Alcohol Should the US Lower the Drinking Age to 18

The introduction: some basic points of alcohol problem While analyzing the drinking age, I would like to point out some fundamentals of the so-called alcohol problem. First of all, there is a need to admit that genetic factors in alcoholism, as well as personality traits and social aspects are considered to be the key points of underage drinking.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Alcohol: Should the US Lower the Drinking Age to 18? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More So, special investigations have shown that there is a strong interdependence between hereditary and alcohol use. Thus, Leigh Sexton (2011) is of the opinion that â€Å"Where children whose biological parents were alcoholics were adopted at birth into non-alcoholic families they still had higher levels of alcohol addiction than adopted children with no alcoholic parent† (para. 2). Personality traits are also to be analyzed, as there is an o pinion that anti-social traits, lack of self-confidence are recognized to be the causes, which lead to alcohol addiction. In other words, various personality abnormalities or disorders are considered to be the primary reasons of alcohol abuse. Another important point I would like to highlight is that those parents who bring up their kids in an alcoholic home increase the risk of alcohol use by their children. The most interesting fact, however, is that alcohol abuse can be omitted. There can be no alcohol abuse, but the chances that children start drinking at 15 or 16 are still high. â€Å"Drinking in the teens nearly doubles the risk of alcohol abuse compared with those who start drinking after they enter their twenties† (Sexton, 2011, para. 5). Social drinking is one of the most complicated cases of alcohol abuse. Thus, among young gatherings drinking is considered to be desirable and even standard process. In most cases, there are friends who encourage the person to drink. On the other hand, it is also rather important to pay attention to familial behaviors. Sometimes, the parents mention that the idea to drink a cold beer seems to be quite attractive. In their turn, children comprehend such messages as normal desire to slake one’s thirst. The thesis statement Alcohol addiction of adolescents is mostly related to lack of personality development, lack of self-confidence, age-related issues, and unstable family role. Thus, the idea to lower the drinking age to 18 seems to be totally absurd. The analysis of some investigations can help to resolve the issue and take right decision.Advertising Looking for research paper on administrative law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The body: alcohol, parenting and psychological disorders Generally, alcohol abuse among youths is recognized to be the most serious problem, which is to be resolved. Prof. David J. Hanson (2011) says that â€Å"On nationa l television programs, Califano reported horror stories of alcohol abuse among college students, associating it with assault, rape, and even murder† (para. 2). Some important data shows that 60% of STD are acquired at the state of alcoholic inebriation. 90% rapes take place when the victim is drunk. 95% of illegal actions are alcohol-related. Prof. David J. Hanson (2011) states that â€Å"the average young person will have seen 100,000 beer commercials between the age of two and eighteen But just think – sixteen years or about 5,844 days occur between a person’s second and eighteenth birthday† (para. 5). In the late eighties, all fifty states of the USA prohibited alcohol drinking for those who are less than 21. The law was adopted when higher traffic fatalities were associated with alcohol-abusing persons under the age of 21. However, â€Å"many underage youth continue to consume alcohol and to experience alcohol related problems† (Hingson Kenkel, n.d., para. 1). Thus, underage drinking is one of the key problems American society is to think about. The most interesting facts, however, seem to be rather ambiguous. For instance, drinking problems are low â€Å"when children are served alcohol by their parents† (Hanson, 2011, para. 6). On the other hand, when youths are prevented from alcohol, some bigger problems appear. In other words, such prevention causes the opposite effect. However, I suppose it depends upon the principles of upbringing whether a child relies on his or her parents’ behavior and role models or no. For this reason, I would like to point out three basic principles of parenting. So, first of all, it is necessary to demonstrate good drinking behavior; the parents should expect that children will copy their mode of life. Thus, the parents are to think about their own actions. Finally, various mass media means can be used to demonstrate the positive and negative consequences of drinking. Of course , the parents should use appropriate mass media programs. Taking into account the investigation made by Patrick M. O’Malley, Ph. D., Lloyd D. Johnston, Ph. D., and Jerald G. Bachman, Ph. D. one can state that alcohol use among adolescents is a real problem. Thus, the 1997 the Monitoring the Future Study â€Å"found that 54 percent of 8th graders (almost all of whom are ages 13 to 14)Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Alcohol: Should the US Lower the Drinking Age to 18? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More reported having consumed alcohol (i.e., more than just a few sips) in their lifetime† (O’Malley, Johnston Bachman, 1998, p. 86). The most widespread alcohol problems adolescents experience are considered to be difficulties in communication, i.e. interpersonal problems, health problems, medical problems. Moreover, numerous psychological disorders appear. For instance, one is to keep in m ind that there is certain interdependence between a person’s mental state and alcohol addiction or use. †One US study found that 19.9% of the general population had one or more psychiatric disorders, but in those with alcohol abuse or dependence the figure rose to 36.6%† (Institute of Alcohol Studies, 2007, p. 3). Another important point I would like to highlight is the disorders which cause alcohol addiction. So, the most common are depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, manic-depressive illness, and schizophrenia. Young people mostly suffer from the first three disorders. I’ve pointed out that there are psychological diseases, which cause alcohol addiction; however, on the other hand, I have to notice that the opposite effect is also possible. Thus, there are many cases, when young people start to experience the above-mentioned disorders because of alcohol use. Anti-social personality disorder is also one of the most widespread consequences of alcohol dependence. The conclusion: no permission to lower the drinking age It is not a secret that alcohol is recognized to be popular psychoactive drug. In most cases, adolescents use alcohol to relax. Other popular variants are to be happy, to feel less anxious, (less inhibited, less depressed), to fit in, to celebrate, to make friends, to become confident, and to forget problems. When analyzing the reasons, one can understand what psychological problems may occur. Finally, when analyzing alcohol addiction and abuse, one is to keep in mind the fundamentals of parenting, as well as the consequences of social, health, and economic aspects of underage drinking. References Hanson, D. (2011). Alcohol. Problems and Solutions.  Web.Advertising Looking for research paper on administrative law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hanson, D. (2011). Children, Alcohol and Parenting.  Web Hingson, R., Kenkel, D.  Social, Health and Economic Consequences of Underage Drinking. Web. Institute of Alcohol Studies. (2007). Alcohol and Mental Health. Web. O’Malley, P., Johnston, L., Bachman, J. (1998). Alcohol Use Among Adolescents. Web. Sexton, L. (2011). Genetics Versus Upbringing in Alcohol Abuse.  Web. This research paper on Alcohol: Should the US Lower the Drinking Age to 18? was written and submitted by user Misael Foreman to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

