METHODS OF INQUIRY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

METHODS OF INQUIRY - Essay Example Risk taking is known throughout the world. Most human beings will concede that returns are commensurate to the level of effort you invest into a given activity. In pre-agrarian societies, it was apparent that the more effort one puts into a given activity, the more returns that individual got. In agrarian societies, what one sowed was what he reaped. This is a general maxim and the more a person puts into a given activity, the more that individual got in return from the activities. The concept of work came with the attitude of people working hard to attain higher returns. In most tax jurisdictions, people are taxed for income from work, income from property and income from investments (Blankson, 2010). Incidentally, most poor people have no property business income nor investments. They tend to have a given source of income like a job or wages for hired activities. These individuals have little or no savings. On the other hand, rich people make a lot of income and due to past excess funds, they tend to invest in property or in other businesses. These investments come with high returns and the returns are high enough to be considered a form of income which merits a tax. Poor people however have limited funds to save, let alone invest. They only have enough to pay for their basic necessities and have little to set aside as extra income. Due to that, they tend to make little. However, the fundamental element and the fundamental assumption of Economics is that human ends are more than their needs. This is a universal desire in all human beings. This is because the average human being has a wide array of expectations and desires. And these needs and wants can only be fulfilled through the attainment of higher earning capabilities. This is a desire that exists in both rich and poor people. By virtue of the fact that the rich have more money, they invest a lot of money into a given venture and this brings

Instant coffee market in Japan

Instant coffee market in Japan Nestlà © has dominated the instant coffee market in Japan for a number of years, however, during the 1960s; canned coffee became more popular in Japan. Nestlà © overlooked this chance to gain more of the market share and branded canned coffee as a coffee-flavoured drink, so did not to enter the market. Kirin Beer, Nestlà ©s partner at the time, broke off its relationship with Nestlà © after they refused to enter the canned coffee market. This increased Coca Colas chances and they entered the market with Georgia, especially for this part of the Japanese market. Coca-Cola managed to secure 40% of the canned coffee market in Japan by utilising its existing distribution channel. Nestlà © only entered the market in the early 1990s and has only a 4% share, through a partnership with Otsuka Beverage [1, 2]. In 1991, Otsuka Beverages Nescafà © Canned Coffee sold 50 million cases (30 cans per case) from September to October and around 70 million individual cans from September to Novembe r. In the beginning, the individual canned coffee product was mostly placed on Japan-Rail kiosks throughout Japan. By entering the canned coffee market Otsuka created much competition between already existing brands; such as Coca-Cola group (Georgia) and beer group (Suntory, Kirin and Asahi) who had already achieved a great deal of market share [3]. However, Table 1 shows that Nestlà ©s market share for canned coffee products in 2005 remained at less than 10% [4]. The Japanese accepted Nestlà © instant coffee, which in turn helped them to be the dominant coffee product in Japan. Nevertheless, to compete with soft drinks they launched a new canned coffee that was not accepted by the Japanese like instant coffee, this was because to the Japanese it was just a coffee flavoured drink rather than a can of real coffee. Nestlà © spends approximately 1% of its annual sales revenue on Research and Development (RD) and in 2006 had 3,100 employees dedicated to this department. Around 70% of the RD budget is spent on development initiatives that focus on developing products and processes that fulfil market needs [1]. Analysis of the status quo of the Japanese RTD Market A report by AgExporter, in October 1992 found that Japan is the worlds largest market for ready-to-drink (RTD) canned coffee [5], which gives foreign firms a good opportunity for investment. In 1991, the Japanese consumed a total of $7.3 billion worth of canned coffee products, this accounted for roughly a quarter of all canned beverage sales [5]. The market reached a value of $16 billion in 2003, having grown with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9% in the years 1999-2003 [6]. A reason for canned coffees popularity is how it is easily adapted to each seasons temperature. Through the colder winter months, consumers favour hot canned coffee to soft drinks, beer, fruit juices, milk [5] and other cooler drinks. In the hotter summer months, cold canned coffee is preferred. A Japanese trade publication showed that sales of canned coffee were roughly evenly split between summer and winter months [5]. Another reason for the rapid growth in sales of RTD coffee is due to the extensive distribution in vending machines. About 70-80% of total sales of canned coffee are sold via vending machines according to the Japan Soft Drink Bottlers Association. The other 20-30% is sold in convenience stores and supermarkets [5]. Negotiation of strong product distribution through vending machines is particularly important in the Japanese soft drinks market. Almost three quarters of all canned coffee is sold via vending machines [5]. Graphs 1 and 2 show sales of RTD coffee have been declining since 2003, however in 2010 for Coca-Cola (Graph 1) the trend begins to rise whilst Nestlà © (Graph 2) continues to decline [7]. RTD coffee was not the only soft drink to suffer a loss in 2009; the losses were mainly a result of the recession and a shorter summer, which forced many consumers to cut back on spending on unnecessary goods. Chained coffee shops also reported a significant fall in customer numbers through 2009. This caused many Japanese consumers to use thermal flasks to take coffee to work [8]. Graph 1 [7] Graph 2 Graph 2 [7] Coca-Cola (Japan) Co Ltd remains the leader in RTD coffee, accounting for 24% off-trade volume share (see Table 2) and 27% off-trade value share (see Table 3) in 2009. The company benefits from its strong and well-targeted marketing campaigns. The companys strong branding also helped to sustain demand, with its Georgia brand enjoying a high profile. Coca-Cola accounted for almost double the off-trade value share of its nearest competitor in RTD coffee in 2009, with Suntory Holdings Ltd lagging behind at 13.8% off-trade value share in 2009 [8]. Even though there are policies in place that deter foreign companies, they do have some strengths that can be used to get a foothold in the Japanese market, including lower costs for product ingredients, packaging and labour [5]. Even though exporters have advantages, there are factors they should take into account when thinking of investing in the Japanese market. These factors include potential distributors, importers, retailers, vending machine manufacturers and operators to confirm that product packaging is compatible with equipment specifications, government labelling and sanitation standards, and consumer expectations [5]. Even though there are standards that need to be met, in recent years, the Japanese government has slackened a number of regulations and structural trade barriers, making it easier for foreign companies to enter into Japan. However, there are legal, business and cultural obstacles that remain. Among these are tariffs, food sanitation and labelling laws and Japans complex distribution system. Strict limitations have been placed on the use of certain food colourings, preservatives and additives that have to be avoided in canned coffee products [5]. Packaging All products sold in Japan must have the correct labelling. Labels for imported beverages must include the following information: Product name Raw materials used, including additives Date of manufacture or processing Name and location of manufacturer or processor [5] Nearly all leading brands use steel cans for their canned coffee, although a number of companies use aluminium cans, steel cans are favoured because they are sturdier and not as expensive. Non-carbonated beverages often come in aluminium cans that are more prone to denting; packaging is an important issue to address when selling via vending machine since Japanese consumers will reject dented cans. The most common serving sizes for canned coffee products are 150 grams, 190 grams, 250 grams and 350 grams [5] with the most popular being the 250 gram can. However, increased costs of production and ingredients have forced many manufacturers to switch to the smaller 190-gram can but still charge the same price. An increase in product quality is usually the main reason for using the smaller can size; this bodes well with the Japanese consumers who often perceive quality over quantity. Pull-tabs are featured on most brands of canned coffee; however, push-tab cans are gaining in popularity be cause of growing environmental concerns [5]. Most of the major canned coffee manufacturers own their own vending machine networks. Using this, manufacturers can maintain complete control over vending distribution of their products [5]. By working with major vending operators, this will provide foreign firms with an understanding of the Japanese vending machine business and provide assistance for things like product design, packaging, test marketing and strategic planning [5]. The success or failure of a foreign canned coffee product in Japan may well depend on the selection of an appropriate operator [5]. In Japan, trade shows are quite frequent and popular; they provide an excellent opportunity for exporters to introduce products to potential distributors and retailers. These events also offer exporters a chance to gather information about market conditions and products manufactured by Japanese and other foreign companies [5]. Other sources of information that are available and will aid foreign companies are trade journals and publications, which are a key source of information on product and market developments. Advertising published in these journals and publications can help product manufacturers find suitable business support services [5]. Re-launching Nestlà © RTD Coffee In 2004, Nescafà © Santa Marta, from Nestlà © Japan Group was introduced that is made with 100% Santa Marta coffee beans it was produced in 190g cans and cost  ¥115. Another two versions for Nescafà © Santa Marta were also introduced one was called UP and the other BREAK. UP was advertised to retain a just-brewed coffee taste and sharp bitterness and comes in a red can, and BREAK was advertised as a perfect way for loosening the tension and is sold in a blue can. Like the original, both come in 190-gram cans and cost  ¥120 each [9, 10]. Ways of rebranding Nestlà © RTD coffee include retaining the taste and aroma of freshly brewed coffee, making canned coffee healthier, increasing the range of coffee types, and giving canned coffee a more premium image. (See Appendix 1 for PEST analysis and Appendix 2 for SWOT analysis). By rebranding Nestlà © RTD coffee, it will help to give a fresh look, which will aid in attracting new customers potentially from competitors and new possible employees. Another advantage is to differentiate even more from competitors, and because the RTD coffee-market it slowly becoming saturated, rebranding will help boost sales and increase brand image. Possible rebranding of the two products BREAK and UP could include renaming the product followed by a slogan but still promoting that one boosts energy and one relaxes you. Renaming and redesigning each one would give the illusion of a brand new product to existing and potential consumers. Examples of rebranding BREAK could be Onsen followed by the slogan Relax, and an example for UP could be Boost with the slogan Kick start your day. Using a variety of Japanese words within the product names across the range would help attract various consumer groups. Words such as Onsen would more likely attract the older consumers who after a long day at work just want to relax, but changing the word to Karaoke coffee Keeping you in tune would most likely attract the younger consumers. Another aspect of rebranding RTD coffee is too look and choose the release of the coffee carefully as different seasons can help promote different coffees, especially if the name also includes something relative to a particular season. For instance a RTD coffee named Sakura Be one with nature would probably get the most attention and largest sales during the spring months, when the Sakura are in bloom, another seasonal coffee for the winter months, with the name Mountain Top that can promote coffee with cream. Another key factor in rebranding a product is the dominant colour in the design. For Nescafà © their brand colour is red, when combined with white it then portrays the national colours of Japan, this could be another factor in helping attract the consumers attention. Another role that colours play in rebranding is, when used correctly then can give products a premium look along with a highly impactful design of youth and vitality. Giving the product a more premium image will help consumers distinguish the product from competitors and make them realise it is not just another canned coffee. The product name once again comes into effect, giving the coffee a name of honour and meaning could help in rebranding a product as premium, example names could include Emperor Coffee Respect the taste and Samurai Coffee A cut above the rest. Even though rebranding can make the can look more prominent, another aspect is to go back to the roots of Nescafà © and make the coffee can simple yet effective. By replicating the instant coffee colour scheme and design onto the can, it would help the consumer to see that the same coffee goes into both the instant and into the canned coffee products. With Nestlà © dominating the instant coffee market, this strategy could help boost sales of the canned coffee. Using a name like Nescafà © Simple Anywhere, Anytime and the brand colour of red would be one way of promoting this strategy. By researching things that are, Japanese and things that the Japanese respect can aid in a successful rebrand of RTD coffee. The Japanese are very passionate about luck from good luck charms to New Year good luck predictions. Using the category of luck RTD coffee can help gain consumer loyalty and additional consumers. One way of promoting luck and RTD coffee is to change the name to Lucky and incorporating the kanji symbol hachi into the design. Using these two factors another can be added, the use of lucky ring pulls with this different items can be won such as a free can of Lucky if a ring pull is red, or by collecting a certain number of green ring pulls this would allow the consumer to trade them in for a unique mug. The mugs design can promote an upcoming film/anime or perhaps to look kawaii, which is highly popular in Japan. In order to keep consumers and bring in potential new ones from such areas as business people and teenagers canned coffee with the name Inspire may help, as this name has the possibility to motivate people after drinking it. By making canned coffee healthier, it may help attract consumers away from other healthy soft drinks such as green tea; ways of achieving a healthier coffee is decreasing caffeine content or making a caffeine-free version. This method can attract consumers who want to achieve or maintain a healthy lifestyle; this form of rebranding will most likely be successful especially in todays more health-conscious society. One possible problem with zero/low caffeine coffee which needs to be addressed is that the coffee must still maintain the real coffee taste which is present from freshly brewed coffee, however if this problem can be overcome then the firm will stand a good chance of gaining a higher market share. Another method that is being adopted to create a healthier RTD coffee is the use of polyphenol coffee, which contains caffeic acid, which aids the body by acting as an anti-oxidant [11]. If Nestlà © were to incorporate the Nescafà © Green Blend into a canned coffee version, this i s would maximises the anti-oxidants thus creating a more healthy canned coffee variety, this would allow Nestlà © to tap into the healthy RTD coffee market [12]. Nestlà © Japan Ltd increased its focus on health positioning in its advertising in early 2010, showing the entry into new area for a product type that traditionally has not been associated with health and wellness. In November 1994, a report was published which showed that only 20% of the sales of canned coffee was bought by women; they often favour unsweetened coffee so often visit coffee shops for black coffee, this is due to a majority of women being calorie-conscious so black coffee is preferred [14]. In 2006 infoPLANT carried out a survey about canned coffee, which looked at consumerism and packaging. Over a week at the start of October 6,480 successfully completed the survey, with 65.7% of the respondents being female. Graph 3 shows how often the respondents purchased canned coffee [15]. Graph 3 [15] Conclusion Regardless of Japans economic position, coffee has not gone out of fashion; in fact, it retains the same importance as ever. Coffee is regarded as a healthier alternative to caffeine-based energy drinks; and continues to have a broad appeal across a wide range of the population who work long and increasingly anti-social hours. Canned coffees diversity and popularity allows enjoyment by a wide range of consumers from high school students through to the elderly [2]. Although there is potential to rebrand Nestlà © RTD coffee to draw in the additional consumers; the majority of RTD coffee drinkers remains with business people. Therefore, it is very important to rebrand not only a product to attract other areas of the population such as younger and older generation, but also rebrand a product to attract the masses. This would enable Nestlà © to increase its consumer base but remain focused on RTD coffees main consumer. Word count (excluding tables): 2750 Word count (including tables): 2931 References [1] HILL, C. W. L. 2010. Part V Case: Nestle: Global Strategy International Business. 8 ed.: McGraw-Hill. [2] NESTLÉ. History of Nestlà © Japan Group [Online]. Available: http://www.nestle.co.jp/japan/e/profile/japan-history.asp [Accessed 13th December 2010]. [3] KARASAWA, K. 1991. Canned coffee sales regain two-digit growth. (Japanese coffee sales). Tea Coffee Trade Journal [Online], 163. [4] LOPEZ, J. 2005. NESTLÉJAPAN GROUP. [5] AGEXPORTER. 1992. Canned coffee sales in Japan brewing lots of interest [Online]. Available: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3723/is_n10_v4/ai_12921886/ [Accessed 10th December 2010]. [6] DATAMONITOR. 2004. RTD Tea Coffee in Japan. [7] Company Shares (by Global Brand Owner) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Off-trade Volume à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ % breakdown [Online]. Euromonitor International. Available: https://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/ResultsList.aspx [Accessed 5th December 2010]. [8] 2010. Rtd Coffee Japan [Online]. Euromonitor International. Available: https://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/accessPDF.ashx?c=94PDFf=S-146710-17543094.pdfcode=SoTwtXEdCEmTuFcrWACsLR00dKM%3d [Accessed 5th December 2010]. [9] 2004. New Coffee Drink from Nestlà © Japan Group. [Online]. Available: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7013702_ITM [Accessed 21st December 2010]. [10] 2004. New Canned Coffee Drinks from Nestlà © Japan Group [Online]. Available: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8240666_ITM [Accessed 21st December 2010]. [11] NESTLÉ. QA [Online]. Available: http://nestle.jp/faq/polyphenol/index.html [Accessed 11th December 2010]. [12] NESCAFÉ ® Green Blend [Online]. Available: http://www.nescafe.co.uk/CoffeeCupboard/everyday-choice/nescafe-green-blend [Accessed 11th December 2010]. [13] 2010. Coffee Japan [Online]. Euromonitor International. Available: https://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/ResultsList.aspx [Accessed 5th December 2010]. [14] SILVERMAN, I. 1994. Women are newest target for canned coffee in Japan. Advertising Age, 65, 60. [15] KEN, Y. N. 2006. What Japan Thinks [Online]. Available: http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/10/26/almost-half-of-japanese-men-start-their-workday-with-a-canned-coffee/ [Accessed 11th December 2010]. Appendix Appendix 1: PEST Analysis for the re-branding of Nestlà ©-RTD-Coffee Political Ecological/environmental issues Current legislation home market Future legislation Regulatory bodies and processes Government policies Government term and change Trading policies Funding, grants and initiatives Economic Home economy situation Home economy trends General taxation issues Taxation specific to product/services Seasonality/weather issues Market and trade cycles Specific industry factors Market routes and distribution trends Customer/end-user drivers Social Lifestyle trends Consumer attitudes and opinions Media views Brand, company, technology image Consumer buying patterns Major events and influences Buying access and trends Advertising and publicity Technological Research funding Associated/dependent technologies Manufacturing maturity and capacity Information and communications Consumer buying mechanisms/technology Innovation potential Technology access, licencing, patents

