Money Laundering Extract from UNODC Essays

Money Laundering Extract from UNODC Essays Money Laundering Extract from UNODC Essay Money Laundering Extract from UNODC Essay Money Laundering Extract from UNODC BY 24 Money is the prime reason for engaging in almost any type of criminal activity. Money-laundering is the method by which criminals disguise the illegal origins of their wealth and protect their asset bases, so as to avoid the suspicion of law enforcement agencies and prevent leaving a trail of incriminating evidence. Terrorists and terrorist organizations also rely on money to sustain themselves and to carry out terrorist acts. Money for terrorists is derived from a wide variety of sources. While terrorists are not greatly concerned with disguising the origin of money, they are concerned with concealing its destination and the purpose for which it has been collected. Terrorists and terrorist organizations therefore employ techniques similar to those used by money launderers to hide their money. The ability to prevent and detect money-laundering is a highly effective means of identifying criminals and terrorists and the underlying activity from which money is derived. The application of ntelligence and investigative techniques can be one way of detecting and disrupting the activities of terrorists and terrorist organizations. Because they deal with other peoples money, financial institutions rely on a reputation for probity and integrity. A financial institution found to have assisted in laundering money will be shunned by legitimate enterprises. An international financial centre that is used for money- laundering can become an ideal financial haven. Developing countries that attract dirty money as a short-term engine of growth can find it difficult, as a consequence, to attract the kind of solid long-term foreign direct investment that is based on stable conditions and good governance, and that can help them sustain development and promote long-term growth. Money-laundering can erode a nations economy by changing the demand for cash, making interest and exchange rates more volatile, and by causing high inflation in countries where criminals are doing business. Most disturbing of all, money-laundering fuels corruption and organized crime. Corrupt public officials need to be able to launder bribes, kick-backs, public funds and, on occasion, even development loans from international financial institutions. Organized criminal groups need to be able to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking and commodity smuggling. Terrorist groups use money-laundering channels to get cash to buy arms. The social consequences of allowing these groups to launder money can be disastrous. Taking the proceeds of crimes from corrupt public officials, traffickers nd organized crime groups is one of the best ways to stop criminals in their tracks. In recent years, the international community has become more aware of the dangers that money-laundering poses in all these areas and many Governments and jurisdictions have committed themselves to taking action. The United Nations and other international organizations are committed to helping them in any way they can. Criminals are now taking advantage of the globalization of the world economy by transferring funds quickly across international borders.

