote from Margaret Mead was stated. â€Å"If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse gift will find a fitting place. † With the realization that women are rich in culture, in contrasting values, then we can realize that there is a whole gamut of potentialities. With such variety, a less arbitrary social fabric may be established, and through such less arbitrary social fabric, each and every individual may find his or her own place without necessarily fitting into a monolithic mold. References Delmar, Rosalind. (2005). What is Feminism? Feminist Theory: A reader, 27-36. New York: McGraw-Hill. Gavigan, Shelley. (1996). Familial Ideology the Limits of Difference. Women and Canadian Public Policy, 225-78. Toronto: Harcourt Brace. Harris, Angela. (2002). Race and Essentialism in Legal Theory. Women, Law and Social Change, 4th ed. , 383-92. Concord, ON: Captus Press. Jhappan, Raddha. (1996). Post-Modern Race and Gender Essentialism or a Post-Mortem of Scholarship. Studies in Political Economy 51:15-58. MacKinnon, Catharine. (1987). Difference and Dominance: On Sex Discrimination. Feminism Unmodified: Discourses on Life and Law, 32-45, 240-45. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Alcoholism a Disease or Choice Essay Example for Free

Alcoholism a Disease or Choice Essay As is the case with other addictions, alcoholism is considered a disease by many in the medical community, including the American Medical Association. A drawback to framing alcoholism as a disease is that we tend to think of diseases as something that needs to be diagnosed by a professional, Young said. However, physicians often only meet with patients for a short time and cannot possibility have the same insight into an individuals habits as she herself. 1. Dont miss these Health stories 1. US races to make bird flu vaccine – just in case Less than two weeks after Chinese officials released the genetic sequence of a new type of bird flu, U. S. vaccine experts are well on the way to making a vaccine to protect people against it. 2. 1 in 4 skin cancer survivors skips sunscreen, study finds 3. A few see music all around them (literally) . Bad Picture Monday: Unflattering pics spur movement 5. ADHD diagnosis in kids can spotlight parents own condition I know of addicts who have been able to get a professional to tell them they are not addicted, and then use that as justification to continue their excessive drinking, Young said. The disease model also gives the false impression that alcoholism is solely a biological disorder, Young said, leading some researchers tend to adopt a narrow view, focusing on particular chemicals or brain cells that might be involved. We tend to look at smaller and smaller parts of the human body, and the human mind and the human brain, to find the cause of something, Young said. In doing so, we lose sight of the bigger picture, including social and cultural influences that may play a role in alcoholism development. Factors including who you spend time with, how many liquor stores are near you and your religious affiliation all are linked with how much you drink, Young said. Solutions Young said he prefers to use the word allergy to describe alcoholism. It is less threatening to consider the idea that one ight have an allergy than to consider the idea that one might be permanently diseased, Young said. With alcoholism, theres a dichotomy — you either are [an alcoholic] or yo ure not. And that sort of marks you as an individual — youre either normal or youre deviant. Young said. With allergies, the deviance is much less significant. In addition, drinkers should not feel they have to leave their diagnosis to a physician. People should give weight to their own experiences, including what they perceive their drinking is doing to their lives, Young said. Advertise | AdChoices Advertise | AdChoices Advertise | AdChoices Other experts point out that the problem of disease stigmatization or identity crisis is not unique to alcoholism. It really doesnt matter what illness you have; people have a sense of loss, said Dr. Ihsan Salloum, chief of the Division of Alcohol and Drug abuse at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; who also called the Youngs article more philosophical than scientific. The disease model has helped us understand alcoholism and develop drugs for the condition, Salloum said. However, Salloum agreed there is a need to take into account subjectivity when diagnosing and treating the condition. When somebody is suffering, its not only the organ thats suffering, its the whole person, Salloum said. If doctors want to help patients accept their diagnosis as an alcoholic, they should work to understand how the patient is processing whats happening to him or her, Salloum said. Pass it on: Viewing alcoholism as a disease may create problems in terms of diagnosing, treating and understanding the condition.

