War on Drugs is War on Democracy Essay - 1286 Words

The voters of California succeeded in passing a proposition to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana as prescribed by doctors. The passing of Proposition 215 seemed to symbolize a promising trend toward knowledge of the substance. However, after reading an article by Eric Schlosser in the April issue of Atlantic Monthly, I have been shocked with the reality of what is occurring elsewhere. Many of us are aware of the idiocy of our legal system treating marijuana offenders worse than violent criminals. I doubt, however, that many Americans are truly conscious of how some peoples lives have been shattered because of current practices in the so-called drug war. Now, about 15 years since its beginning, the war on drugs has become a†¦show more content†¦Legislation for the bill was hastily pushed through Congress, inspired by the recent passing of a standout basketball player and first-round draft pick of the Boston Celtics. Len Bias died on June 17, 1986 due to heart failure caused by crack cocaine. In drafting the bill, the prime factor for necessitating a mandatory minimum sentence was the quantity of drugs involved in the crime. As Eric Sterling, then assistant counsel for the House Subcommittee of Crime, states, Numbers were being picked out of thin air. Less than three months after being drafted, the bill was signed by President Reagan. One result of this legislation was the conviction of Donald Clark, a watermelon farmer in Florida found guilty of growing marijuana. He was sentenced to probation by the state court, then re-tried five years later under federal law and sentenced to life in prison. In addition to severe incarceration penalties, the government may also seize all possessions without due process. In 1994, $1.5 billion worth of assets were seized during routine searches under the guise of lawful forfeiture. (In 80 percent of those cases, the owners were never even charged with a crime.) If these facts shock you, the next ones will make you sick. The allure for seizing property is that the assets are divided among the various law enforcement agencies involved who can then sell those assets for profit. Thirty-one drug agents raided theShow MoreRelatedEssay Obstacles That Weaken Democracy 1652 Words   |  7 PagesDemocracy is defined as a government that is governed by the people, where the supreme power is in the hands of the people and is exercised through a system of representation done through free elections. It is easily defined and understood, but the true test is to follow through the people’s expectations and be capable to overcome obstacles a democracy might face. Mexico has recently celebrated its bicentennial representing their independence and the centennial of their revolution, although theyRead MoreThe War On Drugs : A New Us National Security Doctrine1442 Words   |  6 Pagesthe war on drugs, which as a social issue has had a unique effect on the security agenda of states. The modern war on drugs began in the 1970’s when Nixon declared it a nation wide problem and began to focus on both the supply and demand aspects of drug use. As a geo-political problem the war on drugs can be explained in two ways. The first way, as outlined in Waltraud Morales’s article The War on Drugs: a New US National Security Doctrine? explores how the United States uses the war on drugs as aRead MoreThe Battle On Terror And The War On Drugs953 Words   |  4 PagesIn many ways, the war on terror and the war on drugs have merged. The type of red scare rhetoric from the McCarthy era became nearly interchangeable with the drug war and terrorism during the Reagan administration. â€Å"We’re in the middle of a major epidemic...Parents have a right to feel terror,† said Donald Ian MacDonald, Reagan’s top drug advisor. He was referring to drugs. Marlin Fitzwater, Reagan’s Press Secretary openly admitted that â€Å"everybody wants to out-drug each other in terms of politicalRead MoreThe Revolution Of The 1960 S846 Words   |  4 PagesThey believed the participatory democracy was the real social change. By the mid-1960s, facing growing opposition among the young to the war in Vietnam, they were viewed as a rebellion force. They became more militant and active in social issues and politics. Some demonstrations were violent and even people died. The young group became a strong force in The United Stated and, also other countries. Also, changed their physical appearance by growing their hair, used drugs and, practice â€Å"free love.† InRead MoreVietnam War and American Culture1684 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Vietnam Wars Impact on American Culture Donna Whittle DeVry University Introduction to Humanities I. Introduction and Thesis Statement In the 1960’s America went through many cultural changes. Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights activist, delivered his famous, â€Å"I have a dream† speech. African Americans were fighting for peace, freedom and equality. The United States was involved in the Vietnam War, committed to anti-communism. African Americans were deployedRead MoreManufacturing Consent1486 Words   |  6 Pagescorporate interests. The first section of the film, entitled Thought Control in a Democratic Society, focuses on Americas power politics and protein guises. With his anarchist convictions, Chomskys basic supposition is that propaganda and democracy are necessary accomplices in the functioning of state affairs. He compares it with a totalitarian state, where the government can use the military to keep the populace in order. In a free society, Chomsky believes, ideas are the states weaponsRead MoreThe World Into The American Image856 Words   |  4 Pagesin foreign relations. Later we started to become an intervening military, involved with other nation affairs, and wanting to promote liberty and democracy. The United States wanted to remake the world into the American image. World War I was the first test of Wilson’s belief that American power could â€Å"make the world safe for democracy†. Before World War I, most of the interventions appropriated in the western hemisphere. This became a time where the beliefs of imperialism, nationalism, and socialismRead MoreThe Prison System And The Jail System1352 Words   |  6 Pagesconcluding which action I am going to take to further y concern about the jail system. When hearing about the jail system, this is a political issue indeed. Having a fair democracy is a political gesture, the jail system is of course for criminals, but making the argument that anybody from having a mental illness or carrying drugs should have integrity within the justice system. When it comes down, we are all flawed humans. 1) What is the Jail System? The jail system is defined as an imprisonmentRead MoreThe War On Drugs : The World s Largest Farming Area1630 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the world, countries focus their drug policies in order to fight the â€Å"War on Drugs.† While most countries are fighting a war on drugs, Portugal has managed to break away and completely shock the world by taking an action that had the potential to make or break the country. Back in 2001, Portugal’s government made the decision to continue its war on drugs through a new approach. On the other hand, Iran faces a real drug problem because it is located next to Afghanistan, the world’s largestRead More`` Dirty Wars `` By Jeremy Scahill777 Words   |  4 Pagesignoring what can possibly be the truth. Jeremy Scahill, in his narrative Dirty Wars reprimands the Obama military activity on war on terror. He negates what he portrays as the organization s endeavors to standardize and legitimize by drones executed and generally Sp ecial Operations attacks and other secret military practices that blur the fight lines of the war on terror. In fact, the war on terror and the war on drugs have converged to shape a hydra-headed beast that greedily targets not only Americans

