International Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

International Management - Essay Example Living for long in the same geography they share vast similarities. The challenges that this kind of complex countries present are both relevant to ongoing companies as well as for MNCs trying to enter these markets. When making a debut into one market, and preparing an entry strategy firms need to consider very much the national culture of the company, to evaluate whether the culture will help the business to flourish or whether the cultural norms will act as hindrance to the business and profitability. Any cultural theory is based on the assumption that there is no universal method of management theory. And in this global world, doing business in other countries require knowledge and empathy with the locals of the country, hence it is important to understand and be aware of the cultural differences when handling or dealing with cross cultural groups or individuals. Geert Hofstede has described five dimensions of differences in values between national cultures. The five dimensions of Geert Hofstede are Power Distance, Individualism versus Collectivism, Masculinity versus Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Long-term versus Short-term orientation. The dimension, Power Distance tries to suggest the degree of inequality amongst the different members in a given culture. On a scale the dimension ranges from small to large. In cultures where Power Distance is small, members of the society relate to each other on a more equal level regardless of the status or authority of the people in consideration. Whereas, in large Power Distance situations, there is more formality in interaction amongst people. According to Hofstede, Pakistan has a score of 55 on the cultural scale; which compared to other regional countries is relatively low. It shows that Pakistan is somewhat in the middle and does not have a very large gap between the wealthy and the poor people in the country. But, still it does not strongly believe in the

Classic film research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Classic film research - Essay Example Within the context, Ang Lee’s film is noteworthy because he does not try to follow Jane Austen’s literary craftsmanship. Instead, the director attempts to unleash his own individual freedom and artistic craftsmanship. Thesis statement: In the film Sense and Sensibility, Ang Lee makes use of film techniques, (importance given to body language and visual symbols), characterization (changes in the individuality of main characters) and theme (appealing to Austen fans and international viewers/youngsters who like romantic comedy genre), to convey the message of understanding female psychology. Plot summary: The film’s plot is closely related to the lives of three daughters in Mr. Dashwood’s family. To be specific, Mr. Dashwood’s death did not crush the cohesion among the family members because Mrs. Dashwood decided to fight against fate. So, they decided to move to another place, named as Devonshire. Gradually, the plot thickens when Marianne’s (M rs. Dashwood’s daughter) affection towards Willoughby become futile. Later, she realizes that Willoughby is a fraud and decides to marry Colonel Brandon. On the other side, Elinor’s affection towards Edward creates internal problems in their families. But in the end, Elinor was proposed by Edward. One can see that the major events in the film are interconnected with the internal affairs of Mr. Dashwood’s family. ... To be specific, he ignored the star value of these mainstream actors and asked them to use their body language to express their emotions. This can satisfy the Austen fans and the western viewers who are interested in melodrama. At the same time, the director was aware that various visual symbols can be used to convey his messages to the international viewers. For instance, the scene in which Elinor is kept alone by her mother and sisters by closing their doors is symbolic of desertion and loneliness. Louise Flavin states that, â€Å"A visual representation of the self-indulgence of â€Å"sensibility† can be read in the scene in which Marianne, her mother, and Margaret go into separate rooms and slam shut the doors, leaving Elinor alone on the step† (47). To be specific, the closed door is symbolic of miscommunication or internal problems in Mr. Dashwood’s family. Besides, the director knew that he must satisfy both the Austen fans and the international viewers. S o, he depended upon film techniques (cinematic techniques) like body language and visual symbols to communicate with his viewers in general. Characters/Characterization: In the film, the director selected Emma Thompson as the main character because she knew the limitations of her leading role. To be specific, Emma Thompson is the mastermind behind the film’s script. She knew that the modern viewers, especially the youngsters, may not accept Jane Austen’s story because the same is not relevant in the modern context. So, she interchanged the behavior traits and beliefs of the main characters, especially the behavior of Elinor and Marianne. Besides, the director chose Kate Winslet as an important character in the film because she was not a familiar actress in 1990s.