Impact of Dividend Announcement on Shareholder Value

Impact of Dividend Announcement on Shareholder Value Different studies suggest that dividend payment has no impact on share holder value in the absence of taxes and market imperfection. Whenever companies have surplus earning, they should invest it in projects having positive net present value. Another approach is that, the stock value depends upon expected future dividend of that stock. So companies must try to reflect a sustainable growth while announcing dividends. This study is to examine the impact of dividend announcement on shareholder value. This study is based on 17 dividend paying companies, listed on Karachi Stock Exchange. The result shows that investors did not gain from dividend announcement, but lost some value over a period of 30 days prior to dividend announcement through 20 days after ex-dividend date. Results of study is supporting the dividend irreverence hypothesis, that there is no benefit of shareholder in announcement of dividend. Literature Review: The ultimate objective of any corporate entity is to maximize the shareholder value. For the accomplishment of this objective, Finance managers take three kinds of important decisions. First two decisions are investment and financing decisions and the third one is regarding dividend payment to shareholders. Now the question is that whether the payment of dividend increases shareholder value or not. As dividend mean reward that shareholders already own in a corporation, so it is adjusted by decline in stock value (Porterfield 1959 and 1965). Generally shareholders prefer capital gain over cash dividend and the reason is tax pattern. Normally dividend is taxed at high rate as compared to the capital gain. So if we neglect the assumption of tax and other restrictions, then dividend announcement has no impact on shareholders value (Miller and Modigliani, 1961). Investors value a dollar of expected dividend more highly than a dollar of expected capital gain because the dividend yield component is less risky as compared to growth component. (Gorden 1963) If a firm pay the whole part of its earning as dividend then it is most possible that there will be shortage of funds for investment which may cause decrease in dividend in the future. Another related approach is that dividend announcement effect the market price of stocks because it carries the information of future cash flow of firm (Bhattacharya 1979, Baryosef and Huffman 1986). Shareholders have no benefit in the announcement of dividend. As the shares value falls from thirty days before announcement of dividend to thirty days after dividend announcement. But these losses are partially compensated by dividend yield in long run (Hamid Uddin, 2003). In some countries like Pakistan, companies are ranked on the basis of dividend payout and some rules by SECP also forced the companies to pay dividend. Considering the benefits of capital gain over cash dividend this is not a better approach at all (Dr. Ahmad Kaleem Chaudhary Salahuddin). The whole literature review is based on two ideologies. One is that the dividend announcement has a positive relationship with stock prices (Gordon 1963) and the second is that the dividend announcement has a negative relationship with stock prices (Bhattacharya 1979, Baryosef, Huffman 1986 and Hamid Uddin, 2003). The positive relationship between stock prices and dividend announcement is due to dividend information effect, while the negative relationship is because of tax effect. Introduction: Whenever a company generates profit, it either goes for reinvestment or pay dividend. If a company is going to pay dividend then it takes decision of whether to pay cash dividend or to buy back some of the existing stocks. The question is if a company has opportunity of investment in a project having positive net present value then why should company go for dividend? According to Irrelevance Theory by Merton Miller and Franco Modigliani (MM) a firms dividend policy has no effect on shareholder value and cost of capital of that firm. The most important thing is the earning of a company nor the dividend policy or reinvestment plans. Assuming there are no taxes and brokerage costs. According to Porterfield (1959 and 1965) paying cash dividend means giving rewards to shareholders that is something they already own in a company. Hence this will offset by declining in the stock value. So paying dividend is not a good approach at all. According to Gorden (1963) investors prefer a dollar of present more than that of expected future one. Thats why companies should go for dividend instead of capital gain. All the theories regarding payment of cash dividend have their own approaches and directions. So the issue of whether paying cash dividend has any impact on shareholder value or not is still unresolved. In countries where dividend income is highly taxable as compared to capital gain, investors prefer capital gain over cash dividend. There is another face of picture, in countries like Pakistan where companies are ranked according to rate of dividend paid by them, companies normally prefer to pay cash dividend. In this study we have examined the effect of dividend announcement on shareholders value. To do so, we have selected 17 dividend paying companies from eight different sectors and use the methodology of Market Adjusted Abnormal Return (MAAR) and Cumulative Abnormal Return (CAR). Methodology: To study the