The Elements Of Poetry For Romantics - 984 Words

There were quite a few reasons behind the societal purpose of poetry for Romantics. One of the biggest reasons was that they wanted society to pick up on romanticism through the art of poetry. The purpose of art is to teach us something anyway, like public life for example. The best way to pick up on romanticism was through the art of poetry at the time. Romantics wanted nothing more than people feel some emotion and self-awareness, and by writing poetry to do just that, that’s how they attempted to get to people. Romanticism was also a response to the Enlightenment, because the Enlightenment focused on reason rather than emotion, which is essentially the opposite of what Romanticism is. And as time went on after Romanticism started up,†¦show more content†¦And Keats only talks positively about nature, while talking negatively about his life as a human at the same time. Keats regurgitates how nature can teach people things with Ode to a Nightingale because of what Kea ts specifically talks about with the nightingale throughout the poem. In the poem Frost at Midnight, Coleridge states â€Å"Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee†. This quote starts off the last stanza that is all about nature, with vivid detail on colors and image trying to get the reader to picture something beautiful and take away nature’s true beauty altogether. Citing all seasons of nature are sweet and showing some appreciation for all of them attempts to get across the point all nature has beauty within it. Nature can touch people emotionally to some extent through poetry, doing exactly what the romantics intended to do. However, their main goal was for people to try to think differently reading their art of poetry, with material that counters scientific beliefs with emphasis on emotion and nature. The best way Romantics could get people to think like they did was through poetry. The feeling and emotion Romantics wanted people to experience came best thro ugh deep and touching written poetry. And a big connection between feeling and emotion is the usage of imagination, like in the poem Frost at Midnight. Frost at Midnight creates imagery using nature such as frost and fire describing the relationship between spirit and fire. AlsoShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Friedrich Schlegel s The Fragment No969 Words   |  4 PagesFriedrich Schlegel’s â€Å"Athenaeum Fragment No. 116† discusses romantic poetry, an art form that the Romantic generation changed quite drastically. According to Schlegel, romantic poetry is different from previous poetry because it combines poetry with other art forms. Romantic poetry is a social and literary, allowing people from all cultures and classes to read, listen, and interpret what each poet is conveying. The topics of romantic poetry range from a comprehensive description of nature, as in WilliamRead MorePoetry Is Not Just The Vision Of The Writer1036 Words   |  5 PagesPoetry exists at a junction between language and state of mind. Poetry is not just the vision of the writer put to a page, meant to evoke and inspire readers. Poetry is thoughts concealed given breath—a story reflecting the interior landscape of the mind. Just as it can be a breath of air, poetry can grip the heart—the mind can be an awfully dark place. Within gothic poetry the horror and fears of the poet lie just beyond the words of the poem itself. The words are emotional viscera given form.Read MoreEssay On Narrative Poetry1730 Words   |  7 PagesDepths of Narrative Poetry Poetry is a form of art that uses languages for its aesthetic qualities and its notional and semantic content. Poetry can consist of oral or literary works in which the language is used in a manner that is felt by the reader to differ from ordinary prose. Poems are constantly relied on for their effect on imagery, word association, and repetition. The use of these effects to generate feelings and emotions is what marks poetry. In primitive societies, poetry was used as a meansRead MoreThe Wind As A Powerful Force Of Nature By Percy Bysshe Shelley1502 Words   |  7 Pagesknown to man. It can amount to numerous spectacular, sometimes even terrifying things which man comes to envy. In the Romantic poem Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley, this idea of wind as a powerful force of nature portrays itself as a link to the speaker’s emotions as well as his yearnings. The speaker implores the abilities of the West Wind as a comparison to his poetry, linking the natural worl d with the world inside of a poet’s mind. The vivid imagery throughout the poem illustratesRead More Close critical analysis of Coleridges Frost at Midnight Essay1685 Words   |  7 Pages The Romantic period in English literature ran from around 1785, following the death of the eminent neo-classical writer Samuel Johnson, to the ascension of Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837. However, in the years spanning this period writers were not identified as exponents of a recognised literary movement. It was only later that literary historians created and applied the term Romanticism. Since then, a further distinction has been made between first and second generation Romantic writersRead MoreClose Critical Analysis of Coleridges Frost at Midnight1716 Words   |  7 Pages The Romantic period in English literature ran from around 1785, following the death of the eminent neo-classical writer Samuel Johnson, to the ascension of Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837. However, in the years spanning this period writers were not identified as exponents of a recognised literary movement. It was only later that literary historians created and applied the term Romanticism. Since then, a further distinction has been made between first and second generation Romantic writersRead MoreThe Romantic Period Of The Victorian Era1715 Words   |  7 PagesThe Victorian Era was brought about upon to show rebellion from the Romantic period. The Victorian Era is a reaction against the Romantic Period due to differences in terms of historical influences, effects of science, crises of faith, and women’s desire for change. The Romantic Period’s history started in 1798 and ended less than thirty-five years later in 1832. Every period has a recognizable identity and the one for the Romantic Period is that it is a time for an escape from the intellectual sideRead More Jessica Rodriguez Essay765 Words   |  4 PagesThe Romanticism in Wordsworth Romantic poetry has very distinct details which set it apart from previous poetry. William Wordsworth’s poem, â€Å"I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud,† is full of the Romantic characteristics which were so different during that time. The poem begins with the speaker â€Å"floating† along, as though he or she were a cloud, when he or she spots a â€Å"crowd/ †¦, of golden daffodils† (Wordsworth, 3,4). The speaker goes on to describe the daffodils and the lake that is besideRead MoreThe Romantic Era Of The Age Of Enlightenment890 Words   |  4 PagesThe Romantic Era was a literary movement that occurred in the late 18th century and the early 19th century. During this movement, artists and authors alike rebelled against the established order and classism of the time, and the values once believed in during the Age of Enlightenment (The Romantic Era ). While the people of the Age of Enlightenment valued reason, and focused on the new and original (The Enlightenment), the people of the Romantic Era focused on the emotions of the individual, natureRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Gray s Poem Elegy 1167 Words   |  5 Pagescharacterized by the Romantic period, Gray is often regarded as a transitional artist because his pieces include influences from both literary movements. In analyzing form, literary devices, subject matter, and themes within â€Å"Elegy Written in a Country Courtyard, readers find identifiers woven throughout the text which mark the transition from the neoclassicism of the 18th century to the early Romantics. The structured format of Thomas Gray’s poem is one of the main links between his poetry and neoclassical

