GREAT BARRIER REEF Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

GREAT BARRIER REEF - Assignment Example The seabird nesting failures are also evidence on the impact of the climate related events on the coral reef system. The failures were observed between 2002 and 2005. Despite the fact that we cannot solely segregate climate events as the threat to the coral reefs systems, its effect also interact with other external pressures, unsustainable fishing and degraded water quality, increasing the threat to the coral reef system. This is a phenomenon that occurs as a result of reactions to increase in water temperatures. This has been depicted o be a possible destructive force to the great coral reef system. Corals have lots of vibrant colors due to the inhabitance of algae on them. The warm water is in hospitable for the algae as it kills them. The report by Australian Government, (2007) found that the death of the algae leads to the discoloration of the corals. The corals lose the coloration and thus the bleaching effect (Australian Government, 2007). This is the condition from which the coral bleaching gets its name. The death of algae also results to the death of creatures something that has a ripple effect on the food chain. These events have been depicted to become more clear and frequent in the coming decades. One the food chain has been disrupted due to the bleaching of the algae. The marine habitat is eradicated. The loss of the algae results to elimination of a source of food for many marine organisms. This puts other aspects of the system; marine turtles, seabirds, fish, mangroves and planktons (Australian Government, 2007). These mass die off of the sea birds have been observed during periods of unusual high temperatures. These are factors that can be attributed to the difficulties that come with acquisition of food by the parent birds. These habitats are therefore at risk with changes in climate. Degraded water quality reduces the resilience of the reefs. This can be

Responsible for most of the global economic problems Essay Example for Free

Responsible for most of the global economic problems Essay Neo-liberalism is a political ideology that suggests that ‘human well-being can be advanced by the maximisation of entrepreneurial freedom, characterised by private property rights, individual liberty, free markets and free trade’ (Geografiskar, A 2006). In today’s modern society neo-liberalism is widespread around the globe with various stakeholders offering conflicting views. Some advocates, namely the capitalistic portion of society argue that a liberal market is essential for economic growth whilst others hold neo-liberalism responsible for the global economic problems we are experiencing today. It is clear to many that the policies arising from this ideology have caused the poor to grow poorer and the rich to grow richer. Accordingly, this essay will argue that Neo-Liberalism greatly contributed greatly to today’s global economic problems and will shed light on the overriding reasons why a neo-liberalism is not ideal to foster a sustainable and healthy economic environment for all as the ideology proposes. One of the primary economic problems in the world is sub-standard living conditions and the major gap between the wealthy and the non-wealthy. The first argument that encapsulates the problems associated with neo-liberalism is the tendency for the ideology to foster inequality in society. Navarro (1998) agrees and extends to say that neoliberalism has caused increasingly declining living conditions for most of the world’s population, whilst the minority continue to grow wealthier. This is supported by the argument that the inequality arises from policies that exist in a neo-liberal society such as granting tax-cuts for the wealthy and decreasing minimum wages for the non-wealthy (George, 1999). Pro neo-liberals would combat these arguments and suggest that a free market will grow the prosperity of a society as a whole however, it has been argued that although wealth might be increased, it is supressed by the elite and  the non-elite do not share in the economic growth making neoliberal ideologies on positive for one level of society (Beder, 2006). A prominent example is in Brazil where in the early 1990’s the country liberalised the market considerably, as a result the inflation rate decreased and the economy was stimulated however the living conditions of the general society did not improve and inequality was greater than ever (Amann Baer, 2002). Brazil still continues to grow poorer as neoliberal ideologies now control the vast majority of Latin America increasing the inequality amongst majority of society. Therefore it can be concluded that neo-liberalism is a major contributor to global economic problems such as inequality and sub-standard living conditions. When governments implement neoliberal ideologies it causes regulatory agencies to be taken over by special interests and anti-government groups which reduces the level of protection for the general public. Deregulation is the â€Å"the reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry†. (investopedia, 2013). From a neoliberal supporter’s standpoint, deregulation allows corporations to increase their bottom line and profit margins by reducing regulations that may restrict them from certain income-producing activities. However, by reducing regulation there are large risks involved that can lead to catastrophic events. The enormous ecological and economic damage in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the British Petroleum oil spill is just one of many examples of the breakdown of regulation caused by neoliberalism. It has also come to light around the globe that the reduction of government oversight of the financial sector was a leading cause of the mortgage loan crisis and the severe economic recession that it triggered. The most prominent and possibly the most notable market crash is the ‘Global Financial Crisis’ which was a direct repercussion of the neo-liberal policies which were implemented at the time and for which many of today’s global economic problems has stem from. These policies predominately include the replacement of government functions and services with profit-seeking entities, or more commonly known as privatisation and most importantly the deregulation of the economic market (Beder, 2006). Due to the deregulation, financial institutions and other economic players were able to invest in more complex financial markets which were beyond their understanding and a result a market crash occurred and the detrimental effects were widespread. If regulation had been put in place to monitor investment activity then it has been argued that the Global Financial Crisis would not have occurred and the associated global economic problems we are experiencing today would not have eventuated (Dag Einar Thorsen, 2013). As neoliberal policies where implemented around the world casing the global financial crisis the world disparities in wealth and income increased as well as poverty, contradicting neoliberal theories that by increasing the wealth at the top everyone becomes better off. One of the largest areas of concern around the globe is the poverty levels. Over the last 40 years governments have been influenced by neoliberal ideologies and poverty has increased on a global scale. Neoliberalism has contributed to this increase by boycotting certain government regulations and cutting tax rates, providing private industries with more power to grow wealthier while the poor suffer the consequences. A representative from the World Bank stated â€Å"Reducing government regulation with tax rates and deregulation across most of the planet has not brought anything close to an end of poverty†, (World Bank 2001). Neoliberal advocates believe that wealth generated by reducing regulation and allowing private enterprises such as banks and financial institutions to hold more power will be passed down to all levels of society. However, this is not the case, an example is the United states, under Neoliberal governments child poverty rose by a third and in the â€Å"united kingdom between 1980 and 1990 when the government was run by neoliberal policies poverty rose by half†.