paintball :: essays research papers

everybody. Players range from six to sixty, and are of any race or sex. There are many different ways to play, and an almost infinite amount of equipment for you to choose from. It is a great sport because of all the different types of equipment, and playing fields and other players can be found almost anywhere. Paintball is a very new sport. The first games were played by a few enterprising players who used cattle marking guns to play. Their paint was non-washable and expensive, costing up to a buck a ball. The first game was played on June 27, 1981. They played capture the flag against each other with Nel-Spot 007 pistols. The winner captured all the flags without firing a shot. In April of 1982, the first outdoor field was opened in Rochester, NY. Also in 1982 Paintball Marketing Incorporated was founded to market and distribute paintball products. In 1983 the first national championship was held with a $14,000 dollar purse. Also in 1983 the first foreign paintball field opened. In 1984 the sport was introduced to Australia and the first indoor field was opened in Buffalo, NY. From this point, paintball started to â€Å"snowball†, picking up interest in foreign countries and on the internet. New high-tech paintball products are invented all the time, making the sport increasingly more complex. Paintball has become a high-tech sport compared to the guns of the last couple of decades. For a long time, all of the guns ran off of 12 gram Co2 which would shoot up to 40 shots. The guns were pump action, and would hold a small amount of paint. The paint itself would cost up to a buck a ball. Masks were often safety or ski goggles. Today, guns are run by a small computer manufactured into them. They run off of large bottles of Co2, nitrogen, and compressed air, which will shoot up to 2000 times. Guns are semi-auto, or full auto, and will shoot over 25 rounds a second. Loaders hold over 200 balls and even have motorized fans inside of them to load balls. Pain t cost less than 3 cents a ball. Safety has also improved a lot. Now you can buy complete facemasks, gloves, or body armor. The sport is still evolving and at any given time there is bound to be a new invention. There are many benefits to playing paintball.