Post-conflict peacebuilding in Afghanistan Free Essays

string(115) " for rapid and visible results, both within Afghanistan and from domestic audiences in the contributing countries\." Afghanistan The aim of the following essay will be to evaluate the impact which the ISAF and peace-keeping efforts by the United Nations have had on the peacebuilding process in Afghanistan, following the US military intervention in Operation Enduring Freedom. Following two Anglo-Afghan wars, Afghanistan gained independence in 1919 and joined the League of Nations. Its example was followed by other states which gained independence from imperial domination and governance, which following the establishment of the United Nations resulted in the shaping of the contemporary geo-political order (Rubin, 2006). We will write a custom essay sample on Post-conflict peacebuilding in Afghanistan or any similar topic only for you Order Now Afghanistan was built by the co-ordination of flows of foreign aid and when the aid flows were directed towards the sponsoring of opposing military forces, a civil war erupted, eventually leading to the collapse of the state as the flows of foreign aid were stopped (Rubin, 2002). For most of its known history, Afghanistan remained a heterogeneous and tribal state having multiple and conflicting legal, cultural and political systems (Dupree, 2002; Simonsen, 2004). When the Soviet Union withdrew in Afghanistan in 1989, the Taliban gained supremacy within the state and the lack of consensus lead to the eruption of a civil war (Matinuddin, 1999). The period of 1992-1994 in Afghanistan was one of chaos and civil war, as the opposition factions failed to form an effective coalition government, thus leading to a civil war (Coll, 2004; Maley, 2009). In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the US and a Coalition of other states to initiate a ‘war on terror’, a result of the Taliban’s refusal to cooperate in the apprehension of Al Qaeda’s leader Bin Laden (Rubin, 2013). Following the re-capturing of the capital by the Allied forces and the dispersal of the Taliban, the foundations of Afghanistan’s re-structuring were set out in the UN Bonn Agreement (UN, 2001). In summary, it set out the path for a transition towards a western-style constitutional democracy with significant emphasis being placed on human rights, social justice and gender equality (Nesiah, 2004). ISAF Mission Following Operation Enduring Freedom and the liberation of the capital Kabul, the UN Security council passed Resolution 1386 with which it layered the foundations of the ISAF, which was deployed initially in Kabul. The ISAF was set to operate in close cooperation with the both the UN and the Afghan government whilst working the country’s reconstruction and the training of its security personnel (ISAF, 2014). Its key participation in the reconstruction process was manifested by the establishment of Provisional Reconstruction Teams in provinces in the northern and western parts of the country (ibid.) Initially, ISAF’s mandate was constrained to providing security in the capital city, but following the UN Resolution 1510 in 2003, its mandate was expanded so as to provide security throughout the country’s territory (ISAF, 2014a). The International Security Assistance Force is representative of all NATO member state countries and over the years has been broadened so as to include troops from non-member states such as Australia and New Zealand (ISAF, 2014b). The activities of the ISAF and its mission objective can considered in line with strategies utilised for state-building and peace-making (Rose-Ackerman, 2001). During its mandate from 2001 onwards, the ISAF has been established as the main provider of national security within the country, whilst at the same time training the newly formed Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP) (ISAF, 2014). In addition to providing security on a national scale, the ISAF has been actively involved in the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) of rogue militants, thus enabling the state to claim monopoly over violence (NATO, 2013). Until the expiry of its mandate at the end of 2014, the ISAF will continue to help the transitional state to train its own security forces as part of international efforts to ensure stability within the country and ensure that a peaceful transition from the civil war onto a more democratic pathway of governance is achieved. Evaluating ISAF Defining both ‘success’ and ‘failure’ in peacekeeping missions is a difficult task due to lack of consensus with regards to their definition (Druckman et al. 1997; Bellamy and Williams, 2005). It has also been suggested that peacekeeping is more likely to succeed in more developed states and in countries where the death toll is minimal (Fortna, 2004). If one is to use the latter framework, then all efforts in Afghanistan are likely to be in vain. More recent research has identified six factors which appear to be of significant relevance: the successful deployment of available resources, overlap of interest among key stakeholders, emphasis on continuous conflict regulation, external cooperation as well as recognising the specific environment in which the conflict has taken place (Wolff and Dursun-Ozkanca, 2012). In the case of Afghanistan however, the US-led invasion had no clear strategies for a state-building process (Ayub and Kouvo, 2008). As a result, the initial focus on the ‘war on terror’ lacked a clear direction at it failed to provide a clear division between short-term goals of pacifying the terrorist threat and the longer-term peace-building process within the country (ibid). The invasion of Afghanistan was not about promoting security bur rather reducing the spreading sense of insecurity in the US (Nesiah, 2004).The state-building process that followed had no clear goals and was characterised by competing paradigms, as well as incompatible agendas (Weinberger, 2002; Rubin, 2006; Suhrke, 2012). It can be argued that the Taliban resurgence in 2005 and consequent lack of security in the country precluded any substantial democratization effort. However, this ignores the causal relationship between the two: failure of the political process, and an incoherent US/NATO military strategy, which provided the vacuum and space necessary for the Taliban and other counter-systemic actors to establish and expand their influence in the country (Suhrke, 2008). Linked to the incoherent military strategy is the limited impact of the DDR process that was to strengthen the position of the ISAF (Reynolds, 2006; Saikal, 2012). The expansion of ISAF outside of Kabul also played a significant part in the escalation of the conflict (Suhrke, 2011). The escalating war ratcheted up the demand for rapid and visible results, both within Afghanistan and from domestic audiences in the contributing countries. You read "Post-conflict peacebuilding in Afghanistan" in category "Essay examples" To deliver quick and visible results, the interveners adopted measures that undermined basic precepts of state-building and by extension its contribution to peacebuilding. In order to rapidly create Afghan military capacity, for example, the international forces started rearming the militias (Lefevre, 2010). A large amount of resources were diverted towards training the ANA, whereas the lack of training for the ANP produced problems for the ISAF, mainly in terms of corruption and human rights abuses (Beljan, 2013). The establishment of PRTs throughout the country was seen as the solution for providing security and reconstruction a t the same time (ibid.). However, their activity was characterised by lack of clear objectives, lack of a clear commanding structure and lack of resources (Sedra, 2005). This lack of coherence is not only characteristic of the PRTs themselves, but rather to the lack of a clear strategy for the operation of ISAF (Sperling and Webber, 2012), as the establishment of security needs to run parallel to economic development as part of restructuring efforts. As it was noted, the availability of resources for peacebuilding has a significant impact on the successful resolution of a violent conflict. Yet, the large flows of unconditioned aid are said to re-create the environment in which the civil war in the 1990s erupted and evolved (Goodhand and Sedra, 2007). Afghanistan is also a challenging case for the study and application of peace conditionalities, as the Bonn Agreement itself only legitimised a ‘victor’s peace’, leaving the Taliban quite potent. Secondly, the dual nature of the process should be emphasised – building peace in a climate of ongoing war. The approach adopted by the Alliance forces, to create a security force whilst at the same time failing to provide an institution that is to be responsible for its management is yet another reflection of the prioritisation of short-term goals over peace-making and state-building in the longer term (Sedra, 2005). Although reconstruction has been a top priority and used as a political platform during the first parliamentary elections (Wilder, 2005), the international spending has emphasised security over reconstruction (Rubin, Hamidzada and Stoddard, 2003). The long-standing conflict itself has resulted in the development of a war economy (Felbab-Brown, 2005; Fielden and Goodhand, 2001) in which it is difficult for the emerging democratic state to claim monopoly over violence. Facing considerable historical and institutional constraints, the UN Assistance mission in Afghanistan, a part of which is ISAF, has found it difficult to implement its ambitious democratisation mandate (Tadjbakhsh and Schoiswohl, 2008; Saikal, 2012). In conclusion, despite ISAF has achieved some successes in the training of Afghanistan’s security forces and improving security (Beljan, 2013), it is difficult to claim to the mandate and goals which were set as its main tasks have been achieved. Over the period of reconstruction the country has been relying on foreign aid for the maintenance of its structures, it is still a fragile state on the brink of re-emerging conflict, as there is still a lack of a clear political settlement among the different interest parties in the country. Bibliography Ayub, F. and Kuovo, S. (2008). Righting the courseHumanitarian intervention, the war on terror and the future of Afghanistan. International Affairs, 84(4), 641-657. Beljan, R. (2013). Afghanistan: Lessons Learned from an ISAF Perspective. Journal Article| May, 30(2), 30am. Available at: http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/afghanistan-lessons-learned-from-an-isaf-perspective Bellamy, A. J., Williams, P. D. (2005). Who’s keeping the peaceRegionalization and contemporary peace operations. International Security, 29(4), 157-195. Coll, S. (2004). Ghost wars: The secret history of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet invasion to September 10, 2001. New York: Penguin. Druckman, D., Stern, P. C., Diehl, P., Fetherston, A. B., Johansen, R., Durch, W., Ratner, S. (1997). Evaluating peacekeeping missions. Mershon International Studies Review, 151-165. Dupree, N. H. (2002). Cultural heritage and national identity in Afghanistan. Third World Quarterly, 23(5), 977-989. Felbab?Brown, V. (2005). Afghanistan: when counternarcotics undermines counterterrorism. Washington Quarterly, 28(4), 55-72. Fielden, M., Goodhand, J. (2001). Beyond the TalibanThe Afghan conflict and United Nations peacemaking. Conflict, Security Development, 1(03), 5-32. Fortna, V. P. (2004). Does peacekeeping keep peaceInternational intervention and the duration of peace after civil war. International studies quarterly, 48(2), 269-292. Goodhand, J., Sedra, M. (2007). Bribes or bargainsPeace conditionalities and ‘post-conflict’reconstruction in Afghanistan. International Peacekeeping, 14(1), 41-61. ISAF (2014). Mission. Available at: http://www.isaf.nato.int/mission.html ISAF (2014a). History. Available at: http://www.isaf.nato.int/history.html ISAF (2014b) Troop Numbers and Contributions. Available at: http://www.isaf.nato.int/troop-numbers-and-contributions/index.php Lefevre, M. (2010). Local Defence in Afghanistan. A Review of Government-backed Initiatives. Kabul: Afghanistan Analysts Network. Maley, W. (2009). The Afghanistan Wars. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Matinuddin, K. (1999). The Taliban Phenomenon in Afghanistan 1994-1995. Oxford: Oxford University Press. NATO (2013). ISAF’s Mission in Afghanistan. Available at: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_69366.htm Nesiah, V. (2004). From Berlin to Bonn to Baghdad: a space for infinite justice. Harv. Hum. Rts. J., 17, 75. Reynolds, A. (2006). The curious case of Afghanistan. Journal of Democracy, 17(2), 104-117. Rose-Ackerman, S. (2001). Trust, honesty, and corruption: reflection on the state-building process. European Journal of Sociology, 42, 27-71. Rubin, B. R. (2002). The fragmentation of Afghanistan: State formation and collapse in the international system. Yale University Press. Rubin, B. R. (2006). Peace Building and State-Building in Afghanistan: constructing sovereignty for whose security?. Third World Quarterly, 27(1), 175-185. Rubin, B. R. (2013). Afghanistan from the Cold War through the War on Terror. Oxford University Press. Rubin, B. R., Hamidzada, H., Stoddard, A. (2003). Through the Fog of Peace Building: Evaluating the Reconstruction of Afghanistan. Center on International Cooperation, New York University. Saikal, A. (2012). The UN and Afghanistan: Contentions in Democratization and Statebuilding. International Peacekeeping, 19(2), 217-234. Sedra, M. (2005). Civil-military relations in Afghanistan: The provincial reconstruction team debate. Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies. Simonsen, S. G. (2004). Ethnicising Afghanistan?: inclusion and exclusion in post?Bonn institution building. Third World Quarterly, 25(4), 707-729. Sperling, J., Webber, M. (2012). NATO’s Intervention in the Afghan Civil War. Civil Wars, 14(3), 344-372. Suhrke, A. (2008). A contradictory missionNATO from stabilization to combat in Afghanistan. International Peacekeeping, 15(2), 214-236. Suhrke, A. (2011). When more is less: the international project in Afghanistan. New York: Columbia University Press. Suhrke, A. (2012). Waging War and Building Peace in Afghanistan. International Peacekeeping, 19(4), 478-491. Tadjbakhsh, S., Schoiswohl, M. (2008). Playing with fireThe international community’s democratization experiment in Afghanistan. International Peacekeeping, 15(2), 252-267. United Nations (2001) Bonn Agreement. Available at: http://peacemaker.un.org/afghanistan-bonnagreement2001 Weinberger, N. (2002). Civil-military coordination in peacebuilding: the challenge in Afghanistan. Journal of International Affairs-Columbia University, 55(2), 245-276. Wilder, A. R. (2005). A House Divided?: Analysing the 2005 Afghan Elections. Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. Wolff, S., Dursun-Ozkanca, O. (2012). Regional and International Conflict Regulation: Diplomatic, Economic and Military Interventions. Civil Wars, 14(3), 297-323. How to cite Post-conflict peacebuilding in Afghanistan, Essay examples