( Navarro, Vicente. 1998). The high volume of capital movements caused by neoliberalism have led to much crisis, exposing developing countries to new risks. There are various reasons why neoliberal policies have failed to address the issues of poverty in society. One of these reasons being the stability policies neoliberalism has input into our governments, supported by tight fiscal and monetary controls which have provided neither growth nor stabilization within countries’ economies. (Geografiskar, A 2006). The liberalisation of foreign trade was put in place to remove the barriers of developing countries but maintenance of these barriers has given birth to an unfair international market. Thoroughly linked with poverty, another major economic human problem that neoliberalism has failed to resolve is  employment. Global markets have not generated anything close to enough waged work for the world’s labour force. Hundreds of millions of people remain unemployed or underemployed. Neoliberalism ideologies are set through government to generate wealth in private industries, this wealth aims to grow business’s and by doing this aims to increase employment. However, owing to the neo-liberal economic reforms, the higher costs of utilities like power and water are caused by the government reducing expenditure, when services become privatized, such as transport, health and education which the leads to business’s enhancing their turnover. â€Å"As a result of the diminishment government owned industries and the economic agents cut back on output growth rates and downsize the number of employees, inevitably generating unemployment† (Daniela Zirra, 2012.). Private industries continue to aim for increasing profits, this is achieved by lowering expenses and when their main expenses are wages the unemployment rate continues to rise. Current debates concerning the effects of neoliberalism ideologies have frequently separated between advocates who see only benefits and opponents who see only problems. In practice the results have been more one sided. Alternatively many people have faith in in the Neoliberalism ideology’s and argue towards supporting it as the way of the future. The mixture of positives and negatives has varied between one situation and another; the negatives of a neoliberal society are far more detrimental to our economy than what the positives produce. I argue that Neoliberals re responsible for most of the global economic problems we are currently experiencing today. It will be hard to stop governments enforcing Neoliberal policies and standards as ‘Neo-liberal theories have been embraced by big businesses because they provide legitimisation for their pursuit of self-interest and avenues for business expansion (Beder, 2006). However, we can look towards a more positive future for all levels of society, reducing the global economic problems we face today by standing together and fighting against Neo-liberal beliefs. Referencing Amann, Edmund and Werner Baer. 2002. â€Å"Neoliberalism and Its Consequences in Brazil.† Journal of Latin American Studies 34(4):945-959. http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=376 2011  Beder, Sharon (2000). Selling the work ethic: : From puritan pulpit to corporate PR. Australia Daniela Zirra, 2012. CURRENT NEOLIBERAL IDEAS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT . Romanian Economic and Business Review – Vol. 4, No. 1. — Elizabeth Martinez and Arnoldo Garcia, What is â€Å"Neo-Liberalism†?, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, January 1, 1997 George, Susan. 1999. â€Å"A Short History of Neoliberalism.† Presented at the Conference on Economic Sovereignty in a Globalising World, March 24-26, Bangkok, Thailand. Geografiskar, A. Series B, Human Geography , Vol. 88, No. 2, Geography and Power, the Power of Geography (2006), pp. 145-158 Published by: Wiley on behalf of the Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography . Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/stable/3878384 Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order. Seven Stories Press. November 1998. ISBN 1-888363-82-7 1998†(John Williamsons Washington Consensus,1998. Navarro, Vicente. 1998. â€Å"Neoliberalism, ‘Globalization,’ Unemployment, Inequalities, and the Welfare State.† International Journal of Health Services 28(4):607-682. Neoliberalism, globalization, unemployment, inequalities, and the welfare state. Navarro V 2012. Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205-1901, USA. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/14/neoliberal-theory-economic-failure http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1220context=artspapers http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/as-expected-sequestration-cuts-are-neoliberal-blueprint-not-dumb-mistakes/ Title: Guidelines for Public Debt Management Published: 20010, World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Writing an Admissions Essay :: College Admissions Essays

Writing an Admissions Essay The process of writing—and writing admissions essays in particular—invites a consciously-constructed performance of the self. What I mean by this is that a text—any text—inevitably conveys some persona; and when that text is known as an autobiography or representation of the self, the persona of the text is under even more scrutiny. Andy Warhol, with whom we could never be sure of where the performance ended and where the self started, once said, â€Å"When I did my self-portrait, I left all the pimples out because you always should. . . . Always omit the blemishes—they’re not part of the good picture you want.† * This statement has relevance for any act of self-representation, including admissions essays. Because the essay is an acknowledged representation of the self, the student tries to omit â€Å"blemishes† or whatever material she thinks will make her unattractive to the school. She consciously tries to frame her essay so that it will project the particular kind of persona she thinks the admissions officers want to see. However much they tell you, â€Å"Just be yourself,† that’s hardly possible when so much rides on how that self is presented. Even more challenging than the decision of how to frame this self-portrait is the anxiety-producing task of choosing a topic. For example, in a recent New York Times article, a student lamented the fact that no one had died in her family thus leaving her without anything moving to write about. Admissions essays are an unusual and peculiar exercise, one in which we know the student performs. But the school is performing, too. The University, in particular, is known for its quirky and surprising essay questions. This quirkiness itself is a performance of a kind that seeks to attract a certain type of student, perhaps the creative or quirky.