AIDS in Ghana The WritePass Journal

The Role of NGOs in the Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ghana Introduction The Role of NGOs in the Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ghana Introduction This dissertation will focus on the role of NGO in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The Republic of Ghana is located on the west coast of Africa and is bordered by Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Togo. Ghana has an estimated population of 24 million people, with Accra Ghana’s capital city having the estimated highest population of over two million people.[1] The Human Immunodeficiency Deficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemics continue to devastate the lives of individuals globally. HIV/AIDS is proven to be a great developmental challenge for states, with many initiatives to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS proving difficult. With HIV/AIDS mainly affecting adults in their industrious years, the infections are having a detrimental effect on health care systems across the world. The high cost attributed to treatment and prevention programmes have averted resources away from productive investments. Empirical evidence reveals a relationshi p between HIV/AIDS and poverty. Since its discovery, HIV/AIDS has ravaged communities, assisted with the creation of poverty and deepened the opportunities to escape it. HIV/AIDS constitutes as one of the most serious health concerns destructing human development. HIV/AIDS also threatens to reverse the progress in the most severely affected countries for decades.[2] Of the global total of people living with HIV/AIDS, 95% live in developing countries.[3] Since its existence, HIV/AIDS has continued to evolve in communities where poverty facilitates the spread of the viruses. Weak healthcare infrastructures and social inequalities have increased the potential risk of HIV/AIDS, while factors such as migration, drug use and economic instability have also enhanced the spread of transmission. The impact of HIV/AIDS has been severe on the African continent, which has some of the poorest countries in the world, meaning large populations have been affected by the epidemic. Whilst   the   number   of   people   living   with   HIV   remains   high in sub-Saharan Africa, the availability of ACT treatments has been   associated with a momentous decline of HIV/AIDS related deaths. It has been   argued that the rise of HIV/AIDS in Africa is a result of a sexual   culture[4] and that Africanswere conducting hyper-sexualised behaviour.[5] Strong prevention campaigns have also played a key role in the decrease in recent HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. After Ghana’s first case of HIV was reported in 1986[6], the disease spread gradually but stea dily until 2003, when prevalence peaked at 3.1%.[7] In 2011, the estimated adult HIV/AIDS prevalence was 2.1%, with an estimated 225478 people were living with HIV/AIDS in the country.[8] HIV prevalence differs between age, gender, residence and geographical areas. Ghanas’ Aids Commision key strategic priorities are preventing HIV/AIDS in high-risk populations such as female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and discordant couples, reducing HIV/AIDS transmission from high-risk individuals to the general population, addressing stigma and discrimination, and providing comprehensive prevention and care and access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), their partners, and families. The GAC has developed multiple evidence-based, comprehensive behaviour change support materials for FSW, their clients and partners, MSM, and PLWHA. The growing complexity of HIV/AIDS has led to a number of initiatives involving the skills of NGO’s. With good health care systems a commodity in some countries, NGO’s have developed programmes to assist with the demands on the state. For instance, Charity AID Africa has implemented a community testing and care unit in Kumasi to minimise the risk of future infections. Amid the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, NGOs were used as a global trend to compensate for the short comings of the state. With HIV/AIDS being in existence for over 30 years, the relevance, efficiency and sustainability of NGO’s are all in question, now more than ever. Similar to states, NGOs face allegations of corruption, mismanagement in addition to funding cuts and state sanctions. NGO’s currently face not only the practical challenge of tackling HIV/AIDS but also the political challenge of influencing policy.   In this respect, the epidemic of HIV/AIDS and the challenge of the political economy are mutually constitutive. While some NGO’s have been successful to some degree in helping to reshape policy agendas, doubts still remain about the potential of NGO’s to reshape society. Dilemmas persist on the effectiveness of NGOS with questions asking whether they are efficient and have the agency to bring about long-term sustainable change.[9] NGO’s, such as Oxfam, have been productive in conducting programmes to tackle poverty and gaining International recognition. By way of comparison the majority of NGO’s haven’t been able to make a significant change to policy due to ideological parameters. The role of the state is important to NGO’s because the state has the power to determine the institutional nature, agenda and political relationship. The potential for NGO’s to bring about substantial change to HIV/AIDS is undiminished while the limitations of NGO practices will be explored with this paper. Despite amplified focus on the HIV/AIDS epidemic, initiatives by the Ghanaian government and NGOs have failed to eradicate the virus. Many businesses, communities, and private and religious organisations have also tried to work towards eradicating HIV/AIDS with varying results. The work carried out by those concerned with HIV/AIDS has provided vital information about the biological, behavioural and environmental factors that influence HIV/AIDS transmission. HIV/AIDS is a serious problem in Ghana and the challenge of implementing effective prevention programmes is a national priority. This study focuses on the potential role of NGOs in the significant reduction of HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The thesis is framed within wider debates concerning the impact of NGOs, with particular attention to the role of NGOs and their efforts to reduce the number of HIV/AIDS infections. This study will seek to examine the power of NGOs preventatives methods in Ghana and contribute to the theoretical framework of the role of NGOs in HIV/AIDS prevention. Specifically the aim of the study is to explore and describe the service’s NGO’s provide and how those services influence the transmission of HIV/AIDS. The study will also review the effect of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) funded policies and explore the possibility for further NGO involvement in decisio n making. The study is comprised of five chapters; in this introduction I provide a thumbnail overview of my research question and highlight the contribution I seek to make to HIV/AIDS literature. The introduction will also provide a brief account of the general background of the research, both in relation to the HIV/AIDS rates in Ghana and the number of NGO’s fighting the epidemic in the country. Chapter one and two provide a board historical perspective on the subject matter. Critical claims about the roles of NGO’s not only invoke historical views but also functions as a means by which NGO’s construct their programmes to seek political and economic interests. In chapter two I provide an outline of the theoretical outline that informs the research with particular reference to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. I will also provide an examination of the empirical literature on NGO’s HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. In chapter two, I will also illustrate how various scholars have discussed the role of NGO’s relationship with HIV/AIDS. It also permits an appraisal of the ways in which the history of HIV/AIDS in Africa evolves and transforms states. I argue that NGO’s in some cases have had to serve the interests of their funders and consolidate to capitalist nature. This point becomes apparent when one considers from a historical perspective the obligation put on external funding from the GFATM. This study will also explain NGO’s adapting strategy to shift towards external funding objectives. Chapter three provides an outline of the methodological rationale of the study. I introduce the number of individual interviews that took place and justify why they were the most appropriate approach to pursue my research question. The methodology focuses on the role of NGO’s in the prevention of HIV/AIDS, drawing on primary and secondary sources. Ten organisations have been selected to illustrate the links between NGO’s and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ghana, and this study will look at what will distinguish the chosen organisations and what will be their opinions of HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The methodology will be presented in three stages, firstly providing details of the research informant, secondly an exploration into the methods chosen for data collection, finally the analysis of the data will be explained. Chapter four will discuss the results of the research and consider them in relation to the research question. The methodological considerations will also be explored in chapter four, seeking out the strength and limitations of the study. Chapter five will conclude the study with a summary of the main body of the research. The conclusion will also make comparisons with other studies and make suggestions for further research. Finally the implications of the dissertation will be speculated.