impact of dividend announcement on shareholder value, two measurement have been used. (i) Market Adjusted Abnormal Return (MAAR). (ii) Cumulative Abnormal Return (CAR). MAAR indicates the relative daily percentage price change in the dividend paying stocks compared to the change in average market price. We use KSE 100 price index as proxy of average market price. MAAR is calculated as follows. MAARit = Rit-Rmt MAARit it is the market adjusted abnormal return for security i over time t. Rit is the time t return on secutiry I, calculated as (Pit – Pit-1)/Pit-1. Where, Pit is the market closing price of stock I on day t. Pit is the market closing price of stock I on day t-1. Rmt is the time t return on the KSE-100 price index calculated as (It-It-1)/It-1. Where. Iit is the market index on day t. It-1 is the market index on day t-1. The market adjusted abnormal return (MAAR) shows the change in individual stocks value due to the dividend announcement. As the percentage change in market index is deducted, the remainder gives us the portion of the value change, which is specific to that particular stock resulting from its dividend announcement. MAAR is calculated over a period starting to – 30 days to +20 days relative to the dividend announcement day (O-day). The second measure used is cumulative abnormal return (CAR), which measures the investor total return over a period starting from before the announcement of dividend to after the dividend announcement day. We use a 51 day window period starting from -30 day to + 20 day relative to the dividend announcement day (O-day). CAR is computed as follows. CARit = ∑MAARit CARt = ∑CARit Where CARit is cumulative abnormal return for security I and CARit is cumulative abnormal return for all securities. Similarly MAAR it is market adjusted abnormal return for security I for window period. After that all, the t-test suggested in Brown and Warner (1990, p251-252) is applied to test the significance of CARit and CARt. Sample Description: The sample includes 17 companies, from eight different sectors. All these companies are registered on Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) and announced dividend between January 2009 and December 2009. Five companies are from banking sector, three from oil and gas, three from cement, two from chemical, one from Pharmaceutical, one from auto assembler, one from textile and again one from telecom sector. Table 1 is showing the names of companies with percentage of dividend announced by them in respective year. Empirical findings and analysis Market Adjusted Abnormal Return MAAR shows the change in individual stocks value due to the dividend announcement. As the percentage change in market index is deducted, the remainder gives us the portion of the value change, which is specific to that particular stock resulting from its dividend announcement. In this study, MAAR is calculated over a period starting to – 30 days to +20 days relative to the dividend announcement day on zero days. Cumulative Abnormal Return CAR which measures the investor total return over a period starting from before the announcement of dividend to after the dividend announcement day. Table 1 Sample Companies Sr. No Company Name Sector 1 Habib Bank Limited Banking 2 Allied Bank Limited Banking 3 National Bank of Pakistan Banking 4 United Bank Limited Banking 5 Bank AlFalah Limited Banking 6 OGDCL Oil and Gas 7 National Refinery Limited Oil and Gas 8 Pakistan State Oil Oil and Gas 9 Lucky Cement Cement 10 DG Cement Cement 11 Attock Cement Cement 12 ICI Pakistan ltd. Chemical 13 Engro Chemical Ltd Chemical 14 Highnoon Labortories ltd. Pharmaceutical 15 Indus Motor Company ltd. Auto Assembler 16 Nishat Mill ltd. Textile 17 Pakistan Telecom Co. Telecom Table 2 Dividend paid by different sectors in 2009 (Dividend in %age) Sector No of Companies Maximum Dividend Minimum Dividend Average Dividend Banking 5 66 25 28.5 Oil and Gas 3 125 25 67 Cement 3 40 Chemical 2 65 60 62.5 Pharmaceutical 1 25 25 25 Auto Assembler 1 100 100 100 Textile 1 20 20 20 Telecom 1 15 15 15 Table 3 Average MAAR for 51 days Days relative to Dividend Announcement Average MAAR -30 0.006995623 -29 -0.000286981 -28 0.005946367 -27 0.005136643 -26 0.005144653 -25 -0.004782532 -24 -0.005356564 -23 -0.002944433 -22 -0.01411987 -20 0.004907264 -19 0.00128167 -18 -0.00011111 -17 -0.001020032 -16 0.001673402 -15 0.000430173 -14 0.002846477 -13 -0.001693558 -12 0.002657397 -11 -0.016735807 -10 -0.013092062 -9 -0.005113378 -8 -0.000797798 -7 -0.015879282 -6 -0.005853397 -5 -0.006602591 -4 -0.010009299 -3 -0.002897751 -2 -0.009621279 -1 0.00260226 0 -0.007908932 1 0.005621832 2 -0.011260743 3 -0.001171285 4 -0.003236167 5 0.000455198 6 0.002713615 7 -0.002483024 8 0.006107779 9 -0.005986564 10 -0.006719537 11 -0.003661463 12 -0.00255736 13 0.001298415 14 -0.003020666 15 -0.013184736 16 -0.001647796 17 -0.000315768 18 0.006733917 19 -0.009766422 20 -0.000404328 Table 4 Cumulative Abnormal Return Company Name CARit Habib Bank Limited 0.007539 Allied Bank Limited -0.23825 National Bank of Pakistan -0.13679 United Bank Limited -0.56202 Bank AlFalah Limited -0.46642 OGDCL 0.077864 National Refinery Limited -0.17524 Pakistan State Oil 0.368848 Lucky Cement -0.14289 DG Cement -0.08247 Attock Cement -0.2001 ICI Pakistan ltd. 0.04316 Engro Chemical Ltd -0.32989 Highnoon Labortories ltd. 0.02233 Indus Motor Company ltd. -0.31301 Nishat Mill ltd. 0.09022 Pakistan Telecom Co. -0.13362 CARt -2.17073