Indian Morphological Differences And Similarities Health And Social Care Essay

Background & A ; nonsubjective: Worldwide fluctuation in human growing and its familial and environmental factors have been described by many writers before. In this survey, an effort has been made to measure the morphological differences and similarities among 1-5 twelvemonth kids of rural countries of Uttar Pradesh State in India. The purpose of this survey was to find whether kids populating in diverse countries show their differences or similarities of organic structure size. Methods: For this intent, a transverse sectional territory nutrition profile survey conducted during 2002-03 was used. The information on 10,096 kids drawn from 1080 small towns in 54 territories is a portion of the territory degree Diet and Nutrition Assessment study, was considered. The average values for tallness and weight for 54 territories is taken as the input informations for subsequent analysis. The information was first normalized by agencies of Principal Component Analysis ( PCA ) and so K-means bunch was performed. Consequences: The PCA and bunch analysis yielded four distinguishable bunchs or forms in the kids anthropometric informations. These bunchs were ordered harmonizing to the mean organic structure size ( weight and tallness ) of kids. The average stature and organic structure weight of these kids in bunch I was 3.2 centimeter and 1.4 kilogram higher than those of bunch IV bespeaking clear difference between bunchs. Besides, the fluctuations between bunchs in their societal, demographic, wellness and nutrition parametric quantities were compared. Interpretation & A ; decision: The practical usage of PCA and bunch analysis and its virtues in analyzing the Uttar Pradesh pre-school kids growing fluctuations are discussed. These consequences will ease the decision maker to gestate and implement part specific action programmes for betterment in the nutritionary position of the community in general and pre-school kids, in peculiar. Cardinal words: anthropometric measurings, K-means Cluster Analysis, PCA, Nutrition, Socio-economic.IntroductionWorldwide fluctuations in human growing forms were described in the past by Tanner and Eveleth1,2. Growth and development of kids in a community are mostly influenced by the environment they live in, which include a host of factors related to socioeconomic, socio-cultural and agro climatic conditions. In this present paper, we tried to pull out the nutritionary forms of under five twelvemonth kids anthropometric informations collected at territory degree in the province of Uttar Pradesh in India. This survey was undertaken peculiarly in Uttar Pradesh because it is themost thickly settled province in India, holding about 170 million population3. Therefore, â€Å" geographic † clusterization of territories in big countries such as a State or part of a state based on nutritionary position of the kids may assist in placing assorted factors that have important influence o n the growing and development of the communities and to plan and implement appropriate region/state specific schemes for forestalling and control of undernutrition in the communities. The bunch analysis technique involves segregating a information set into different homogeneous groups based either on similarities or unsimilarities in the information. This technique is an easy replicable manner of building categorizations, which has attracted widespread popularity across diverse scientific disciplines4. Mahalanobis, Majumdar and Rao5 employed this method to do an anthropometric study of the united state manner back in 1949. Vasulu and Pal6 studied the relationship between anthropometric distinction and cultural diverseness in the Yanadi folk in different parts of India. This method has been successfully used on anthropometric measurings in China to sort growing profiles of children7 and in India to transport out societal selling schemes for control of Vitamin A deficiency8,9 every bit good as to place the forms in nutritionary informations of kids.Keri L. Monda and Barry M. Popkin10 used bunch analysis to make forms of overall activity and inaction in a diverse sam ple of Chinese young person and to measure their usage in foretelling fleshy position. Tucker KL11 demonstrated dietetic forms of different populations in US utilizing PCA-Cluster Analysis technique. For the intent of this survey, the informations collected during the District nutrition profile ( DNF ) study carried out in the State of Uttar Pradesh during the twelvemonth 2002-03 and reported during 2003-04 was utilised. The study included aggregation of informations on family socio economic, socio cultural and demographic specifics, nutritionary position of persons in footings of anthropometry and clinical scrutiny, mean nutrient and alimentary consumptions at the family degree and chest eating and kid raising patterns prevalent in the community. Following are the specific aims of the current survey: To organize geographical bunchs in the State of Uttar Pradesh, based on the anthropometric information of weight and tallness of preschool kids 2 ) To i Iiiiide dentify differences or similarities in the nutritionary position of kids populating in different bunchs. To analyze the family demographic, socioeconomic derived functions of the kids between the bunchs, in relation to the nutritionary position.Materials and MethodsSample DesignA cross sectional design was used for transporting out DNF study. In each territory, small town formed the Primary Sampling Unit ( PSU ) and the Household, the Secondary Sampling Unit ( SSU ) . Therefore, a sum of 400 HHs were covered from 20 small towns by covering 20 indiscriminately selected families from each small town. Sing the big fluctuation in the territory, due representation was given to all the blocks in the territory while choosing the small towns, by following graded random trying process coupled with chance proportion to size ( PPS ) .SubjectsThe anthropometric informations, viz. highs and weights available on 10,096 preschool kids ( 1 to 5 old ages of age ) from a sum of 87,491 persons of different ages of both the sexes from 54 territories of Uttar Pradesh was considered for analysis. The geograp hic distribution of the territories is shown in Fig. 1. The average values for tallness and weight for 54 territories is taken as the input informations for subsequent analysis.VariablesTwo anthropometric measurings viz. highs and weights were collected by research workers by utilizing standard equipment and processs. The research workers were trained and standardized in the study methodological analysiss by the Scientists of National Institute of Nutrition ( NIN ) , before originating existent informations aggregation in the field.Statistical methodThe information was first normalized by agencies of Principal Component Analysis ( PCA ) and so bunch was performed utilizing SPSS 15.0 statistical software12, utilizing the undermentioned process: The agencies of each variable for 54 territories were computed. An inter-variable correlativity coefficient matrix was derived. The PCA was extracted by following the undermentioned standards. The standard for truth of choosing principle constituent was 0.005. The minimal discrepancy for pull outing each constituent was 0.5. The value of all steps was transformed into principle-component tonss. The instances were clustered by k-means bunch method utilizing Euclidian distance which was calculated by the expression given below. Wherein dij is the distance between any two instances ( I and J ) in a group, Xik and Xjk are the chief constituent tonss of the kth chief constituent ( k=1,2,3aˆÂ ¦m ; here m=1 ) . The process for bunch was done by MacQueen method13 as follows: Step1: Partition the points into thousand initial bunchs Steo2: Proceed through the list of points, delegating point to the bunch whose centroid ( average ) is close. Recalculate the centroid for the bunch having the new point and the one which the point is removed Step3: Repeat the Step 2 until no reassignments take topographic point.ConsequencesThe average highs and weights by territory are listed in Table I. The Principle constituents extracted from the correlativity matrices are listed in Table II. Merely one rule constituent could be extracted from the information. The ‘EIGEN ‘ value ensuing from this constituent was 1.4 and could explicate 70 % of the fluctuation. The information was foremost transformed into Personal computer mark for the 54 territories which formed the input for executing bunch analysis utilizing K-means bunch analysis method. Four different bunchs or forms were observed in the information. A ocular representation bunch analysis represented as dendogram ( Fig.2 ) shows the bunchs being combined and the values of the distance coefficients at each measure. Looking at the dendogram, it appears that the four bunch method described may be appropriate, since the bunchs are easy explainable and occurs before the distance at which bunch go excessively big. The dendrogram rescales the existent distances to Numberss between 0 and 25, continuing the ratio of the distances between stairss. These bunchs were ordered harmonizing to the mean organic structure size ( weight and tallness ) of kids. The organic structure sizes which formed into different little bunchs are listed in table III. The average stature and organic structure weight of these kids in bunch I was 3.2 centimeter and 1.4 kilogram higher than those of bunch IV bespeaking clear difference between bunchs.Geographic factors:The bunch analysis which resulted in the formation of four distinguishable bunchs is presented in the map ( Fig. 3 ) . The map clearly showed the geographic unsimilarities in the organic structure size of kids. Many of the territories for whom the information was clustered were geographically next. It was observed that in most of the territories from Cluster I came from the western portion of the province, such as Ghaziabad, Farrukhabad, Etawah, which is comparatively comfortable part of the State. The bulk territories viz. Bijnor, Saharanpur, Meerut, Aligarh, Mathura, Maharajgunj etc. wh ich are grouped into Cluster II ranked as 2nd best segregation, are from Western and Eastern parts of the State considered to be developed parts. In contrast, in the Cluster IV which is considered to be holding lowest organic structure size of kids, most of the territories viz. Sitapur, Rae bareli, Jalaun, Lalitpur, Hamirpur belonged to Central and Budelkhand parts which are considered to be under-developed part. The above segregation of territories are in conformance with the informations of NFHS-II survey14,15 wherein the territories in the State were categorized into backward and non-backward territories.Socio-Economic Factors:The bunchs so formed were compared in relation to their socio-economic parametric quantities such as extent of land retentions, type of house, community, per-capita monthly income, denseness of population to see whether it was an artefact or if any relationships could be established. It was found that the territories in bunch I were comparatively more devel oped than in the other bunchs ( table IV ) . The differences observed between bunchs were both in footings of ‘population denseness ‘ and per capita income. It was besides observed that the proportion of under-privileged communities such as Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe population was much lower in the I & A ; II bunchs, compared to bunchs III and IV.Demographic factors:Demographic factors like sex ratio of population, birth order, kids covered for nutrition appraisal, literacy position, per centum married below 18 old ages of age were compared among the bunchs. It was observed that the territories in bunch I were better off when compared to constellate II, III and IV, with regard to all the above variables ( Table V ) . The sex ratio ( females for 1000 males ) , a good index of demographic alteration was 921 in bunch I, as against 882 in bunch IV. Similarly, the literacy position was 64 % in bunch I, compared to 52 % in bunch IV.Nutrition and Health factors:The exte nt of undernutrition among pre-school kids was assessed by Standard Deviation ( SD ) categorization by utilizing World Health Organisation ( WHO ) growing standards16, in footings of acrobatics ( tallness for age, & lt ; Median – 2SD ) reflecting long continuance undernutrition, blowing ( weight for tallness, & lt ; Median -2SD ) bespeaking current undernutrition and scraggy ( weight for age & lt ; Median -2SD ) bespeaking overall undernutrition. The proportion of kids with scraggy, stunting and blowing utilizing the above three standards were least in the territories of bunch I, as compared to constellate IV. The extent of underweight was 33 % incluster I, 45 % in bunch II, 52 % in bunch III and 58 % in bunch IV, bespeaking the extent of under nutrition is higher in bunchs II, III and IV when compared with Cluster I, though the differences were besides higher between bunch II and Cluster IV. Similar form was observed for stunting and blowing ( Table VI ) . The wellness parametric quantities like per centum adult females undergoing prenatal medical examinations in different clustered territories ranged from a high ( 50 % ) in bunch I to 47 % in Cluster IV. The institutional bringings were comparatively more in bunch I ( 20 % ) , compared to constellate IV ( 14 % ) , bespeaking better wellness attention use in bunch I territories ( Table VI ) .DiscussionThere are figure of methods available for clustering13, but the methods of PCA and bunch analysis was selected for this survey for the undermentioned grounds, viz. , ( I ) By utilizing the Principal Component Analysis method, the values of a nthropometric variables in each instance is transformed into chief constituent tonss, which reflects kids ‘s organic structure size more comprehensively than any individual variable, and ( two ) the bunch analysis was performed in this method, by ciphering the distances every bit good as sing the magnitude of difference between variables, therefore avoiding the drawbacks of other methods which use correlativity coefficients as the similarity step and be given to be sensitive to determine at the disbursal of magnitude6. The topics included in the present analysis were preschool kids, whose well being is considered as a placeholder to nutritionary position for the full community. The consequences of the present survey show that the difference in kids ‘s organic structure size are really different between different bunchs, i.e. between developed and under developed countries. All these factors exert the fact that there are important differences in organic structure size of kids in different bunchs ( countries ) . For illustration, most of the territories in Cluster I and Cluster II, which are considered as good bunchs in footings of their better nutritionary, wellness, societal and demographic indexs, are located in the western and eastern portion of the Uttar Pradesh State, which are considered to be comfortable parts. Restriction in this survey is that, other factors, such as the ecological conditions, life manner, which might act upon the nutritionary position of the preschool kids, are non considered. However, the present survey has identified possible countries of intercession for betterment in the nutritionary position of kids. The consequences of bunch analysis, are non merely of involvement, in footings of geographical, biological, ecological and anthropometric similarities but besides facilitate the decision maker to gestate and implement appropriate action programmes for betterment in the nutritionary position of the community in general and pre school kids, in peculiar.

Racial Patterns in Dating and Marrige

Hope A. Shelby Shelby 1 Soc 290 Professor Doyle 5 November 2012 Racial patterns in Dating and Marriage Just four decades ago On June 13, 1967, President Johnson nominated a then United states Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall to be the first African American named to U. S. Supreme Court. Although, a mere months earlier Thurgood suffered an indignity that today seems not just outrageous but almost incomprehensible. He and his wife had found their dream house in a Virginia suburb of Washington, D. C. but could not lawfully live together in that state: he was black and she was East Asian. Fortunately for the Marshall's, in January 1967 the Supreme Court struck down the anti-interracial-marriage laws in Virginia and 18 other states. And by the end of 1967 these laws were just leftover scraps from an extinct era. While this topic sits extremely close to home because, I myself, have married outside of my race. Together for 10 years, and married for a year we have seen leaps and bounds in just the last decade of what has progressed with racial patterns in dating and marriage.Although times have drastically changed in the past 4 decades from when Thurgood was dealing with his personal struggle, we still see a lot of work a head of use separating all racial and cultural stereotypes that surround dating and marriage. We can currently see that Interracial marriages in the U. S. Is still quite rare. Shelby 2 For example, data from the 5% sample of the 2000 Census reveal that among married African Americans, 94% are married to other African Americans (â€Å"Census Bureau 2000†). Members of other races I found are also unlikely to marry outside of their own group.

