Organizations That Certify Productive Forests

The words sustainable forest or sustained yield comes to us from foresters of the 18th and 19th century in Europe. At the time, much of Europe was being deforested, and foresters became increasingly concerned since wood was one of the driving forces in the European economy. Wood used for heat became necessary to build homes and factories. Wood then was turned into furniture and other articles of manufacture and the forests that provided the wood were central to economic security. The idea of sustainability became popular and the idea was brought to the United States to be popularized by foresters including Fernow, Pinchot and Schenck. Modern efforts to define sustainable development and sustainable forest management have met with confusion and argument. A debate over criteria and indicators to be used to measure forest sustainability is at the heart of the issue. Any attempt to define sustainability in a sentence, or a paragraph, or even several pages can be limiting. I think you will see the complexity of the issue if you study the content and links provided here. Doug MacCleery, forest expert with the United States Forest Service, concedes that forest sustainability issues are very complicated and very much depends on agenda. MacCleery says, To define sustainability in the abstract is likely to be nigh on to impossible...before one can define it, one must ask, sustainability: for whom and for what? One of the best definitions Ive found comes from the British Columbia Forest Service - Sustainability: A state or process that can be maintained indefinitely. The principles of sustainability integrate three closely interlined elements-the environment, the economy and the social system-into a system that can be maintained in a healthy state indefinitely. Forest certification is based on the principle of sustainability and in the authority of the certificate to back up a chain of custody scheme. There have to be documented actions, demanded by each certification scheme, assuring a sustained and healthy forest in perpetuity. A worldwide leader in the certification effort is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) who has developed widely accepted sustainable forest schemes or principles. FSC is a certification system that provides internationally recognized standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organizations, and communities interested in responsible forestry. The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) has made worldwide strides in the certification of smaller non-industrial forest ownerships.PEFC promotes itself as the worlds largest forest certification system...remains the certification system of choice for small, non-industrial private forests, with hundreds of thousands of family forest owners certified to comply with our internationally recognized Sustainability Benchmark. Another forest certification organization, called Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI), was developed by the American Forest and Paper Association (AFPA) and represents a North American industrial developed attempt to deal with forest sustainability. SFI presents an alternative approach that may be a bit more realistic for North American forests. The organization is no longer affiliated with AFPA. SFIs collection of sustainable forestry principles were developed to achieve a much broader practice of sustainable forestry throughout the United States without higher cost to the consumer. SFI suggests that sustainable forestry is a dynamic concept that will evolve with experience. New knowledge provided through research will be used in the evolution of United States industrial forestry practices. Having a Sustainable Forestry Initiative ® (SFI ®) label on wood products suggests that their forest certification process assures consumers that they are buying wood and paper products from a responsible source, backed by a rigorous, third-party certification audit.

The Discovery Of The New World Essay - 1726 Words

By definition, a revolution is the overthrow of a suppressive government in favor of a new government, but it is also defined as a large change in society, or how it works. After the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus, European Nations competed in a race against one another to claim pieces of the new land. Before Columbus found this land, the sea separating the New World from Europe seemed endless. The Europeans were only interested in the land to the East. But with the New World there was so much to explore. The Europeans tossed aside their old toy to go play with a new one. During this time period of conquest throughout the New World it became known as the Age of Exploration. A New World meant more land, which meant places to build homes and plant crops, and more money to be earned by buying out new houses and selling new crops grown in foreign soil. These times of change are known as the American Revolution. At the time Spain claimed Mexico, and the Southwest porti ons of what would be known as America. France had their hands on most of present-day Canada, as well as Louisiana. The Dutch set foot on land they called New Amsterdam, however, The English, who had settled their first colony in Jamestown, Virginia, drove the Dutch out and claimed New Amsterdam for themselves, later renaming it New York. The English claimed more land as time passed, and eventually they had formed 13 different colonies in the Eastern part of America. The English Colonies wereShow MoreRelatedThe Discovery Of The New World1075 Words   |  5 PagesSince the arrival of Columbus to the New World in 1492, it began a new era for the Spanish Empire. During this time Spain successfully conducted the Reconquista back home and were power hungry for more land to conquer to keep the momentum going. The early explorations would lead to bigger conquest and fortunes for the Spaniards. After the reunification of Spain with Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, they financed the expedition for the Genoese explorer, Christopher Columbus, for trading routesRead MoreThe Discovery Of The New World903 Words   |  4 PagesAfter the discovery of the New World in 1492 many issues and uproars took place. Particularly, Christopher Columbus viewed America as an opportunity for mankind to begin again. While Bartolomeo de las Cases considered the New World a place of abuse for the Native Americans and took the initiative to save the Native people. In general, the Europeans felt that the America had benefits and major setbacks of coming to the new lands. The following documents â€Å"The Meaning of America†, â€Å"Utilizing the NativeRead MoreThe Discovery Of The New World1178 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica, the third largest country in the world, is a place that most people desire to live in. It is filled with fifty states and each with plentiful opportunities spread amo ngst it. America is considered the land of opportunity because it gives opportunities to immigrants that their country cannot provide them with such as: economic stability and educational resources. America is also known today as the melting pot because so many cultures have mixed together in one country to enjoy the sameRead MoreThe Discovery Of The New World1191 Words   |  5 PagesThe discovery of the New World brought many irreversible changes not only for the European countries, but to the natives of the land that was being discovered. The sense of exploration began expanding more and more among the European powers. Every time the explorers invaded, they would be more avaricious and aggressive against the natives of the land. Along with diseases and inhumane treatments, the European powers also brought education to the â€Å"uneducated† crowds of areas such as India, Africa,Read MoreThe Discovery Of The New World1641 Words   |  7 Pagesship design that lead to the d iscovery of the New World and enabled the subsequent expansion in global trade? In this paper I will examine the changes and improvements in European ship design that allowed for the first transatlantic voyage to the New World. Though the Europeans were not the first to develop the concept of the ship, they were the first to take this concept and use it to cross the Atlantic. Even before Columbus sailed across the Atlantic to the New World, Europe had a long maritimeRead MoreThe Discovery Of The New World1128 Words   |  5 Pageswe really thank Columbus? He was not the first European to discover America, but he was the first to set voyage and sail across the fearful Atlantic to land in the New World. Soon the Spanish, Portuguese, British, Dutch and other European nations grew curious of this land on the other side of the world. The discovery of the New World was responsible for the transport of foods, domesticated plants, animals, diseases and most importantly human beings. The Atlantic Slave Trade became a thriving businessRead MoreThe Discovery Of The New World1257 Words   |  6 Pagesof America, recent World crops a bit like wheat, barley, rice, and turnips had not traveled west across the Atlantic , and New World crops a bit like maize, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and manioc had not traveled east to Europe. among land, there aren t any horses, cattle, sheep, or goats, all animals of recent World origin. apart from the placental, alpaca, dog, a few fowl, and guinea pig, the New World had no equivalents to the domesticated animals about the recent World, nor did it have theRead More Columbus and the New World Discovery Essay4487 Words   |  18 PagesColumbus and the New World Discovery October 12, 1992, marks the five-hundredth anniversary of the most crucial of all encounters between Europe and the Americas. In the contemporary global mood, however, the quincentennial of Christopher Columbuss landing in the New World - new, anyway, to the European intruders; old and familiar to its inhabitants - seems an occasion less for celebration than for mediation. Indeed, in some quarters the call is for penitence and remorse. Christopher ColumbusRead More The Merging of Cultures During the New World Discovery Essay1066 Words   |  5 PagesThe Merging of Cultures During the New World Discovery The voyages of the Iberians marked history. The discovery of the new world meant the unification of two old worlds. These old worlds had different beliefs, attitudes, language, and values. The culture of these two worlds would never be the same. The native peoples of America at the end of the fifteenth century ranged from the simplest hunting-fishing-gathering societies to highly developed civilizations with urban and peasant componentsRead MoreDevastation of New World Ecosystems During the Age of Discovery3100 Words   |  13 PagesThe New World, in the minds and descriptions of European explorers and settlers during the sixteenth century, was comparable to a paradise on earth. The landscape was so vast and indescribably beautiful that even Columbus had trouble articulating its splendor. However, lacking a consciousness of conservation, Europeans felt little remorse in exploiting the land and subjugating its people. From the beginning Europeans set out to transform as much of the New World into the Old World as possible. As

Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships in Lifelong Learning Free Essays

Cleo Peries 17/04/2013 Unit 008 Roles, responsibilities and relationships in lifelong learning. 1. 1 Summarise key aspects of legislation, regulatory requirements and codes of practice relating to own role and responsibilities. We will write a custom essay sample on Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships in Lifelong Learning or any similar topic only for you Order Now As an IT teacher, it is my duty to research and learn about Theories and Principles of Learning. I need to have a full understanding of the psychology of learning. The three main schools are Behaviourist, Cognitivist and Humanist. Current Legislative Requirements Equality Act 2010 (this includes): †¢ Sex Discrimination Act 1976 †¢ Race Relations Act 1976 †¢ Disability Discrimination Act 1995 †¢ Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003 †¢ Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 †¢ Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 As a teacher I have to abide by certain legal requirements – one being the Equality Act – this means I need to ensure that all the students in my class feel comfortable to be able to express themselves in a place of safety where their views and beliefs are respected by all students. I need to ensure that all the students are treated as individuals whilst being given a fair and equal opportunity to learn. Health and Safety Act at Work Regulations 1999 It is important to ensure Health and Safety Regulations are met – I teach in a class with computers and consequently, to name a few, I need to ensure that there are no leads lying around to cause accidents, chairs can be adjusted to the correct height for desks, sockets are not overloaded, classroom lights are fully operational, and ensure that every hour or so the students look away from the computer screen for at least 5 minutes, taking a break whilst we discuss the exercise at hand. Data Protection Act 1998 I have a duty to respect the Data Protection Act ensuring a student’s rights are kept intact. I cannot pass any information from an individual to a third party without their prior written consent ensuring confidentiality is protected. 1|P a g e Cleo Peries 17/04/2013 The copyright designs and patents Acts 1998 and 2003 ‘The law gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, sound recordings, broadcasts, films and typographical arrangement of published editions, rights to control the ways in which their material may be used. UKCCS Fact Sheet Issued April 2000; Last Updated 2009) http://www. copyrightservice. co. uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law (viewed 17/04/2013) I need to ensure that the exercises I set are all my own work – the Copyright Act applies more to me than my students. Children’s Act 2004 (Every Child Matters) The Children’s Act aims to create boundaries to ensure that children feel supported i n the learning process. The Act also proves useful in the Adult Learning Sector as some adults may have learning difficulties, dyslexia, or even language barriers that may not be obvious from the start, so in general I need to be more creative in including them without isolating them – I like to teach by example as it has been proven students that struggle find it easier to understand an exercise if I do it first and then watch them as they do it. Students tend to learn quicker from practice than theory, and adults that may be a little more challenged feel included and happier they can contribute at the same level as the rest of the students giving them the confidence to be more receptive in the class. Codes of Practice The Code of Practice was developed by the profession for the profession and it outlines the behaviours expected when any group of people are gathered together – some are listed below: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Integrity Respect Care Practice Disclosure Responsibility As a practice, ensuring the basics are met promotes teamwork as well as professionalism, if I treat others as I would like to be treated the courtesy is generally returned and the more cohesive the team the more can be accomplished in tighter time scales and in a happier environment. 2|P a g e How to cite Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships in Lifelong Learning, Papers Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships in Lifelong Learning Free Essays Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships in Lifelong Learning The purpose of this assignment is to understand a teacher’s role and responsibilities in Lifelong Learning by summarising key aspects of legislation and codes of practise relating to the role of a teacher. Also by promoting equality, diversity and evaluating a teacher’s responsibility by identifying and meeting the needs of learners. It aims to understand the relationships between teachers and other professionals by analysing barriers, boundaries and reviewing points of referral to meet the needs of learners. We will write a custom essay sample on Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships in Lifelong Learning or any similar topic only for you Order Now Finally to understand a teacher’s responsibility for establishing and maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment and to explain how to promote appropriate behaviour and respect for others. I wish to teach multimedia design in a FE college or sixth form and my assignment will †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ A teacher needs to be aware of current legislation and codes of practise within their place of employment. Legislation must be adhered to by law whereas codes of practise are set by professional organisations, such as the Institute Of Learning (IOL) and can be often more specific to the industry. Related article: PTLLS Level 3 Assignments Examples The Equality Act 2010 protects against discrimination and â€Å"bans unfair treatment of people because of protected characteristics they have. † (Home Office, 2012) The nine protected characteristics include: age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, marriage civil partnership, pregnancy maternity, race and religion or belief. Part 6 Chapter 2 of the act specifically defines legislation in further or higher education. The Equality Act sets out the different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone, such as direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, victimisation and failing to make a reasonable adjustment for a disabled person. † Disability can be both physically and mentally. â€Å"Approximately 2% of the global population†¦ have intellectual disabilities, making it one of the largest disability populations in the world. † (wear the laces REF) They are amongst the most vulnerable people in the world as they are â€Å"less likely to become employed, more likely to be victims of abuse and more likely to have poorer health have trouble finding care. (ibib) In a learning environment, a teacher can ensure students with difficulties are provided with the correct support. A deaf student may require a carer who can use sign language to communicate between teacher and student. They could be positioned at the front of class so they can see visual presentations clearly or to focus and lip-read on the teacher. It is important to maintain a safe working environment in the classroom. Health and safety is the responsibility of both the teacher and the organisation. The Health and Safety at work act 1974 â€Å"is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in the United Kingdom. † (hse. gov. uk) In most schools and colleges in the UK, all electrical equipment is subject to an annual Portable Appliance Test (PAT) which ensures the appliance is safe to use. Teachers may advice students of correct posture when sitting at a computer for long periods and to take a 15 minute break every 2 hours. In art or scientific subjects, the teacher and students might need protective clothing and some students may be allergic to specific substances. Risk assessments must be completed by the teacher. There are limits to what a teacher can do in their position, known as professional boundaries, and it’s important not to cross these limits. A teacher, who may also be a qualified first aider, may feel it’s appropriate to administer first aid to an injured student. However if the teacher is not the designated first aider at the institution they would not be responsible. An exception to this would be if the student requires urgent medical attention, the teacher should use reasonable care until the designated first aider is present. Similarly a teacher may wish to offer counselling advice to a student. A teacher may not be qualified to provide this and counselling is not part of a teacher’s remit. The teacher should then refer the student to the designated councillor – the internal point of referral – or provide a contact number for an advice help line, known as an external point of referral. Boundaries are about knowing where a teacher’s role stops to ensure an equal learning experience to all learners. It is important to establish a safe and supportive learning environment. A teacher can achieve this by being a positive role model to their students and to be enthusiastic about their teaching. This should reflect in the student’s attitude and work. A casual approach to lessons will cause students to not pay attention, become disruptive and not turn up to lessons. Gravells suggests that â€Å"learners like routine and will expect you to be organised and professional. † (Gravells, 2008 p. 7) Setting ground rules will help learners know their limits and promote appropriate behaviour. Ground rules may include arriving on time, switching off mobile phones and not eating or drinking in class. Drinks in an IT room may spill over electrical equipment posing a health and safety risk. Ground rules give the learner added responsibility. â€Å"Often, if a rule is broken, it is the other learners that reprimand the offender. † (ibib p. 8) Ice-breakers are light-hearted exercises at the beginning of a course to introduce learners to each other, reduce anxiety and helps learners to relax into the course. Team exercises can be used throughout the course to energise learners, maintain focus, motivation and encourage teamwork. They also encourage learners who are more introverted to take an active part of the class. How to cite Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships in Lifelong Learning, Essay examples