The Land of 10,000 Lakes :: Personal Narrative Writing

The Land of 10,000 Lakes My favorite part about my Minnesota vacations were the fishing trips I went on with my dad. We would wake up very early in the morning, even before the sun was up. As the birds were just beginning their morning songs, I rolled over in bed, still half asleep. As the thoughts of heading out on the lake and catching fish entered my mind, I was quickly wide awake. I got up, and put on my favorite pair of jeans. These jeans have been through a lot, with holes in the knees and a long slit down the back of one leg. Next came my lucky Hinton football shirt that I wore every single time I went hunting or fishing. When we were dressed, we headed out to the kitchen and ate a quick breakfast of cold cereal. I loaded up the cooler for the day as my dad made us both some sandwiches. When everything was packed, we carried out our cooler, rods, bait, and tackle boxes down to the dock. The sky was just beginning to turn a light gray color, and all the trees were standing still. We filled up the boat with our fishing supplies, and I untied the ropes from the dock. The boat was white and blue on the outside, with a matching interior. The engine was always a little slow starting, but that morning it fired on the first try. On our way out to our favorite fishing place, all the houses along the lake were still dark. The boat ride to our spot was only about twenty minutes, but it was hard to drive fast in the predawn light. My dad taught me that the best time to catch fish in clear water was in low light hours, when the fish couldn’t see the boat. Only one other fisherman was out as early as us, but we both knew that more latecomers would be arriving with the light. Finally, we arrived at the spot where we loved to fish. Every year we went to the exact same place on the lake because this is where we have always caught the most fish. I always liked to sit in the back of the boat and fish straight out behind us. My dad went up front and controlled the trolling motor, pushing the boat perfectly over the drop-off where the walleyes liked to float and wait for food.

A DNA Bank Is Necessary Essay -- essays research papers fc

Imagine that a convicted child molester is released from jail and that he is now traveling around the country looking for work. One day this criminal returns to his old ways and he attacks a young child whose dead body is found in a deserted field the following day. The only trace of evidence at the crime scene is a semen specimen on the boys clothes. Now this specimen could be useful if the police tracked down, and arrested the suspect, and then took a blood sample of his that matched the crime scene specimen. But, since no other clues are found this criminal was never arrested and for the next couple years he repeated this act many more times. It is a shame that innocent children had to die because of this sick man, and most people would agree criminals like this should be stopped at any cost. Now just think what would have happened had their been a DNA data bank that contained this man To understand why a DNA data bank is necessary it is important to know exactly what DNA is. Firstly, there are cells which makes up all organisms and inside these cells are chromosomes. Chromosomes, which are made up of DNA, contain all the hereditary information that an individual has. Now this DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) which makes up these chromosomes simply contains the blueprints of the organism. It is DNA which determines what, where, and when to make a certain protein, and it basically is the storage center for information in almost all creatures. This knowledge of DNA is important because now it is possible to show the correlation between DNA and forensic technology. There are many reasons why DNA is such a useful tool for law enforcement. One important feature of DNA, relates to the fact that all individuals have unique DNA, is that each cell in an organism has identical DNA. Whether it is found in in skin cells, hair cells, semen cells, or blood cells the DNA found in one cell is identical to the DNA found in all other cells in the body Another extremely crucial characteristic of DNA is that everyone has their own unique DNA. Since humans in general are basically alike in that we all have legs, arms, hearts brain it is obvious that most DNA is identical. The key though to identifying individuals through DNA is not through the strands of DNA that have a known function, rath... ...nal, it is much easier to identify repeat offenders in order to prevent future crimes, and the data base can also effectively eliminate suspects and end false arrests. All of society greatly benefits from a DNA database of convicted criminals. No one absolutely knows how effective a DNA data base will be against crime in the future, but presently it fights crime like nothing else. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Javurek, Peter, "Canada2. Frank, Laura, "Fingerprints from DNA not always on money" USA TODAY 7-15-94 3. Levy, Harlan, AND THE BLOOD CRIED OUT, Basic Books, 1996 4. Maharaj, Davan, "DNA Tests Becoming The Key out of Prison in Orange County" Los Angeles Times, 6-22-96 5. DOJ RELEASES STUDY ON VALUE OF DNA TESTING TO ESTABLISH INNOCENCE; AWARDS $8.75 MILL www.elibrary.com/getdoc.cgi?id=5322482776. 6. Billings, Paul, DNA ON TRIAL, 1995