Discuss the global roles and responsibilities of a newly qualified nurse The WritePass Journal

Discuss the global roles and responsibilities of a newly qualified nurse Introduction Discuss the global roles and responsibilities of a newly qualified nurse IntroductionDECISION MAKING PROCESSPatient Group Direction (PGD)When can PGDs be used?Which POMs can be supplied or administered under a PGD?How should PGDs be drawn up?Pharmacy Only (P) and General Sales List (GSL) MedicinesConclusion References:Related Introduction The aim of this assignment is to discuss the global roles and responsibilities of the newly qualified nurse. The exercise will begin by briefly looking at the transition from student to nurse and thereafter outlining the basic roles of the newly qualified nurse and try to fit them into appropriate professional skills. In addition, there will be a critical examination of two roles in more detail with one of them focusing on Patient Group Directions (PGD), and justify their importance. We will then look at some legal, professional and ethical considerations before making a conclusion on the future role development of the nurse. The NMC require a student nurse to demonstrate professional and ethical practice, be competent in care delivery and care management, and show personal and professional development in order to join the register (NMC, 2010). On becoming a qualified nurse, the expectations and dynamics of relationships changes fundamentally. Suddenly the newly qualified nurse is the one who must ‘know the answer’, whether it is a query from a patient, a carer, a work colleague or a student. The newly qualified nurse will encounter many challenging situations where she or he must lead care delivery. This includes dealing with care management within the team, dealing with patients/service users, dealing with other professionals, and dealing with the required needs of the whole workplace environment. These changes require a large shift from the experience of being a student and a mentored supervised learner, so it is essential that one is equipped with all the skills required to successfully make the transition. The newly qualified nurse must demonstrate they are fit to enter the NMC register and therefore be eligible to practice as a qualified nurse. In all cases, the newly qualified nurse is seen as: Provider of care Educator Counsellor Collaborator Researcher Change Agent Patient Advocate Manager The above are typically the roles of a newly qualified nurse which can be compressed into the NMC professional skills requirements listed below: Maintaining standards of care Making ethical and legal decisions Being accountable Teamworking Teaching others Being in charge. It is recognized that there is a certain amount of overlap in these professional skills and that some concepts cross all of them, in that there are no clear lines drawn where one skill ends and another starts. For the purpose of this analysis, we will look at the issue of making ethical and legal decisions and the Patient Group Direction. Decisions and actions are taken by nurses in the course of day-to-day practice. One would not usually consider each of the skills or concepts in isolation in relation to particular incidents but would make a decision based on the factors contributing to the situation. However, when analysing any situation, in the decisions made and the actions taken, some of the individual conceptual principles may be recognized and highlighted. For example, asking a member of staff to complete a task on your behalf is delegating. This fits neatly into leadership theory and also relates to aspects of accountability. Completing a health and safety audit in the work environment might relate to management theory and responsibility taken on. Completing a review of an individual’s care and setting goals for them in multidisciplinary meetings might relate to team working theory. Reporting of poor practices or environments might relate to aspects of accountability and maintaining standards of care. However, all of the above aspects could arise from analysing one situation where the nurse has to make decisions about a certain aspect of care management thus emphasizing the great importance of making ethical and legal decisions. DECISION MAKING PROCESS Nurses are problem solvers who use the nursing process as their tool. The chief goal of ethical decision-making process is to determine right and wrong in situations where clear demarcations are not apparent, and then search for the best answer. For a newly qualified nurse, the following will be a guide to making ethical decisions: State the Dilemma State dilemma clearly, determine whether the problem/decision involves the nurse or only the patient, focus attention on ethical principles and follow the client’s wishes first while considering the family input in case of unconsciousness. Collect and Analyze Data Know client’s and family’s wishes and all information about the problem. Keep abreast of any up to date legal and ethical issues; which may also overlap. Consider Choices of Action – Most ethical dilemmas have multiple solutions, some of which are more feasible than others. The more options that are identified, the more likely it is that an acceptable solution can be identified. It may require input from outside sources and other professionals such as Social workers etc. Make the Decision – The most difficult part of the process is making the decision, following through with the action, and then living with the consequences. Ethical dilemmas produce differences of opinion and not every one is pleased with the decision but it must be emphasized that client’s wishes always supercede the decision by health care providers but ideally, a collaborative decision is made by client, family, doctor and nurse thus producing fewer complications. Act – Once a course of action has been determined, the decision must be carried out. Implementing the decision usually involves collaboration with others. Evaluate – Unexpected outcomes are common in crisis situations that result in ethical dilemmas. It is important for decision makers to determine the impact an immediate decision may have on future ones. It is also important to consider whether a different course of action might have resulted in a better outcome. If the outcome accomplished its purpose, the ethical dilemma should be resolved and if the dilemma has not been resolved, additional deliberation is needed. Patient Group Direction (PGD) The legislation (Statutory Instrument, 200a) states that ‘Patient Group Direction means – in connection with the supply of a prescription only medicine a written direction relating to the supply and administration of a description or class of prescription only medicine or a written direction relating to the administration of a description or class of description only medicine, and which in the case of either is signed by a doctor and by a pharmacist; and relates to the supply and administration, or to administration, to persons generally (subject to any exclusions which may be set out in the Direction).’ In practice this means that a PGD, signed by a doctor and agreed by a pharmacist, can act as a direction to a nurse to supply and/or administer prescription-only medicines (POMs) to patients using their own assessment of patient need, without necessarily referring back to a doctor for an individual prescription. When can PGDs be used? The law is clear that the majority of care should be provided on an individual, patient-specific basis, and that the supply and administration of medicines under PGDs should be reserved for those situations where this offers an advantage for patient care (without compromising safety), and where it is consistent with appropriate professional relationships and accountability. The RCN interprets this to mean that PGDs should only be used to supply and/or administer POMs to homogeneous patient groups where presenting characteristics and requirements are sufficiently consistent for them to be included in the PGD e.g. infants and children requiring immunisation as part of a national programme. Which POMs can be supplied or administered under a PGD? PGDs can be used to supply and administer a wide range of POMs although there are currently legislative and ‘good practice’ restrictions in relation to controlled drugs, antimicrobials and black triangle drugs. Controlled drugs The use of controlled drugs continues to be regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and associated regulations made under that Act. The Home Office has agreed to allow the supply and administration of substances on Schedule 4 (with the exclusion of anabolic steroids) and all substances on schedule 5 to be included in PGDs. Antimicrobials can be included within a PGD but consideration must be given to