Ebola Virus Epidemic in 2014 Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Questions: 1.What is the Ebola Virus and its Characteristics. 2.Where is this Organism naturally found? 3.Discuss the Symptoms of Ebola Infection 4.Measures to Prevent Infection by Ebola virus, including measures put into place to prevent and control outbreaks of the kind reported above. Answers: Biomedical Science Name University The large percentage of patients that died following an Ebola virus epidemic in 2014 was alarming. Although the virus has been known since 1976, the poor medical facilities and an unprepared public health system in West African countries led to the fast spread of the disease and thousands of lives were lost. Out of 2615 confirmed cases, 1427 deaths were reported (Cheng, Li, Yu, 2014). The Ebola virus (CDC, ebola/, 2016). (kff, 2014). 1.Ebola virus and its characteristics The Ebola virus is membrane- enveloped virus that belongs to Filoviridae. It is a single stranded RNA virus. Fruit bats are understood to be the natural reservoirs of the virus that can cause haemorrhagic fever in humans and primates. The levels of the Ebola RNA increase logarithmically in the infected patients while the illness is in the acute phase. Diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding may be observed in patients with infection. Confirmation of Ebola virus is done through cell culture in Vero E6 African Green monkey kidney cells followed by visualization through fluorescence microscopy. The culture in laboratory requires biosafety 2.Epidemiology of the Ebola virus. The Ebola virus is naturally found in fruit bats and can infect humans when they come in contact with infected primates. At times consumption of meat of an infected primate may also cause infection. The infection occurs through contact with body fluids of the patient through mucosal surface, needles contaminated with the virus or abrasions (Lee Saphire, 2009). The latest epidemic due to The Ebola virus occurred in Guinea and spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia. Healthcare workers from Spain, The United Kingdom and the USA were also infected(Arima Shimada, 2015). What makes the epidemic alarming is that in 50-90% of the infected people it proved to be fatal. There is currently no vaccine or treatment available against the infection. Although immunological and pharmacotherapy treatment options are being tested in animals with some success (Kilgore, Grabenstein, Salim, Rybak, 2015). With globalisation, people travel across continents frequently and this puts citizens all over the worl d at a high risk. The medical experts are still trying to understand the measures that we need to take to control an epidemic once a human being is infected. Many healthcare workers died due to transmission of the virus while they were treating the patients during the 2014 epidemic in West Africa (Mello, Merritt, Halpern, 2015). 3.Symptoms of Ebola infection It may take 2 to 21 days for symptoms to appear after infection occurs. A person with symptoms can pass on the infection but someone who is not showing any symptoms but is infected cannot pass on infection to others. Sudden fever with considerable fatigue is the first symptom. Headache, muscle pain and sore throat may be seen in patients. Vomiting and diarrhea follow, patients may complain of rash. Impaired kidney and liver function are followed by internal and external bleeding. Bleeding of gums and blood in stools may be observed. Laboratory diagnosis of blood samples yields low white blood cell count and low platelet count, liver enzymes are usually elevated also (WHO, 2017). 4.Measures to prevent infection by Ebola virus The risk of transmission of the Ebola virus occurs due to wildlife to human transmission, human to human transmission, due to possibility of sexual transmission and heightened transmission risks during an outbreak. Transmission from patient to healthcare workers is possible and strict prevention measures have to be adhered to and are preventable (Ogbuagu Ogbuagu, 2014). When contact with fruit bats or monkeys and other primates is necessary, precautions should be taken by wearing gloves, aprons and other protective gear (CDC, human-transmission.html, 2015). If consuming meat, it should be thoroughly cooked. Family members and healthcare workers who are in close contact with Ebola patients should prevent contact with body fluids. Gloves and protective clothing should be used when working in close proximity with the patient. Even after a hospital visit to a patient hands should be washed thoroughly. Similarly, care givers at home should maintain proper hygiene when working with the patient. According to the recommendations of WHO, male patients who have survived an Ebola infection should practice safe sex for up to 12 months after the onset of Ebola infection and appearance of symptoms. The semen should test negative for the Ebola virus (WHO, 2017). In conclusion, studies on finding treatment and vaccines against the Ebola virus are ongoing. A strong public health response to an epidemic is required to minimise fatalities when the virus causes human infection. References Arima, Y., Shimada, T. (2015). Epidemiological situation of Ebola virus disease in West Africa. Uirusu, 65(1):47-54. CDC. (2015). human-transmission.html. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/human-transmission.html CDC. (2016). ebola/. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/ Cheng, Y., Li, Y., Yu, H. (2014). Ebola virus disease: general characteristics, thoughts, and perspectives. Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, 27(8):651-3. kff. (2014). ebola-characteristics-and-comparisons-to-other-infectious-diseases/. Retrieved from https://kff.org: https://kff.org/infographic/ebola-characteristics-and-comparisons-to-other-infectious-diseases/ Kilgore, P., Grabenstein, J., Salim, A., Rybak, M. (2015). Treatment of ebola virus disease. Pharmacotherapy, 35(1):43-53. Lee, J. E., Saphire, E. O. (2009). Ebolavirus glycoprotein structure and mechanism of entry. Future Virology, 4(6), 621635. https://doi.org/10.2217/fvl.09.56. Mello, M., Merritt, M., Halpern, S. (2015). Supporting Those Who Go to Fight Ebola. PLoS Medicine, 12(1): e1001781. Ogbuagu, O., Ogbuagu, A. (2014). Curbing Ebola infections among healthcare workers in West Africa: unconventional strategies needed. The Pan African Medical Journal, 19:320. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2014.19.320.5716. WHO. (2017). factsheets/fs103/en/. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/: https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/