Colonialism and Immigration Restriction Act of 1901

Colonialism and Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 Alan Taylor Are Colonialism and the â€Å"Immigration Restriction Act of 1901† really dead in Australia? In this essay I will propose that colonialism and the ‘Immigration Restriction Act aka White Australia policy’,[1] are not dead, not just yet anyway. I will briefly outline some of the tensions in the community which led to the implementation of this policy in 1901. I will also investigate how the media of the day helped this policy along. I will then go on to explain how this policy, which was enacted to stop non Europeans entering Australia, effected the Indigenous population throughout the life of said policy. I will then go on to see if some points from this policy are being revived in today’s political environment, or is it just coincidence that these new legislations seem to align themselves with the White Australia policy of yesteryear. Also I will briefly examine if these new policies breach the ‘Human Rights Act’. One in particular, Operation Sovereign Borders,[2] designed to stop refugees entering the country illegally. By the end if this es say I should be able to answer the question posed above. The Immigration Restriction Act was the main component of a package of legislation acknowledged by the new Federal Parliament in 1901. It was premeditated to exclude all non-European migrants and also the Indigenous population who were deemed as not being Australian. This package also incorporated the ‘Pacific Islander Labourers Act and Section 15 of the 1901 Post and Telegraph Act’,[3] which provided that ships hauling Australian mail, and therefore funded by the Commonwealth, should provide work for white labour only.[4] The attitudes were in line with Australian nationalism of the late 1800s. And was a move to control non-European immigration to most of the Australian colonies dating back to the 1850s. The beginning of the White Australia policy began with the mining boom of the 1850s. The white miners anger towards the hard-working Chinese diggers ended in violence in Victoria and New South Wales. These two colonies governments initiated restraints on the immigration of Chinese people. Later, it was the turn of hard-working indentured labourers from the Pacific South Sea Islands known as Kanakas in the northern region of Queensland. The employees of factories in the south became strongly opposed to all forms of immigration which might threaten their employ; predominantly by non-white people who they thought would accept an inferior standard of living and also would work for lower wages. A number of influential Queenslanders felt that they would be expelled from the impending Federation if the Kanaka trade did not stop. Leading NSW and Victorian politicians advised that there would be no place for Asiatics or coloureds in the Australia of the future. In 1901, the new federal government voted for an Act ending the employment of Pacific Islanders and other non-white people. The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 obtained royal approval on the 23rd December1901. It was depicted as an Act to deliver certain limitations on immigration and for the removal from the Commonwealth of forbidden immigrants. The Act banned from immigration those considered to be insane, anyone expected to become a burden upon the public or upon any public or charitable institution. This also included any person suffering from an infectious or contagious disease of a loathsome or dangerous character. Other limitations put in place included a dictation test which was used to eliminate certain aspirants by entailing them to pass a written test. Often these tests were carried out in a language that the aspirant was not familiar with and had been selected by an immigration officer. With these strict measures in place the enactment of the White Australia policy was w armly applauded by most sections of the community. In 1919 the Prime Minister, William Morris Hughes, hailed it as the greatest thing we have achieved.[5] The Immigration Restriction Act demonstrates Australias stance toward immigration from federation until the later part of the 20th century, which preferred applicants from certain countries, most of these applicants were mainly of European nationality. The abolition of this policy occurred over a period of 25 years. After the 1949 election win of the alliance between the Liberal and Country parties, Immigration Minister Harold Holt permitted 800 non-European refugees to stay in Australia and Japanese war brides were allowed to enter Australia. Over succeeding years Australian governments steadily dismantled the policy with the final remnants being removed in 1973 by the new Labor government. The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 represents the official adoption by Commonwealth of Australia of racist policies that resulted in a form of immigration apartheid that grew out of racist 19th century community attitudes. Up until the middle of the20th century, these types of racist attitudes limited the Indigenous population from realizing the same rights as the white Australians. In the 1950s, many of the Indigenous population were relocated in missions where they had to abide to stringent conditions and to rely on handouts of food. A number were even forced to assimilate into white Australian society after being removed from their family homes as children, these were to become known as the stolen generations. The media throughout this period used cartoon images and headlines such as to put across the Government views on who should be allowed entry into Australia. While the policy which was enacted in 1901 to restrict the immigration of non Europeans has been dead, since 1973, I fear some components of said Policy are creeping back into today’s Policy making, in an age where we are considered to be in the post colonialism era. The measures undertaken during this period were helped along by the print media of the day, as it is today. On 21 June 2007, the Australian Government announced a ‘national emergency response to protect Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory’ from sexual abuse and family violence. This has become known as the ‘NT intervention’ or the ‘Emergency Response’.