Major General John Sullivan in the American Revolution

Major General John Sullivan in the American Revolution A native of New Hampshire, Major General John Sullivan rose to become one of the Continental Armys most tenacious fighters during the American Revolution (1775-1783). When the war began in 1775, he departed his role as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress to accept as commission as a brigadier general. The next five years would see Sullivan briefly serve in Canada before joining  General George Washingtons army. A veteran of the fighting around New York and Philadelphia in 1776 and 1777, he later held independent commands in Rhode Island and western New York. Leaving the army in 1780, Sullivan returned to Congress and advocated for additional support from France. In his later years he served as Governor of New Hampshire and a federal judge. Early Life Career Born February 17, 1740 in Somersworth, NH, John Sullivan was the third son of the local schoolmaster.   Receiving a thorough education, he elected to pursue a legal career and read law with Samuel Livermore in Portsmouth between 1758 and 1760. Completing his studies, Sullivan married Lydia Worster in 1760 and three years later opened his own practice in Durham. The towns first lawyer, his ambition angered Durhams residents as he frequently foreclose on debts and sued his neighbors. This led the inhabitants of the town to file a petition with the New Hampshire General Court in 1766 calling for relief from his oppressive extortive behavior. Gathering favorable statements from a few friends, Sullivan succeeded in having the petition dismissed and then attempted to sue his attackers for libel. In the wake of this incident, Sullivan did begin to improve his relations with the people of Durham and in 1767 befriended Governor John Wentworth. Increasingly wealthy from his legal practice and other business endeavors, he used his connection to Wentworth to secure a majors commission in the New Hampshire militia in 1772. Over the next two years, Sullivans relationship with the governor soured as he moved increasingly into the Patriot camp. Angered by the Intolerable Acts and Wentworths habit of dissolving the colonys assembly, he represented Durham at the First Provincial Congress of New Hampshire in July 1774. Patriot Chosen as a delegate to the First Continental Congress, Sullivan traveled to Philadelphia that September.   While there he supported the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress which outlined colonial grievances against Britain. Sullivan returned to New Hampshire in November and worked to built local support for the document. Alerted to British intentions to secure weapons and powder from the colonials, he took part in a raid on Fort William Mary in December which saw the militia capture a large quantity of cannon and muskets. A month later, Sullivan was selected to serve in the Second Continental Congress.   Departing later that spring, he learned of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the start of the American Revolution upon arriving in Philadelphia.   Brigadier General With the formation of the Continental Army and selection of General George Washington its commander, Congress moved forward with appointing other general officers. Receiving a commission as a brigadier general, Sullivan departed the city in late June to joined the army at the Siege of Boston. Following the liberation of Boston in March 1776, he received orders to lead men north to reinforce the American troops which had invaded Canada the previous fall.   Not reaching Sorel on the St. Lawrence River until June, Sullivan quickly found that the invasion effort was collapsing. Following a series of reverses in the region, he began withdrawing south and was later joined by troops led by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Returning to friendly territory, attempts were made to scapegoat Sullivan for the invasions failure.   These allegations were soon shown to be false and he was promoted to major general on August 9. Captured Rejoining Washingtons army at New York, Sullivan assumed command of those forces positioned on Long Island as Major General Nathanael Greene had fallen ill. On August 24, Washington replaced Sullivan with Major General Israel Putnam and assigned him to command a division. On the American right at the Battle of Long Island three days later, Sullivans men mounted a tenacious defense against the British and Hessians. Personally engaging the enemy as his men were pushed back, Sullivan fought the Hessians with pistols before being captured. Taken to the British commanders, General Sir William Howe and Vice Admiral Lord Richard Howe, he was employed to travel to Philadelphia to offer a peace conference to Congress in exchange for his parole. Though a conference later occurred on Staten Island, it accomplished nothing. Return to Action Formally exchanged for Brigadier General Richard Prescott in September, Sullivan returned to the army as it retreated across New Jersey. Leading a division that December, his men moved along the river road and played a key role in the American victory at the Battle of Trenton. A week later, his men saw action at the Battle of Princeton before moving into winter quarters at Morristown. Remaining in New Jersey, Sullivan oversaw an abortive raid against Staten Island on August 22 before Washington moved south to defend Philadelphia. On September 11, Sullivans division initially occupied a position behind the Brandywine River as the Battle of Brandywine commenced. As the action progressed, Howe turned Washingtons right flank and Sullivans division raced north to face the enemy. Attempting to mount a defense, Sullivan succeeded in slowing the enemy and was able to withdraw in good order after being reinforced by Greene. Leading the American attack at the Battle of Germantown the following month, Sullivans division performed well and gained ground until a series of command and control issues led to an American defeat. After entering winter quarters at Valley Forge in mid-December, Sullivan departed the army in March of the following year when he received orders to assume command of American troops in Rhode Island. Battle of Rhode Island Tasked with expelling the British garrison from Newport, Sullivan spent the spring stockpiling supplies and making preparations. In July, word arrived from Washington that he could expect aid from French naval forces led by Vice Admiral Charles Hector, comte dEstaing. Arriving late that month, dEstaing met with Sullivan and devised an attack plan. This was soon thwarted by the arrival of a British squadron led by Lord Howe. Quickly re-embarking his men, the French admiral departed to pursue Howes ships. Expecting dEstaing to return, Sullivan crossed to Aquidneck Island and began moving against Newport. On August 15, the French returned but dEstaings captains refused to stay as their ships had been damaged by a storm.   As a result, they immediately left for Boston leaving an incensed Sullivan to continue the campaign. Unable to conduct a protracted siege due to British reinforcements moving north and lacking the strength for a direct assault, Sullivan withdrew to a defensive position at the northern end of the island in the hopes that the British might pursue him. On August 29, British forces attacked the American position in the inconclusive Battle of Rhode Island. Though Sullivans men inflicted greater casualties in the fighting the failure to take Newport marked the campaign as a failure. Sullivan Expedition In early 1779, following a series of attacks and massacres on the Pennsylvania-New York frontier by British rangers and their Iroquois allies, Congress directed Washington to dispatch forces to the region to eliminate the threat. After command of the expedition was turned down by Major General Horatio Gates, Washington selected Sullivan to lead the effort. Gathering forces, Sullivans Expedition moved through northeast Pennsylvania and into New York conducting a scorched earth campaign against the Iroquois. Inflicting major damage on the region, Sullivan swept aside the British and Iroquois at the Battle of Newtown on August 29.   By the time the operation ended in September, over forty villages had been destroyed and the threat greatly reduced. Congress Later Life In increasingly ill health and frustrated by Congress, Sullivan resigned from the army in November and returned to New Hampshire. Hailed as a hero at home, he rebuffed the approaches of British agents who sought to turn him and accepted election to Congress in 1780. Returning to Philadelphia, Sullivan worked to resolve the status of Vermont, deal with financial crises, and obtain additional financial support from France. Completing his term in August 1781, he became New Hampshires attorney general the following year. Holding this position until 1786, Sullivan later served in the New Hampshire Assembly and as President (Governor) of New Hampshire. During this period, he advocated for ratification of the US Constitution. With the formation of the new federal government, Washington, now president, appointed Sullivan as the first federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Taking the bench in 1789, he actively ruled on cases until 1792 when ill health began to limit his activities. Sullivan died at Durham on January 23, 1795 and was interred his family cemetery.