Who participates in movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Who participates in movement - Essay Example McAdam disregards strict definitions of recruitment, movement, and activism, and instead focuses on the process of an individual’s participation in activism. Risk and cost assessment gives his theories a good base. Risks taken on the part of the activist cost him something (positive or negative cost). As an example, signing a petition is a low risk, low cost activity; organizing homeless people is a high risk, high cost activity. Individuals do a conscious or subconscious risk/cost assessment before they participate in activism activities. An individual may verbally support an idea yet not physically participate in higher cost activities such as rallies or writing letters to Congress. Individuals may choose to participate in higher risk/cost activities, if those risks/costs are acceptable to him. These individuals typically â€Å"(a) have a history of activism, (b) [are] deeply committed to the ideology and goals of the movement, (c) [are] integrated into activist networks, and (d) [are] relatively free of personal constraints that would make participation especially risky† (71). By contrast, Polletta states that people join high risk/cost movements â€Å"because it is fun; because their sense of solidarity with people they know who are already in the movement demands it; because if they don’t, no one else will; because they are morally shocked and compelled by an injustice† (35). She refers to McAdam’s works and expands on the â€Å"narrative† component of recruitment. Protesters and activists, whether their actions are believed to be spontaneous or are the result of long-standing commitment to the movement, tell a powerful story that inspires others to agree and perhaps join in. Participating in protest and activism is a somewhat organic process from the individual’s point of view; people are inspired when the movement’s ideology rings true with their own ideology, and find themselves participating without really understanding how they got

Has the UK government engaged in the politics of panic over counter Essay

Has the UK government engaged in the politics of panic over counter terrorism If so, how has this affected its counter terrorism policy - Essay Example Even though the Irish republican army was suppressed by the UK government, its repercussions are now started to develop. Moreover the government is also faced with a challenging task to tackle the rising Islamic terrorists. The armed forces of UK have gained valuable experience and expertise in counterterrorism activities through three decades of fighting the Irish republican army. This involvement was quite surprising because the understandable preoccupation with terrorists in Northern Ireland diverted the attention of British intelligence agencies from international terrorism. Before the bombing of the Pan Am flight over Lockerby, the British agencies were only engaged in dealing with the Irish nationalist. But after the indictment of two Libyan nationals, the agencies reach and scope has drastically widened. During the mid 1990’s, the UK intelligence agencies and the police were quite sure that their land was used as a base by individuals and groups for promoting, funding, and planning terrorism. However these individuals were not found by the agencies as a threat to UK. Therefore they were left to continue their activities. This policy caused wide spread anger among many foreign governments including allies of the UK government. By giving low priority to international terrorism, the British authorities did not fully understand the threat from Al Qaeda. The failure of the British intelligence agencies including that of other western agencies led to the 9/11 attacks on US soil. The Al Qaeda with its deadly networks has caused headaches for the UK authorities in recent years. The threat from AL Qaeda has increased because of the participation of UK in Afghanistan and Iraq. The UK intelligence agencies have also played a major role in destabilizing the networks of the terror organiz ation as well as blocking its funding. The counter terrorism policy