[6] The medium for the actions was the release of ‘Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse, titled Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Mekarle: ‘Little Children are Sacred’.’[7] Some parts of the ‘NT intervention’ policy, was to initiate extensive alcohol restrictions on the Aboriginal lands in the Northern Territory. The enforcing of school attendance by linking income support and family assistance payments to school attendance for all people living on Aboriginal lands and providing meals for children at school at the expense of the parents. Also the introduction of obligatory health checks for all Aboriginal children to aid in the recognizing and treating of health problems and any causes of abuse. As part of the urgent response to this emergency, there was an increase in policing levels in prescribed communities, including requesting verbal agreements from other jurisdictions to enhance NT resources, funded by the Australian Government. This was accomplished by improving authority by assigning managers of all government business to agreed communities.[8] As it stands, there is a need for considerable change for the NT intervention measures to be considered steady with Australia’s international human rights requirements. The Social Justice Report of 2007 outlined ten steps, to which I only mention a few, to modifying the intervention so that it is consistent with these obligations and ensures Indigenous individuals in Aboriginal communities in the NT equal treatment and full human dignity. In the 1990’s the Australian Government initiated Mandatory detention for Asylum seekers, under mandatory detention, any person who enters the Australian migration zone without a visa is located in a holding facility while health and security checks are carried out. At which time seemed fair. This in turn led to the Pacific Solution: 2001–2007 the Australian government policy of conveying asylum seekers to detention centres on island nations in the Pacific Ocean, while their refugee status was verified. In 2007, the Labor Party under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd discarded the Pacific Solution, by installing a more liberal asylum policy. Rudds government guaranteed to resolve all asylum claims within three months and closed the Nauru detention facility. In November 2012 Australia with the approval of Papua New Guinea opened an offshore processing facility on Manus Island, a remote location 800kms to the north of Papua New Guinea. It then started sending asylum seekers from Christmas Island, an Australian territory south of Java, to the Manus Island facility, over 4,800kms away. In July 2013 Australia then announced that all asylum seekers arriving in its territory by boat would, if they ascertain that these asylum seekers are actual refugees, would be resettled in Papua New Guinea, and not in Australia. In 2013 Amnesty International Australia released a report entitled ‘This Is Breaking People.’[9] This report looked into the Manus Island detention facility to see if the Labor government was in violation of the asylum seekers human rights. Also in the same year Amnesty International Australia also released another report entitled ‘The truth about Manus Island.’[10] They found that nearly five months into this new policy of sending the asylum seekers to Manus Island, it was clear that the Regional Resettlement Arrangement has resulted in a host of violations to their human rights. Some of the violations that they found were: ‘Asylum seekers are detained in the absence of any individualized assessment of the need for detention. Contrary to international law, the Regional Resettlement Arrangement with Papua New Guinea discriminates against asylum seekers on the basis of their means and date of arrival, treats as suspect all asylum seekers who arrive by boat, and penalizes them for their manner of arrival.’[11] One of the recommendations to fix these and other human rights violations was to: ‘Immediately review the Regional Resettlement Arrangement with Papua New Guinea and end offshore processing and the offshore detention of asylum seekers. All asylum seekers held in the Manus Island detention centre must be transferred back to Australian territory and given full access to asylum procedures in Australia.’[12] Today the Government is turning back the boats as promised with their policy Operation Sovereign Borders. ‘Operation Sovereign Borders is the Abbott governments military-led plan to combat people smugglers and treat the arrival of asylum seeker boats to Australia as a national emergency and a border protection crisis’.