Catcher in the Rye Extended Response

Catcher in the Rye Extended Response To describe about Holden a little, he was a very weird guy. He has different perspective to other people, even though he has a normal appearance. He drinks, smokes and swears a lot but he is only a teenager. The way Holden talked was very funny; he used swearing words a lot. Maybe author tried to express Holden’s negative perspective against the world by using this way of speaking. Anyway, he was a typical student who had problems in schools. He failed every subject except English, and got kicked out of every school he went to.Also, he really hated â€Å"phony things†. What he meant in the word phony was like the basic manner people do every day. He also hated Hollywood movies and the actors just because he thought they were phony. I think he just hates it when people talk in a positive manner. It’s really weird because he would also hate people swearing and without manners. He hates phony things and he criticizes every people he meets and met when he should be criticizing himself. It shows how negative he really is. I wondered at first, why he thought the world as very, gloomy place without any truth.He didn’t like anything. I think after his brother Allie died, he changed point of view to the society and environment around him. And also, his family (his especially his father) affected his personality. There’s a part where he says about his brother Allie. I could see how much Holden loved his brother but after he died, he turned his back to the world. I can think of like, His father is a lawyer and his family is rich. Maybe he saw many phony things since he was little. But Allie and Phoebe could have there for him. Then his brother died, and he has no one to rely on, only Phoebe.The one who Holden really likes was Phoebe. So, he doesn’t want to study and go to university and mix with people who say phony things every day. He doesn’t take the life serious as other people aroun d him. He really thinks that life is a â€Å"phony thing†, and then he drinks, smokes and swears a lot, just to protect himself from the world. There was a part where Holden said he want to be the catcher in rye, with just the children around him. I could see that he was bored with the world where adults saying phony things every time.Maybe the author might have been tried to criticize the modern world by Holden. I don’t know, but I think Holden really hates to be socializing in the society. He just wanted to be surrounded by the children’s innocence. He also tried to go to West and live in the cabin with a very few contact with other people and be deaf-mute. I think he tries to get away from the world and to be part away from the phony people. He was actually a pitiful teenager who doesn’t have parents that take care of him warmly. All Holden was looking for was the good in his life that he couldn’t find.