Can People Govern Themselves Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Can People Govern Themselves - Essay Example According to blog â€Å"a†, a business that only puts qualified people in leadership positions gives out good result while democracy lets any fool who is elected have power and the results are chaos. To an extent, I agree with the above statement because democracy is the rule by vote and a person can be popular based on other factors other than credibility and efficiency. It is not strange to find a company that was running well on profits suddenly collapse due to poor governance based on elected leader. While it is fair to include the views of the people in running an organization or a country, it is also wise to include serious scrutiny of their character and their effectiveness to the position they are being given. Democracy is not entirely bad as sometimes people’s judgment of character can be right through various interactions with the person or people vying for a leadership position; they can be able to tell whether the person will be effective. A person with soci al skills is highly favored as he or she is thought to understand and solve problems fairly. Choosing leaders based on qualifications is the other alternative. People with high qualifications and references are thought to have a proper managerial skill, organized and goal oriented. Their dedication to their studies is believed to be also reflected in the work they are entrusted with. However, people can be highly qualified but lack the necessary values needed to work in an organization such as honesty. In summary, democracy cannot work effectively on its own.

Importance of Recycling

Importance of Recycling Dont Throw Your Future Away In the UK, on average, a person throws away almost his own bodyweight equivalent of waste material every 7 weeks. That is equivalent to filling up the Rutland Lake in just six months or pervading the London Palladium every hour. Up to 60% of this waste is recyclable. What is meant by the word recycle? A simple way to describe it is; recycle means to convert and remanufacture waste products into new materials. This means, rather than throwing these objects away, they can be used to manufacture new products. The materials that are widely recycled include, grocery bags, cloth, newspaper, cardboard, brochures and flyers, cardboard boxes, paper, aluminium cans, glass, tin, chipboard and scrap metal. Though every waste disposal place varies, these are the items which are widely accepted as recyclable items. Failing to use them to manufacture further items results in these products being thrown away in significant quantities into landfills. Some goods which are not usually recycled because of being not as cost-effective include light bulbs, petroleum products, chemicals and aerosols. A landfill is not the most ethical way of managing waste as it poses substantial threats to humans and animals, as well as plants. It is immensely important to recycle our waste in order to lower the amount of waste material in landfills, to save and create energy and to conserve raw materials. For instance to produce new paper from a plant source, it requires seventeen full grown trees to make one tonne of pure non-recycled paper. This leads to deforestation as it requires cutting down trees, leading to deforestation which is a tremendous environmental hazard. Instead of this, used and old paper can be used to manufacture new paper which can help protect both trees and 65 % of electricity. Likewise, thermoplastics can also be recycled as they can be softened and melted to reshape again and again thus decreasing the environmental hazards triggered by plastics. Furthermore, up to seventy per cent of energy can be saved by avoiding extraction, refining, transportation and processing of raw materials required for the industry. As labour is needed for collection, sorting, processing and logistics, job opportunities can also be generated through recycling. Recycling also plays a sizeable role in decreasing air, noise and water pollution by reducing incineration of waste thus protecting the atmosphere. How? By lowering the emission of greenhouse gases like methane, sulphur dioxide carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, recycling can also help in reducing the effect of climate change which is a long-standing and prominent issue influencing the atmosphere and living species alike. All of this malefic matter contaminates many habitats and ecosystems. This in turn ruins the natural living conditions of different organisms including both plants and animals. Deforestation that occurs due to the use of wood as a raw material for several products also plays an integral role in the destruction of many habitats.   Biodiversity is being lost. The loss of a few plants and animals is not the concern here. Rather, by thrashing all forms of nature on such a grand scale we are risking our lives, threatening wildlife, gambling with the stability of nature and weather and throwing our own future away. Not only is the destruction of nature a colossal problem, Global Warming, another disastrous outcome of all that contamination, is also a topic which needs discussion as it is the most detrimental. Evidence proves that the past decade was the hottest in the past 1300 years. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has multiplied from 280 parts per million to 400 parts per million. Moreover, it is expected that an estimated increase of 8 degrees Fahrenheit in global temperature and 1 to 4 feet of upsurge in sea levels can be expected by the year 2100. This could be a monumental problem for many low lying areas and cities of the world. Not only this, numerous other climate changes such as change in precipitation patterns, increment in acidity of oceans, reduction in ice cover, permafrost, unexpected droughts and floods, intense tsunamis and hurricanes and much more can be expected. Ultimately, the havoc caused from all of this can be very well assumed. How to make world a bit better? The above mentioned can be slowed and minimised if not entirely terminated. Recycling of metals can help cut down the need for extraction of ores, reducing environmental hazards caused by mining, refining, processing and packing. Recycling of plastic can help in minimizing the deposit of landfills. As it is a polymer, it can be melted and reused several times over. Recycling paper reduces the need of chopping down of trees and ultimately could help conserve forests. It also helps to reduce the use of incineration, process involved in destruction of paper. Amongst some notable benefits of recycling, one of them is the conservation of energy. By reducing the need of new products, we can dexterously reduce the use of energy and the burning of fossil fuels used to harness energy. This could lower the emission of harmful gases drastically. Recycling plays an integral role in forefending this planet from further devastation. It is crucial for us to implement the idea of recycling into our everyday lives and play our own part in order to protect the Earth and make it a better place.