Analysis of Twain’s on the Decay of the Art of Lying

Critical Analysis On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain â€Å"Lying is universal – we all do it. † In the essay, the author believes that all men lie because we must lie. There are many instances wherein men were prompted to lie at some point of their lives for the benefit of others. According to him, it’s better to give a good lie than a destructive truth. Lying for other’s advantage was given precedence than telling the truth at all times no matter how it hurts. Unfortunately, lying is easily covered with different alibis and given little thought of how destructive it might become on the long run. Twain considers lying as a noble art. It is the fourth grace and an eternal virtue. â€Å"Judicious lying is what the world needs,† he said. He’d sometimes think that it’s better not to lie if the lie will be destructive to others. For him, a habitual truth-teller [someone who speaks truthfully at all times] doesn’t exist and had never existed. The author gives us a simple look on how lying had become the fad of his generation. Even in the tiniest of things, people tend to lie. It goes to show that many are pretentious and still is today. However, the author overlooks one thing. True – a lie for the good of another might be reasonable – but lying will always be lying. Truth hurts indeed but a lie hurts even more when unveiled. As far as God is concerned, liars go to hell. A small lie can lead people to the lake of fire. Of course, God forgives sins. He forgives lying, too, so long as the person will repent from it. Avoiding lies might be hard to do with all the deception and temptation going on around but it’s not impossible. Fearing to tell the truth means that you’re afraid of what will happen to you. In order to protect one’s self from being punished or from hurting others, lying becomes the scapegoat. Eventually, it develops into a habit and you become a ‘master’ at it. For Twain, he is still a newbie in this game. He would like for this art to be cultivated in the forms of charitable and unselfish lying. Again, lying is always and has always been a manifestation of selfishness. Lastly, uttering lies won’t disappear in the years ahead but it’s elevation as a virtue might need some thinking. It is an agonizing fact that some think the same way as Twain does. The difference is that he (Twain) was able to voice out his opinions in a very artistic way through his writing while other people don’t care that much. This essay is an eye opener for all the people in this world about the art of lying. This form of art encompasses race, gender and culture. Different punishments await the liar but that never abolished it altogether. As long as people continue to let lies surround them, this art won’t be decaying soon. â€Å"For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak. † Psalm 59:12 KJV

Hosting a dinner party for friends Essay

Ask how many guests will be coming for the dinner. Determine if any of the guests have any special food requirements like being vegetarian or any food allergies. Determine what the budget is for the dinner party. Plan the menu for the dinner; take note of serving nutritious and delicious food. Identify what dishes will be served and list all of the ingredients and the required tools for preparing the ingredients. Go to the market to purchase all the needed ingredients. Recruit help from willing family members to help in the dinner preparation. Set the theme for the dinner and buy flowers and fruits for the centerpiece. Prepare and cook the dishes for the dinner. Clean the house and make sure there is enough room for each person. During Make sure that guests are comfortably seated. Provide entertainment or keep the conversation flowing smoothly. Make sure that the food is well presented and served in order. Ample time is given for the guests to digest the food before serving the dessert. Personal necessities like going to the bathroom, flossing, washing their hands and the like are provided. After Supervise the cleaning up of the dinner table. Wash the plates and cutlery before going to bed. Left-over dishes should be stored properly. Make sure that everything is cleaned and tidied for the next day.