the risk of increased resistance within the general community. When seeking to draw up a PGD for antimicrobials, a local microbiologist should be involved and approval sought from the drug and therapeutics committee or equivalent. Black triangle drugs and medicines used outside the terms of the Summary of Product Characteristics Black triangle drugs (i.e. those recently licensed and subject to special reporting arrangements for adverse reactions) and medicines used outside the terms of the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) – sometimes called ‘off label use’ (for example, as used in some areas of specialist paediatric care) may be included in PGDs. Their use should be exceptional and justified by best clinical practice, and a direction should clearly describe the status of the products. How should PGDs be drawn up? The law (Statutory Instrument, 2000a) requires that PGDs should be drawn up by a pharmacist and the doctor who works with the nurses who will be using them. The relevant health authority should also ratify the PGD. In England, when PGDs are developed locally, HSC 2000/026 (NHSE, 2000) requires that a senior doctor and a senior pharmacist sign them off with authorisation from the appropriate health organisation, i.e. the trust, and that all nurses using the directions are specifically named within the PGD and signed by them. The RCN acknowledges this as good practice and recommends the following steps be taken throughout the UK. The NMC Standards for Medicines Management (2007) state that ‘the administration of drugs via PGDs may not be delegated and students cannot supply or administer under a PGD. Students would however be expected to understand the principles and be involved in the process (NMC 2007). Failure to ascertain that a PGD is the most appropriate route can lead to waste of valuable time and resource and place increased risk on delivery and quality of patient care. Anyone involved with PGDs (whether developing, authorising or practising under them) should understand the scope and limitations of PGDs as well as the wider context into which they fit to ensure safe, effective services for patients. Any extension to professional roles with regard to administration and supply of medicines must take into account the need to protect patient safety, ensure continuity of care and safeguard patient choice and convenience. It also has to be cost effective and bring demonstrable benefits to patient care. Any practice requiring a PGD that fails to comply with the criteria falls outside of the Law and could result in criminal prosecution under the Medicines Act. With regard to the written instruction required for the supply and administration of medicines by non-professionals, Medicines Matters (2006) (3) clarifies that a suitably trained non-professional member of staff can only administer medicines under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD). Medicine Matters (2006) states that: Patient Specific Direction is the traditional written instruction, from a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist independent prescriber, for medicines to be supplied or administered to a named patient. The majority of medicines are still supplied or administered using this process. There is nothing in legislation to prevent PSDs being used to administer medicines to several named patients e.g. on a clinic list. PSDs are a direct instruction and therefore do not require an assessment of the patient by the health care professional instructed to supply or administer the medicine. Pharmacy Only (P) and General Sales List (GSL) Medicines Medicines legislation states that a PGD is not required to administer a P or GSL medicine. The use of a simple protocol is advisable for best practice and from a governance perspective. All medicines administered must be recorded in the patients medical record. Where a GSL medicine is to be supplied it must be taken from lockable premises and supplied in a pre-pack which is fully labelled and meets the GSL requirements. A PGD will be necessary for the supply of P medicines by anyone other than a registered pharmacist. Recommend further advice to be sought from a pharmacist. (Ref: NPC PGDs 2004). For safe administration of drugs, the newly qualified nurse must give the right dose of the right drug to the right patient in the right route at the right time. When giving medications, the nurse needs to be aware of possible interactions between the patient’s different drugs. It is the nurse’s responsibility to protect the patient from harm. If they think the wrong drug or the wrong dose has been ordered, they must ask for help from the nurse or the doctor in charge. The newly qualified nurse needs to know the doses of the drug which are safe to administer. Sometimes the pharmacy gives out drugs in grams when the order specifies milligrams, or the other way around. They need to know how to convert these. It is important to know what types of dilemmas newly qualified nurses may face during their careers and how they may deal with it. It is also important for nurses to understand what malpractice is and how they may protect themselves from a malpractice suit. Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between law and ethics. Ethics examines the values and actions of people. Often times, there is no one right course of action when one is faced with an ethical dilemma. On the other hand, laws are binding rules of conduct. When laws are broken, it is punishable by an authority. There are four types of situations that pertain to law and ethics. The first would be an action that is both legal and ethical. An example of this would be a nurse carrying out appropriate doctors orders as ordered. A nurse may also be faced with an action that may be ethical but not legal, such as allowing a cancer patient to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes. The opposite may arise where an action may be legal but not ethical. Finally, an action may be neither legal nor ethical. For example, when a nurse makes a medication error and does not take responsibility to report to it appropriately. The right of service users to expect practitioners to act in their best interests is reinforced by professional codes of conduct and legislation such as the Mental Health Act. It is also reflected in equality of opportunity legislations such as the Sex Discrimination Act and the Race Relation Act, which aim to ensure that everybody has equal access to and is offered equal care by health and social care service. Patient’s right to confidentiality under statutory duties is stipulated in the Data Protection Act, Article 8 European Convention of Human Rights, Access to Personal Files Act 1987 and Access to Health Record Acts 1990. The code does require that nurses must disclose information if they believe someone may be at risk of harm in line with the law. As a nurse, respecting autonomy means you must effectively communicate with patients, be truthful, enable patients to make decisions freely, provide appropriate information and accept the patient’s preferences. Legally, patients must be given enough information to make a balanced judgement however we must be aware that if nurses fail to comply with the legal duty of disclosure, they could face a negligence claim. However, under the principle of therapeutic privilege they can legally withhold information that they think will harm the patient Some patients whether children or adults are unable either to make or to communicate their decisions therefore they lack (or have limited) capacity. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 that create and clarifies the common law on consent in England and Wales, affects everyone aged 16 and over, and provides a statutory framework to empower and protect people who may not be able to make some decisions for themselves. The moral justifications for acting without consent are the principles of beneficence (the duty to do good) and non-maleficence (the duty to do no harm). Paternalism is overriding someone’s autonomy because you think it is for their own good. However, it is justifiable if we can demonstrate that the patient is at risk of significant, preventable harm, or the action will probably prevent the harm, or the patient’s capacity for rational reflection is either absent or significantly impaired, or at a later time, it can be assumed that the patient will approve of the decision taken on his/her behalf, or the benefits to the patient of intervention outweigh the risks. Also, we live in a society where demands for accountability and taking responsibility are so commonplace that pinning the blame on someone or something has become almost a fad. The NHS’ culture of blame has developed basically because no one wants to be accountable or responsible for actions or omissions hence there are no longer any accidents or mistakes. Principles of beneficence and non-maleficence underpin the concept of fault – which lies at the heart of negligence law. Beneficence means that you must act in ways that benefit others (i.e. duty to care), and Non-maleficence means that you have a duty not to harm others nor subject them to risk of harm. Every nursing intervention that aims to benefit patients may at the same time also harm them. Sometimes the harm will be unavoidable or even intentional and at other times it can be unintentional and unexpected, therefore it is appropriate to think about the principles of non-maleficence and beneficence together in order to balance harm and benefits against each other. We can resolve this problem responsibility and accountability. These words are sometimes used interchangeably because they do overlap but in actual fact they do not mean the same thing. Being responsible can mean that it is your job or role to deal with something and/or that you have caused something to happen. Accountability on the other hand is about justifying your action or omissions and establishing whether there are good enough reasons for acting in the way you did. Even where the newly qualified nurse delegate tasks to others, such as nursing auxiliaries or care assistants she/he is accountable to the   patients through a duty of care, underpinned by a common-law duty to promote safety and efficiency, and legal responsibility through civil law, the employer as defined by your contract of employment, the profession as stated in the relevant codes of conduct and the public. Conclusion All newly qualified nurses were faced with assumptions from others that they should ‘know everything’. This was also a high expectation they had of themselves. In meeting the NMC standards of proficiency the nurse should have demonstrated the relevant knowledge and skills in order to practise in their relevant specialized fields. However, it is important to recognize that not every nurse knows everything about everything in their field, especially if they are practising in highly specialized fields. What they need is to be able to develop and adapt to changing situations. Therefore, for the nurse it is impossible to know everything, but they should have developed the skills to find out relevant information, reflect on it, and apply this to their practice. In essence they should have learned how to learn. There is a great deal to be learned once qualified, especially related to a nurse’s ‘new’ area of work and a good deal of the development needs to ta ke place ‘on the job’. References: Bach, S. Grant, A., 2009. Communication Interpersonal Skills for Nurses. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd. Chitty, K. K., 2001. Professional Nursing: concepts challenges. 3rd ed. Pennsylvania: W. B. Saunders Company. Davis, M., 1988. Managing Care – Teaching Nurses Workbook. London: DLC South Bank Polytechnic. Dimond, B., 2008. Legal Aspects of Nursing. 5th ed. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Dimond, B., 2009. Legal Aspects of Consent. 2nd ed. London: MA Healthcare Limited. Lancaster, J. Lancaster, W., 1982. The nurse as a change agent. Missouri: The C.V. Mosby Company. Nursing Midwifery Council, 2010. Standards for medicine management. London: Nursing and Midwifery Council. Nursing Midwifery Council, 2010. The Code. London: Nursing and Midwifery Council. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2010). Competencies for entry to the register (Online). Available at standards.nmc-uk.org   (Accessed March 18, 2011). Royal College of Nursing (2006). Patient Group Directions: Guidance and Information for Nurses. Londoon: RCN

Does Black Seed Oil Really Work Scientific Analysis of Benefits

Does Black Seed Oil Really Work Scientific Analysis of Benefits SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The world of natural supplements can be confusing because there are so many misleading claims about their benefits floating around the internet. Black seed oil is one of the more intriguing natural supplements on the market because of its rich history as an herbal medicine. In this article, I'll provide all the most current information on black seed oil, including what it is, black seed oil benefits, what it can't do (according to recent scientific research), and the best places to buy black seed oil. Unlike other guides, we don't want to dwell on hype and false promises- we only want to give you clear, scientifically-supported information. What Is Black Seed Oil? Black seed oil is a substance derived from the small, black crescent-shaped seeds of the Nigella sativa plant. The plant grows in southwest Asia. Black seed oil is usually taken orally, either taken straight as an oil or in a gel capsule. Black seed oil also goes by many other names, including: Nigella cretica oil Black cumin seed oil Roman coriander oil Nutmeg flower oil Fennel flower oil Ajaji oil Kalonji oil Black caraway oil Black sesame oil Onion seed oil The active ingredients found in black seed oil are the following three chemicals: thymoquinone (TQ), thymohydroquinone (THQ) and thymol. TQ has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it also may help promote healthy liver functioning. Researchers are in the process of testing its viability as a cancer treatment. THQ is a natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, meaning it increases the level of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine can help improve memory and motor function through stimulation of the muscles, glands, and the central nervous system. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are used to treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative conditions. THQ is also being investigated for potential in treating cancer. Thymol has antimicrobial properties, so it accounts for black seed oil’s potential viability as a natural antibiotic. Thymol also has anti-tumor properties that are still being investigated. The flower of the nigella sativa plant How Is Black Seed Oil Typically Used? Though many people in the western world are less familiar with black seed oil, it has been used in the Middle East and Asia for thousands of years as an herbal remedy. It is said to treat varied ailments including asthma, hypertension, diabetes, inflammation, bronchitis, headache, eczema, and the flu. In the face of these big claims, it's important to focus on what's been scientifically proven. You’ll see many people promoting black seed oil based on the fact that it’s been used in medicine since ancient times, but this doesn’t prove anything about its effectiveness in a modern context. While black seed oil has shown some promise in lowering triglycerides and blood pressure, treating allergies, improving memory in older people, and treating certain infections, it will not solve serious medical problems. As far as we can tell from the research that’s been conducted, black seed oil has very mild positive effects on a variety of different human health conditions. Black Seed Oil: Benefits and Limitations Are you thinking about buying black seed oil as a dietary supplement? First you should know what these types of supplements can really do for you and why it’s important to remain wary of the dramatic claims sellers make about their effects. Why Should You Be Skeptical of Natural Supplements? The companies and individuals that sell supplements have every incentive to exaggerate their positive effects. Doctors often get monetary incentives for pushing these types of products as well. Always, always look at the research before allowing anyone to convince you that a supplement will cure your medical problems. Ideally, the supplement should have been tested in randomized control trials and shown to have a statistically significant impact on the ailment in question. This is the gold standard for making a strong argument that a substance has a particular effect- if it hasn't been put to this test, then all you're trusting is hearsay. While it’s unlikely that most natural supplements will do harm to your health, in many cases they are a waste of money that could be spent on more effective treatments. Some people make a living by preying on the public's tendency to trust their self-proclaimed "expert" opinions. Verified Uses for Black Seed Oil There are many who claim that black seed oil has hundreds of uses and can treat almost anything under the sun. Although it may be beneficial for some conditions, its health effects aren’t as wide ranging as some people want you to think. There are quite a few scientifically supported black seed oil benefits, but most of them have been shown to produce only minor effects. Here’s a list of various uses in order of how viable they are according to scientific research: #1: Alleviating Allergy