United States Involvement in Haiti :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We begin our story on December 29th in the year 2000. United States President Bill Clinton sends a letter to Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, urging him to restore democracy in his country as he had promised before. Clinton has written statements from Aristide assuring that Haiti will take part in a democratic reform in the interest of human rights. In the letter that Bill Clinton sends, he reminds Aristide of the United States’ role in his being brought back into power in 1994. Many republicans thought that President Clinton’s letter was far too polite for the situation at hand.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aristide had a lot of promises left to be fulfilled. Domestic and foreign policy reforms were yet to be seen. No members of the opposition could be found in his government. His police force and judiciary remained unprofessional. He failed to cooperate with the United States in a campaign against drug trafficking, as he was to allow the Coast Guard to patrol Haitian waters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Back in Washington, Senator Jesse Helms and Representative Porter J. Goss issued a joint statement: â€Å"Narco traffickers, criminals, and other anti-democratic elements who surround Aristide should feel the full weight of United States law enforcement.† It was of the opinion of the Republicans in America that we end all direct support for the Haitian government. With President Clinton out the door soon in the last few weeks of his term, the Republican Party members were anxious to see the differences the Bush administration would make in this situation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fast-forwarding to November of 2003, President George W. Bush gave Aristide a warning. He needed to keep his word and begin some move on reforms. His country was crumbling. Not just in the sense that there was a strong division between Aristide’s government and the opposition leading to violent terrorism throughout Haiti, but more and more of Haiti’s eight million citizens were becoming impoverished, going hungry. Not only that, but the land was physically crumbling – roads were unusable and there was terrible telephone service. There is an indirect relationship between Haitian relations and demonstrations against its government. With less support, there are more attacks, and the Bush administration was not about to step in and help Haiti unless Aristide showed us some results. United States ambassador to Haiti James Foley said, â€Å"If Haiti falls into its historical path of authoritarian government, misrule, and abuse of human rights, its future will be as somber as its past.

Wealth Management Investment

Wealth management is a crucial component in investing. It is a process that entails steps that organize the fundamental features of building a portfolio. An investor can deal with the uncertainty of financial markets; the uncertainty that markets were volatile last year, that they are volatile now, and that they will be volatile tomorrow, by regularly managing wealth. The wealth management process provides a strategic approach to managing and building wealth and will help an investor turn his client†s goals into reality. In managing the investment process investors must determine their objectives, the resources for achieving them, and the process to go through to get there. Most importantly, it is essential for clients to be exposed to any new investment procedure or opportunity in the context of their individualized investment policy. The first step in the wealth management process is to establish objectives. This step includes analyzing the current situation, where all factors that may have a bearing on the decisions should be identified, analyzed, and integrated into the process (Brown, Underwood 248). Before making any financial recommendations an investor must build a detailed financial profile so that he can understand the client†s personal balance sheet, his current asset allocation, and help the client develop his investment parameters. The result of this process is attaining the assessment of the investor†s goals. With this, it is critical for the client to express five key factors: his total financial picture, his financial goals and objectives, his feelings and tolerance for risk, his time horizon associated with each of his goals, and if the client is building his wealth, preserving it, or passing it on to others (Brown, Underwood 247). Proper objectives will be established by these factors through the individualized analysis of the client†s current situation. The second important step in the wealth management process is to set a strategy. This is attained subsequent to the client assessing his goals. In setting a strategy an investor will compare fundamental investment principles to a client†s goals. The client may consider five key fundamental principles when developing his portfolio strategy: Asset allocation, diversification, planning, discipline, and patience (Groppelli, Nikbakht 401). This step also helps the client to select appropriate asset classes and distributions. A portfolio†s asset mix or asset allocation refers to the percentages that are invested in various asset classes, such as domestic stocks, domestic bonds, cash, real estate, international stocks, international bonds, and so on. A selection of well-diversified assets within these classes is perhaps the most effective way to manage volatility and portfolio risk in today†s markets. The investor should work with his client to identify the investor profile that fits his objectives and tolerance for risk. The second step of wealth management also includes determining the time horizon of investment objectives. One must consider the timing of the possible unexpected as well as expected requirements for use of the portfolio†s assets. Market timing can be an unreliable and hazardous practice. Missing only a fraction of time can have a profound impact on value (Groppelli, Nikbakht 392). An investor can also help a client determine a financial plan to address his goals. In order for a client to make informed decisions and ultimately reach his goals, the investor should help translate the client†s goals and objectives into a personalized financial plan. This will help the client to organize his finances, where it will provide a clear picture of his financial situation, and help the client to understand how his financial puzzle fits together. He will have the accessibility to evaluate his short and long-range goals and see how each piece of his financial puzzle can influence the other interlocking pieces. With this personalized plan, a client may also find solutions by putting his strategies into action by providing access to specialists in various financial disciplines, such as trust, credit, asset management, business planning, and insurance. Lastly, this step will help the client to uncover opportunities, where he can identify opportunities that could influence his overall financial well-being. The third step in the wealth management process is to implement solutions. An investor can help the client select and implement financial solutions according to his financial plan and asset allocation strategy. The essential ways an investor can achieve this is by helping the client identify financial strategies and solutions, allocate his funds, select investment products, and managers, and develop a rebalancing strategy (Conley, O†Barr 42-44). To meet a client†s goals the investor can explore and help a client execute appropriate investment borrowing. Depending on the client†s needs, an investor can explore various strategies. These strategies include investing from retirement, wealth transfer and estate-planning strategies, tax-minimization strategies, company stock option planning, managing concentrated stock positions, alternative investments, and other personalized solutions. An investor should also allocate the assets based upon the client†s specific goals and risk tolerance, and he should select a money manager by using specialists. This construction would result in a customized plan and solution for the client and his long-term objectives. The final step in the wealth management process is to review the progress. An investor must continue to monitor the client†s situation in order to remain current with his goals in relation to the movement in the market. This ongoing service would include monitoring portfolio performance and results to evaluate progress, reviewing objectives and strategies periodically, and altering and adjusting the client†s wealth management strategies based on changing goals, circumstances, or conditions (Conley, O†Barr 45). In addition, it consists of monitoring the resulting performance of selected money managers. An effective monitoring program should provide the investor with sufficient information to evaluate the program†s strengths and weaknesses, and to keep the program on track in achieving the portfolio†s objectives. The truly effective investor realizes that a crucial element of the decision-making process is establishing appropriate performance measurement standards. The standards for provide an ongoing monitoring service for clients includes facilitating good investor-money manager communications and confirming the mutually agreed-upon goals of the investment policy. Also, an investor must show whether the assets are being managed as directed by that policy with respect to the portfolio†s risk tolerance and expected return. Another measurement is to support the qualitative judgments about the continued confidence, or lack of it, in the money manager†s abilities. The last measurement standard is to support the periodic consideration of the continuing appropriateness of the investment policy. In the monitoring process, there are issues that should be addressed at specific times. Monthly, investors should analyze their custodian†s appraisal report containing the current market value of holdings and the previous month†s transactions and expenses. Particular attention should be paid to transactions initiated by hired money managers and compared against the manager†s stated investment strategy. Quarterly, the investor should compare the asset allocation of the portfolio and the performance of hired money managers to benchmarks, and at least annually, there should be a formal review to determine whether investment objectives have been attained or have changed. The investor should be particularly sensitive of the need to determine whether the investment strategy still holds the highest probability of meeting short-term liquidity needs and long-term objectives. The role of the investor is to maximize the benefits to be gained from the wealth management process. The degree of commitment to the necessary tasks outlined in the process will ultimately determine investment success. It will be the actions of the investor that will have the greatest impact on the value of the portfolio and mastering the wealth management process will assist the investor in creating the greatest outcome for his clients and their futures.