Economic Crisis and Response in the Philippines Essay

The Global Economic Crisis pulled countries down from around the globe to a recession. Wide-ranging declines in many aspects of growth characterize the overall impact it had had on the global scale. Following the Asian economic crisis in 1997, the present global economic crisis imposes new challenges to the Philippines as a developing country. Following are expositions of the macroeconomic impacts of the crisis in the Philippine setting, its implications in the prevalent poverty scenario, and policies and programs undertaken by the government in response to the crisis. Overview of the Global Economic Crisis The 2008 global economic crisis started upon the bursting of the US housing bubble, which was followed by bankruptcies, bailouts, foreclosures, and takeovers of financial institutions and national governments. During a period of housing and credit booms, banks encouraged lending to home owners by a considerably high amount without appropriate level of transparency and financial supervision. As interest rates rose in mid-2007, housing prices dropped extensively, and all institutions that borrowed and invested found themselves suffering significant losses. Financial institutions, insurance companies, and investment houses declared either declared bankruptcies or had to be rescued financially. Economies worldwide slowed during this period and entered to a recession. The crisis, initially financial in nature, has now taken a full-blown economic and global scale affecting every country to the left and to the right of the United States, and wreaking havoc in the level of both industrialize d and developing nations. The Philippine Situation before the Crisis The Philippines has long been undermined with long-term structural problems such that sustainable economic development is yet to be a dream come true. According to the pages of Philippine economic history, the country has been dominated by a sequence of growth spurts, brief and mediocre, followed by shard to very-sharp, severe, and extended downturns—a cycle that came to be known as the boom-bust cycle. As such, economic growth record of the country has been disappointing in comparison with its East Asian counterparts in terms of per capita GDP. What makes matters worse is the seemingly perennial  impoverished state of its inhabitants, that is, in 2007, an absolute poverty incidence of 13.2 percent—higher than Indonesia’s 7.7 and Vietnam’s 8.4 percent—has been recorded, and thus giving further testimony of the unequal distribution of wealth that keeps growth and development a far reach for the Philippines. Macroeconomic Impacts of the Crisis The Philippines, points Professor Diokno of the University of the Philippines, has been affected by the crisis in a decline in three aspects: exports, remittances from overseas Filipino workers, and foreign direct investments. Heavily dependent on electronic and semiconductor exports, the Philippines has seen a downward trend in its export earnings as countries in demand of these exports are now in recession. The recession has also put to risk the jobs in the developed countries which include those where migrant workers are employed. Consequently, OFW remittances decreased and grew a meagre 3.3% in October 2008. Foreign direct investments (FDI) lowered because of investors losing confidence in the financial market. Lower FDIs mean slower economic growth. Impacts of Asset Markets, Financial Sector, and Real Sector The freeze in liquidity in US and European financial markets reversed capital flows to developing countries and induced a rise in the price of risk which entailed a drop in equity prices andexchange rate volatility. However, following the effects of an increase in the foreign currency government bond spread, the Philippine stock market was actually one of the least affected by the crisis with the main index of the stock market dropping only by 24 percent, a relatively low percentage change in comparison to those of other countries across Asia. Similarly, from the period between July 2008 and January 2009, the peso devaluated only by 3 percent which explains why the peso was one of the currencies least affected by the crisis. This minimal effect on the stock market and the Philippine peso can be attributed to the recovery of asset prices across the Asia-Pacific region recovered in early 2009 as foreign portfolio investments surged. Financially, the banking system in the Philippines has been relatively stable, because of reforms that were put in place since Asian financial crisis in 1997. Maintenance of high levels of loan to deposit ratios together with the decline of the ratio  of nonperforming loans to total loans kept profitability of local banking generally high despite the crisis. To the country’s fortune, no meltdowns occurred as during the previous 1997 Asian crisis. Fall in the growth rate of personal consumption and expenditures and fixed investment assail 2008. Personal consumption expenditure, the largest contributor to GDP growth, behaved a downward trend from a sharp drop from 5.8 percent in 2007 to 4.7 percent in 2008, and 3.7 percent in 2009. GDP growth during fourth quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009 fell to 1.7 percent, a staggering fall from 5.7 percent average for the three previous years. Furthermore, a contraction of 29.2 percent in the manufacturing sector involving electricity, gas, water, trade and finance services. The service sector also had its share of downturns as growth in the fourth quarter and first quarters of 2008 and 2009, respectively, suffered from a meagre growth of 2.1 percent, a far contrast from the 6.7 percent average from the last three years. However, the Philippines has generally endured the least declines in comparison with other East Asian countries despite recorded declines. For instance, OFW remittances, though at a slower pace, still grew in the first half of 2009. Impact of fiscal deficit and external accounts To counter adverse effects of the crisis, the Philippine government felt the need to increase its expenditures. Apart from government expenditure, of primary concern was the weak revenues generated by the government with fiscal deficit reaching P111.8 billion in the first quarter of 2009 as compared to P25.8 billion in the same period of the previous year. Despite suffering the least in terms of the stock exchange and financial markets among East Asian countries, the Philippines lagged in tax effort in comparison to other nations. Meanwhile, private sector flows in the external account declined and led to a net outflow of $708 million in 2009, a sharp turning away from a net inflow of $507 million in 2008. This eventually led to a fall in stock prices and depreciation or devaluation of the peso. Poverty and Social Impacts Impacts on households and communitiesAn increasing number of the Filipino workforce has become frustrated due to unemployment and low standards of living in the country. Thousands of Filipinos leave the country every day to  seize better income opportunities and promise their children a better and secure future. Moreover, around five million of Filipino children are unable to go to school and are forced to work on the streets or in other various workplaces where they can find some food or other means to fill their appetites. Impacts on wealth and income and its distribution across different social divisions The country was having sound economic indicators before the 2008 economic crisis. Average income per capita was increasing while poverty incidence showed a downward trend. Average income per capita rose by 2% in 2007 and 2008, whereas poverty incidence dropped from 33.0% in 2006 to 31.8% in 2007 and 28.1% in 2008. Output growth plunged in 2009, causing real mean income to fall b y 2.1%, resulting in an upward pressure on poverty incidence (grew by 1.6%). Most hit are households with associations to industry resulting in the average income to drop to levels below that of 2007. Similarly, wage and salary workers were hit significantly. Surprisingly, the poorest 20% did not suffer the same fate they suffered in crises past. Clearly, the global economic crisis put a halt on the highly promising growth trend of the Philippine economy and forced 2 million Filipinos into poverty. Coping strategies i. Finances According to recent studies (2009), close to 22% of the population reduced their spending, 11% used their existing savings for consumption, 5% pawned assets, 2% sold assets, 36% borrowed money and 5% defaulted on debts. ii. Education To reduce spending, households had to risk the quality of education of their children. Some children were transferred from private to public schools, while some were withdrawn from school. Moreover, parents reduced the allowance of the students, and resorted to secondhand uniforms, shoes and books. iii. Health Coping strategies may have negative effects on their long-term health as these affected households commonly resort to self-medication, or shift to seeing doctors in government health centers and hospital. Many households in the urban sector shifted to generic drugs while rural households tended to use herbal medicines. Policy Responses Efforts of poverty alleviation, reduction, eradication The Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) was implemented during  the Ramos Administration and later on continued by the following administrations to help reduce poverty in the country and improve on the economic welfare of the Filipinos. The Ramos Administration (1993–1998) targeted to reduce poverty from 39.2% in 1991 to about 30% by 1998. The Estrada Administration (1999–2004) then targeted to reduce poverty incidence from 32% in 1997 to 25-28% by 2004, while the Arroyo government targeted to reduce poverty to 17% by creating 10 million jobs but this promise was not fulfilled by the administration. As for the current Aquino Administration, the 2011-2016 MTDPD is still being drafted. President Benigno Aquino III has plans to expand the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program from 1 to 2.3 million households, and several long term investments in education and healthcare. Also, last September 2010, Aquino met with US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, duri ng the signing of the $434-million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant in New York. The MCC grant would fund infrastructure and rural development programs in the Philippines to reduce poverty and spur economic growth. Macroeconomic and Social Protection programs To respond to the recent financial crisis, the Philippine government, through the Department of Finance and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), crafted a PhP 330-billion fiscal package, formally known as the Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP). The ERP is geared towards the stimulation of the economy through tax cuts, increased government spending, and public-private sector projects that can also prepare the country for the eventual upturn of the global economy. The implementation of ERP is spearheaded by NEDA with the following specific aims.To ensure sustainable growth, attaining the higher end of the growth rates; To save and create as many jobs as possible; To protect the most vulnerable sectors: the poorest of the poor, returning OFWs, and workers in export industries; To ensure low and stable prices to supports consumer spending; and To enhance competitiveness in preparation for the global rebound. Regional responses Poverty incidence remains to be one of the highest in the region with the  continued low domestic private investment. To overcome legal, political and institutional constraints, regional financial cooperation must be encouraged. The ASEAN+3 financial cooperation can promote further the development of domestic financial markets to facilitate the intermediation of Asian savings within the region, as well as attract foreign investment. Such alternative sources of funding would reduce Asia’s reliance on foreign currency borrowing and along with, the risk exposure of the region to maturity and currency mismatches.Moreover, the Network of East Asian Think Tanks has recently proposed the establishment of the Asia Investment Infrastructure Fund (AIIF) to prioritize the funding of infrastructure projects in the region to support suffering industries. The AIIF, as well as multilateral institutions especially the Asian Development Bank, also promotes greater domestic demand and intra-r egional trade to offset the decline in exports to industrialized countries and narrow the development gap in the region. Prospects for Growth in the Future Poverty reduction for the Philippines in the years to come is promising, bearing in mind where she left off prior to the economic crisis. Nevertheless, it is still a tough challenge. Figures persistently reflect a Philippine poverty reduction campaign that pales in comparison with other ASEAN countries. In addition, a blistering population growth rate sinks more Filipinos below thepoverty threshold placing the country’s laudable long term economic growth under its shadow. Taking into account that the Philippine economy has a significant reliance on remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), past threats demonstrated the resiliency of the Philippine economy despite external shocks. In spite of the disaster in Japan (3rd largest market for Philippine exports) and the geopolitical tensions in West Asia, the Philippine economy looked unfazed. New York-based Global Source Partners stated, â€Å"The Philippine economy has already proven to be quite resilient in the face of varied external shocks in the past, especially bolstered by a strong external position and capable monetary management. This time should not be much different.† The new administration of President Benigno â€Å"Noynoy† Aquino III faces three key constraints on Philippine growth: Tight fiscal situation due to weak revenue generation Poor infrastructure (i.e. transportation, power, etc.) Pessimism in investment resulting from corruption and political instability Fortunately, the government offers various projects to loosen these restrictions. Data from the quarterly ING Investor Dashboard Survey showed stability in investor confidence for the Philippine economy over the first two quarters of 2010. She even scored a 157 in the third quarter of the same year. This is well on the higher percentiles of the â€Å"optimistic† range and a mere 3 points from the â€Å"very optimistic† level. These figures emerge in the midst of decrepit infrastructure and a lack of efficient institutions. Subsequently, the prospect of the Philippine economy improving into the â€Å"very optimistic† range is very bright. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda declared that the Philippine economic competitiveness score improved from 56.526 the previous year to 63.291 in 2011 (based on The World Competitiveness Yearbook). Lacierda also boasts of infrastructure improvement pr ojects of the Department of Public Works and Highways scheduled to commence within one or two years. He attributes the stepping up of our competitiveness rating to the public-private partnership (PPP) projects next year. These projects raise optimism for the post-crisis economy of the Philippines ————————————————- Fiscal policy of the Philippines From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fiscal policy refers to the â€Å"measures employed by governments to stabilize the economy, specifically by manipulating the levels and allocations of taxes and government expenditures. Fiscal measures are frequently used in tandem with monetary policy to achieve certain goals.†[1] In the Philippines, this is characterized by continuous and increasing levels of debt and budget deficits, though there have been improvements in the last few years.