[13] In one cartoon from the White Australia policy era it depicts an Aboriginal looking menacing towards a landing party from England, the slogan reads ‘Trying to STOP THE BOATS’ these types of images were common under the Immigration Restriction Act. In the lead up to the 2013 Federal election, one of the slogans the then opposition party used for their campaign was ‘STOP THE BOATS’ in reference to asylum seekers arriving in Australia illegally by boat. At the very top of the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, it states: ‘To place certain restrictions on Immigration and to provide for the removal from the Commonwealth of prohibited Immigrants. [Assented to 23rd December 1901]’[14] Are these policies influenced by the long dead Immigration Restriction Act, or is it just by coincidence that they appear similar. In conclusion it seems that the Immigration Restriction Act or ‘White Australia’ policy is creeping back into today’s political and national environment, but I hope that it is just coincidence that it looks that way. We did help write the human rights charter, yet it seems that we have been in violation of this charter for some time. Also with ‘NT intervention’ policy let’s hope it does not lead to another stolen generation. As a nation we should have learnt from previous mistakes made, to strive toward a nation that can be a role model for the global community. Let us not regress to our colonial past where we were perceived as a country of racists, for we as a nation live in a post colonial world. Finally to answer the question, ‘Are Colonialism and the â€Å"Immigration Restriction Act of 1901† really dead in Australia?’ Yes I do believe these to be a thing of the past and are dead in Australia. But if the I and the people of Australia cannot be tolerant off other people and their cultures, surely we will regress back to the days of colonialism and the ways of the ‘White Australia’ policy. Bibliography Amnesty International Australia, This Is Breaking People human rights violations at Australia’s asylum seeker processing centre on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. accessed february 20, 2014. http://www.amnesty.org.au/images/uploads/about/Amnesty_International_Manus_Island_report.pdf.. Amnesty International Australia, The truth about Manus Island: 2013 report. Accessed February 10, 2014. http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/33587/. (The truth about Manus Island: 2013 report) Australian Human Rights Commission, The Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention – A human rights analysis. Accessed February 22, 2014. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/social_justice/sj_report/sjreport07/pdf/chap3.pdf. Australian Human Rights Commission, Social Justice Report 2007 Chapter 3: The Northern Territory Emergency Response intervention. Accessed February 22, 2014. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/social-justice-report-2007-chapter-3-northern-territory-emergency-response-intervention Museum of Australian Democracy, Immigration Restriction Act 1901 (Cth). Accessed February 19, 2014. http://foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-16.html. National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Canberra, Fact Sheet 8 – Abolition of the White Australia Policy. Accessed February 09, 2014. http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/08abolition.htm. SBS. Factbox: Operation Sovereign Borders. News. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/19/factbox-operation-sovereign-borders (accessed February 10, 2014). Thompson, Stephen. Migration Heritage Centre, Objects Through Time. Last modified 2011. (Accessed February 12, 2014) http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/objectsthroughtime/immigration-restriction-act/. Transcript. No. 17 of 1901. No. 17 of 1901. Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, 1901. http://foundingdocs.gov.au/resources/transcripts/cth4ii_doc_1901a.pdf. (accessed 10 Feb 2014). Other Skwirk.com. History of racist attitudes and fear, White Australia: Immigration Restriction Act 1901, Australia to 1914, SOSE: History Year 9, NSW | Online Education Home Schooling Skwirk Australia. 2014. http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-56_u-127_t-350_c-1213/history-of-racist-attitudes-and-fear/nsw/history-of-racist-attitudes-and-fear/australia-to-1914/white-australia-immigration-restriction-act-1901 (accessed 11 Feb) [1] An Act to place certain restrictions on Immigration and to provide for the removal from the Commonwealth of prohibited Immigrants (No.17 of 1901) [2] Term the Government uses instead of ‘Stop the Boats’ [3] Immigration Restriction Act 1901 (Cth) [4] Fact Sheet 8 – Abolition of the White Australia Policy [5] Fact Sheet 8 – Abolition of the White Australia Policy [6] Social Justice Report 2007 Chapter 3: The Northern Territory Emergency Response intervention [7] Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention – A human rights analysis [8] Brough, M., (Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs), National emergency response to protect children in the NT, Media Release, 21 June 2007. [9] This Is Breaking People 2013, 3 12 [10] The truth about Manus Island: 2013 report [11] This Is Breaking People 2013, 3 [12] This Is Breaking People 2013, 4 [13] Factbox: Operation Sovereign Borders. September 19, 2013 [14] Transcript 1901, 1

Courtesy in Sir Gawain and the Greenknight Essay -- Sir Gawain and the

Courtesy in Sir Gawain and the Greenknight In modern society, Martha Stewart and Miss Manners are authorities in the social amenities of community gatherings, and they promote their ideas in television programs and books. But in the Middle Ages, elegant behavior is illustrated in the Middle English poem, â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,† in a detailed account of a holiday celebration at King Arthur’s castle. In this text, the idea of courtesy is shown as the foremost attribute of a knight, and King Arthur is introduced as the â€Å"most courteous of all† (26) rulers. In a mealtime setting, the lives and customs of â€Å"[t]he most noble knights known under Christ† (51) are displayed, and courteous behavior is established as the hallmark of knighthood. By showcasing the common experience of eating, the narrator reveals the significance of courtesy in courtly life and discloses the customs of this era. Indeed, the sequence, kind, and presentation of foods at the feast provide a framework f or the courteous demeanor in this adventurous tale. When the feast begins, servants enter wi...