Homework Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Homework - Research Paper Example The company manager must ensure that the best qualified marketers and sales people are in the company to ensure that the company’s assets meet the requirements of the customers. If the particular assets are not in the company, they should ensure that they refer the customers to the right company’s partners who are in the same sphere. When selling the services outside the company’s environment, Better Sms must have qualified sales people and marketers in the field who have an excellent working experience in the same technology field. The team must relate very well with the technical department in that they will be able to advertise the messaging services very clearly and avoid technical mistakes when marketing the services. On the same note, the company should have a determined customer care department to be ready to educate the customers more about the services. Better Sms Ltd has a twenty four seven online customers care that will be communicating with the customers in case of any problem by using the interactive video response method. There are numerous sales methods to be used by the sales person but Better Sms will use the best methods that will fit the company’s services by prospecting the right target for the text messaging and the issuing of the bulky messages. Understanding and getting the right customers for the business is quite a hard task that has a lot of valleys and experiences because it needs patience and tolerance. There is a lot of frustrations in the marketing field of the sales because majorly it is a new service that is being broadcasted in the information and technology world. Just few companies like Better Sms that will educate the sales people on how to prospect the services very effectively. Better Sms will look forward to prospect the services by use of networking while interacting with the

Relationships Between Nursing, Health, and the Policy Processes Article

Relationships Between Nursing, Health, and the Policy Processes - Article Example This is because several laws and policies within the country support abortion. The woman also indicated that her health was in danger because the pregnancy affected her psychological well-being because she conceived under duress. The policy that best typifies the case study is Access to Abortion Services that give women rights to abort. This right allows women to access abortion services, as well as support within health care units. The act also creates access routes, and prohibits derogatory actions such as harassments. Some of the access routes include the health care facilities, physicians’ offices, and other service providers (College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia, 2013). Additionally, individuals receiving abortion services and issuing financial and emotional support are protected. The legalization of abortion has been controversial in the United States for the past 200 years making it difficult for the process to enjoy the protection of the law (Simmonds, 2013). Currently, women in the United States have legal abortions right granted throughout the pregnancy period. Furthermore, the women have the right to abort in almost all situations especially after Supreme Court announced the inc orporation of abortion rights into the constitution. This implies that any lawful barriers that will hinder the females from having abortion are unconstitutional (Abort73.com, 2009). This policy involves the nursing process because the service providers include the nurses who offer the abortion services and care based on the provisions of the act. This means that it is illegal for nurses to refuse to give abortion services to females especially when the circumstances are justifiable. I supported the nurses’ decision in the case study. This is because the elements of the abortion policy contradict religious practices. According to my religion, abortion is sin because it constitutes murder.