Limiting Freedom of Speech free essay sample

McCorkle further elaborates these points; By limiting or denying freedom of speech and expression, we take away a lot of potential. We take away thoughts and ideas before they even have opportunity to hatch (307). From the sentence above, the important subject in this reading is very bold that people owns a lot of potential that can be more reached out if they can express themselves freely. All of these points on not to limit peoples expression in the way they want to think and talk can all be related from my own past experience. I still remember when I was in senior high school; I got an assignment from my English teacher to present a group drama. One of the line in the drama was, â€Å"Damn, I can’t stand with this anymore† as we were presenting a drama about a broken-hearted man and his love life. Amazingly, my group got a great appreciation from the audiences and we thought we were one of the best at that time. Despite of having nice grades, when the teacher gave back the result, we got 0 for that assignment. We were very shocked at that time and tried to talk with the teacher. Guess what, it is all because of the line when we used the word â€Å"damn† in the conversation. Thus, I’m trying to point out that there will always be limitation and consequences on our action. In fact, there will be no such time when the world becomes full of opportunities and possibilities that are limitless and people are free to explore the depth of their potentials from the freedom of expression and speech. Furthermore, I recognize there are some other possible ways in which the essays could be interpreted. At first, I personally feel that this ssay is very intriguing, also, I do not fully agree on how parents are supposed to give their children the so called cuss time session in order for them to understand the importance or the meaning of the freedom of speech. As I read all over again, I finally realize and understand something new. Although there will always be a controversy about letting child interact with such bad words, I can understand the concept of per mitting child express their freedom by letting them mouthing bad vocabulary is not just about to make them feel satisfy but rather to keep child from learning it from another person with no authority and responsibility. Also, there are many good ideas and perspective thinking behind the concept of cuss time that will lead children to be more positive in expressing themselves rather than having them express their thoughts under insecure condition and unsafe environment in the future. By that, what I mean is if child don’t get the right lesson on how to use freedom of speech and expression in a positive way, they can use it negatively in a wrong circumstances. Talking about different subject, I can clearly analyze that McCorckle often shifted the tone of her essay slowly to emphasize her points. The tone of humor as well as seriousness of her arguments can be found to be interwoven and one throughout her essay. The choices of words by McCockle to express humor can be easily spotted in the essay especially from her sentence Oh right, an angel of God placed you into the bill of the stork (306). This line is one the most brilliant and clever way to convey a sarcastic humor and create the feeling of funniness in reflecting the consequences of limiting freedom of speech. She then changes the tone to be more serious as the essay comes to an end, where she stated, You can deny who you are and all that came before you and still be thought as a good person. And what can be positive in that? † (307). This shows how the author wants to emphasize her argument about how people tend to camouflage their own potentials and expressions. In addition to the tone, McCorckle also chooses to use few short paragraphs but the essay mostly consists of long paragraph. I can’t tell exactly the exact pattern of the essay because she randomly put a short paragraph in the middle of long paragraph. But from my point of view, it does not affect the organization of the essay and it is still well done. This essay structurally connects very well and is made up of several flashbacks on a different kind of subject, which are tied together. At first, in the first paragraph, McCorkle shares her father’s childhood story to open up the main idea of her essay. Then the structure flows when the author tells a story about her son who share the first line of his own story where he puts some swear words in it and ask for a feedback. This flashback gives an understanding on the origin cuss time, what it is about and why she thinks it is the right way of parenting. The essay continues as Mc Corkle again shares her own flashback story regarding to her first public reading experience where she displayed her own freedom of speech on the reading and ended up getting mocked by others. Finally, these 2 parts of flashbacks are tied up in the last paragraph when she starts to share her thought about the lost of potential in our self when freedom and expression are taken away that make us tend to deny who we really are. Of course, from the title Cuss Time itself, we can easily infer that informal sentences are being used throughout the essay. Vocabulary words such as bitch, fuck, ass, goddamnit can be easily found. In conclusion, I personally think that the author has successfully developed the essay by several reasons. It gives a new idea of how freedom of speech in society should be given to children. In addition, a strong message of how people nowadays dont live in their own life is being conveyed too. Many of us still live in the world full of denial and safely hide under camouflages. Other than that, a bold and clear conclusion from the last paragraph really emphasizes the author’s main points. Other than that, her structure also really contributes to the successfulness of the writing. Even though at first I felt that this writing was a bit intimidating by the use of the words, after reading it several times and understand the author’s arguments fully, I can clearly say that this essay has been one of my exciting and favorite pieces of writing. There is an exciting pleasure that I got as I read throughout the end. Every details and point is well organized. The change of phases and times also flows in a perfect pace, which wraps up the essay with its content and structure neatly. Work Cited McCorckle, Jill. â€Å"Cuss Time†. The Best American Essays. Ed. Robert Atwan. New jajajajNew York: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

Charice Pempengco Essays - Charice Pempengco, Star Magic, Charice

Charice Live at Oprah Show- Introduction & Interview - May 11, 2010 Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_282kzAmyc Lately, there was a sensation about a talented little philippine girl whose miracle voice accidentally impressed Oprah Winfrey (owner of The Oprah Winfrey Show - the highest-rated American talk show) through a famous video site, youtube and that is how the name Charice Pempengco was rapidly spread all around the world. Charice?s childhood is kind of tough. Her father used to hold a shotgun toward her mom. Since then, she was raised by a single mom and she even had to start attending about a hundred of singing contests at the age seven for their living but in the year 2008, the Oprah Winfrey show has totally changed her life. Charice who was 16-year-old back then was introduced to the world through the famous broadcast as one of the world?s most talented kids and Oprah also suggested her to a legendary song producer, David Foster. Charice and David are now working together preparing for charice?s first debut album. Besides of her quality voice, the girl is renowned for her grounded personality and her gratefulness as well. She still treats others as the same no matter how much popularity she has gained and she also bought a dream house as a present for her mom on mother?s day and even asked David Foster to be her god father. In my point of view, Charice?s life is a best model for all mankind. Her attempt is worth to follow and definitely approved that ?Where they is a will, there is a way?.