The Ipact of ASL Essay examples

The Ipact of ASL Essay examples The Ipact of ASL Essay examples American sign Language is a complicated language spoken through intricate signs made by one's hands blended with a variety of facial expressions body positions and other gestures. The language is most commonly used by the deaf population in North America and is the major communication alternative for the deaf and hard of hearing. Since ASL is seen as an authentic and definite language it has many variations just like other languages do such as French and Spanish. There is no single form of sign language that is universal because each variation of sign language is unique to its specific region. ASL is an exceptional form of communication and beneficial to an enormous part of the population. It's origin present conditions future expectations and overall impact are quite extraordinary and eye-opening. Although it is not certain where ASL originated it is true that it came to be more than 200 years ago from the unification of local sign languages and French sign language LSF. The modern day ASL has been influenced by both Al ass at a local sign languages and their marriage has created a deep elaborate and completes language. Although similar to spoken languages sign language also significantly differs from them in a variety of forms. Sunknoll not Damien from Galileo academic search Premier reinforces the fact that "just like spoken languages sign languages are merged with the culture of the deaf communities" ("Spoken Vs sign languages- what's the difference?"). There is no severe discrimination between the two types of languages but there is one major boundary separating the two. Spoken languages are understood through ears, whike sign languages are understood through eyes. Although minor solutions are present this difference restricts the death and the hearing from communica ting without any complexity. From a physical perspective sign language uses more energy and provides more exhaustion and spoken languages. Nevertheless both spoken languages and sign languages strive to complete the same task which is make conversation possible for all people. Sign language has truly impacted many different cultures and lives struggled with the exchange of dialogue. However sign language was not only created through the goal of using communication hardships. Some members of diverse cultures take Valzah silence and secrecy which drives them to learn a language that does not require any spoken words. According to Gale discovering collection, "members of religious orders sworn to silence often rely on simple gestures rather than coded system to communicate with one another" (Sign Language"). Because of sign language his current benefit to such an abundant population in the world more people are beginning to take a sincere fascination and language. Several experts believe that sign language can also be used to communicate with animals. For example since chimpanzees cannot speak the same language as humans expert suppose it would be possible to teach them to hold a conversation through hand motions and body language. MAS Ultra-School Ed ition Explains that "As a scientific experiment conducted by Columbia University Prof. Herbert Terrace, baby Nim was initially Please buy a surrogate 'mother,' Stephanie Lafarge, who lived with her husband and three children in a Manhattan apartment" (Of Chimps and Humans"). Nim, a baby chimpanzee was talk to communicate through sign language as a part of project Nim. He was not capable of creating sentences but that is only because his motivation to do so was not significantly great. If Nim wished he could have produced complex sentences because he was a very intelligent animal considering he understood all the sign language he was exposed to. An estimated 12 out of every 1000 people with hearing impairments become death under the age of 18. Because of this it is encouraged for children to learn sign language in there very early ages. Since children cannot easily communicate with others