Servicing customers in Global market Essay Example for Free

Servicing customers in Global market Essay Servicing customers in Global market Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marketing communications are the channels used by businesses in the endeavor of persuading, informing and reminding clients about their brands that they sell. Firms can use different promotional tools to reach clients either directly or indirectly. Marketing communication can involve non-personal or personal communication channels. Marketing communication enables firms to acquire new clients for their products by encouraging trial and building awareness. It also enables them retain their clients by supporting their purchase activities by offering supplementary information regarding brand benefits. The rationale of this paper is to compare and contrast different tools of communication and how they use consumer behavior theory successfully to achieve their objectives.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are several items of communication such as website, TV advert, poster, direct mail brochure, billboard and magazine advert. I will focus on television advertising and web marketing. Website is very vital firms marketing policy. Websites help clients to find firms and advertisers brands from those firms. Marketing through website will enable firms to improve their customer care through e-commerce website. Website is a medium where many customers spend a lot of time especially due to technology advancement. Through websites, firms can reach national and international clients in a cost effective manner (Juon Buerkle, 2011). On the other hand, television advertising is another effective tool in a firm’s marketing strategy. Television is a medium where clients spend most considerate time. Report indicates that the average television viewing lasts for about five to six hours. This elaborates why it is used as a gigantic advertiseme nt instrument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Television is a significant marketing tool because it offers the greatest possibility for creative advertising. Web advertising and television advertising has a lot of similarities in common, and they also share some differences. They are the marketing strategies that a firm can use to reach large audiences, low cost of advertising, and it is easy to reach a targeted audience through these two approaches. Website advertising is less expensive as compared to television advertisements. In addition, websites can be created with the aim of targeting a particular audience than TV commercials. The two items of marketing are effective, but the one that best fits a given firm will rely on their goals and target market. Firms can also use more than one items of marketing since they support each other. I chose these two items of marketing because they are a giant in advertising media and also giant in advertising costs as well. They have proven thei r capacity to control human activities over and over. Television advertising is mostly used in outbound marketing where firms direct marketing activities at the client. On the other hand, websites are used in inbound marketing where clients search for brands that can meet their needs (Carroll, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Firms place their marketing in websites so that clients can find out more regarding brands and services. Website advertising has more flexibility as compared to TV commercials. Television advertising has one objective of convincing clients to buy products, but websites can help firms to reach clients easily as they enjoy other entertaining and educational services. The crucial message to the advertisers willing to use website and television advertising is that they should choose the strategy that matches their goals and their target market. Both website and television advertising are crucial to the firms, and they can be used interchangeably. In other instances, either of the items can help and support other digital strategies used by a firm (Percy, 2008).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is very vital for firms to understand their customers’ psychology so that they can be able to come up with appropriate strategies that will help them realize their objectives. Consumer behavior is the conduct of clients in regard to using, disposing and acquiring services, experiences, ideas, and products. Consumer behavior also includes use and acquisition of information. Therefore, communication with clients and getting response for them is a vital part of consumer behavior which is every firm’s greatest interest. Consumer psychology is the study of client’s mental processes and behavior. Understanding of theories of customer psychology will help businesses to learn different types of customers. There are various reasons as to why businesses should understand customers. First, customer behavior is very crucial in daily living because people mostly spend a lot of time shopping. Secondly, consumer behavior is signif icant in decision making. For example, while setting prices, firms must consider their clients. In other cases, business decisions might be influenced by expected actions or behavior (Hoyer MacInnis, 2010). Application of consumer behavior   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Consumer behavior research can help firms increase their success rate because they will understand their customer’s needs that will enable them to realize profits. Understanding customer behavior will enable businesses to evaluate their strategies because they will be able to understand customer feedback regarding their latest products and services (Hoyer MacInnis, 2010).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marketing application areas of consumer behavior is in; market-opportunity analysis where the firm examine conditions and trends in the marketplace to discover client needs that are not being fully fulfilled. Target market selection is whereby firms wish to discover different groupings of consumers who have exceptional needs. It also involves the assortment of sections that merges firm’s potency and offer enhanced opportunities. The third area of application is marketing-mix determination. It involves creation and implementation a strategy that will ensure delivery of an appropriate combination of need-satisfying characteristics to clients within the target market. Marketing mix involves price, place, promotion and product. Understanding of customer behavior is also required in tactical marketing operations. Successful regulatory strategy in regard of marketing practices calls for an extensive knowledge of consumer behavior.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Social marketing also calls for an extensive understanding of customer behavior. Social marketing is where firms apply marketing tactics and strategies to create or alter behaviors that have constructive impact to the target audience or the society in general. Social marketing through websites and television is conducted in endeavors of encouraging environmental friendly behaviors, reduce smoking, encourage timely vaccination of children, reduce activities likely to cause AIDS, reduce substance abuse, encourage charitable organizations among other substantial activities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Personality is a factor that affects people’s feedback regarding advertisements. It can also happen the other way round where messages from marketing can affect people’s attitudes. Behavioral approach is a strategy which focuses on the measurable and observable features of human conduct. Human behavior can only be analyzed through their reaction, actions and how they conduct themselves. Behavioral approach maintains that personal behavior is affected by their environment. Cognitive behavior assumes that if researchers wish to understand human conduct, they should focus on the internal processes of their mind. Cognitive approach examine how people treat the information they receive and how their treatment result to feedbacks.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In determining which item to apply for marketing, firms will apply behavioral approach where they will analyze how clients think about either television advertisement or websites. On the other hand, firms will apply cognitive approach while determining how clients will react when they receive messages through television or websites (McLeod, 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, there are several items of marketing communication such as website, television advertising, billboard, poster, magazine advert and direst mail brochure. Television advertising is habitually used in outbound marketing where businesses direct marketing activities at the client. On the other hand, websites are commonly used in inbound marketing where clients search for brands that can meet their needs. These two items are very vital in marketing strategy of a firm since they will reach a great number of their target audience at lower cost. Firms should understand customer behavior which will enable them to choose the marketing tool that will fit their customer’s needs. Through appropriate marketing, firms will be able to retain customers, attract new customers by notifying them with the latest information regarding their brands. Firms can also choose to use various items of marketing communication since they help and sup port other marketing mix strategies. There are two approaches in analysis of consumer behavior; behavioral approach and cognitive approach. References Behavioral Approach Behavioral Psychology Psychologist World. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.psychologistworld.com/issues/behavioralapproach.php Carroll,  J. (2006). Television. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. Cognitive Approach | Simply Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive.html Hoyer,  W.  D., MacInnis,  D.  J. (2010). Consumer behavior. U.st: South-Western Centage Learning. Juon,  C., Greiling,  D., Buerkle,  C. (2011). Internet marketing, start-to-finish. Indianapolis, IN: Que. Percy,  L. (2008). Strategic integrated marketing communication: Theory and practice. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann. Source document