The South China Sea A Historical Overview

The South China Sea A Historical Overview The sea is dotted with hundreds of small islands, atolls, and reefs, only a few of which are actually inhabitable and all of which lie outside the internationally-recognized 12 nautical miles territorial limit of the squabbling nations. Geopolitical disputes over the ownership of the South China Sea were a frequent topic of international news in 2012, and indications are that they will continue to be so for some time to come. Here is a brief primer on why this part of the world has become such a diplomatic hotspot. Where is the South China Sea? The South China Sea is a broad body of water lying between the coast of the Southeast Asian mainland and the island nations of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is bordered on the north by Taiwan and the southern coast of China, on the west by Viet Nam, on the south by the Malay Peninsula and Borneo, and on the east by the Philippines. DOKDO ISLANDS ARE KOREAN PROPERTY As shown by this map, China claims virtually all of the South China Sea, which is the source of the sharp disputes it has had with other countries, primarily Viet Nam and the Philippines. The sea is dotted with hundreds of small islands, atolls, and reefs, only a few of which are actually inhabitable and all of which lie outside the internationally-recognized 12 nautical miles territorial limit of the squabbling nations. The claims of the Philippines, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam to parts of the South China Sea are based on geographical proximity, historical claims, and the 200 nautical mile limit to â€Å"Exclusive Economic Zones† provided for in the 1982 UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is not recognized by China. Do Any of the Countries Have a Legitimate Claim? Because there is very little physical land that can be occupied in the South China Sea, none of the countries involved has established a clear, indisputable sovereign claim. In 1947, shortly after the Communists came to power in China, the Chinese government published maps purportedly dating back to the 16th century showing the sea as part of Chinese territory and claimed the area had been used by Chinese fishermen and traders for more than 2,000 years. Viet Nam in particular disputed this, producing documents of their own showing the Paracel and Spratly Island groups as part of their territory as early as the 17th century. The claims of the Philippines to the Spratlys and the Scarborough Shoal, which lies about 150 kilometers west of the Philippines, are based on those areas lying closer to the Philippines than any of the other countries. Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei base their claims on the provisions of the UNCLOS accord. Why is the South China Sea Such â€Å"Hot Property†? The most important reason is natural gas and lots of it. Although the continuing disputes have prevented much exploration in the South China Sea, indications from the few surveys that have been done indicate it may contain reserves of up to 25 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, which if true would make the area the third- or fourth-largest concentration of gas in the world. In addition, the South China Sea is believed to hold oil reserves of up to 28 billion barrels, according to estimates by the US Energy Information Administration. The South China Sea is also a strategically important shipping region linking Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Indian Ocean with China, Japan, and the rest of the Pacific Ocean; about a third of the world’s sea traffic is said to cross the South China Sea. The sea is also a rich fishing ground and supports most of the commercial fishing done by the Philippines, Viet Nam, China, and Malaysia. Key Events in the South China Sea The most serious clashes have occurred between China and Viet Nam, who have had naval battles over the Paracels and the Spratlys. In 1974, China launched an amphibious assault on the Paracel Islands then occupied by Viet Nam, seizing the island group after a short, violent fight that killed about 70 Vietnamese soldiers. In 1988, a naval engagement between Viet Nam and China in the Spratlys ended with several Vietnamese gunboats being destroyed, with a loss of about 60 sailors. More recently, an attempt by Philippine Coast Guard forces to arrest Chinese poachers in the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 led to a tense naval standoff that saw both nations send dozens of vessels to the area, and created a diplomatic crisis that has since settled down but has not been resolved. China also angered both Viet Nam and the Philippines in 2012 by redesigning its passports with an illustration of a map showing the South China Sea as part of its territory; as a result, both countries briefly refused to issue visa stamps to Chinese travelers carrying the new, offensive passports. Other small provocations are frequent occurrences. An unconfirmed report of Chinese interference with Vietnamese oil exploration vessels in 2011 led to massive anti-China demonstrations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; the Vietnamese for their part routinely conduct live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea, drawing protests from the Chinese government. And in 2012, the Philippine government issued a directive renaming the South China Sea to the â€Å"West Philippine Sea,† further irritating China. Will the Disputes Be Ever Resolved? The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes all the claimants to the South China Sea except China and Taiwan, has on several occasions attempted to develop a binding â€Å"code of conduct† for nations in the South China Sea, with little success. China for its part has consistently resisted moves to â€Å"internationalize† the dispute, preferring to negotiate on a bilateral basis with individual countries. Although some discussions have taken place, most recently between the Philippines and China over the Scarborough Shoal incident, none of the countries have been willing to relax their claims, suggesting the issue will be a source of tension for some time to come.

Estoppel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Estoppel - Essay Example If the other party makes a decision based on the untruthful second statement and a lawsuit ensues, they can claim an estoppel in court against the plaintiff. In order for the estoppel to be considered valid, however, the defendant needs to demonstrate damages stemming from the untruthful statement. For example, if a landlord tells a tenant that he or she only owes half of the monthly rent because of repairs, the tenant can reasonably treat that as a statement of fact. He or she may write a check for half of the normal monthly rent and assume he or she is in good standing. If the landlord later decides to sue the tenant for not paying the entire amount of the lease, the tenant may claim an estoppel in court. The landlord's verbal agreement to accept half payment should have been recognized as binding, even if the original lease was not changed. The tenant had a reasonable right to change his rent payments based on a perceived truth. An estoppel is generally a defensive move, not a first strike. The plaintiff in a case can claim a number of reasons why the defendant should honour a contract or pay damages, for example. The defence must demonstrate that the plaintiff's own statements go against established facts in order to claim an estoppel. There must also be evidence that the defendant based his actions strictly on the reliance of truth and that he suffered damages because of it. Enforcement of an estoppel is generally left up to the discretion of the individual judge hearing the case. TYPES OF ESTOPPEL Equitable estoppel A type of estoppel that bars a person from adopting a position in court those contradict his or her past statements or actions when that contradictory stance would be unfair to another person who relied on the original position. For example, if a landlord agrees to allow a tenant to pay the rent ten days late for six months, it would be unfair to allow the landlord to bring a court action in the fourth month to evict the tenant for being a week late with the rent. The landlord would be estopped from asserting his right to evict the tenant for late payment of rent. Estoppel by deed A type of estoppel that prevents a person from denying the truth of anything that he or she stated in a deed, especially regarding who has valid ownership of the property. For example, someone who grants a deed to real estate before he actually owns the property can't later go back and undo the sale for that reason if, say, the new owner strikes oil in the backyard. Estoppel by silence A type of estoppel that prevents a person from asserting something when she had both the duty and the opportunity to speak up earlier, and her silence put another person at a disadvantage. For example, Edwards' Roofing Company has the wrong address and begins ripping the roof from Betty's house by mistake. If Betty sees this but remains silent, she cannot wait until the new roof is installed and then refuse to pay, asserting that the work was done without her agreement. Promissory estoppel A type of estoppel that prevents a person who made a promise from reneging when someone else has reasonably relied on the promise and will suffer a loss if the promise is broken. For example, Forrest tells Antonio to go ahead and buy a boat without a motor, because he will sell Antonio an old boat motor at a very reasonable price. If Antonio relies on Forrest's