Economic growth Essay

Economic growth refers to the increase in the levels of a country’s wealth and capital as a result of positive change in the levels of production of goods and services during a certain period of time. 1 Economic growth is usually ignited by technological advancements and positive external forces. Economic growth can be measured either in terms of nominal growth or real growth. Nominal growth takes inflation into account and thus demonstrates economic growth as Net Domestic Product while real growth does not account for inflation and thus demonstrates economic growth as Gross Domestic Product. Economic growth is usually determined by levels of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is the preferred means of measuring economic growth because increase or decrease in the GDP levels in a country reflects the real the standards of living of its population. GDP is the total market value of all final products of all final goods and services produced in a country in a given year expressed in money value. 2 GDP of a country equals total consumer investments and government spending, plus the value of exports, minus the value of imports. As such, GDP can be summarised as follows: †¢ GDP = Consumption + gross Investment + Government Spending + (Exports-Imports) or simply GDP = C+I+G+(X-M). However, it must be noted that economic growth entails more than just mere change of scale of economic magnitudes. By its very own nature, growth modifies economic structures thereby adjusting the general technological and social dynamics in a country. Bourguignon points out that economic growth may modify the sectoral structure of an economic unit, leading to close down of firms in one sector and creation of new firms in another. 3 Bourguignon further notes that â€Å"growth modifies the structure of prices, thus affecting the standard of living in households in a way that depends on their consumption preferences†. 4 Moreover, economic growth calls for increased technological innovations which in turn increases the necessity for increased technological knowledge and skills, a situation that would require increased investment in education and better remuneration for holders of such important skills. The final and most important attribute of economic growth is that it reduces the abundant availability of public goods such as adequate water supply and clean air due to increased pollution. Consequently, this may call for intervention and preventive measures in order to maintain adequate supply of the environmental goods. Therefore, economic growth impacts on the economy, social structures and environmental factors of a country. Therefore, people, as the human factors of economic growth remain very important components of economic growth. While economic growth is primarily driven by state dynamics and machinery, the interactions within the societal fabric bear consequential impact on the manner in which economic growth may either be beneficial or harmful to the long-term interest of the people. 5 Therefore, the pursuit of economic growth presents as much benefits as threats to the long-term interests of the people. The different principles and models of economic growth are best demonstrated by different existing theories of economic growth. 1. J. Mokyr, Long-term economic growth and history of technology, Department of Economics and history, Northwestern University, 2005, p. 33 2. R. Lucas, lectures on economic growth, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 2002, p. 41 3. F. Bourguignon, Handbook of economic growth, World Bank, 2006, p. 7 4. F. Bourguignon 5. E. Helpman, The mystery of economic growth, Cambridge: Harvard University, 2004, p. 7 Theoretical background Although there are many theories and models of economic growth, the exogenous theory of economic growth and the endogenous theory of economic growth provide the most vivid theoretical background on issues concerning economic growth. The exogenous theory was advanced by the neo-classical theorists while the endogenous theory was advanced by the modern economic theorists. The exogenous theory of economic growth was advanced by Robert Solow and Trevor Swan. The theory states that â€Å"long-run rate of growth of a system is determined by forces outside the system†. 6The main prediction of this theory is that an economy will always converge towards a steady state of growth which depends absolutely on the rate of technological progress and growth of labour. The theory is based on a series of equations which demonstrate the relationship between labour, time, capital goods, output and investments. The main argument of the exogenous growth theory is based on the assumption that capital expansion is subject to diminishing returns. Therefore, given a fixed amount of labour force, the impact on the output of the last unit of capital accumulated will always be less than the impact on the preceding units. 7 This cycle continues to a point where new amounts of technological progress and labour force adds no new value to capital produced. New technological innovations and labour force output only serve to replenish the loss of value to existing capital due to depreciation. Solow and Swan refer to this as static state of growth. Modern theorists such as Barro, Ormerod, and Romer disagreed with the idea of static state of growth subject to diminishing returns as advanced by the exogenous theorists. They therefore developed a more relevant and realistic theory that came to be referred to as the endogenous theory. Proponents of endogenous growth theory argue that comparisons between trends of production in industrialised countries today and before industrialisation reveal that growth was generated and sustained by forces within as opposed to forces outside the countries. The endogenous theory states that â€Å"economic growth is generated from within a system as a direct result of internal processes†. 8 according to the endogenous theorists, improvement in productivity can be linked to a faster pace of innovation and committed investment in human capital. â€Å"The theory notes that the enhancement of a nation’s human capital will lead to economic growth by means of the development of new form of technology that will lead to efficient and sufficient means of production†. 