Free College Admissions Essays: I can fly a kite :: College Admissions Essays

"I can fly a kite" I can fly a kite, make a great roast beef sandwich, read an entire Patricia Cornwell paperback book in less than a day and change a diaper without flinching. These characteristics combined are what separate me from the hundreds of other students that apply to Lynchburg College, that and the fact that I am applying with only one week left before classes start. Writing this college essay seven days before the start of the spring semester at Lynchburg College is a very unusual move for me to be making; but I have come to the conclusion that this is the only place I want to be. My entire life I have never been spontaneous. All my decisions have been well thought out and planned, this decision is no different, I just went about it a little quicker, with a lot less time to spare. I began my freshman year at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Choosing Roger Williams University was a decision that I made without understanding the important issues I needed to consider in orde r to thrive in a college environment. Now, after experiencing college for myself, I realize that Roger Williams does not have what I am looking for. I didn't consider quality of education when I chose Roger Williams, the school had the major I wanted, communications, but when I started taking classes there the program was not as developed as I would have liked. Although I did well in all my classes, I felt that the education I would continue to receive if I stayed at Roger Williams would not be as beneficial to me as the educational oppurtunites elsewhere. Looking at Lynchburg I saw that not only was there Communications Print/Broadcast journalism major, but a Speech Communications major as well. My original plan was to finish freshman year at Roger Williams, and then go someplace that could meet my needs; this was until I visited Lynchburg College. When I saw the college, all I could think of was how much I would love to attend school there, but I never even considered it an option . I thought I was stuck at Roger Williams, until I realized that the only way I was going to be happy was if I made things happen for myself. I realized that Lynchburg College was exactly what I had been looking for, and everything about the educational opportunities, social opportunities, location and just the general environment I observed was something I wanted to be a part of, and contribute to.