[2] The Philippine government’s main source of revenue are taxes, with some non-tax revenue also being collected. To finance fiscal deficit and debt, the Philippines relies on both domestic and external sources. Fiscal policy during the Marcos administration was primarily focused on indirect tax collection and on government spending on ecnomic services and infrastructure development. The first Aquino administration inherited a  large fiscal deficit from the previous administration, but managed to reduce fiscal imbalance and improve tax collection through the introduction of the 1986 Tax Reform Program and the value added tax. The Ramos administration experienced budget surpluses due to substantial gains from the massive sale of government assets and strong foreign investment in its early years. However, the implementation of the 1997 Comprehensive Tax Reform Program and the onset of the Asian financial crisis resulted to a deteriorating fiscal position in the succeeding years and administrations. The Estrada administration faced a large fiscal deficit due to the decrease in tax effort and the repayment of the Ramos administration’s debt to contractors and suppliers. During the Arroy o administration, the Expanded Value Added Tax Law was enacted, national debt-to-GDP ratio peaked, and underspending on public infrastructure and other capital expenditures was observed. Contents [hide] * 1 Revenues and Funding * 1.1 Tax Revenue * 1.1.1 Income Taxes * 1.1.2 E-VAT * 1.1.3 Tariffs and Duties * 1.2 Non-Tax Revenue * 1.2.1 The Bureau of Treasury * 1.2.2 Privatization * 1.2.3 PAGCOR * 2 Spending, Debt, and Financing * 2.1 Government Spending and Fiscal Imbalance * 2.2 Financing and Debt * 3 History of Philippine Fiscal Policy * 3.1 Marcos Administration (1981-1985) * 3.2 Aquino Administration (1986-1992) * 3.3 Ramos Administration (1993-1998) * 3.4 Estrada Administration (1999-2000) * 3.5 Arroyo Administration (2002-2009) * 4 References * 5 External links ————————————————- Revenues and Funding[edit source | editbeta] A comparative graph of Revenue and Tax Effort from 2001-2010[3] A comparative graph of Tax and Non-Tax Revenue contribution from 2001-2010[4] The Philippine government generates revenues mainly through personal and income tax collection, but a small portion of non-tax revenue is also collected through fees and licenses, privatization proceeds and income from other government operations and state-owned enterprises. Tax Revenue[edit source | editbeta] Tax collections comprise the biggest percentage of revenue collected. Its biggest contributor is theBureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), followed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Tax effort as a percentage of GDP has averaged at roughly 13% for the years 2001-2010.[5] Income Taxes[edit source | editbeta] Income tax is a tax on a person’s income, wages, profits arising from property, practice of profession, conduct of trade or business or any stipulated in the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (NIRC), less any deductions granted.[6] Income tax in the Philippines is a progressive tax, as people with higher incomes pay more than people with lower incomes. Personal income tax rates vary as such:[7] Annual Taxable Income| Income Tax Rate| Less than â‚ ±10,000| 5%| Over â‚ ±10,000 but not over â‚ ±30,000| â‚ ±500 + 10% of the excess over â‚ ±10,000| Over â‚ ±30,000 but not over â‚ ±70,000| â‚ ±2,500 + 15% of the excess over â‚ ±30,000| Over â‚ ±70,000 but not over â‚ ±140,000| â‚ ±8,500 + 20% of the excess over â‚ ±70,000| Over â‚ ±140,000 but not over â‚ ±250,000| â‚ ±22,500 + 25% of the excess over â‚ ±140,000| Over â‚ ±250,000 but not over â‚ ±500,000| â‚ ±50,000 + 30% of the excess over â‚ ±250,000| Over â‚ ±500,000| â‚ ±125,000 + 32% of the excess over â‚ ±500,000| The top rate was 35% until 1997, 34% in 1998, 33% in 1999, and 32% since 2000.[7][8] In 2008, Republic Act No. 9504 (passed by  then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) exempted minimum wage earners from paying income taxes.[9] E-VAT[edit source | editbeta] The Expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT), is a form of sales tax that is imposed on the sale of goods and services and on the import of goods into the Philippines. It is a consumption tax (those who consume more are taxed more) and an indirect tax, which can be passed on to the buyer. The current E-VAT rate is 12% of transactions. Some items which are subject to E-VAT include petroleum, natural gases, indigenous fuels, coals, medical services, legal services, electricity, non-basic commodities, clothing, non-food agricultural products, domestic travel by air and sea.[10] The E-VAT has exemptions which include basic commodities and socially sensitive products. Exemptible from the E-VAT are:[11] 1. Agricultural and marine products in their original state (e.g. vegetables, meat, fish, fruits, eggs and rice), including those which have undergone preservation processes (e.g. freezing, drying, salting, broiling, roasting, smoking or stripping); 2. Educational services rendered by both public a nd private educational institutions; 3. Books, newspapers and magazines; 4. Lease of residential houses not exceeding â‚ ±10,000 monthly; 5. Sale of low-cost house and lot not exceeding â‚ ±2.5 million 6. Sales of persons and establishments earning not more than â‚ ±1.5 million annually. Tariffs and Duties[edit source | editbeta] Second to the BIR in terms of revenue collection, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) imposes tariffs and duties on all items imported into the Philippines. According to Executive Order 206, returning residents, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) and former Filipino citizens are exempted from paying duties and tariffs.[12] Non-Tax Revenue[edit source | editbeta] Non-tax revenue makes up a small percentage of total government revenue (roughly less than 20%), and consists of collections of fees and licenses, privatization proceeds and income from other state enterprises.[13] The Bureau of Treasury[edit source | editbeta] The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) manages the finances of the government, by attempting to maximize revenue collected and minimize spending. The bulk of non-tax revenues comes from the BTr’s income. Under Executive Order No.449, the BTr collects revenue by issuing, servicing and redeeming government securities, and by controlling the Securities Stabilization Fund (which increases the liquidity and stabilizes the value of government securities[14]) through the purchase and sale of government bills and bonds.[15] Privatization[edit source | editbeta] Privatization in the Philippines occurred in three waves: The first wave in 1986-1987, the second during 1990 and the third stage, which is presently taking place.[16] The government’s Privatization Program is handled by the inter-agency Privatization Council and the Privatization and Management Office, a sub-branch of the Department of Finance.[17] PAGCOR[edit source | editbeta] The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is a government-owned corporation established in 1977 to stop illegal casino operations. PAGCOR is mandated to regulate and license gambling (particularly in casinos), generate revenues for the Philippine government through its own casinos and promote tourism in the country.[18] ————————————————- Spending, Debt, and Financing[edit source | editbeta] A comparative graph of National Revenues and Expenditures from 2001-2010[5] A comparative graph of Domestic and External Sources of Financing from 2001-2010[5] A comparative graph of Total National Debt from 2001-2010[19] Government Spending and Fiscal Imbalance[edit source | editbeta] In 2010, the Philippine Government spent a total of â‚ ±1.5 trillion and earned a total of â‚ ±1.2 trillion from tax and non-tax revenues, thus resulting to a total deficit of â‚ ±314.5 billion.[5] Despite the national deficit of the  Philippines, the Department of Finance reported an average of â‚ ±29.6 billion in Local Government Unit (LGU) surplus, which is mostly due to an improved LGU financial monitoring system which the government implemented in the recent years. Efforts of the monitoring system include â€Å"debt monitoring and creditworthiness monitoring system, effective mobilization of second generation funds (SGF) to promote LGU development, and the implementation of a Land Administration and Management Project (LAMP2) which received a ‘very good’ rating from the World Bank (WB) and Australian Agency for International D evelopment (AusAid).†[20] Microfinance management in the Philippines is improving substantially. In 2009, the Economist Intelligence Unit â€Å"recognized the Philippines as the best in the world in terms of its microfinance regulatory framework.† The DOF-National Credit Council (DOF-NCC) focused on improving the state of local cooperatives by developing a supervision and examination manual, launching advocacies for these cooperatives, and pushing for the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008. A standardized national strategy for microinsurance and the provisions of grants and technical assistance were formulated.[20] Financing and Debt[edit source | editbeta] Aside from Tax and Non-Tax Revenues, the government makes use of other sources of financing to support its expenses. In 2010, the government borrowed a total net of â‚ ±351.646 billion for financing:[21] | Domestic Sources| External Sources| Gross Financing| â‚ ±489.844 billion| â‚ ±257.357 billion| Less: Repayments/Amortization| â‚ ±271.246 billion| â‚ ±124.309 billion| Net Financing| â‚ ±218.598 billion| â‚ ±133.048 billion| Total Financing| | â‚ ±351.646 billion| External Sources of Financing are:[21] 1. Program and Project Loans – the government offers project loans to external bodies and uses the proceeds to fund domestic projects like infrastructure, agriculture, and other government projects.[20] 2. Credit Facility Loans 3. Zero-coupon Treasury Bills 4. Global Bonds 5. Foreign Currencies Domestic Sources of Financing are[21] 1. Treasury Bonds 2. Facility loans 3. Treasury Bills 4. Bond Exchanges 5. Promissory Notes 6. Term Deposits In 2010, the total outstanding debt of the Philippines reached â‚ ±4.718 trillion: â‚ ±2.718 trillion from outstanding domestic sources and â‚ ±2 trillion from foreign sources. According to the Department of Finance, the country has recently reduced dependency on external sources to minimize the risks caused by changes in the global exchange rates. Efforts to reduce national debt include increasing tax efforts and decreasing government spending. The Philippine government has also entered talks with other economic entities, like the ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting (AFMM), ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers Meeting (AFMM+3), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and ASEAN Single-Window Technical Working Group (ASW-TWG), in order to strengthen the countries’ and the region’s debt management efforts*.[20] ————————————————- History of Philippine Fiscal Policy[edit source | editbeta] Marcos Administration (1981-1985)[edit source | editbeta] The tax system under the Marcos administration was generally regressive as it was heavily dependent on indirect taxes. Indirect taxes and international trade taxes accounted for about 35% of total tax revenue, while direct taxes only accounted for 25%. Government expenditure for economic services peaked during this period, focusing mainly on infrastructure development, with about 33% of the budget spent on capital outlays. In response to the higher global interest rates and to the depreciation of the peso, the government became increasingly reliant on domestic financing to finance fiscal deficit. The government also started liberalizing tariff policy during this period by enacting the initial Tariff Reform Program, which narrowed the tariff structure from a range of 100%-0% to 50%-10%, and the Import Liberalization Program, which aimed at reducing or eliminating tariffs and realigning indirect taxes.[22][23][24] Aquino Administration (1986-1992)[edit source | editbeta] Faced with problems inherited from the previous administration, the most important of which being the large fiscal deficit heightened by the low tax effort due to a weak tax system, Aquinoenacted the 1986 Tax Reform Program (TRP). The aim of the TRP was to â€Å"simplify the tax system, make revenues more responsive to economic activity, promote horizontal equity and promote growth by correcting existing taxes that impaired business incentives†. One of the major reforms enacted under the program was the introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT), which was set at 10%. The 1986 tax reform program resulted in reduced fiscal imbalance and higher tax effort in the succeeding years, peaking in 1997, before the enactment of the 1997 Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP). The share of non-tax revenues during this period soared due to the sale of sequestered assets of President Marcos and his cronies (totalling to about â‚ ±20 billion), the initial efforts to deregulate the oil industry and thrust towards the privatization of state enterprises. Public debt servicing and interest payments as a percent of the budget peaked during this period as government focused on making up for the debt incurred by the Marcos administration. Another important reform enacted during the Aquino administration was the passage of the 1991 Local Government Code which enabled fiscal decentralization. This increased the taxing and spending powers to local governments in effect increasing local government resources.[22][24] Ramos Administration (1993-1998)[edit source | editbeta] The Ramos administration had budget surpluses for four of its six years in power. The government benefited from the massive sale of government assets (totalling to about â‚ ±70 billion, the biggest among the administrations) and continued to benefit from the 1986 TRP. The administration invested heavily on the power sector as the country was beset by power outages. The government utilized its emergency powers to fast-track the construction of power projects and established contracts with independent power plants. This period also experienced a real estate boom and strong foreign direct  investment to the country during the early years of the administration, in effect overvaluing the peso. However, with the onset of the Asian financial crisis, the peso depreciated by almost 40%. The Ramos administration relied heavily on external borrowing to finance its fiscal deficit but quickly switched to domestic dependence on the onset of the Asian financial crisis. The administration has b een accused of resorting to â€Å"budget trickery† during the crisis: balancing assets through the sales of assets, building up accounts payable and delaying payment of government premium to social security holders. In 1997, the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) was enacted. Republic Act (RA) 8184 and RA 8240, which were implemented under the program, were estimated to yield additional taxes of around â‚ ±7.4 billion; however, a decline in tax effort during the succeeding periods was observed after the CTRP was implemented. This was attributed to the unfavorable economic climate created by the Asian fiscal crisis and the poor implementation of the provisions of the reform. A sharp decrease in international trade tax contribution to GDP was also observed as a consequence of the trade liberalization and globalization efforts in the 1990s, more prominently, the establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and membership to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The Ramos administration also provided additional incentives to export-oriented firms, the most prominent among these being RA 7227 which was instrumental to the success of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.[22][23] Estrada Administration (1999-2000)[edit source | editbeta] President Estrada, who assumed office at the height of the Asian financial crisis, faced a large fiscal deficit, which was mainly attributed to the sharp deterioration in the tax effort (as a result of the 1997 CTRP: increased tax incentives, narrowing of VAT base and lowering of tariff walls) and higher interest payments given the sharp depreciation of the peso during the crisis . The administration also had to pay P60 billion worth of accounts payables left unpaid by the Ramos administration to contractors and suppliers. Public spending focused on social services, with spending on basic education reaching its peak. To finance the fiscal deficit, Estrada created a balance between domestic and foreign borrowing.[22][23] Arroyo Administration (2002-2009)[edit source | editbeta] The Arroyo administration’s poor fiscal position was attributed to weakening tax effort (still resulting from the 1997 CTRP) and rising debt servicing costs (due to peso depreciation). Large fiscal deficits and heavy losses for monitored government corporations were observed during this period. National debt-to-GDP ratio reached an all-time high during the Arroyo administration, averaging at 69.2%. Investment in public infrastructure (at only 1.9% of GDP), expenditure for economic services, health spending and education spending all hit an historic-low during the Arroyo administration. The government responded to its poor fiscal position by under-spending in public infrastructure and social overhead capital (education and health care), thus sacrificing the economy’s long-term growth. In 2005, RA 9337 was enacted, the most significant amendments of which were the removal of electricity and petroleum VAT exemptions and the increase in the VAT rate from 10% to 12%