Trade Credit Receivables Financing free essay sample

Analyzes benefits drawbacks of corporate use of two means of generating short-term capital. TRADE CREDIT AND RECEIVABLES FINANCING The generation of capital is one of the most pressing problems facing any business venture. A great variety of capital sources exist, along with an equally great variety of methods by which these sources may be tapped by a business. For many firms, however, access to both capital sources and methods by which capital may be obtained from these sources is often restricted by a variety of diverse factors. The problem facing a firm in this context is to obtain the capital required, in the amount required, and under conditions which enable the firm to continue to fulfill its objectives. Several important factors are involved in the solution to this problem. This current research focuses on the use of trade credit by a firm as a means of generating short-term capital, and on the use of a firms accounts . We will write a custom essay sample on Trade Credit Receivables Financing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page .

Free Essays on Brain In A Vat

Brain in a Vat There are valid arguments for both sides of the brain in a vat problem. Since I have no idea if I am or am not a brain in a vat, I will first tackle the question â€Å"Would I be happier being a brain in a vat?† There are pros and cons to both sides. The next question should be, â€Å"What is the motivation for the controller of the brains in vats?† The evil demon that may or may not exist needs some motivation for controlling lots of brains. The third question is, â€Å"If I am a brain in a vat what is my motivation for doing anything?† This is more of a question of unchanging cause and affect. The final question is â€Å"How do drugs (alcohol, nicotine, narcotics, hallucinogens) play into the brain in a vat scheme?† The cons of being a brain in a vat begin with the given that none of this is reality as we perceive it. It is reality as we know it, but isn’t real when compared to the common definition. Some people would have a problem with this. It fundamentally lies on whether people believe in ignorance is bliss. I don’t. That is like Trevor deciding he’d rather not that I’ve been getting a piece of his girlfriend. The pro of this is Trevor is more likely to be happy with is his relationship until the moment of truth. This is only a temporary high though. This reality will fall apart with vengeance. So decidedly, I do not want to be a brain in a vat if I don’t realize it. Why would an evil demon want to control our brains? No doubt some diabolic purpose. He probably gets his biggest jollies watching me right this essay. It seems like an awful lot of work to maintain all those brains. If I were an evil demon I’d probably find something better more evil task to do. I can therefore conclude an evil demon has little motivation that I can grasp for such a tedious task. If I were able to determine I was a brain in a vat, and wires were just feeding all this to me, I would party till the circuits overloaded. Thi... Free Essays on Brain In A Vat Free Essays on Brain In A Vat Brain in a Vat There are valid arguments for both sides of the brain in a vat problem. Since I have no idea if I am or am not a brain in a vat, I will first tackle the question â€Å"Would I be happier being a brain in a vat?† There are pros and cons to both sides. The next question should be, â€Å"What is the motivation for the controller of the brains in vats?† The evil demon that may or may not exist needs some motivation for controlling lots of brains. The third question is, â€Å"If I am a brain in a vat what is my motivation for doing anything?† This is more of a question of unchanging cause and affect. The final question is â€Å"How do drugs (alcohol, nicotine, narcotics, hallucinogens) play into the brain in a vat scheme?† The cons of being a brain in a vat begin with the given that none of this is reality as we perceive it. It is reality as we know it, but isn’t real when compared to the common definition. Some people would have a problem with this. It fundamentally lies on whether people believe in ignorance is bliss. I don’t. That is like Trevor deciding he’d rather not that I’ve been getting a piece of his girlfriend. The pro of this is Trevor is more likely to be happy with is his relationship until the moment of truth. This is only a temporary high though. This reality will fall apart with vengeance. So decidedly, I do not want to be a brain in a vat if I don’t realize it. Why would an evil demon want to control our brains? No doubt some diabolic purpose. He probably gets his biggest jollies watching me right this essay. It seems like an awful lot of work to maintain all those brains. If I were an evil demon I’d probably find something better more evil task to do. I can therefore conclude an evil demon has little motivation that I can grasp for such a tedious task. If I were able to determine I was a brain in a vat, and wires were just feeding all this to me, I would party till the circuits overloaded. Thi...

Sustainable Container Ports Development Case Study

Sustainable Container Ports Development - Case Study Example Certain ports may be handicapped due to obsolete machinery or being understaffed. In such cases, they find it hard to handle voluminous business, leading to backlogs. Such contingencies can damage business and lead to huge financial losses.‘The need to improve Terminal Efficiency was addressed amongst other things during the execution of the 5th EU sponsored 5th FWP project THERAPIST. Of particular interest was the contribution made in Work Package 4, the aim of developing â€Å"means† for gathering and intelligently using Data from Identified Sources. These â€Å"means† comprised of Object Oriented, Relational Database and Electronic Terminal Planning Board. Together they addressed very comprehensively, the bottleneck ‘Port’ described in the EC publication â€Å"COM99 317 en final Development of SSS in Europe†, 1999 (EC, 1999) , where shortcomings of port infrastructure and port inefficiency were commented upon and ‘port turn-a-round tim e’ was singled out as one of these inefficiencies. WP4 proposes â€Å"Means† aimed at increasing the efficiency of small to medium-sized ports by specifically increasing their commercial attractiveness to regional exporters and importers’ (Felix A Schmidt, Felix A Schmidt and Robert Young, 2005). This was a method thought to reduce the operational backlog and enhance coordination between different wings of the port.Situations like that of above and others wherein ports are too small to handle create extreme pressure on the exporter and port authorities. The government then takes up a feasibility study to modify or develop a new port/terminal to ease the pressure. China and India are two countries that have witnessed such a situation, due to their surplus volume of imports and exports. The major ports faced innumerable problems due to the high-density flow of bulk consignments, such as automobiles, heavy machinery, and food products and so on.