Impact of Human Activities on Natural Hazards Essay

Natural hazards are naturally occurring phenomena that have disastrous impact on humanity. These phenomena had been in existence even before the advent of humanity. The hazardous dimension of these natural phenomena are in the context of the impact that such a phenomenon would have on human population in the area affected by that phenomenon. In this essay, the effect that human activity has on these natural hazards would be analyzed. Some human activities may be exacerbating the factors that cause the natural hazard, like the impact of excessive and unplanned logging on floods and droughts. In certain other cases the human activities may cause subsequent or supplementary hazards to a primary hazard event, like building dams in earthquake prone zones may lead to flash floods and landslides in the event of a rupture. A hazard can be defined as an event that has the potential to cause harm. This potential may be on account of its unexpected timing of occurrence or the actual intensity of the event itself. Human societies can withstand these events within a normal scale of occurrence. However, human societies become vulnerable when these events occur unexpectedly or are of an intensity or duration that falls beyond that normal scale (O’Hare and Rivas, 2005). Natural hazards can be broadly classified under the heads of geological, hydrological, climatic and diseases. This essay would limit its scope to analyzing causal relationships, if any, of human activities on landslides, floods and drought and the secondary hazards triggered by those activities in the event of an earthquake. Of all human activities that have a direct or indirect impact on natural hazards, deforestation is by far the most significant. Deforestation is the removal or destruction of forest cover of an area. It may occur due to unscientific logging practices without regeneration and may be accompanied by subsequent conversion to non-forest usage like agriculture, pasture, urban, mining or industrial development, fallow or wetland. At a very broad level, it has been argued that deforestation is a major cause of global climatic changes. It has been predicted that removal of forest cover will lead to violent and unpredictable environmental fluctuations. At a smaller landscape, deforestation has a direct bearing upon the climatic, hydrological, edaphic and biological aspects of that area. Deforestation is associated with higher levels of soil erosion and landslides, sedimentation in river beds and changes in fluvial geomorphology (Haigh, 1984). Quite a few of these effects of deforestation have a direct bearing on the natural hazards that will be covered in this essay. One of the major functions of a forest is to maintain the humidity level in the atmosphere. Trees withdraw groundwater through their roots and transpire the excess water through their leaves. Forests return a major part of the rainfall received by them through evapotranspiration. Annual evapotranspiration in tropical moist lowland forests ranges up to 1500 mm per year, with transpiration accounting for a maximum of 1045 mm per year (Bruijnzeel, 1990). This process of evapotranspiration in the leaves of trees takes the latent heat of evaporation from the surrounding atmosphere. Thus evapotranspiration has a cooling effect on the atmosphere that aids precipitation. Deforestation denies the atmosphere of this cooling effect and is thus a contributing factor to lowering of annual rainfall in an area. Further, the effects of deforestation generally compound the severity of drought. Lack of trees translates to the lack of root fibers that hold the topsoil. In the event of a drought, the topsoil flakes and gets blown by the wind, leading to severe dust storms. This phenomenon had devastated the American Great Plains for close to a decade in 1930s. The dust bowl covered farming areas in Colorado, Kansas, north west Oklahoma, north Texas and north east New Mexico. The fertile soil of the plains was exposed due to lack of vegetation cover and actions of the plow. These farming techniques that led to severe soil erosion, coupled with prolonged periods of extremely low rainfall, led to a series of severe dust storms that ranged up to the Atlantic coast. Much of the fertile topsoil was lost in the Atlantic (Cartensen et al. , 1999). Direct causal relationship between human activity and drought is yet to be conclusively established. However, there are studies available that point to a positive correlation between the two. For example, climate-modeling studies have indicated that the 20th century Sahel drought was caused by changing sea surface temperatures. These changes were due to a combination of natural variability and human induced atmospheric changes. The anthropogenic factors in this case were rise in greenhouse gas levels and aerosols (GFDL Climate Modeling Research Highlights, 2007). The effect of human activities like deforestation is rather more direct and pronounced in case of hydrological hazards like fluvial floods. Fluvial floods occur when the discharge of a river exceeds its bankfull capacity. Forests create deep, open textured soils that can hold large quantities of water. When the forest cover is removed through logging, the soil becomes compacted. More rainwater is converted to runoff or near surface flow and less proportion percolates as groundwater. Research has shown significant increase in monthly runoff following logging activities (Rahim and Harding, 1993). The runoff rainwater carries with it considerable amounts of loose soil particles. Removal of vegetation cover through excessive logging activities or overgrazing leaves the soil bare. In such a situation, the upper layer of the soils becomes susceptible to erosion by surface runoff. These suspended soil particles are deposited on the riverbeds. The effect of this type of soil erosion by surface runoff is even more pronounced when the deforestation happens in the riparian zones as well.