Steps of Criminal Procedure in US

Steps of Criminal Procedure in US Introduction To ensure all suspects receive required justice and fair trials, it is necessary for all law-enforcing agents to follow specified criminal procedures as specified in criminal codes. Correct following of criminal procedures grant suspects their freedoms hence, minimizing complications that may arise in the whole process from arrest to sentencing.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Steps of Criminal Procedure in US specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition to ensuring no problems arise during the entire process, correct application of required procedures ensure there is a social desirable relationship between societies and law-enforcing agents. Hence, this will help to ensure that peace, order, and safety always prevails in societies. The law clearly defines these procedures, and their correct use helps to differentiate autocratic judicial system from democratic ones. It is necessary in all judicial system s to prove that someone is guilty before passing the sentence, whereby evidence gathered act as the main driver of cases. In this regard, the following steps are important in trying to bring perpetrators of criminal offenses into justice namely arrest, booking, discovery, pre-trial and hearings, trial, sentencing, and appealing. Depending on the verdict of the judge, courts either fine or imprison accused individuals for a specified amount of time ranging from months to life imprisonment. One main thing to note here is that, although the court finds one guilty of a certain criminal offense, there is always a chance of appealing, which can be very beneficial if the case is won by the accused. Criminal Procedure Globally all societies have specified ways of ensuing justice always prevails in its judicial systems. This involves bringing criminals to book, and ensuring the sentences they receive correspond to their criminal offenses. The U.S. criminal law specifies these steps or proced ures that are substantive, whereby it clearly sets the parameters and penalties to all criminal offenses. The U.S. constitution clearly states these penalties, although few variations occur across different states. Violation of these laws in most cases jeopardizes the quality of cases, hence hinder achievement of justice. In addition, all individuals whether guilty or not are protected by the bill of rights, whose violation impairs the quality of judgements passed by courts (Scheb, 2008, p. 6). One main thing to always remember as Scheb (2008, p.8-9) argues, in most cases the overall prosecution role is done by the government, hence the victims’ participation in most cases are minimal. The main role of victims is to set off the prosecution process but as the case proceeds, they act as witnesses. The same applies to suspects if they opt to use services of attorneys, who act as their spokesperson during trial.Advertising Looking for essay on criminal law? Let's see if w e can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Arrest In common cases, majority of law-enforcing agents conduct arrests near crime scenes, but sometimes the case may not be the same as in Crook’s case. In any arrest case, the law clearly specifies procedures, which all law-enforcing agents should follow. During arrest as Esquire (2009, Para. 1) suggests, all individuals whether guilty or not should not provide any information to the police, because in most cases the information may provide concrete evidence against them in a court of law. Although in most cases cooperation with law-enforcing agent s can be of importance when later facing judgment, on the other hand, it may complicate the case. This is because due to phobia of the police by many individuals, it is possible for one to give out unnecessary information, which the police may capitalize on, hence use it as evidence. Immediately when faced with an arrest it is important to request a cha nce to speak with an attorney, who will take over one’s case. In addition, it is important for individuals to object signing of any documents law-enforcing agents present to them. This is because, in some cases depending on an individual’s mental state during arrest, one may sign wrong document that the prosecution may use later as evidence. Before conducting the arrest, all law enforcing agents should have arrest warrants, which will grant them a permission of arresting an individual in any situation, as provided by section 18 of the U.S. constitution and section 120 of New York’s regulations. However, in some cases the law enforcing agents may not present such a document for example, when there is lack of enough time for obtaining it or if they are witnesses to the crime (Orfield, 2005, P. 9-10). If law-enforcing agents conducting the arrest violate any of the provisions, then the arrestees have the right to refuse all the prosecution evidences presented in co urt. This in most cases occurs when the arresting officers fail to read the Miranda warnings to the arrestee, as the constitution provides in the Miranda warning (Scheb, 2008, p.10). At all times police officers should respect positions taken by individuals as concerns using attorneys or keeping quiet. Police searches although necessary for locating evidences, the constitutions clearly spells out individuals’ rights as concerns searches and seizures in the map v. Ohio law. All arrestees should always note that the constitution safeguards them from unreasonable searches by law enforcing agents. All law-enforcing agents should conduct searches with permission from the suspect. In this regard, it is important for Crook to confirm procedures that the police officers who conducted the search in his house used. Considering the age of his nephew it is hard to determine, what exactly transpired before the police found the BB gun, noting the exact position Crook had hidden it.Advertis ing We will write a custom essay sample on Steps of Criminal Procedure in US specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More If the police officers forced their way in, then crook can refuse the evidence found in his house, because he was not there when the police officers searched his house. On the other hand, the police officers may have harassed the minor, hence living him terrified, which is wrong and prosecutable according to the law (Search warrant , 2009, Para. 1 -2). After arrest, the law dictates that the arresting officers should book in the arrestee, whereby the officer should take the arrestees fingerprints and photograph. Before trial commences, as the law dictates all arrestees should have a questioning session by an agent from the pre trial department. Information provided by the defendant at this level is very crucial, because it determines which step all law-enforcing agents should follow. Arraignment Because Crook used a gun in hi s robbery, which may not be a real one, it might not be possible for him to receive bail. Depending on gathered evidence by the prosecution, as dictated by law, the law enforcing agents arraigns one in court within 24 hours. At this stage, the judge should notify the arrestee of pending charges, whereby one either accepts to be guilty or not. It is advisable for defendants to have an attorney, to present them during the entire trial time. During arraignment, it is possible for the court to grant a bail but in crook’s case, because of the seriousness of the offence there is a likelihood of remand if he denies the charges. As specified in the New York law, all defendants have rights to access specific evidence information provided by the prosecution. Discovery encompasses all information that links the defendant to the crime. It includes verbal information, tangible evidences taken during investigation, and other kinds of information or evidence held by the prosecution. In addi tion, discovery can include witness statements, photographs, and police information as concerns the crime (U.S. Legal, 2009, Para.1). Preliminary Hearing As stipulated in the sixth amendment, all U.S. citizens have a right to have a fair and fast judgment. Hence, immediately after filing charges the law dictates that all prosecutors should go ahead and start a trial using the gathered evidence. As dictated by the law all individuals have rights of trial without any public interferences, hence ensuring courts maintain justice. This stage is of great significance to the defense, because at this point the attorney has rights of interrogating the witnesses, and cross-examining the evidence by the prosecution.Advertising Looking for essay on criminal law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Depending on options opted by the prosecutors, the court can handle the case secretly by a grand jury or in a common court scenario. At this level, the grand jury may use an indictment or a complaint to present charges to the accused. If the grand jury presents in court an un-signed affidavit, then one can file a case against the grand jury because of vindication (Cowling, 2009, Para.1-11). It is important for one to make a decision at this level, because any decisions made determine whether the case proceeds to trial. Owing to the severity of Crook’s case it is not advisable for him to take a plea because, this may cost him because of penalties associated with his case. However, due to evidence in police hands, Crook can plead guilty because the real trial has many associated challenges that include longer jail terms or more severe punishments. In addition, due to uncertainties in trial time pleading guilty can save a lot in terms of resources and time considering that Crook has accepted he committed the crime. Depending on the conditions under which the police conducted the search, Crook can file a Mapp, and has the rights to refuse the evidence collected due to breach of his constitutional rights. Trial Depending on the nature of the trail, whether by a jury or a normal judge, all individual have rights of defending themselves personally or using their attorneys. In addition, individuals have rights of selecting jurors they want to ensure the whole trial process is fair and just. All suspects should ensure they have competent attorneys to defend them in order to avoid chances of losing cases. Sentencing Depending o the severity of the crime judges can pass different charges that range from the most simple from example, probations and community service to the most severe for example life imprisonment and death penalties. The nature of the jail term that a court gives an individual depends on the evidence provided in court. If evidence presented in cou rt by the prosecution is very strong then likelihoods of long jail terms are possible. For robbery with violence suspects, the court passes sentences depending on the class of the robbery. Currently existing classes of robbery include first, second, and third class robbery. Depending on what transpired as proved by the prosecution, judges can pass different charges. Possible sentences include jail imprisonment, probation, restitution, death penalty, and community service (Cornell University Law School, 2009, P. 1. In some cases for judges to pass fair trials, some cases may a pre-sentence investigation to determine the right sentences for some specific serious criminal offences (Gerson, 2009, Para. 7 and Perskin, 2009, Para. 2-3). Conclusion In conclusion, if individuals are not content with the sentence passed then the law has provisions of appealing, which may alter the outcome of the previous judgment. The law requires the appellants to file their appeals within 30 days, dependin g whether they filed post-sentence motions or not. Reference List Cornell University Law School. Criminal procedure. Cornell University. Retrieved from http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/Criminal_procedure Cowling, A. N. (2009). Basic criminal procedure from arrest through trail. Retrieved from allencowling.com/false04B.htm Esquire, N. J. (2009). Aggressive criminal defense: Criminal procedure process. jn.  Retrieved from noblesdefense.com/process.html Gerson, G. E. Criminal procedure. The law office of GaryE. Gelson. Retrieved from garygerson.com/CM/Custom/Criminal-Procedures.asp Orfield, L. B. (2005). Criminal procedure. New Jersey: Law book exchange. Perskin, B. D. (2009). Robbery defense attorneys in New York. Retrieved from notguiltynotguilty.com/Areas_of_Practice/Robbery.aspx Scheb, J. M. (2008). Criminal procedure. New York: Wadsworth Publishing. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=pkb9HLOzeTcCpg=PA534lpg=PA534dq=criminal+procedure+from+arrest+to+sentencing+in+ New+yorksource=blots=chZv22S4hesig=FIvqXJMGzFvhEL3dXc6CPF1cRxkhl=enei=EQomS9CKM5XSjAeny7i7Bgsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=9ved=0CCAQ6AEwCA#v=onepageq=f=false Search warrant. (2009). Answers.com. Retrieved from answers.com/topic/search-warrant U.S. legal. (2009). Criminal procedure discovery law and legal definition. U.S. Legal.  Retrieved from http://definitions.uslegal.com/c/criminal-procedure-discovery/