Never judge a person by external appearance Essay

I believe that judging about anyone by his external appearance, we perform a tremendous mistake. I have numerous examples in my life when I didn’t like the people at first site but eventually they have become my friends. The culture and subculture determine the appearance of their followers, but they don’t determine the entire consciences and qualities of the representatives. There are manifold types of clothes all over the world and if the woman wears in Arab headscarf it doesn’t mean that she is a terrorist. It’s most probably the part of her culture, but unfortunately we have in mind stereotypes from a TV. Even in one country numerous subcultures represents the different types of the appearances yet good and bad people are everywhere. As a matter of fact people have bad and good days and they look and behave accordingly to their moods. It’s quite common when a person, having temporary money problems, wears and looks not too exquisite and, even he’s a good specialist, it will be hard for him to find a job. Sometimes a person don’t have enough time to maintain the glamorous appearance, what obviously doesn’t signify that he is worse than another, spending his time in a beauty shop. Someone, who doesn’t have excellent exterior, could have other, more important qualities. Will you be friends with the beautiful but stupid and selfish man? Certainly will not. He could be a good musician, awesome orator and perfect sportsman, but you wouldn’t give him a chance to show all these talents if you paid attention only to the imperfect appearance. Also, we could have some bad remembrances relating with the certain appearance and sometimes it’s difficult to overcome them. I believe it’s not right to judge people by their exterior because you could miss the chance to meet with very interesting humans and make useful acquaintances.