How do religious believers respond to challenges posed to them by scientists? Essay

Challenges to religious belief started around the time of the renaissance, before this the Church had almost complete control over people’s views, although criticisms were present. Since the only literate people were generally monks or priests for a considerable amount of time, challenges to religion were dismissed. However gradually times changed and with them so did attitudes. Although there were other arguments of a more philosophical and theological nature beforehand Galileo’s idea of heliocentricity was one of the first arguments to challenge religion in a way it had never been challenged before; scientifically. The idea that our world was the centre of the universe that is to say the geocentric view had been held since the time of Aristotle. This idea implies that the world is not the most important thing, just another component in the vast universe; this was the beginning of science opposing religious ideas. Presently there are many challenges to the existence of a creator specifically the Judeo Christian God who is responsible for the account of the creation of the world in Genesis. One of the major arguments against Genesis is Darwin’s theory of evolution. It says that contrary to the story of Genesis, humans evolved from apes and were not made, as we are now, on the 6th day of creation. Christians react very differently to this theory. Some choose to ignore it completely arguing that science can make mistakes and evolution is still only a theory. They might say that if God is all powerful, nothing is impossible and we cannot see the bigger picture. Other Christians present theories such as irreducible complexity and intelligent design; these are usually more liberal Christians. Some might say that the two ideas can be united saying that one asks how while the other, religion, asks why. On the matter of Creation itself there are many controversies. A young earth creationist would believe that the account of Genesis is completely true and that the earth is between 6000 to 10,000 years old. They would dismiss any scientific ideas perhaps saying that they can’t disprove God or maybe choosing to remain ignorant of scientific theories. If a scientist challenged this view using fossils as evidence, a young earth creationist may argue that God had put them there deliberately to test our faith. Some Christians and religious believers would say that we are not supposed to know everything because we wouldn’t understand and its part of God’s plan, they might say that if God had intended us to know then he would have included it in the Bible or the Holy Scripture belonging to the believer. Religious believers that belong to Islam methodically reject Darwin’s theory of evolution and often refuse to discuss it. However Koran has a similar creation story to the Bible and therefore the same problem of days. Many Muslims claim this is figurative and that days is supposed to mean period of time and therefore wriggle out of one of the challenges to their belief. Earlier while talking about evolution intelligent design and irreducible complexity were mentioned. These are popular responses by more liberal Christians to problems created by science. Intelligent design is a modern extension of the teleological argument; it argues that processes such as evolution are best explained by an intelligent cause and not just a random occurrence of mutations. It is therefore quite a popular compromise for Christians, it doesn’t contradict science and seems to unite the two; science is true but God made it happen. Irreducible complexity is an idea by Michael Behe, an American biochemist. He says that certain organisms are irreducibly complex that is to say that if you follow the evolutionary chain back far enough, you come to a point where it cannot be broken down anymore, the whole thing, however simple, has to exist simultaneously. Behe uses the example of a mousetrap saying that without any one part it could not function. Behe is widely criticised and slated by scientist because he is filling gaps in scientific theory with God using little or no concrete evidence, some say he has created a â€Å"God of the gaps.† Some more liberal Christians often present the Yom argument in the discussion of creation. The word day is used in Genesis but it was translated from the Hebrew word â€Å"Yom† which means any period of time from 24 hours to an indefinite span of time. Science clearly says that the entire universe was not made in an earthly week, using Yom as a period of time means that Genesis no longer has to say that the universe was made in a week, more just 6 stages. This can end the conflict of timescale to a certain extent.

Rain forests all the way essays

Rain forests all the way essays The discussions these days are why are the rain forests depleting? Well this research will help change the opinions of many people. Some facts about rain forests are, Tropical rain forests occupy about 7 percent of the earths surface but harbor as much as 50 percent of the worlds plant and animal species. Also about 57 percent of all rain forests remaining are in the tropics in the Western Hemisphere: 30 percent are in Brazil. At the current rate of deforestation, tropical rain forests could be wiped out in 177 years. Less than 5 percent of the worlds tropical rain forests are protected within national parks and reserves (Steve Grant, 2). Rain forests are becoming very scarce and should be taking into concern because depletion of rain forests is a problem. One method of cutting down rain forests is slash-and-burn agriculture. Grant defines slash-and-burn agriculture as Smallholders that are cutting down four or five acres of forest and set it on fire. The resulting ash fertilizes the soils, which are notoriously poor in the tropics (1). Grant explains that now that there is only charred stumps left, a lot of light reaches the ground and is oppressively hot (1). In the past, a logger might take only a few trees per acre. While that would allow more light into the forest floor and raise the risk of fire (Grant, 2). So when people decide to cut down forests they are increasing the risk of fire. Rain forests have been burning up lately. An analysis of satellite by the EDF indicates that burning of rainforest land in Amazon increased 28% from 1996 to 1997 (Amazon rainforest, 1). Research shows A total of 19,115 fires are reported from the NOAA-12 satellite images in the sample in 1996, while 24,549 fires appear in the 1997 data over the period (1). One reason for rampant burning is that Brazils environmental agency has had no l ...