Free Essays on Obsenity, Media Law

, images and gestures we either use or choose to ignore or avoid depending on what meaning we have adopted for these things into our own lives. As we look at the world from a myopic viewpoint you would think obscene images, ideas, paintings, writings, etc†¦ would easily stick out. However when you use a broader view of the world you realize that there are billions of people on the face of the earth, and each and every one of them has their own view and opinion and no two are exactly the same. This being the case what one may find obscene and improper, another may find acceptable, and let us not forget about all those who dwell in the infinite shades of gray on any given subject. Webster’s defines obs... Free Essays on Obsenity, Media Law Free Essays on Obsenity, Media Law Romper bomper stomper boo tell me tell me tell me do magic mirror tell me today which media law subject should my paper cover today? Why don’t we talk about f#@*%n obscenity? That sounds good to me. It also sounds like the magic mirror needs its mouth washed out with soap, this being just my opinion. Surprisingly the magic mirror has only displayed only one forum of what is considered obscenity. Obscene language is certainly one issue I feel I am surrounded by everyday, both as a user and a receiver, but there are also images and gestures which are considered obscene. Now an obvious image of obscenity is pornography, but surprisingly even the masters of art have been and some still accuse them of creating obscene images. Now I am not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, I have been known to use language that would make my mother slap the back of my head. I must say though that I use it in the confides of designated areas where it is more readily accepted. As we tell children as they grow up,† you have an indoor voice and an outdoor voice.† I would say, as we create our personality we have a selection of words and images we allow at different places and times. One of these selections of words and images contain obscene words, images and gestures we either use or choose to ignore or avoid depending on what meaning we have adopted for these things into our own lives. As we look at the world from a myopic viewpoint you would think obscene images, ideas, paintings, writings, etc†¦ would easily stick out. However when you use a broader view of the world you realize that there are billions of people on the face of the earth, and each and every one of them has their own view and opinion and no two are exactly the same. This being the case what one may find obscene and improper, another may find acceptable, and let us not forget about all those who dwell in the infinite shades of gray on any given subject. Webster’s defines obs...

How Smoke Machines Work - All Kinds

How Smoke Machines Work - All Kinds Smoke, fog, haze, and mist machines create some exciting special effects. Have you ever wondered what makes the smoke? Have you ever wanted to create the effect yourself? If so, you are in luck, as we will reveal these mysteries. However, we will warn you that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing! If used incorrectly, the equipment and chemicals used to generate simulated smoke can be dangerous (toxic, burn hazard, asphyxiation hazard, fire hazard, etc.). Also, all types of smoke generators will trigger smoke alarms. Im telling you how the effects are created, not advising you to make your own smoke. If you are a serious do-it-yourself type, read the article and then please follow the links I have provided to the right of this article, which include specific instructions and warnings from professionals and experienced amateurs.   Dry Ice and Water Make Smoke (Fog Really) Aside from using a smoke machine, this method is the simplest for most people, both in practice and obtaining materials. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide. You can make a dense fog by adding dry ice to hot water or steam. The carbon dioxide is vaporized, making a fog, and the rapid cooling of the surrounding air condenses water vapor in the air, adding to the effect. Important Points Dry ice fog sinks to the floor.Water temperature affects the characteristics of the fog. Hotter water or steam vaporizes the carbon dioxide more quickly, yielding lots of fog and using up the dry ice more quickly, too. If fresh hot water or steam isnt added, the remaining water will cool quickly.An easy smoke machine can be made using a styrofoam cooler. Simply add hot water and dry ice. Machines that use dry ice work by continually heating water, to keep the fog flowing. Simple machines are also available to make dry ice or to solidify air.Dry ice is cold enough to cause frostbite - use protective gloves when handling it.Remember that use of dry ice increases the level of carbon dioxide in the air where it is used. This can present a respiratory hazard low to ground (or downstairs, if applicable), in enclosed spaces, or with large quantities of dry ice. Liquid Nitrogen Makes Real Water  Fog One of the big advantages of liquid nitrogen is that nothing extra is needed to produce fog.  Liquid nitrogen works  by evaporating and by cooling the air, causing water to condense. Nitrogen is the primary component of air and is non-toxic. Important Points Nitrogen fog  sinks to the ground.Smoke can be made by either letting the nitrogen off-gas naturally or by using a fan to blow the smoke where it is wanted.Liquid nitrogen  presents a serious hazard to the user.  Although dry ice  can give you frostbite, liquid nitrogen is cold enough to cause considerable tissue damage and death. Do not use nitrogen unless you have had the  proper cryogenics training. Never use liquid nitrogen in a situation where other people can access the nitrogen source.As the nitrogen concentration increases, the oxygen concentration in a room decreases, presenting a potential asphyxiation hazard. Atomized Glycol Smoke Machines Most smoke machines use water with a glycol mixture to produce special effects.  Many commercial smoke machines use fog juice that consists of glycols, glycerine, and/or mineral oil, with varying amounts of distilled water. The glycols are heated and forced into the atmosphere under pressure to create a fog or haze. There are a variety of mixtures that may be used. See the reference bar to the right of this article for  Material Safety Data Sheets  on some example types. Some homemade recipes for fog juice are: 15%-35% food grade glycerine to 1 quart distilled water125 ml glycerine to 1 liter distilled water(glycerine creates a haze at concentrations of 15% or less and more of a fog or smoke at concentrations higher than 15%)Unscented mineral oil (baby oil), with or without water(we cant vouch for the safety of using mineral oil for fog juice)10% distilled water: 90% propylene glycol (dense fog)40% distilled water: 60% propylene glycol (quick dissipating)60% water: 40% propylene glycol (very quick dissipation)30% distilled water: 35% dipropylene glycol: 35% triethylene glycol (long-lasting fog)30% distilled water: 70% dipropylene glycol (dense fog) The resulting smoke should not smell burnt. If it does, likely causes are too high of an operating temperature or too much glycerine/glycol/mineral oil in the mixture. The lower the percentage of organic, the less expensive the fog juice, but the fog will be lighter and will not last as long. Distilled water is only necessary if a heat exchanger or other tubing is used in the system. Using a homemade fog mixture in a commercial machine will almost certainly void the warranty, possibly damage the machine, and possibly pose a fire and/or health hazard. Important Points This type of fog is heated and will rise or disperse at a higher level than dry ice or  liquid nitrogen fog. Coolers can be used if low-lying fog is desired. Changing the mixture or conditions of dispersion of atomized glycols can result in many special effects that are difficult to achieve with other simulated smokes.Glycols can undergo heat denaturation into highly toxic substances, such as formaldehyde. This is one of the major problems with homemade smoke machines - they may operate at a temperature that is incompatible with the substances being used. Also, this is a danger with homemade fog juice used in commercial machines.Glycols, glycerine, and mineral oil can all leave an oily residue, resulting in slick or sometimes slightly sticky surfaces. Be aware of the potential safety hazards, especially since the smoke may limit visibility. Also, some people may experience skin irritation from exposure to  glycol fog.Some glycols are toxic and should not be used to create smoke.  Ethylene glycol  is poisonous. Some glycols are sold as mixtures. Medical or pharmaceutical grade non-toxic glycols  only  should be used in smoke mach ines. Do  not  use antifreeze to make a fog mixture.  The ethylene glycol types  are poisonous and  the propylene glycol types  always contain undesirable impurities. If water is used, it needs to be distilled water, since hard water deposits can damage the atomizer apparatus.Some of the chemicals that can be used for this type of smoke are flammable. Real Water Vapor  Fog In some cases, this type of simulated smoke is created by finely dispersing hot water or steam. The effect is similar to what happens when water is poured on a hot rock in a sauna. In other cases,  water vapor machines  act by condensing water vapor out of the air, such as may be seen when a freezer door is opened. Many commercial smoke machines use water vapor in some fashion. Important Points This type of smoke is best generated  in a cool room.Water vapor is non-toxic.Hot vapor will float, so chillers may be employed when a ground effect is desired.A fogger essentially makes a cloud, so water condensation on objects is possible and may present a safety concern.Water vapor, like all simulated smokes, will set off a  smoke alarm.