9 The main focus of the endogenous theorists lies on the need for both government and private sector institutions to nurture innovations through incentives that will encourage individuals to be innovative. As Romer points out, â€Å"the rate of technological progress should not be taken given in a growth model, but rather, appropriate government policies have to be applied in order to raise a country’s growth rate†. 10Such policies should particularly be targeted towards creating higher levels of competition in markets and greater innovation initiatives among individuals. Endogenous theorists identify private investment in research and development as being the key driving force for technical progress. Furthermore, protection of property rights and patents can provide the incentive to engage in research and development. 6. R. M. Solow, Review of economics and statistics, Technical change and the aggregate production function 1957, P. 39 7. Solow 8. P. Romer, Review of economics and statistics, Technical change and the aggregate production function 1957, P. 73 9. Romer p. 74 10. Romer p. 81 Why the pursuit of economic growth is not in people’s long-term interest Concerns to the effect that the pursuit of economic growth is not in people’s long-term interest are very much validated by the current worrying trends of economic growth. While proponents of economic growth cite many benefits associated with economic growth, such benefits only stand to serve people’s short-term interests. It is increasingly becoming apparent that just like the past, the current economic growth initiatives are being undertaken with little regard to long-term repercussions of such initiatives. One of the most important long-term interests that economic growth should guarantee is the safety and conservation of the ecosystem, which will in turn guarantee people’s long-term interests. To the contrary, the aspects of the safety of natural resources and the environmental preservation are the most abused by economic growth. Yet, the gradual destruction of the environment harbours the risk of eventual destruction of the planet earth. Without action on climate change, economic growth and development are likely to generate levels of greenhouse gas emissions that would be very damaging. 11 Economic growth is evidently increasing the demand for fossil-fuel energy, thus the failure to implement appropriate international collective actions will allow manufacturers and consumers to continue with their risky energy consumption behaviours, thereby posing greater threats of adverse climatic change. Adequate supply of the environmental goods is facing continuous challenges as economic growth continues to wreck havoc on the environment. The Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change (2006) identified that the world ecosystem is facing threats of eminent destruction due to increased levels of greenhouse emissions to the atmosphere. According to the Stern Report, greenhouse-gas concentrations in the atmosphere stood at around 430 CO2 equivalents as of 2006, compared to 280ppm before industrial revolution. 12The overwhelming pollution is as a result of combined forces of emissions of toxic gases from the power sectors, transport sectors, building sectors, industry sectors, land use sectors and land use sectors throughout the world. Indeed, these particular sectors represent the key driving forces of economic growth. As pointed out in the Stern Report â€Å"emissions have been driven by economic development. Carbon dioxide emissions have strongly been correlated with GDP per head across time and countries. North America and Europe have produced around 70% of carbon dioxide emissions from energy production since 1850, while developing countries account for less than one quarter of cumulative emissions. †13 Annual emissions are increasing at constant rates year after year. Between 1950 and the year 2000, emission of Carbon dioxide which accounts for the largest share of green house gases, grew by 2. 5% annually. 14The Stern Report further warns that without action to combat climate change, atmospheric concentration of green house gases will continue to rise. â€Å"In a plausible business as usual scenario, they will reach 555ppm CO2e by the year 2035†. 15 Moreover, total emissions are bound to increase more rapidly than emissions per head in tandem with the projections that global population will remain positive until 2050. 11. Stern Review report on economics of change, Impact of climate change on growth and development, November 2006, p. 169 12. Greenhouse gases are usually converted to a common unit, CO2 equivalent, which measures the amount of carbon dioxide that would produce the same global warming potential (GWP) over a given period as the total amount of greenhouse gas in question. 13. Stern Review report on economics of change 14. Stern Review report on economics of change 15. Stern Review report on economics of change These are the most shocking revelations concerning the gradual and unabated destruction that economic growth is imposing on the environment! The future generations remain exposed to the risks of frequent disasters that are associated with global warming. Such risks include food and water shortages, increase air pollution, increased desert cover, rise in sea levels as well as increased frequencies of tornadoes and tsunamis. Obviously, such threats of climatic change will impact negatively on population growth and living conditions for the people in future. Table 1 demonstrates a variety of experiences across different countries of the world. The EU and the economies in transition reported considerable reduction in carbon intensity during the period. However, India went against the grain and significantly increased carbon emissions during the same period. Developing countries registered significant growth in populations as well as growth in GDP per head. Equally notable is the tremendous decrease in the energy intensity of output in India and China. This table clearly demonstrates that despite