The Matter of Detail in a Descriptive Essay

The Matter of Detail in a Descriptive Essay The Matter of Detail in a Descriptive Essay Descriptive essays are essay writings that tend to create deeply involved and vivid reader’s experience. The best essays of this form achieve this open effect by the use of detailed observations and descriptions and not through facts and statistics. These forms of essays are meant to outline the reality with the help of words. Identifying an Idea and Describing It It is normally important to identify exactly what one wants to describe. In addition, mostly descriptive essays tend to focus on the following elements: Experience A certain place A memory A specific object The ultimate focus of descriptive writing is to give details about above-mentioned topics for the reader to clearly imagine the picture in his/her head. Reasons for Writing a Descriptive Essay First, descriptive essays depict what one observes as its core reason. They are normally based on certain agendas and events. Understanding this helps one to focus on the description and imbue ones language with a particular emotion. While writing a descriptive essay one should show the imagery of an idea without telling it. The following examples give the difference between showing and telling. I got tired of taking banquet. As I rested my head against the pinnacle of the chair, my eyelids started to get heavy, and the ends of the empty plate in front of me was blurred with the white table cloth. The initial sentence tells the reader what you got tired of, which was dinner. The second shows exhaustion. The most efficient descriptive essays are gauged by how they effectively show an action the way it happened. This is because they enable readers and the audience to imagine and experience the act matching the description. What is more, it is normally important to focus on the five senses that are closely connected with the detailed side when writing a captivating essay. These include: Sight Sound Smell Touch Taste When one writes his/her descriptions based on the five senses they provide a clear and precise picture to the readers rather than telling them their intentions and thoughts. Quick Guidelines for Writing a Descriptive Essay Jotting down a descriptive essay can seem like an easy task but it can be quite complicated. So it’s normally important to have a quick checklist of questions to guide you through when arranging, drafting, and modifying your essay work. Preparation of a Descriptive Essay Identify the description you want to give. Enlist your reasons for the description. Decide on areas to implore emphasis on. Draft Your Descriptive Essay Choose the senses and textures that are significant for developing the description. Include details that will enable the readers to have a clear impression of your emotion and point of view during your description. Revise Your Description Essay Check for minor details that might have been left out but are vital. Remove any unnecessary wordings in the essay. Check to see whether each paragraph deals with a distinct aspect of the description. Always revise your choice of words to ensure that they describe your intended emotions. Evaluate whether sufficient detail has been included to enable the readers to get a clear and precise picture of your description. To sum up the guidelines given above, it is necessary to mention the importance of detailed writing in descriptive essays. With the help of a thorough depiction of things, readers have the opportunity to picture them in their minds and that is the main purpose of descriptive writing. At you can buy a descriptive essay online, 100% custom written from scratch by top-rated academic experts. Place your order now!

Public Services Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Public Services Management - Essay Example Organisational culture shapes the different procedures within the organisation and serves to either obstruct effective goal attainment and problem-solving or facilitates achievement of objectives (Yilmaz and Ergun 2008). Differences in organisational culture in the public sector versus the private sector are substantial. The public sector is largely characterised by having bureaucratic management systems with a much higher emphasis on establishing control and compliance systems than building flexibility. In the private sector, there is much more emphasis on human relations and human resources, hence employees are engaged and consulted in much higher frequency than in public organisations. This essay describes the disparities between public sector culture and commercial businesses, with an emphasis on bureaucracy, internal talent collaboration, motivational strategy development, and the quality of leader/member exchanges. Research indicates that there are significant differences between private and public sector organisational cultures and, as a result, this disparity creates a variety of negative consequences related to contemporary public service management. Historically, the public sector in the United Kingdom has been dominated with bureaucratic management systems whereby decision-making is highly centralised and there is little to no consultation with employees in the process of solving organisational problems. However, in response to changing external conditions and new privatisation of public services, it was becoming recognised by public sector administrators that there was a need for decentralisation in order to build a more motivated, committed and collaborative team environment. Known as New Public Management, the goal was to improve managerial accountability, break down the hindrances of consensus management, and generally incorporate some of the more effective and foundational management ideologies used in