The Ancient World in the News Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Ancient World in the News - Essay Example Magli further speaks of King’s star Regulus which became visible near the sun during those days. Unfortunately, the Regulus phenomenon does not occur nowadays due to earth’s orbit change. Pappas’ article, however, indicate the strong bonds between architecture and astronomy in the ancient world. While the general public would be interested to realize that even the great pyramids of Gaza would have been built precisely in reference with stars, the archeological scholars are already on the way to establish the solar pattern by examining other cities built by Alexander the Great. Hence, it may also lead them to find the king’s tomb which is hidden for more than 2000 years. The Google Earth satellite imagery survey has located two complexes in Egypt. Theses two possible pyramid complexes are almost 90 miles apart, writes Rossella Lorenzi. On closer examination both these formations have similar features of pyramid complexes. Though the images obviously have en ough of pyramidal evidence, it will not be verified unless field research is conducted. However, this piece of news will be interesting to archeological students and enthusiasts because the description it provides has minute details of the formation. The formation is located about 1.5 miles east of Dimai, one of the ancient towns. The sight has three mounds in a specific formation that are identical with formation of Giza Plateau Pyramids. The researcher, further, points out the color of the mounds as the darker appearance of the mound resembles the mud brick walls of Dimai. As per the article, Dimai, which had been founded in third century BC, had reached its heights during the first and second century AD, mainly benefiting from the prominent trade rout it had. The city however was abandoned in the middle of the third century AD. Nonetheless, these are potential pyramid sites, which resemble the 13th Dynasty Egyptian Pyramids, yet to b discovered by the Egyptologists. The discoveri es made at field session conducted by Mary-Ann Pouls Wegner, director of excavation and a professor at the University of Toronto, revealed the secrets at the ‘Terrece of the Great God’, which is a holy place in the ancient Egypt. Abydos was the burial place of the earliest kings of Egypt. The great God of the underworld Osiris was believed to be buried in Abydos. Hence, Egyptians would carry an image of Osiris from the temple constructed in Abydos to his tomb and celebrate it with rituals, writes Owen Jarus. Pouls Wegner talks about the clear evidences discovered during the field examination with regards to the jubilation and fanfare at this procession. The team also discovered a monumental building in which a chamber was filled with mummies of animals. The animals included sheep, goats, a cat and mostly dogs. The next chamber had a wooden statue wearing a headdress of a pharaoh. The extremely thin waist of this wooden statue, somehow, suggested Wegener to examine the l arge stone statues of Hatshepsut, the female Pharaoh of Egypt almost 3500 years ago. Wegener, however, is reluctant to identify the wooden statue with the female Pharaoh. As a matter of fact, the team will continue to explore this dismaying land which probably has many challenges yet to be solved, writes Owen Jarus. Discussing the above news articles proves the fact that most of the answers to the mystical puzzles regarding pyramids are objects of speculations. The prime difficulty in this issue is that Egyptians

In tune with the infinate by Ralph Waldo trine Essay

In tune with the infinate by Ralph Waldo trine - Essay Example Some have done it subconsciously and achieved this state of being while some have achieved this through reading of scriptures written by people who have done it and have been able to achieve it through discipline (Waldo, 2007). This article tries to analyze the view of one author of a book that enumerates steps that a human being can follow to achieve this state of being while I investigate these views and offer my personal take on the steps that this author gives. In his book, â€Å"In Tune with the Infinite Self†, Ralf Waldo is trying to point out the steps on can take to be able to be a complete human being. He starts by offering that there is a golden thread in all human beings that when a human being discovers it, it will change the person`s life forever. However, this golden thread can only be realized by those who reach for it; those who are willing to trade their weakness and suffering for strength and health, their pain for peace and calmness, and their poverty for fu llness. Waldo looks at this state as the state of being in oneness and in tune with the inner self or the part of oneself that cannot be seen because according to him, everything starts from the unseen before it becomes seen and it is the unseen that controls the seen and thus getting to know the unseen is what every human should aspire to know. To achieve this the Waldo has highlighted the following aspects: Human beings should understand the: 1. Supreme facts of the Universe. 2. Supreme facts of Human life. 3. Fullness of life i.e health and vigor. 4. Secret, power, and effect of love 5. Wisdom of interior illumination 6. Realization of perfect peace. 7. Coming into fullness of power. 8. Laws of prosperity 9. Ways that men have followed to become prophets, seers, and saviors. 10. Basic principle of all religion In so doing, a person will be able to enter into full realization of lasting riches. Most of these things are visibly clear from a human point of view and it takes a step b y step self discovery to realize and understand the next level. The writer says that everything is right but what differentiates these things are the different points of views that we as human beings have, it is however worth noting that if all human beings achieve this state of being in touch with the inner self, the point of view will be one; what the writer calls â€Å"oneness† (Waldo, 2007). One example he gives is that of optimism and pessimism, according to Waldo, both a pessimist and an optimist are right in their own sense with the difference being that a pessimist`s point of view is dimmed by ignorance while an optimist view is illuminated by wisdom. To start understanding one self, Waldo advises that an individual should first understand the supreme fact of the Universe; that there is an infinite source of life and all things be it spirit, wisdom, hope, to mention but a few. According to him, there is only one source of all this and that source is God. Being certain that some would disagree with this opinion, Waldo says that to him God is a name that can take different forms like the â€Å"provider†, the â€Å"omnipresent† for the believers and thus even the non-believers would agree that there is someone in their own understanding that provides for them but they chose to have a different name for that someone (Waldo, 2007). On human beings understanding

Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 22

Art - Essay Example rial space needs to be consisted and the logic of the linear perspective must be applied to each and every form that recedes into the distance and they include humans and also other animal forms. Still in the conservation process, the artists are required to work back and forth, Consequently, they are expected to look at the tip of the obelisk with their one eye opened. The atmospheric perspective refers to the final constituent of the optically based system that represents the whole world and was developed by the recovery and the Chinese and the Japanese have utilized it in making their suggestions for broad vistas of receding. Concerning isometric perspective, it has been observed that the converging lines of linear perspective are always on the basis of a fixed viewpoint to an earthbound viewer. The article also talks about time and motion and states that they have always been linked to works of art in the world because time as an element and motion is the very sign of life. It is until late in the 20th century that time and motion took their place as elements in western art by the simple reason of the advancement of technology and the dynamics of the real life situation. To conclude, the type of art that moves is referred to s kinetic art but the term motion is not fixed to the artworks themselves. As we make our move down through the spiral canyon of time, erecting walls to either side to lean outwards and then inwards and in the process continue modifying the space with which we live and the experience that we have on

Security Cameras in Building Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Security Cameras in Building - Essay Example Some of the justifications given by stakeholders within one of the test schools claim that face recognition cameras will protect their children against known criminal offenders and other types of dangerous persons. Another safety consultant in the schools that adopted the security system claims that they adopted the use of face recognition cameras in order to prevent another saga that occurred in a school in Columbia during the year 1999. Advantages of using cameras in buildings have also been put forward in the GSA (1997) article. Although this has been mentioned shortly, they assert that security cameras in public places and government buildings are essential in detecting assailants and criminals who may have intentions of causing harm. There are no such advantages mentioned by Lyon (2001). Keen (2006) also points out to some advantages of the cameras. She describes how bars in Chicago will be required to install cameras in buildings. She affirms that some business owners feel that this enhances their patron's confidence and security. In the article, the major of Chicago claims that security cameras in business premises such as bars have worked wonders for other cities that have done the same in the prevention of crime. He cites examples like London where they were able to prevent a bomb attack by a potential terrorist through their cameras. Keen (2006) affirms that security cameras in public places will help catch some seemingly passive crimes such as drivers who pass red lights or those who leave bomb packages in public places. The article also claims that placing cameras in buildings is easy and cheap consequently denying residents any excuses. Disadvantages of using cameras in buildings Three out of the four articles also examine some of the mishaps, inefficiencies and misgivings about the use of cameras in buildings. GSA (1997) is the only article that does not look at the disadvantages of using security cameras in buildings. Frank (2007) states that the cost that come with this new technology will only place undue burdens on the consumer of that technology. He claims that for a school to employ face recognition camera systems, they require finances reaching the tune of 30, 000 dollars. This is something that is rather costly considering the fact that those schools still have to go about their daily operations. Keen (2006) also points out to this same problem. She says that many business owners who in Chicago who are required to place security cameras in their premises will have to deal with the additional expenses that come with the system. This means that there will be greater costs for bar owners who may not necessarily see the direct benefits that come with the installation. Keen (2006) also says that security cameras in buildings do not necessary bring about positive effects. In her articles, one of the stakeholders (a president of the Chicago restaurants Association) claim that this is just another form of intrusion from the government since no tangible results are visible. In this same article, some representatives from the American Civil liberties Union claim that security cameras in buildings should only be allowed unless there is a direct link to the September eleven attacks. Since this is not possible, then the idea should be abandoned. The Union claims that The American

Two articles on globalization of healthcare Article

Two articles on globalization of healthcare - Article Example The analysis of the budget of the healthcare systems seeks to determine whether there is an effective enough control system to account for the allocation of federal funds into medical centers across the country. The major sources of funding are through accounts of medical support, compliance and medical facilities. Allocation of funds for training of the healthcare workforce. Due to an increased number in populations who are aged, higher rates of disease and an increase in the number of people who are insured, the number of physicians and doctors available need to be increased. This is in direct contrast to the proposals in Congress to reduce the federal funds allocated to the training of medical workforce. Federal, state and private funds are allocated to the training of Medicare professionals. The allocation of these funds is through commissions such as Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the national budget and the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. These f unds are divided into direct payment for the salaries of resident and supervising physicians, and the indirect payments to assist in alleviating costs of sustaining a training program. Canada The provincial governments in Canada allocate a considerable amount of their annual budgets into healthcare and the hard economic times has laid financial strains on the allocation of funds into healthcare. This crisis in funding has posed a restraint in the preservation of national principles of healthcare such as free access and universality. Additionally, it has brought to question some of the healthcare provisions, imposed user fees and cost sharing between the public and private sectors. Funds are allocated in the healthcare department based on their effectiveness in treating, diagnosing and improving health considerably with comparison to the quantity of invested resources. The country uses an effective dimension of the economy in which the efficiency of various healthcare methods are eva luated by the government to determine the method that is more economical and benefits more. They assess the effectiveness of a solution based on research on healthcare for example two drugs that have similar or equal effect and serve the same purpose in treating a particular illness are evaluated and the more effective choice of the two is selected. The effective choice would be the one that treats faster and have fewer side effects and in the cost concept, the more effective drug would be the one that generally costs less. The government use committees to evaluate medical practice methods practiced by physicians to reduce the number of excessive practices such as full or partial examinations, house calls and diagnostic tests. These differences between the allocation methods in the United States and in Canada could be attributed to the amount of amount of revenue available in the governments’ budget available for allocation in the health care systems. The funds available in C anada are more strained as compared to the United States and hence the amount of funds to be allocated differ. Article 2 The United States health care system in addition to aiding in combating the travelers’ diseases such as Hepatitis and tuberculosis, should devote their resources to assist other countries in combating other health issues