The Role of NCAA in the Rise of Intercollegiate Athletics Assignment

The Role of NCAA in the Rise of Intercollegiate Athletics - Assignment Example NCAA membership at the national office performs the role of assisting the underlying institutional members from diverse universities and corresponding colleges in comprehending different fundamental legislation of the NCAA. It majorly offers easier accessibility of the knowledgeable workers found within NCAA to the institutions and the public. The organization also organizes numerous workshops and educational conferences annually in an attempt to attain its institutional membership (Rader, 2009). NCAA membership services aid in managing and operation of the institutional athletes in connections with the federal legislation. It's linked with the federal government aid NCAA in examining of the present laws and underlying legislation. Â  NCAA is also charged with the organizing of the Youth Sports Programs at the national level thus enabling the disabled youths to access education and take part in the participation process annually. It also participates in numerous outreach activities that aid in the promotion of the underlying athletes’ administration thus offering equal opportunities of participation to its members notwithstanding of the race and ethnic. Organization of the NCAA provides scholarship programs to the student-athletes that encompass both undergraduate and degree programs to those who desire to learn while training. The programs that are normally offered by NCAA mainly entail instituting of the competition and impartial regulations for diverse sports as well as developing and maintaining of fundamental sports records and corresponding athletes historical statistics. Moreover, NCAA membership is mainly charged with the handling of the recruitment malpractices, competitiveness, impartiality an d corresponding athletes’ educational performance.

Sustainable Transport and Transport Planning Assignment

Sustainable Transport and Transport Planning - Assignment Example These ever increasing numbers have raised a major concern in many local transport development offices and especially the one in Nottingham. The current innovation and construction of the Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two is something to marvel at but a question still remains, will it solve the current traffic issues? Trams have been offering reliable transportation for quite a while now and they will remain a tool of choice for the ordinary commuter. However, the dream to own a car always lingers in each commuter owing to the fact that everyone would like to be picked from their houses and taken to their destinations at their own will. The construction of the transit lines is guaranteed to reduce traffic congestion within the main city center but it does not necessarily mean that people will stop buying cars. The fact that people will always buy cars means that the local civil engineers will have to accommodate this factor while designing and implementing the construction of the t ransit lines. This means that apart from creating enough room for the trams, the engineers will also have to create enough room for the personal cars as well as commercial vehicles. ... Among the three, the problem of road maintenance takes the top spot due to the huge number of road accidents witnessed every year. Sustainable development in this sector requires the promotion of cooperation between social progress, environmental protection and economic efficiency. Recent technologies have shown us that it is however, very possible to drive around on cleaner energy such as the one used in modern electric cars all in an effort to protect the environment. Most people will agree that over-reliance on automobile is related to unsustainable urban environments. The use of vehicles is indeed one of the largest sources of pollution globally and if not controlled stands to destroy the environment that we live in (CEE, 2011). However, there exists quite a number of alternatives to automobile transport that are much safer and more reliable in terms of sustaining the environment. The use of water transport and trains is deemed to reduce the use of cars and guaranteed to provide a much faster way of moving from one point to another especially in inter-city transportation. This can also prove to be a great way to control the traffic situation in big cities apart from offering cheap and reliable transport for both small and large cargo. In as much as the construction of additional tram transit lines will bring the sought after relief, there will still be need to outsource additional means of transport to curb the rising automobile use within Nottingham. The local authorities can implement the following alternatives among others: Use of Bicycles: this is among one of the best sustainable alternatives that can actually save the city a lot of money in terms of maintenance costs and fuel prices as well as promoting green energy (Bourne, 2003). Carpooling