The Economic Crisis in America

We are going through a crisis that is sweeping the nation and affecting our people greatly. I will be discussing terrorist attacks; the war in Iraq, the falling housing market, government's bailing out program, unemployment and the natural disasters which have played a key role In the direction our country has taken In the twenty first century. I will provide In-depth examples on how each event has Impacted our economy and social circumstances. Each piece fits together like a puzzle and creates what we now have â€Å"The State of Emergency†.Are entering into what could be known as next great depression? Hopefully our government will act fast and dig us out off this rut that were are headed toward, before it is too late! Over centuries people from all over the world have migrated to the United States for the hope of living â€Å"The American Dream†. This country has stood for inalienable rites such as freedom of speech and religion. These specific rights have attracted m illions to migrate into the United States. Immigrants have been driven here for the opportunity to prosper financially and spiritually.It's for this reason; America has rowan into one of the most powerful countries in the world. Other countries look up to us as an example of how to lead their own countries. Within the United States it's a different story. Since the industrial age started the people of America have become greedy. One of the most common phrases amongst Americans is â€Å"l want my children to have everything, I didn't have†. This mentality has placed our country into a â€Å"State of Emergency'. This country has raised many generations to pose this believe and created a self-centered way of life.Now we have the rich, who get richer and the poor ho continue to get poorer. Since the beginning of twenty first century we have faced one ordeal after another. How has this affected our economy and culture? Let's revisit what has happened in the last eight years. We e lected a new President in 2000 ( George W. Bush), September 1 1, 2001 (terrorist attack), war on terror, war in Iraq, foreclosures crushing the housing market, bank bail out program, unemployment on the rise, and the election of the first African-American President ( Barrack Obama). This is not touching on the natural disasters that our country has faced.Has America en her last days of glory or will she bounce back like she did during the Great Depression? Hopefully, our newly elected President has a plan that will bring us out of this depression that we have fallen into. What will happen next? Is America at the point of no return? If you analyze the past you will find that America was strong enough to overcome it. We had and have the power to bounce back. We need to come together as a country and work together to get through these tough times. Most of the issues we have faced today may not have affected us if America as a society actually believed in teamwork.In public we are taugh t to be a team and in private taught to look out for ourselves. The failure starts with our children. Have we taught our children how to survive in a society like we have today? Actually, the question should be; has society taught the adults, to love your neighbor or the love for self- indulgence? This is a question that we all have to answer for ourselves. Election; That November we elected George W. Bush to be our 43rd President. In 2001 less than a year from electing our new President on the day of September 11 a terrorist attack came upon the United States like a scene from a Hollywood movie.Four planes had been overtaken by members of the terrorist group, AY-Qaeda. One hit the Pentagon, two targeted the Twin Towers in New York City, and the last plane was headed for the USA Capital, when passengers on the plane fought back and the plane crashed in Janesville, Pennsylvania. That day 2,974 people died, 19 more died that were terrorist. We still have not found 24 people and are pr esuming that they are dead. This is not counting the people that were killed in the line of duty, several weeks later they estimated the death toll to be over 6,000 in all.Fear did not Just trite Americans but people all around the world. One of the biggest shocks was, when we learned that these terrorist had been taught how to fly planes here in the USA. The first thing the Government enforced was changing the security coming into the country. Then we went on the offensive and went after Osama Bin Laden and his band of rebels. We sent our military to Afghanistan to find and stop AY-Qaeda (being harbored by the Taliban). First we had to remove the Taliban to get to AY-Qaeda but they are hard to find because they are hidden under cover in the Pakistan Mountains.The economy was affected because New York came to a halt due to the destruction of the fall of the Twin Towers. Wall Street closed down for the rest of the week. Flights were stopped for several days leaving people stranded al l over the country. After this, people were afraid to leave home much less get on an airplane. So many employees lost Jobs because of this act of terrorism not Just in the area hit but all around the country. It also changed our society in so many ways. The trust was gone; everywhere you looked there was a possible terrorist.Fear, anger and outrage took over, but for many sorrow and regret. Never-the-less the one good thing that came out of the attacks was that for one shining moment the American people became one. Now it is 2008 and we are still feeling the pain of that horrible day. The War in Iraq: Then in 2003 we invaded Iraq along with a coalition of other countries on the grounds that we thought they had nuclear weapons (weapons of mass destruction) that Sad Hussein would not disarm and because he was supporting terrorist groups such as the Taliban and AY-Qaeda along with the religious sect the Jihad.The Arab nations looked to Sad as a hero for standing behind Palestine which had been at war with Israel since Biblical times. America kept a close eye on Iraq with apprehension since the early sass's following the Persian Gulf War when the first president Bush was in office. Then on December 13, 2003 the news came in, Sad Hussein was captured. Three years later, on November 5, 2006 he was found guilty by a new Iraqi Government that the USA had helped them to establish. On December 30, 2006 he was executed by hanging.The changing times brought on by September 1 1, brought the American people together and then the Iraqi War really tore the American people apart. American's were seeing a trend happening and were afraid of other countries becoming involved or the start of World War Ill. This scared largest anti-war rally in history; where over 3 million people attended this rally. This demonstration was held in Rome, Italy. American troops are still in Iraq today helping to keep the peace and they will be there for several more years. Housing Market Falls: In t he year 2006 we started to see the housing market shift into a downward spiral.For several years before everywhere you looked you saw a new housing subdivision under development. Then all of a sudden we started to see the same housing sites sitting empty. In 2007 the foreclosures in the housing market started growing at a fast pace. It was amazing how fast so many Americans were losing it all. Everything they had worked so hard to provide for their families was Just disappearing. Then in 2008 it was still moving in that downward motion. More and more families are losing everything. The housing market is still in a downward spiral with no relief in sight for the homeowners.However, the banks that would not help the homeowners stay in the homes are getting help from the government. Many states, such as Florida, had help from the Florida