Motivating the workforce

Internal Labour Markets/ Motivating the workforce Introduction Labor economics is an integral part of economics because it explains how the labor market functions and operates and its dynamics. The labor market is the market where workers and employees interact. This means that there are suppliers of labor and the people who need that labor.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Internal Labour Markets/ Motivating the workforce specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The suppliers in this case are the workers or employees and the people who demand the labor are the employers. Smith states that the principal agent relationship always occurs in the labor market where the principals entrust the agents with their businesses. (Smith, 2003 89) The principal in this case is the owner of the business and the agent is the manager who will manage the business on behalf of the owner Principal agent relationship The principal agent relationship can be defined as an arrangement or a contract between one person called a principal and the other called an agent to carry out some work. Currie and Wolpin state that a principal can be anyone who is legally able to carry out an act. Legally able means that they are mentally stable and they are not minors. An agent can be anyone who is qualified enough to comprehend the act that is being done by the principal. (Currie Wolpin, 2001 54) The principal agent relationship is also called the agency relationship. A contract that is signed by an agent on behalf of the principal is the contract of the principal and therefore the principal has the right to exercise any term that are in the contract for example the principal can give anyone authority to perform specific or general duties. The agency relationship can be either formal where there has to be a valid contract or some writing or informal where there is no valid contract or any kind of writing that is authorizing the agent to act on behalf of the principal. The agency relation ship must also be legal. This means that the agent and principal should engage in legal activities It is evident that in the principal agent relationship, the agent is acting on behalf of the principal. The agent therefore has to act under the authority of the principal. This relationship is based upon trust and loyalty from both sides but especially from the agent. The agent has to convince the principal that he will follow his instructions to the latter and that he will not be negligent when carrying out any of the works entrusted to him by the principal. Hirshleifer et al postulate that the relationship is also based on the assumption that the agent is to act ethically and therefore he will not take advantage of the task at hand for his personal gains or satisfaction. (Hirshleifer et al, 2005 169)The principal in turn should exude a lot of confidence in his agent and also act ethically. These bases will ensure that there is a strong bond, trust and understanding between the two p arties and hence a fruitful relationship.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The agent has an obligation to be truthful to the principal all the time and disclose all the necessary and important information that affect the business or the task at hand or any other factors that affect the agency relationship. The agent should also refrain from any activities that may harm the agency relationship The principal agent problem The principal agent problem always arises where there is misleading information or information that is not symmetrical or complete when a principal hires an agent. Both the principal and the agent will try to satisfy their needs and sometimes they can do that at the expense of one another and therefore a problem arises. Information that is not symmetrical is caused when the two parties both have different economic information that is used in economic decisions. The differences in economic information affect a lot of decisions that are made daily. The moral hazard problem is one of the causes of a principal agent problem. It occurs when one party gives misleading information to the other so that they can satisfy themselves. Jollands et al postulate that the moral hazard problem is related to adverse selection and information not being symmetrical. In all these cases, one party in the relationship always has access to more information than the other and he uses this information badly to benefit himself. (Jollands et al, 2007 78) The party is always insured from risk and therefore he can act unethically for example if the agent is insured, he has financial security and therefore he can engage in risky contracts that may be harmful to the business or to the task at hand. The principal agent relationship can arise among various parties for instance the manager and the shareholders. Shareholders entrust the managers to act on their b ehalf and manage for them their businesses. A problem will occur when the managers act unethically to satisfy their personal needs at the expense of the business or the shareholders’ wealth. Another principal agent relationship is between the insurer and the insured. An agent principal problem will arise when the insurer incase of a loss gives false information regarding the hazard that occurred so as to gain falsely. It may also arise when the insured does not take all the facts into account regarding a loss and therefore gives less compensation to the insurer. The principal agent problem can also be looked at in a different dimension. Surhone, Timpledon and Marseken state that in economics, the principal agent relationship occurs when one party who is the principal, motivates the other party who is the agent to act on his behalf. (Surhone, Timpledon Marseken 2009, 54)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Internal Labour Markets/ Motivating the workforc e specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The problem mostly arises when one party gains at the expense of another for example when the principal motivates or compensates the agent when he carries out certain activities that benefit the principal but are costly to him. Such problems occur when the contract between the principal and the agent was signed under inaccurate or incomplete information and therefore renders it vague or when the contract was signed under a lot of uncertainties and risks. Geetika et al state that in these cases, there is little information regarding the contract and the duties that are supposed to be performed or even the goals that are supposed to be satisfied and therefore they have to provide the agents with incentives and compensation packages to motivate them so that they can act ethically and in a way that the principals would like them to act so as to accomplish the tasks at hand and to enable the principals to gain. (Geetika et al, 2005 302) The principal therefore has to apply different methods in trying to motivate the agents but also benefiting their personal needs and accomplishing their goals and objectives for example the principal can change the way the task is carried out or the way to run the business so that even if the agents act in a way that they satisfy their personal goals, then the goals of the principal are also satisfied or if they make decisions or choices that benefit their self interests, these decisions and choices will also be the same as the decisions that the principal would have made or the choices that the principal would have taken Ways of motivating the agent to act ethically To get rid of the agency problem, the principal must motivate or compensate the agents so that they can act in a way that the principal would wish them to act. Principals can use the employment contracts to motivate or compensate the agents. According to Bolton and Dewatripont, the contracts in clude the ways in which the work is to be performed, the levels of performance required, the measure of that performance and the appraisal and compensation process. (Bolton Dewatripont, 2005 135) Contracts vary in nature because of the difference in the type of work being done and the difference in the nature of the relationship Principals can also use non financial compensation packages to compensate their agents. This involves motivation using other methods that do not involve money. This may include appraisal and recognition or provision of higher authority or the permission to engage in activities that may benefit the agent at a personal level. Every employer takes pride in their work and this is no exception for the agents. Smart states that introduction of performance related pay will therefore reduce the pride of the agent because it will be based more on economic terms between the agent and the principal and the principal will not appreciate the work of the agent. (Smart, 2 010 208)The principal should therefore avoid such methods of remunerationAdvertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The principal can also motivate the agent by improving the working conditions under which the agent is working. The principal should not put so many strict rules and he should allow the agent to be flexible when carrying out his duties and when making decisions that affect the business. Ways of solving the principal agent problem The principal can however undertake certain actions to try and solve the problems that arise from the principal agent relationship. First, the principal can give threats of firing the agent incase of any unethical actions by the agent or incase of any losses by the principal arising form the actions of the agent. McConnell, Brue and Macpherson state that these threats will enable the agent act ethically and in a manner that the principal may want them to act so as to avoid being fired and losing their jobs. (McConnell, Brue Macpherson, 2003 218) Secondly, the principal can take over the work that is being done by the agent, the business or the company and do it alone or give it to another person to do it. This will leave the agent jobless. Lane and Ersson postulate that threats of take over will ensure that the agent acts ethically or appropriately and provides all the information needed by the principals so that they can benefit the principals and ensure that they achieve their goals in due time. (Lane Ersson, 2000 174) The agent will try as much as possible to satisfy the needs of the principal so that they do no not lose their jobs when the principal takes over the business. Another way of solving the principal agent problem is by rewarding the agent. When an agent acts ethically and satisfies the needs and goals of the principal, the principal should reward him so that he can feel motivated and act in the same way always. When the agent is motivated they will always act rationally and ethically and will always aim at ensuring that the principals benefit from their actions Conclusion The principal agent relationship is very commo n and it has proven to work where there is trust and commitment between the two parties. Loyalty is also important in such a relationship and the terms of the contract should be well defined and stated to avoid any misunderstandings References Bolton, P Dewatripont, M. (2005) Contract theory. Massachusetts: MIT Press. Pp. 724 Currie, M. J Wolpin, I. K. (2001) Labor economics. New York: Routledge. Pp. 165 Geetika et al. (2008) Managerial economics. London: McGraw-Hill publishers. Pp. 538 Hirshleifer, J et al. (2005) Price theory and applications: decisions, markets, and information. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 614 Jollands, N et al. (2007) Mind the gap: quantifying principal-agent problems in energy efficiency. New York: OECD Publishing. Pp. 219 Lane, E. J Ersson, O. S. (2000) the new institutional politics: performance and outcomes. New York: Routledge. Pp. 329 McConnell, R. C. Brue, L. S Macpherson, A.D. (2003) Contemporary labor economics. London: McGraw-Hill. E d 6. Pp. 654 Smart, C.J. (2010) Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research. Canada: Springer. Pp. 569 Smith, W. S. (2003) Labor economics. New York: Routledge. Ed 2. pp. 448 Surhone, M. L. Timpledon, T. M Marseken, F. S (2009) Principal-agent Problem: Information Asymmetry, Profit Sharing, Performance Measurement, Efficiency Wages, Dual Labor Market, Time and Motion Study, Off-balance-sheet, Contract Theory, Agency. London: Betascript publishers. Pp. 128