the high levels of emissions, many countries undertook important economic reforms in the 1990’s, a move that led to marked improvements in utilisation of energy, with many countries registering significant reductions in wasteful use of energy. Risks posed by economic growth are set to reduce with increased adoption of energy efficient production strategies that will ensure environmental conservation while not hurting long-term growth rate targets. Why the pursuit of economic growth is in people’s long-term interest Despite the many reservations that opponents of economic growth have, there exists a general consensus that economic growth is a prerequisite requirement for the well being of the current and future generations. The future can only be secures through persistent creation of wealth and capital. Industrial revolution is credited for having ignited economic growth and eventual improvement of living standards. â€Å"The significance of industrial revolution is best captured by the Malthusian theory of economic growth which argues that industrial revolution and advancement in medicine translated to increased life expectancy and reduced infant mortality†. 15 15. R. Lucas, lectures on economic growth, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 2002, p. 49 According to the Malthusian theory, this industrial revolution culminated to increased income and population growth and eventual increase in income per capita in industrialised counties, and lasted for many years thereafter. 16Therefore, economic growth remains a very important component sustained development of both current and future generations. Conclusion It is evident that economic growth also corresponds to processes of rapid replacement and reorganisation of human activities as well as natural resources, all in the spirit of investment and maximisation of returns. As such, â€Å"this realisation of the exponential abilities of the human race, as facilitated by self-organised life support and cultural systems, is a confirmation of the creative and flexible nature of human beings which however, is highly unpredictable in many ways. 17 Environmental threats posed by economic growth not withstanding, economic growth remains an important transition that this world must undergo. Therefore, the challenges posed by economic growth can best be tackled through creation of a balance between the conflicting concepts economic growth and mitigation of risks posed by economic growth. Economic growth is a manifestation of technological change. â€Å"Yet the essence of technological modernity is non-stationery: many scholars have acknowledged that technological change has become self propelled and autocatalytic, whereby change feeds on change. Thus unlike other form of growths, technology is not bound from above. Inventions have become a norm thus are unstoppable by forces of any nature. †18 The stern Report acknowledges that â€Å"the relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions is not immutable. There are practical examples where change in energy technologies, the structure of economies and the pattern of demand have reduced the responsiveness of emissions to income growth, particularly in the richest countries. Strong deliberate policy choices will be needed, however, to decarbonise both developing countries on the scale required for climate stabilisation†. 19 This is in itself a confirmation that effective protection and conservation of the environmental goods can be achieved tremendously through the adoption of energy efficient production strategies that will ensure environmental conservation while not hurting long-term growth rate targets. However, wide reaching strategies should be employed in the noble cause of environmental protection. Strategies that are over reliant on reduction of fossil fuels may not be enough to stop the overwhelming emissions of poisonous gases. Other strategies such as radical shift shifts towards service based economies have proved effective in slowing down or reversing the increase in emissions of poisonous gases to the atmosphere. 20There should also be increased lobbying for the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol of Climate Change by all countries in the world, including the United States. Being the world’s largest economy, the United States releases the highest amounts of toxic gas emissions to the atmosphere, yet the country has refused to recognise the Kyoto protocol which seeks to protect the world from being further exposed to the threat of climatic change. 16. R. Lucas, lectures on economic growth, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 2002, p. 48 17. E. Helpman, The mystery of economic growth, Cambridge: Harvard University, 2004, p. 16 18. J. Mokyr, Long-term economic growth and history of technology, Department of Economics and history, Northwestern University, 2005, p. 37 19. Stern Review report on economics of change, Impact of climate change on growth and development, November 2006, p. 169 20. Stern Review report on economics of change Bibliography Aghion, P. & Steven N. Durlauf, (Ed), Handbook of economic growth, Vol. 1B. Elsevier B. V. , 2005. Bourguignon, F. Handbook of economic growth, World Bank, 2006. Helpman, E. The mystery of economic growth, Cambridge: Harvard University, 2004 Larry E. J. Neoclassical models of endogenous growth: the effects of physical policy, innovations and fluctuations, Elsevier B. V. 2005 p. 9-32. Lucas, R. lectures on economic growth, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 2002 Mokyr, J. Long-term economic growth and history of technology, Department of Economics and history, Northwestern University, 2005, p. 32 – 43 Romer, P. Journal of Political Economy, Endogenous technological change, Vol. 98, No. 5, Oct. 1990. p. 71-102. Solow R. M. Review of economics and statistics, Technical change and the aggregate production function 1957, P. 37-51 Stern Review report on economics of change, Impact of climate change on growth and development, November 2006, retrieved on 29 March 2007, < http://www. hm-treasury. gov. uk/media/3/2/Chapter_7_Projecting_the_Growth_of_Greenhouse-Gas_Emissions. pdf

Should Boxing Be Banned?