Government to try to keep homeowners in their homes but, this only worked if the homeowner and bank were both in Florida. In 2008 the foreclosures wer e at record highs month after month. This has hurt our economy very badly. The society we live in has changed for this same reason. People have to learn how to adapt to a different way of life. In which, can be hard a thing to master. It is much easier to adapt to a moving up the food chain than down the food chain.This has raised the homeless rate to new heights here in America. Many have had to depend on the welfare system to support them and now have to seek refuge in shelters. Charlene S. Onto wrote in one article in May of 2008 that, â€Å"According to an April 2008 report by the National Coalition for the Homeless, the top 10 states with foreclosures attributed to 73% of the homeless†. These are astounding figures and it shows us that we have a much larger problem than we think. Banks are Bailed Out: The next thing to happen is that the banks and financial intuitions of the United States are in financial trouble.The foreclosures severely hurt the banks. In 2008 twenty-t wo banks have already collapsed. This is even with the bail out package of a $700 Billion dollars. What's next? How is the United States going to heal from this massive loss of financial support? Of course the banks can no longer give out loans to the small business owners; this means many of the small businesses will be the next thing to fall by the way side. Other large corporations are Jumping in on the bail out band wagon like the American Auto Makers.The Government denied the auto industry help, once the press unleashed the truth on how they first need to do their win cut backs. They actually had the nerve to fly into Washington DC in their private planes that cost the company's around $28,000 dollars to make this round trip, when they could have taken a coach flight for under $600 dollars. They are asking for $25 billion of the $700 billion bail out package. What does our 44th President Elect think â€Å"Obama, said he believes aid is needed but that it should be provided as part of a long-term plan for a â€Å"sustainable U.S. Auto industry† ? not simply as a blank check. † Now once Obama takes office as our 44th President of the United States and the Democrats take the majority in congress, the Auto Industry might Just get the money they need, to keep from going bankrupt. Yes, we know that if some help doesn't come, our way of life is going to come to a stop. If you are watching the stocks on Wall Americans are Just hoping that soon it will at least stabilize, so that we can work at fixing the problem and to know we are on the right path.Today everyone is playing the blame game and we all need to realize that in some ways we have all contributed to the crisis that we are now going through in our society. Unemployment Rises: Now e know all of the things going on with the economy, but how has it affected the unemployment rate. It definitely has restructured this area. If the banks have no money for loans because the banks are going under, b ecause of the housing market foreclosures that has brought them down. Now we have another problem. Companies are forced to lay off employees in order to keep their businesses going.This becomes the next crisis. Unemployment is rising fast according the Agency for Workforce Innovation. In Florida the unemployment rate has hit the highest it has in fifteen years. It is now at an average of seven percent, but in some counties like Flagler, it is above ten percent. Just about everywhere you go you meet someone else with a story of their company releasing them. Will this affect the housing crisis even more? Of course it will. How is our government along with the people of America going to fix our problems?The main thing we can do is no matter what social class or race we might be is look at the problems and try to do our part to fix it. American people need to stop looking to the government to fix everything we all have a voice and need to learn to use it. Natural Disasters: Over the pas t few years the economy has suffered because of the natural disasters from hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes and wild fires. The cost to rebuild after a natural disaster can be soar into billions of dollars. Just look at the devastation this tornado in Oklahoma caused on Mother's Day 2008.Look at Just how big an out of control this fire in California became and how it eats everything in its path. Natural disasters are likely to hurt us in more ways that the rest because it can take over your life so fast and most working people don't have the funds to Just start over. It is devastating to loose everything you have and even some family members. It is amazing to me how our country will come together in these times to help but, in others like the economy everyone Just points the finger. Satellite view Satan 2005 $81. 2 Billion Quickie $27 Billion Wilma 2005 $22. Billion Charlie 2004 $18. 6 Billion Hurricane Strain These are some examples of the cost associated with a hurricane. Alabama F lorida 14 Georgia 2 2 AltaVista 1,577 Mississippi 238 Total 1836 The death tolls are also astounding after one of these storms. You can see in this hart based on Hurricane Strain in 2005 This is not mentioning the 705 people missing. Personal Reflection Unfortunately, I was one of the many who lost their home. It was foreclosed on in September 2007. I lost my Job because my company made a decision to out source position.I had a very hard time trying to find a Job and when I finally did the income wasn't nearly the same. First, I tried to keep my house and my car was repossessed, then because I was already so far behind I lost my house. Things started getting better for my family in early 2008. I found a good paying Job and so did my husband. That summer my husband, who is a heavy equipment operator, lost his Job once the project was finished. Within two months are other car was repossessed. Thank God, my Job was walking distance. What I didn't know was the next day I was going to be laid off.So here I am no car, no Job, no bus route close, and no phone. What was I going to do? I made a leap of faith and I am going back to school. I finally received my income tax and bought a cheap car and Just keep looking for a Job. Hopefully, one will come soon since I am about out of money and will be out on the street and raising the homeless rate by four. I view our country as a great one full of opportunities, but it is in trouble. Everything comes and goes, we Just have to remember that we are strong and life will get better.My hope for this country is that our newest President will have the strength to fight the wrongs that hurt our country and the compassion for the people that really need him. To help those of us that has fallen with the economy. I hope to one day see an America where we are all, actually equal, that social statuses are erased and that economic status shows us how we help one another when we are in need. Personally, I feel that the government needs t o be eloping out the families in America more than the banks and auto companies. For example and they could buy a home and cars that would rebuild the economy.Not to mention the taxes on the money, homes, and cars that would be paid back to the government. People would be off the street and banks would have gotten rid of all the foreclosed houses. It would raise the housing market if people were competing for them. In my opinion, I see a fix that could be better than giving aid to the banks because, they still are having problems after the bailout. Self-indulgence or greed has ruled this country for long enough. I wanted to have it all and once I had it still wasn't enough I wanted more.