Business Management 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Management 2 - Essay Example Considerably, this also includes how leadership style and management skills affect the successful implementation of the four functions of management. In business, Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling, are the four managerial functions vital to the success of every management vision. Management process is a system where the four managerial functions are sought to be very critical; that if one function ceases to be useful, success is difficult to attain (Rothbauer-Wanish, 2009). However, the functionality of the four managerial components is also affected by the type of leadership and the managerial skills the managers possess and exhibit. Planning. The successful execution of the four managerial functions leads to the success of a company. Planning, the fundamental function of management is where business goals and objectives are stated for future operations. It includes the basics of business planning—the business’ objectives and goals—and strategic planning, which includes â€Å"internal and external environmental analyses †¦ and the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis† (Erven, 1999). Furthermore, planning also includes concerns regarding the kind of environment the company is operating (Barnett, 2010). One international company that had successfully executed the planning function of management is Toyota Motors Corporation. Planning, in Toyota, is done prior to the environmental conservation initiative of the company, which is reflected in its statement of corporate responsibility (Toyota, n.d.a). In fact, its motors are designed to foster environmental conservation and sustainable development as well (Toyota, n.d.b). Organizing. Another managerial function important in any organization is organizing. According to Management Study Guide (1998-2009), organizing refers to the coordinating of the different business resources to

Mans Happiness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mans Happiness - Essay Example Like other subjects belonging to the realm of the humanities, the use of Philosophy is not that apparent as compared to the relevance of the natural sciences like Biology or Chemistry. Such studies have direct physical consequences. The effect of their absence can easily be perceived and felt by the Human Being. The absence of Philosophy, on the other hand, has no direct physical repercussion. The effect is something that is unseen; it is something that is internal to Man. The use of Philosophy lies in its capacity to help Man scratch that internal "itching" of his, his itch to know the truth. Just like what we have seen in the discussions, Man has always had that itch to know what the truth is. All the Greek Philosophers that we've discussed all try to do this by answering certain questions that boggled their minds. The Mileasans were itching to know what made up the universe. The Pythagoreans tried to see the arrangement of the universe through the use of numbers. Socrates concerned himself with the Interior Man. All of these Philosophers were trying to know what the truth is, as posed by their questions. That is where the use of philosophy comes in. Like these philosophers, we will also be bogged by questions in our modern world, questions that cannot be simply answered through empirical observation or experimentation. Philosophy helps us answer these questions. Supposing we don't answer them, the physical consequence may not be that great. When someone who earns a Billion Dollars a year for example, asks what is Man's purpose in life is for example and fails to answer it, he will not automatically lose his wealth. He will still be rich, but internally he will be empty, for he has not found any meaning to why he exists. He will be no different to a machine who works, round the clock. It may be efficient, but it does not know its purpose. Indeed, the ability to scratch that internal itching for truth is something that is very much important to Man. As what we have said, it helps him be more "human", that he can ask and know what the truth is about himself and the world around him. This care for the truth and the satisfaction of the interior side of Man is something that is advocated by the philosopher Socrates. As what we has been said in the discussions, Socrates asserted the importance of improving the soul; that truth and virtue should be given a lot if importance. If Man does not do this then he will not be Happy. This thought is very important given how the world views happiness these days. A lot think that material things could easily satisfy man, neglecting that there are certain things that we cannot see but still satisfies Man from within. Ironically though, whenever Man tries to scratch that sensation for truth, he ends up being itchier. Sometimes the way to answering a question is through another question. We have seen this in the Greek Philosophers we have discussed. The Milesians asked what the basic stuff that composed the universe is. Answers were given. Thales said its water. Anaximander questioned this and so on. Just like the Greeks, the modern man asks his own questions. It may be about the purpose of his life or even what life even means. Philosophy aids man in answering such questions,