What do Boxing, Sky Diving, Horseback Riding, and Climbing Mountains have in common? All of these sports can be very dangerous to perform some more than others but dangerous all the same, yet thousands of people continue to attempt these sports and many more dangerous activities evry day. An obvious question somebody might ask is why doesn’t anyone stop these people from doing these sports if their so dangerous? The simple answer is, its nobody else’s business what other people do. You can not tell someone else what they can and can not do, that’s a violation any persons rights. For example, many people think boxing should be banned because it imposes danger to a body’s health, but I on the other hand do not think it should be banned at all, merely reformed in some rules and other components in boxing such as safety and fighting techniques. Many boxing regulations are designed to keep the boxers as safe as possible. Although the main objective is to basically harm your opponent, it is actually more complicated than that. There are many rules about gear, safety, injuries and fouls. For instance, boxing gloves and headgear are designed to cushion impact when you hit somebody or get hit. Grease is also used because it helps punches slide off wherever you have gotten hit. Matches are no longer a minimum of 15 rounds, they can be stopped at any time during the fight if a referee deems a boxer unable to fight any longer. Also, all coaches and referees must attend 2 yearly meetings to take exams and learn more about the safety guidelines of boxing. If they do not pass these exams then they can not participate in boxing or be involved in any way except for being a spectator to this sport. (Canadian Boxing Association 1) Many people also believe that amateur boxing is the same as professional boxing, but people involved in boxing would know that that’s not true. Amateur boxing is one of the worlds most regulated sports ever, therefore there are less severe injuries. Studies have shown that 30% of kids ages5 to 14 have been seriously injured at least once in their lifetime due to sports, but less than 1. 7% of those injuries were from amateur boxing. Also less than 4. 2% of children diagnosed with Mild Traumic Brain Injury receive these injuries because of either football, soccer or baseball but not boxing. Now professional boxing is slightly different from amateur in that once a match has begun it can not be ended unless a boxer to T. K. O or has forfeited. Moreover, professional boxing is seen as more of a business and concerns for bigger paychecks are very high. It is for these reason and many more that some people think or say that amateur boxing should be the only kind of legal boxing allowed in any country. Pena 1) As indicated earlier, there are other dangerous sports in this world and boxing isn’t nearly the most dangerous one, so why is only boxing being proposed for banning? The answer to this question no one is really sure about, but one thing we are sure of is out of 100,000 deaths or fatal injuries due to sports boxing is only responsible for about 1. 3% of that 100,000. The British Medical Association, howeve r, states that the harm inflicted by boxing in caused purposefully, well it generally is , and that the harm inflicted by other dangerous sports are only accidental, which may or may not be true, nobody knows for sure. But, in the long run, its really nobody else’s business what you do for a living or what you do in your spare time, if you love doing something nothing can stop you from doing it every day if you wanted. Not even the government or state can have a say in which sports you choose to participate in, the only thing they can do really is alter or change the rules and safety guidelines of the sport. In boxing there have already been major changes over the past decades. For example, ringside medical care has been more actively enforced ten-fold just over the past 3 years. Also, a licensed doctor and several paramedics are kept on sight at all boxing matches with a ready ambulance and any tools or instruments that are needed for a surgery, if one is required immediately. The more radical ideas about changing boxing are less admired by the public eye. For instance, there have been rumors about professional boxers being required to wear headgear, much like amateur boxers do at every match, and restricting blows to your opponents head or face area. These rules if actually enforced would indeed help protect the boxers way more, but in a way would reduce the appeal of the sport to many people. Wither way though, with or without headgear and the banning of blows to the head or not, injuries are bound to happen in any way shape or form. Many of these injuries like Parkinsons, Chronic Brain Damage or Mild Traumic Brain Injuries are not caused by just one match of boxing. These injuries are only accumulated over a boxers career or lifetime. So realistically it would be a long time before a boxer would get any serious or fatal injuries. Still there are people who believe that banning boxing would be a good thing to do. There are many groups, associations and even countries who campaign to end boxing for good. Some of the countries that actually banned boxing are Norway and Sweden. One of the more bold associations, the British Medical Association, have been campaigning against boxing since 1982, which is over 25 years. The BMA has been against boxing for so long because they think that the sport is very dangerous and makes violence look like an OK thing to do. The BMA proposes that the first step to getting rid of boxing for good is to first ban boxing At amateur level, which would be banning it for children ages 7 to 16, because they believe that boxing at this young an age is also very dangerous more than boxing at a professional age and that iut exploits children by placing them in rings and allowing them to fight one another. (Laurance 1) Likewise there are many doctors’ who agree that boxing should be banned due to the serious nature of the injuries. They believe that there is absolutely no safe level of boxing, that any hit or blow can contribute to complications of the brain and other main organs or even death. These doctors conclude that putting an end to this degrading spectacle as they call it would put an end to deaths, injuries, and brain damage caused by boxing. It could also end hundreds of young men and boys putting their lives at risk every day just for some sport. (Laurance 2) With all these reasons to ban boxing, some people would think that there are no positive outcomes or pros of this sport, yet there is. There are also many reasons why banning boxing would be a bad thing to do. One of the many motives for keeping boxing around is tat if boxing were made illegal it would only send the sport underground much like dogfights and chicken fights. I’m not saying that dogfights and chicken fights should be made legal because that’s just wrong, but I am saying that once boxing goes underground its going to be very hard to keep safety rules and regulations a part of the sport like they are now. There would also be no licensed or legal doctors on sight to help fighter as soon as possible when they get injured. It was also proven that 70 years ago, when boxing was taught in school, that society was less violent and people were less aggressive against each other. Boxing teaches people self control over their aggression and tempers in bad situations, which is very helpful for everyone. There are many benefits to boxing, as well,