Genocide in Rwanda Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Genocide in Rwanda - Dissertation Example The two groups had different economic roles and responsibilities, the Tutsis were pastoralist while the Hutus were farmers. These are the main economic activities between the two major groups. The Hutus arrived and settled in the region long before the Tutsis came later. The Tutsis are Nilotic and taller slender and having a paler skin with thin lips. On the other hand, the Hutus are shorter, darker and stalker, having a flat nose and thick lips. This means the two ethnic groups were very different both economically and physically. The colonial powers considered Tutsis superior to Hutus in terms of their appearance and skin color; paler. The German and Belgian colonialists use the Tutsis in extending their colonial agenda. The colonial governments passed laws that required everybody to carry identity cards that classified ten as Hutu or Tutsi. This broadened the breach amid the two sets even further. Studies show that the nation`s populace concentration is one of the highest globally . The populace concentration tops that of the populous nations in Africa. It then started by small violence a form of resistance by Hutus against Tutsis. This spirally escalated into a big problem as the struggle spread into other areas of society. In later years, the economic growth of Rwanda was hindered by the drought that affected the country and exposed the two communities to many environmental problems; fertility loss, soil erosion, and deforestation. All this forms the essential links to what created the problems and led to ethnic clashes. In the late 1990s, the then Tutsi activist Habyarimana took a Tutsi led attempted invasion on Rwanda. This according to studies, this led to the first civil war that caused more than a million Rwandan to be physically displaced and they fled into settlement camps (Bloxham 45). The situation causes young and desperate Rwandan to join militia groups in readiness to avenge. The need for vengeance as a way of solving immediate problems meant th at more blood had to be shade. From the previous fact that Rwandans population has since been bloated and it still grows, any unstable environmental factor brought with it. The droughts caused social stress on the resources that were scarce because of an increased population; Hutus were fighting for the scarce farmland while the Tutsis thought they had bigger powers to control the pastoral lands in relation to their political dominance. This meant that ethnic clashes were inevitable reaction given to one problem resulted in another problem. For instance, the Hutus struggled and formed militia groups as a formidable force for battle.

Writing argument Vandana Shiva's the soil vs The Sensex Essay

Writing argument Vandana Shiva's the soil vs The Sensex - Essay Example heavily dependent on the agricultural goods and services of India and if the agricultural produce of India continues to decline then the food security of United States is under immense threat. These two issues are of immense concern because these issues affect our health and wellbeing in a negative manner. The issue of global warming can lead to food crises and malnutrition. Due to global warming some regions may experience decrease in rainfall and due to this various agricultural lands may not be able to attain enough rain to produce agricultural products such as grains and rice that are essential for the survival of human beings. Similar is that case with degradation of soil (Epa.gov, 2015). Degradation of soil can result in the decrease of agricultural products that are essential for the life for every human being in every community. Kristof states that global warming is causing changes in the weather and due to this various crop failures have been caused (Kristof, 2012). Shiva st ates that due to neglect of soil the soil is losing its fertility and this has led to decrease the production of important parts of diet including mangoes (Shiva, 2010). 2. In the essay titled as Soil vs. Sensex, the author Vandana Shiva has made a claim that the earth which is and which has always provided India and its citizens with the essentials of life is being ignored and more importance is being given to the industrial sector of India. The author does not make a general statement but uses proper reasoning along with evidence to prove the point the earth and the poor farmers along with the natural gifts are being neglected even though these elements are sacred to the people of India. She states that people and especially the rich in India is considering Sensex (stock exchange of Mumbai) to be more sacred than the earth. To prove her point that the earth is being neglected she states that 200,000 farmers have already committed suicide and their homes and livelihood are being