Area Study Merging with Cross-National Approach

Area Study Merging with Cross-National Approach Overview Are area studies and a cross-national approach really that different or they have more in common than we might expect? I think it is the latter, having three major similarities. First, these studies have increasingly merged to seek systematic explanations that cut through regions, which had been thought to be fundamentally different or exceptional (such as Latin America). As such, the second similarity is that they have also come to share some roles, such as confirming a theory. Third, the rise of mixed method approach that can combine area study and cross-national approaches further illuminates not only the second similarity but also a common and ultimate goal shared by the two approaches, which to expand our knowledge. At the same time, how they go about playing similar roles and accomplishing the shared goal remains as a major difference. In other words, to answer the second question, each approach is better suited than another to answer particular types of questions. Area studies that are often in qualitative nature ask for conditions necessary or sufficient for particular outcomes to occur, while cross- national approach that tend to be in quantitative in nature is much suited for asking the average effect of an independent variable on such outcomes. Similarities: Area Study Merging with Cross-National Approach Once again, I think area studies and a cross-national approach have come much closer to each other, having three major similarities. The first major similarity is that both studies seem to have sought systematic explanations that cut through regions. While it is straightforward that a cross-national approach seeks such accounts, I argue that this similarity has emerged due to a change in seeing what area study should be. Fundamentally, area study is a study that focuses on particular areas or regions of the world. In the mid 20th century, an area study approach had particularly been used as a â€Å"cookie cutter† strategy. That is, it ‘snips’ out regions or areas that do not conform to accepted ideas or particularly the ones that are studied through the scope of â€Å"ethnocentrism† (Wiarda 1993, 16). Thus, the study is driven by the idea—â€Å"what works in one context may not work in another† –and utilized to understand not just deviant or outlier but ‘exceptional’ cases (Wiarda 2005, 2). For instance, O’Donnell’s area studies on Argentina and Brazil (1973; 1976) caught grater attention in the 1970s; he challenged Lipset’s modernization theory (1959; 1960) that came out a decade ago based on Western states as a widely accepted idea displaying the positive relationship between economic development and democracy. Contra rily to Lipset, O’Donnell showed that a process of modernization actually yielded a bureaucratic-authoritarian regime in the ‘richest’ countries in the region. Dependency theorists, such as Frank (1969) and Dos Santos (1971) also elevated the importance of area studies by arguing that Latin American economies would not follow the path of Western states because the region was exploited as ‘satellite economies’ by the West and ended up contributing to the Western modernization. Recently, Mainwaring and Perez-Linan (2003) empirically demonstrated a non-linear relationship between economic development and democracy in Latin America; they concluded that â€Å"Latin American exceptionalism† existed in the mid to late 20th century because of distinctive economic policies (ISI) and a link between political elites. Regardless of Mainwaring and Prez-Linan’s work, however, I see area study to increasingly become a ‘lesson-drawing’ approach (Wiarda 2005). Instead of pointing out regional distinction and exception as an end goal, these differences are used as lessons for building a ‘mega-theory’ or producing systematic accounts regarding comparative politics. This is in part because of the rise of other area studies focusing on the Middle East and East Asia, which show their paths towards democracy that are distinct from both Western states and Latin America. These studies, therefore, diminish Latin America exceptionalism. In addition, area studies, namely of O’Donnell’s (1973; 1976) have come under much attack for being ad hoc explanations, since Latin American turned to re- democratize in the 1980s. All of these factors have then called for a more systematic investigation for providing an account, which identifies common and different conditions c ontributing to such outcomes (Acemoglu and Robinson 2006). For instance, Acemoglu and Robinson (2006) recognized Lipset’s modernization theory as one of four paths, rather than ‘the only path,’ and sought conditions that make democratization likely, using the cases of Argentina, Singapore, and South Africa. O’Donnell’s later work with Schmitter (1986) on Latin America also merged with Przeworski (1991) and Haggard and Kaufman (1995), which utilized cases from various regions, such as the Philippines, South Africa, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Nepal. These studies have then provided a powerful account, suggesting the entrance and exit or authoritarianism to depend on a strategic bargaining between political (military) and economic elites in the wake of economic downturns. Hence, the first major similarity is, once again, a tendency of both area studies and cross-national approaches to seek systematic accounts that cut through regions. While cross-national approach is essentially thought to have such a goal, area studies have come to understand the need of the goal, while no single region seems to stand as entirely exceptional or can be isolated from the rest of the world. As such, the second similarity is that they have also come to share some roles. When area studies, at least some parts of the studies, have come close to cross-national approach theoretically, these studies can play a similar analytical role as well, namely the role in confirming a theory. The theory of political activism may be a good example. Mainly based on Western states, including the United States, empirical cross- ational studies have suggested that well-established democracies have increasingly faced a â€Å"legitimacy crisis† or increase in â€Å"democratic deficits† (Norris 2011, 3- 5). Using a wide range of indicators such as a declining civic engagement or voter turnout (Teixiera 1992; Putnam 2000), declining party loyalties (Aldrich 1995; Dalton et al. 1984), and surveys, they show dissatisfaction and decrease in confidence in national governments (Norris 2011). As such, Fung and Drakeley (2013) conducted an area study focusing on East Asia, ranging from South Korea to Indonesia and Cambodia, and confirmed that even in ‘transnational democracies’ face similar challenges with old democracies or what Norris (2011) calls ‘democratic deficits.’ The area study shows that East Asian states are remarkably similar with Western democracies in a sense that democratic regime may be ‘flawed’ but not ‘broken.’ In turn, cross-national studies can also confirm a theory based on area studies. For instance, Lipset’s modernization theory on the basis on Western Europe has been reinforced with a growing number of empirical cross-national studies (Boix and Stokes 2003; Epstein et al 2006), although debatable (e.g. Przeworski and Limongi 1997; Kennedy 2010; Teorell 2010). Geddes (2003, 351-365) explicitly stated the literature on modernization theory has become much more â€Å"persuasive† because â€Å"large-n studies have begun to play a greater role in the comparative development fields.† Third, the rise of mixed method approach that can combine area study and cross-national approaches further illuminates not only the second point but also a common and ultimate goal shared by the two approaches, which to expand our knowledge. For instance, Liberman (2005) recently suggested a mixed-method approach, called nested analysis, which is a research design employing both a Large-N statistical analysis and small-N case studies for in-depth investigation. In particular, this approach advocates the use of a large-N analysis as a guide to draw a subsequent small-case N analysis for two different purposes: a model-building tool for testing an outlier case and a model-testing tool for confirming an online case. Coppedge (2002) is a good example of the nested analysis; he developed a large-N study to determine the need of an area study on Venezuela, which appeared to have a large portion of residuals since the 1990s. Fish (2005) also employed a mixed approach, which conducted a larg e-n analysis and the Russian case study. Similarly, King et al (1994) and Brady et al (2006) also suggest a mixed approach, which, though unlike Liberman, utilizes area studies to draw a large- n analysis. For instance, Krieckhaus (2006) briefly reviewed areas of Latin America, East Asia, and Sub- Saharan Africa to argue distinctive effects of democratic governance on economic growth. This area study thus confirms not only a null relationship between the two variables in cross- national studies but also the positive and negative relationships that appear when empirical analyses are conducted separately. In short, these mixed approaches show that area studies and cross-national studies can reinforce their finding or give a valid reason for each to be conducted; and ultimately, these mutual roles highlight the most important similarity –both studies contribute to enhance our knowledge in comparative politics (Walt 1999). Different Questions and Approaches At the same time, how they go about playing similar roles and accomplishing the shared goal remains as a major difference. In particular, area studies are usually qualitative in nature, with some exceptions (e.g. Mainwaring and Prez- Pinan 2003). This means that, as I mentioned sometimes, area studies are a small-n or case study, which intensively examine particular events with careful attention to historical and cultural contexts. King et al (1994) similarly argue that a small- n study is better at conducting a descriptive inference, which is the â€Å"process of understanding an observed phenomenon on the basis of a set of observations† (55). As such, area studies are particularly suited for asking two questions. The first one is, â€Å"what are conditions necessary or sufficient for a particular event to arise?† Returning to the works by O’Donnell and Schmitter (1986), Przeworski (1991), and Haggard and Kaufman (1995), they essentially found economic downturn and ‘authoritarian bargaining’ between political and economic elites as crucial and interactive conditions that change the likelihood of a regime change. Acemoglu and Robinson (2006) as well as Boix (2003) also constructed a model where the level of income inequality and capital mobility to interactively alter the probability of democratization, as they contribute to power relations between political elites and mass citizens. Area studies are also suited for questions that identify important actors. The identification of domestic actors is crucial because they, according to Mahoney (2011, 115), â€Å"create†¦structures, which in turn shape subsequent actor behaviors, which in turn lead to the development of institutional structural patterns† It is also important, as Walt (1999, 12) points out that the main task of political science research is to produce â€Å"useful knowledge about human social behavior.† As such, the above studies are also praised for identifying important actors, such as political elites, business actors, and military, which are â€Å"black boxed† (Rueschemeyr et al. 1992, 29) in Lipset’s modernization theory and subsequent empirical studies that focus on the relationship between economic development and democracy (e.g. Prezeworksi and LImongi 1997; Epstein et al 2006; Boix and Stokes 2003; Kennedy 2010; Teorell 2010). Ziblatt (2006: 322) commented, â€Å"their accounts improve upon the agentless structural functionalism implicit in modernization theory by reasserting the primacy of collective actors resources, preferences, and strategies.† Teorell (2010, 151) also argues, â€Å"The key theoretical virtue of this novel approach is that it integrates the previous †¦traditions by providing structural conditions explaining preference and actions of ordinary citizens, in turn affecting the strategic choices made by political elites.† In turn, cross-national studies are naturally equipped with a larger sample size and conducted through statistical or quantitative analyses. As such, they are better suited for asking, â€Å"what is the average effect on an independent variable on the same or similar outcome seen across the world?† (Mahoney 2011; King et al 1994). Put differently, King et al (1994) argues that, while area studies tend to be good at descriptive inference, large- n studies are better suited for causal inference—that is—to â€Å"demonstrate the causal status of each potential linkage in such a posited mechanism the investigator would have to define and then estimate the causal effect underlying it† (86). For instance, Boix and Stokes (2003, 531), building on Lipset, specifically concluded, â€Å" A simulation of the results shows that for low and medium levels of development, the probability of a transition to democracy grows by about 2 percent for each $1,000 increase in per capita income.† Similarly, Kennedy (2010, 797) notes â€Å"a 1% increase in per- capita GDP above the country mean† increases the probability of democratic transition. These specific numbers would not come out of area studies; for instance, although Haggard and Kaufman (1992) identified economic downturn as a crucial condition for a regime change, they do not specify exactly how bad the economic situation has to be; it was rather relative judgment in comparing cases.