Ebola: Route of Transmission, Life Cycle and Treatment

Ebola: Route of Transmission, Life Cycle and Treatment It is hypothesized that Ebola outbreaks are zoonotic in origin, however the true reservoir in unsubstantiated.8 The conceding belief is that fruit bats are the reservoir for the Ebolavirus, but due to their migration patterns and apparent lack of disease it has been challenging to study this effectively to yield a substantiated conclusion.28 It is further theorized that transmission to humans comes from preparation and consumption of infected bushmeat or the handling of infected animals.8 Some scientists believe that non-human primates contract Ebola from eating fruit soiled with body fluids from infected fruit bats, however there may also be direct animal to animal transmission.8 There is also evidence that domesticated animals such as pigs and dogs contract the virus.29 Once a human is infected from a zoonotic source it is then transmitted from person to person via direct contact with blood, secretions, organs and other bodily fluids of infected people. Ebolavirus is also transmitt ed during burial ceremonies where individuals come into direct contact with an infected deceased person.30 Healthcare workers taking care of those infected have frequently been infected themselves, due to improper infection control procedures.30 Recent evidence has shown a sexual transmission from Ebola, as semen can test positive for Ebola months after the disease has subsided.30 The WHO and CDC both report that Ebolavirus can not be transmitted through aerosols. However, there are a few studies and evidence to support that it is a possible mode of transmission. It is believed that there was animal to animal as well as animal to human transmission of the Reston virus from cynomolgus macaques in a US quarantine facility.31 The outbreak demonstrated intercage infection and in some cases with distance between the cages. In a study, rhesus macaques were infected through aerosols of the Zaire virus, with a median mass diameter ranging from 0.8 and 1.2m.32 Evidence of the respiratory tract being the primary site of infection, can be inferred from the viral concentration being the greatest in the lungs.8 Pathogenesis The incubation period for Ebolavirus ranges from 2 to 21 days and humans are non-infectious until symptoms appear.30 Ebolavirus presents with a sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. As the disease progresses vomiting, diarrhea and a rash present. During the latent stages of the disease, patients develop impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.30 Patients will present with labs with low white blood count (WBC), low platelets, elevated liver enzymes (AST and ALT).30 The mortality rate varies among the different subtypes of Ebolavirus. The Zaire virus has an average of 77% mortality rate, Sudan virus 49.8%, Bundibugyo 30.55% and Reston virus and Tai Forest virus both have a 0% mortality rate.5 The range in mortality rates across all subgroups go from 100% to 0%. However, when looking specifically at the Zaire virus the range is 47% to 100%.5 Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention EBOV is difficult to distinguish early on from other infectious diseases in the area like malaria, typhoid fever and meningitis.30 In order to confirm initial symptoms are caused by EBOV healthcare workers should perform ELISA, antigen-capture detection tests, serum neutralization test, RT-PCR, electron microscopy, or virus isolation by cell culture.30 All samples are an extreme biohazard risk and can only be done under biosafety level (BSL) 4. There are currently only 10 BSL 4 labs in the US and 47 worldwide33, leading to an insufficient resource for testing and research. Current treatment for EBOV is supportive care through re-hydration as well as treatment for specific symptoms. There are currently no vaccines or approved treatment for EBOV, however there are many in development. During a recent outbreak, a US physician was treated with an experimental drug (ZMapp). He eventually went on to give a blood transfusion to another patient with EBOV in hopes of treatment; both recovered well. Evidence suggest that antibody support along with platelets and fluids could provide a key in future treatments. Currently, higher level medical facilities pose better outcomes due to their ability to assist with organ deterioration while the patient is trying to survive the viral infection. Prevention and Control is best achieved through case management, surveillance, contact tracing, good laboratory services, safe burials, and social mobilization.30 By limiting the interaction with wildlife, which are known to be reservoirs of the disease, we can limit the transmission into human hosts. If an individual becomes infected proper quarantine procedures should be put in place to ensure the disease does not spread. Proper quarantine measures include isolating infected patients in medical facilities with only essential personal entering and leaving the patients room. All essential medical personnel should don personal protective equipment (PPE) at all time, which includes a single use gown, respirator with full face shield, 2 pairs of gloves, single use boot covers, and single use apron.34 Educating the population in these endemic areas as to these quarantine procedures, not touching infected animals, and proper burial techniques can vastly improve outcomes during outbreaks.3 0 Weight and Discrimination: Legal Issues Weight and Discrimination: Legal Issues Ther L. Richardson Abstract Discrimination against overweight and obese people has existed for millennia but it is just in recent decades that discrimination against the overweight has been seen as a crime and research has begun in this field. Despite some research going back as far as the 1940’s the majority of research did not start until almost the 1970’s. With the pace that American law is driven there has not been considerable progress made to this point. Current research is being conducted to stem both the lack of progress and make inroads of societal progress. Current understanding and legislation may empower an entire class of world citizens, and change perception of weight discrimination and obesity while leveling the employment and earnings playing field. Weight and Discrimination: Legal Issues in Weight Discrimination According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) between 2009 and 2010 more than 35 percent of adults across the U.S. and Canada were considered obese, (McGuire, 2011, pp. 368-369) based on the BMI. The Body Mass Index or BMI is a scale that assigns a number value that is calculated from a persons weight and height. BMI is used to provide an indicator of body fat ratio or level and is used by the healthcare industry to screen people for weight categories. While the rates of obesity in adults has been slowing over the past decade or so, the world population has become more media centric and the idea of the ideal body type has certainly been affected by the mass media and the influence of Hollywood movies, sports and television. This change in the perception of the ideal body image has almost certainly affected the rates and types of discrimination as well. In the workplace, obese workers are considered lazy, incompetent, and lacking self-control. While women’s wages are lower on average then men’s, obese women’s wages are even more out of proportion. It has also been shown that many human resource representatives do not even know it is illegal to not interview, or decline to hire someone based on their weight. As ideal body image changes to leaner more fit athletic and â€Å"underwear model† looking individuals the more overweight and obese individuals pale in comparison. The contrast effect then sets up and impossible scenario where the obese worker or applicant can never meet the mind’s eye image of the ideal employee. Perception of weight discrimination and obesity Sutin and Terracciano (2013) conducted research on perceived weight discrimination and obesity. They examined whether weight discrimination is associated with risk of becoming obese by follow-up survey among those not obese at baseline, and to test whether weight discrimination is associated with risk of remaining obese at follow-up among those already obese at baseline (Sutin Terracciano, 2013). This research was conducted through both face to face interviews and a survey returned by mail to the Health and Retirement Study, which is a nationally representative longitudinal survey conducted by the University of Michigan. They found that weight discrimination was reported by those that became obese during the time between the baseline and follow-up interviews, for the most part among participants who weren’t obese at the time of the baseline measurements. Those subjects who reported that they experienced discrimination based on their weight were over three times more likely to remain obese at follow-up instead of dropping below the obesity threshold on the Body Mass Index (BMI) than those who did not experience such discrimination. Of the sample that was normal weight at baseline, there was not enough data for the analysis, but of the 14 participants in the normal weight category who reported weight discrimination in their follow-up, none became obese as described by the BMI (Sutin Terracciano, 2013). Sutin and Terracciano (2013) remark that â€Å"body weight is a highly visible, personal characteristic that can evoke strong stereotypes and strong reactions from others,† and easily contribute to stereotyping and discrimination as well. Weight discrimination and harassment are also thought to be associated with behaviors which increase the risk of weight gain, these behaviors include excessive food intake (binge eating) and decreased physical inactivity (Friedman Puhl, 2012, p. 2, 3). Obese persons who feel discriminated against may tend to avoid situations where there weight would make them stand out, for instance going out dancing, and thus gaining the benefit of the exercise that might be gained by that activity. People that feel stigmatized tend to feel less confident and able to engage in physical activity and thus avoid not only exercise, but also social activity that could lead to physical activity and exercise such as line dancing or other forms of social activities like sports, and games. Weight bias can have a significant impact on social, economic, psychological and physical health. Social and economic consequences include social rejection, poor quality of relationships (Friedman Puhl, 2012, p. 2, 3). Current legal protections in the united states and results of litigation Katz and Lavan (2008) conducted research on limited legal protections of obese employees as a class, and lawsuits against employers who took adverse employment actions based on obesity against obese employees and former employees who have begun to prevail in lawsuits against those employers. They analyzed of a random sample of 80 cases to attempt to identify factors that increase an obese plaintiffs likelihood of success and found that an employee in the private sector, particularly a non-professional employee, has a significantly greater likelihood of winning than do others. Additionally, they found that an unemployed individual or an individual filing suit under legislation other than state discrimination laws or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has a statistically greater chance of prevailing as well. According to Katz and Lavan (2008), because obesity is often considered a problem wherein the obese individuals are blamed for their own weight, people see obesity as an issue of personal responsibility versus a chronic condition and this may well may have a different impact on public opinions and support for anti-discrimination laws and lawsuits. There are many facets to the discrimination towards obesity that may not even be perceived by those that are being discriminated against. For example, applicants for employment may be judged on their appearance, not just on their qualifications. Rejected candidates may not be aware of weight-related factors (Katz Lavan, 2008). One surprising result that was mentioned was that the discrimination against obesity is contagious. In one study cited by Katz and Lavan, in two experiments, average-weight male job applicants were rated more negatively when seen with an overweight compared to a normal weight female. This shows that the stigmatizati on and discrimination can spread simply due to association. The overweight and more specifically the morbidly obese are often given the blame for their own condition. Another impression that people hold is that of obese people being less tidy or having poor personal hygiene, this often has a lot to do with appearance. Supervisors or management may even react differently to overweight individuals, causing them to treat overweight employees differently on the job than more attractive employees (Katz Lavan, 2008). In addition, the discrimination against obese persons is not limited to the workplace by any means, obese persons are reminded, or are made to feel in everyday encounters with family members, peers, health care providers, and strangers that they deviate from social norms and are inferior to those who are not obese (Katz Lavan, 2008 pg. 3). When it comes to the current legal state, more and more it appears that Title VII (the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 1964) and the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 have not been very useful to litigants either, except in cases where the litigant that is claiming discrimination was morbidly obese. If an individual claimed that they were discriminated against but not because of an actual disability but instead because of their employer’s perception that they had a disability from being overweight when in fact they could perform the jobs assigned without impediment, then that litigant was in fact more likely to win (Katz Lavan, 2008 pg. 3). In addition much discussion on their part about recent litigation and the ADA, Katz and Lavan (2008) stated that courts have generally viewed obesity as a voluntary condition and therefore disqualified it as a disability under ADA. They cite few cases that have held that obesity on its own constitutes a disability (Katz Lavan, 2008 pg. 4). Obesity and obtaining work and fair wages Pagan Dà ¡vila (1997) conducted a study to explore the relationship between obesity, occupational attainment, and earnings using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to investigate the occupational selection of obese individuals. They then estimated the earnings functions that accounted for the occupational attainment of the overweight. Much the same as many other researchers they found that women seemed to pay a steeper penalty than men did as men tended to migrate into employment where their weight did not play as big of a role (Pagan Dà ¡vila, 1997). The authors did not elaborate on these types of employment other than to say service based, although the authors did at one point elude to truck drivers and movers. In all, the reported findings they said did tend to complement the existing body of work. Their research did not seem to bring much new to the table other than the fact that they had some theories on crowding, but it did support previous theory and work mentioned. Because there is very little research so far to review each new item add to the totality of the available data. In addition, they were the only authors that eluded to the use of migration into employment where their weight did not play as big of a role in their earning potential. Research into the efforts to pass new laws Puhl, Heuer Sarda (2010) conducted research assess the public support for potential legislation to prohibit weight-based discrimination against obese individuals in the United States, and to examine whether certain message frames about weight discrimination influence public support. Their participants were randomly assigned to read one of the four paragraphs that framed the topic of weight discrimination in a distinct way (or a control condition with no paragraph). Participants were then asked to indicate their level of support for six anti-discrimination laws. Participants were a national sample of 1114 participants (48% women, 52% men), with a mean age of 44.78 years (Puhl et al., 2011). The results of their study showed that there was some support for laws that would prohibit weight-based discrimination. Gender differences were observed across experimental conditions thus indicating that â€Å"some message frames may increase support for certain laws among women, but not men. Message frames however, had no effect on support for laws with specific provisions to prohibit weight discrimination in the workplace† (Puhl et al., 2011). This suggested that the public held support for those particular legal measures was both consistent and high at approximately 65% of men and 81% of women, regardless of how the issue of weight discrimination was framed to the public (Puhl et al., 2011). Just as most of the articles do, the authors of this article point out that weight discrimination stems from pervasive societal stigma and stereotypes that obese persons are lazy, lacking in self-discipline and are personally at fault for their inability to lose weight, and that unfortunately, weight bias takes a significant toll on emotional and physical health for those who are affected, increasing vulnerability to depression, low self-esteem, poor body image, suicidal behaviors, unhealthy eating patterns, eating disorders and avoidance of physical activity and social exclusion. One interesting comment of note is their mention that recent estimates suggest that the prevalence of weight discrimination in the United States has increased by 66% over the past decade, and is now comparable with prevalence rates of racial discrimination in America (Puhl et al., 2011). Their results have led them to conclude that women express a stronger degree of agreement than men do with idea that ther e should be new laws about weight discrimination and that the government should take a more active and aggressive role to protect overweight people from size/weight discrimination. Discussion Currently, in the United States there are little or no legal protections to prohibit discrimination against an individual based solely on body shape, size, or weight, and employers basically have the right to hire anyone they want without regard to preference to thinner and more attractive applicants. Some employers have even been found to penalize heavy employees in unfair ways. Weight-based discrimination is pervasive around the world and it is damaging and worsens health disparities for obese people, in essence creating a self-fulfilling prophecy (Puhl et al., 2011). There was considerable agreement within the literature, with many studies concluding that weigh based discrimination does exist, it is pervasive, and it is experienced more by women than men (Puhl et al., 2011), (Pagan Dà ¡vila, 1997), and (Katz Lavan, 2008) for example. Many practitioners in the psychological and sociological communities’ believe that it is critical for the public health community to recognize that this type of institutionalized bias is, in fact, both a social injustice, and a public health issue. In addition many of those individuals also feel that it is past due to look long and hard legislatively, at equal protections and definitions of obesity as a syndrome. History has demonstrated that legislation has the power to reduce institutionalized bias against stigmatized groups, thus researchers, advocacy groups and the public health community can help promote protective legislation for overweight and obese persons (Puhl et al., 2011). Public support is going to be key in enacting any weight bias legislation, and the research findings provide a springboard to explore public attitudes toward laws that prohibit discrimination based on weight. Because of women’s potentially increased vulnerability to weight stigmatization as compared to men in nearly all of these studies, over time they are more likely experience unfair treatment because of their weight, and are therefore they are far more supportive of legislation to combat Obesity discrimination. Some researchers such as Puhl et al., 2011, Pagan Dà ¡vila, 1997, and Katz and Lavan, 2008have suggested that women are more vulnerable to weight discrimination than men and may experience weight discrimination at lower levels of body weight than men do. Additionally there are roles and jobs that are typically filled by men that tend to favor some amount of over-weightiness such as movers being able to handle large or bulky items. Conclusion In order to make inroads against this type of discrimination is education of the population, overt intolerance of the discrimination, strong advocacy in support of litigation and legislation, and a public awareness campaign, and some strong rulings to create precedence. Of course almost universally as always, more research is needed. While it is generally accepted that there is weight based discrimination, it is important that there be a solid body of work to bring it to light, and in conjunction with medical research into the causes of obesity it may be possible to determine what the leading factors in obesity, continued obesity, and combating obesity are. In addition research needs to be done into the effects of socialization on obesity. One of the experienced side effects of obesity being anti-social behavior one cannot help but to wonder what if anything would be the overall effect of purposely involving the morbidly obese in social activity that bolstered self-confidence without judgment, possibly without even focusing on weight. References Friedman, R., Puhl, R. (2012). Weight Bias A Social Justice Issue A Policy Brief. 2012 Rudd Report, 2012 Rudd Report (2012), 2, 3. Katz, M., Lavan, H. (2008). Legality of Employer Control of Obesity. Journal of Workplace Rights, 13(1), 59-71. doi:10.2190/WR.13.1.e McGuire, S., Shields M., Carroll M.D., Ogden C.L., (2011). Adult Obesity Prevalence in Canada and the United States. NCHS Data Brief no. 56, Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 2011. Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal, 2(4), 368-369. Pagà ¡n, J., Dà ¡vila, A. (1997). Obesity, Occupational Attainment, and Earnings. Social Science Quarterly, 78(3), 756 770. Puhl, R., Heuer, C., Sarda, V. (2010). Framing Messages About Weight Discrimination: Impact On Public Support For Legislation. International Journal of Obesity, 35(10), 863 872. Sutin, A. R., Terracciano, A., Newton, R. L. (2013). Perceived Weight Discrimination and Obesity. PLoS ONE, 8(7), e70048.

She :: essays research papers

Khadijah and her brother was home alone on a Monday night. No they were not trying to have a wild party. They were waiting by the phone expecting a call from there parent. I know this sounds strange, teenagers waiting for a call from their parents. But this was not a "Is the house okay" call. There Aunt Marla was in the Hospice House for the terminally ill. They wanted to know how she was doing and was every thing okay. When the phone rung they ran to it like horses at the race track. It was their father telling them that their Aunt was doing fine and will have to stay there a couple of months. They felt relive to hear the good news, but Khadijah knew something was not right. As she got in the bed it felt kind of strange like someone was in it. (Let's not forget this is the same bed Khadijah use to share with her Aunt when she lived with her family.) Khadijah went to sleep with her Aunt Marla in her mind. The next morning Khadijah woke up feeling like something was wrong. She got dress as usual and went down stairs for breakfast. But she did not sit to the table with her brothers. Instead she sat in the rocking chair her Aunt read her stories in. When her mother came down stairs she ask was everything was okay. Khadijah said "yes everything is fine." Everything was not fine, but Khadijah did not no what was wrong yet. When Khadijah got out of the chair to take her bowl to the kitchen she notice it started to rock on its own. She thought nothing of it and guess it came from her getting up real fast. Every morning Khadijah's mother takes her and her brother to school. And on the way there is a graveyard. Khadijah hardly ever looks at the graveyard when she passes by, but something about it today made her look. It look like it had some kind of glow to it. As she pass by Khadijah said "Somebody's dead", her brother Carl said " No duh! The people in the graveyard are.". But Khadijah was not talking about the people in the graveyard. Then Khadijah ask her mother what time was it. Her mother said it was 8 o'clock. Her brother ask "Why does it matter?