Essay examples --

Our world is made up of many diverse cultures. These cultures have influenced many aspects of this world that we live in today. Understanding and developing knowledge about these cultures is vitally important. Having the ability to understand other cultures will allow you to look deeper into your own cultural values. We will begin with looking at the nation’s largest minority group, which are the Hispanic Americans (Healey, 2012). The Hispanic Americans are divided into many groups. The three largest groups are the Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans (Healey, 2012) and these are the three that will be focused on. Mexican Americans are the largest Latino, or Hispanic American, group. There are many events that have had an influence on the Mexican American way of life. Immigration from Mexico flourished during the Mexico Revolution in 1910. Trouble was arising in Mexico and many people were fleeting hoping to stray away from the issues. After World War II, there was an increased demand for labor. This caused an increase in Mexican American immigration as well. The government of the United States fought back towards the immigration. â€Å"Operation Wetback† was put into place in the 1950s as a program in which almost 4 million Mexicans were deported. Mexican American’s privacy was vandalized, raided and broken into. Operation Wetback caused hard feelings towards Americans and has been a continuing issue for Mexican Americans to accept (Healey, 2012). One of the most significant changes in Mexican society came from the North American Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. In this agreement, th e U.S. began to move their factory operations to Mexico. Jobs were offered at factories along the board but the wages were decreased (Heale... ...us in the nation. According to McKenzie and Rouse (2013), â€Å"79% of African Americans say religion is very important in their lives.† African American religion is carried out in worship settings. They emphasize theology during their messages. The majority of African Americans are Protestant and classifying yourself in a group is highly valued in this society (McKenzie & Rouse, 2013). Just like religion is important in this culture, extended family is as well. The extended family of African Americans is typically described as close-knit. The blood ties of this culture are the strongest bonds. All adults are responsible for a child’s upbringing. They are part of the community and it is the adult’s job to help them grow. Roles and jobs are shared through out the family. Sharing roles and working together are seen as stabilizing factors within the home (Henderson, 1999).