Symptoms Several studies have shown black seed oil to aid in the reduction of allergy symptoms like asthma, eczema, and overall congestion. These studies were conducted on people of both genders in varying age groups, so they show wide-ranging validity. #2: Improving Lung Function Black seed supplements have been shown to improve pulmonary function in asthmatics and people who have been exposed to agents of chemical warfare. This evidence is pretty solid because the effects of the seed were compared to a placebo and shown to be statistically significant. Asthmatics were even able to take less anti-asthmatic medication following the treatment. However, these studies had very small sample sizes, so more research still needs to be conducted. #3: Improving Memory and Cognition There is some evidence that black seed oil can mildly improve attention, memory, and cognition in older individuals. This is based on one study conducted on a small group of older male subjects, so more research still needs to be done to confirm the effects of the supplement. #4: Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain from arthritis has shown to be mildly reduced through the use of black seed oil supplements in a small group of test subjects. Stiffness, swelling, and joint pain all decreased modestly with a 1000 mg daily supplement of black seed oil. #5: Treating Hepatitis C Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver. One small study showed a 38 percent reduction in the presence of viral RNA in the livers of patients treated with 1350 mg of black seed oil a day for three months. This was without the addition of any other medications. Though this is promising, more research on a higher volume of test subjects must be conducted before any major conclusions can be drawn about black seed oil's effectiveness as a treatment for Hep C. #6: Reducing Blood Pressure, Triglycerides, and LDL Cholesterol There is some evidence that black seed oil can play a very small part in reduction of these risk factors in people who already have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, this is so minor that it would likely have almost no effect on overall health, so black seed oil isn’t a valid overall treatment for any of these issues. There is evidence that black seed oil can help you manage all of your most annoying allergy symptoms. Things Black Seed Oil DOESN'T Do There are some commonly-advertised black seed oil benefits that are not strongly supported by scientific evidence. As far as we know, black seed oil will NOT treat cancer in any significant way. It has shown potential for reducing tumor growth based on studies in rats, but we don’t know yet whether it can treat cancer in humans, and it may not interact favorably with other more aggressive cancer treatments. Always consult with your doctor before supplementing your treatment with herbal medicines. There have also been studies done on black seed oil as a potential treatment for diabetes. However, the effect of black seed oil on blood glucose levels has been overall negligible. Positive effects were only noticeable if people were also medicated in other ways or if no placebo group was used for comparison. This is not a viable treatment for diabetes on its own. Black seed oil also doesn’t help with weight loss. In general, you shouldn’t let anyone sell you a supplement that they advertise as a weight loss miracle drug. The only way to accomplish long term weight loss is to reduce your food intake gradually over time and try to exercise more frequently. Just taking black seed oil won't help you lose weight- you gotta put in the work in other areas. Side Effects and Interactions While black seed oil is pretty benign in terms of its side effects and interactions with other drugs, there are a couple of potential problems that you should know about using it. Skin Irritation Some people get what’s called â€Å"contact dermatitis† from black seed oil, which essentially means their skin becomes mildly irritated. You may experience itching, blistering, pain, and tenderness along with a red skin rash. Allergic Reaction As with any other herbal supplement, you may experience an allergic reaction from ingesting nigella sativa. This could cause swelling, hives, and other common allergy symptoms. (Potential) Kidney and Liver Damage Rats given high doses of nigella sativa experienced kidney and liver damage. We don’t know yet whether these findings can also be applied to humans, but to be safe you should avoid taking more than the recommended daily amount of the supplement. Interaction with Blood Pressure Medications Use of black seed oil in conjunction with medication that lowers your blood pressure could potentially lead to hypotension (excessively low blood pressure). This can be dangerous because your body is unable to get enough oxygen to your vital organs. However, since studies have shown that black seed oil only has a minor effect on lowering blood pressure, this seems like it shouldn’t be a huge concern. Discuss this with your doctor before supplementing your treatment. Risks Associated with Pregnancy You should also avoid taking these supplements if you’re pregnant just because there isn’t enough information on the effects they might have on the child’s development. If you're worried about a natural supplement interacting with medications you're taking, talk to your doctor first to find out about the potential risks. Purchasing Options Here are a few of the best options for supplements in either gel or oil form. The recommended dosage for black seed oil is 250-1000 mg daily. The oils are more expensive, but they also contain a lot more doses in each bottle. An 8 oz bottle of oil will last you at least three times as long as a bottle of softgels, so you get much for your money. It’s a matter of your personal preference - many people just find it easier to take supplements like this in pill form. Softgels Best Naturals Black Seed Oil (90 500 mg softgels for $14.99) Contains gelatin It says to take two softgels twice daily for a total of 2000 mg a day, but I would advise taking just one or two pills a day. Health Logics Black Cumin Seed Oil (100 500 mg softgels for $14.49) Contains gelatin It says to take one softgel 2-4 times a day as a dietary supplement, but as with the other softgels, 1-2 should be sufficient. Oils Amazing Herbs Black Seed Cold-Pressed Oil (8 oz for $19 or 16 oz for $29.95) Organic Non-GMO The recommended dose is 1-2 tsp (500-1000 mg) Sweet Sunnah Black Seed Oil (16 oz for $30) Vegan Non-GMO Organic Glass bottle The recommended dose is 1-2 tsp (500-1000 mg) How to Use Black Seed Oil (And How Not To) Black seed oil is a substance derived from the seeds of the nigella sativa plant, and it has been used in herbal remedies since ancient times. It is also commonly known as black cumin seed oil or kalonji oil. Medical uses for black seed oil that have shown some promise in scientific studies include: Alleviating allergy symptoms Improving lung function in asthmatics and those exposed to chemical toxins Improving memory and cognition in the elderly Treating pain from rheumatoid arthritis Treating Hepatitis C Reducing blood pressure, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol in those who already have elevated concentrations of each (very minor effect) Black seed oil will not cure cancer or diabetes or make you lose weight without other lifestyle changes, so be wary of dramatic claims about its extraordinary health benefits. If you do choose to take black seed oil supplements, remember that 250-1000 mg is the recommended daily dosage.

History of the 1948 Olympic Games in London

History of the 1948 Olympic Games in London Since the Olympic Games had not been held in either 1940 or 1944 because of World War II, there was much debate as to whether or not to hold the 1948 Olympic Games at all. Ultimately, the 1948 Olympic Games (also known as the XIV Olympiad) were held, with a few post-war modifications, from July 28 to August 14, 1948. These Austerity Games turned out to be very popular and a great success.   Fast Facts Official Who Opened the Games:  British King George VIPerson Who Lit the Olympic Flame:  British runner  John MarkNumber of Athletes:  4,104 (390 women, 3,714 men)Number of Countries:  59 countriesNumber of Events:  136 Post-War Modifications When it was announced that  the Olympic Games would be resumed, many debated whether it was wise to have a festival when many European countries were in ruins and the people near starvation. To limit the United Kingdoms responsibility to feed all the athletes, it was agreed that the participants would bring their own food. Surplus food was donated to British hospitals. No new facilities were built for these Games, but the Wembley Stadium had survived the war and proved adequate. No Olympic Village was erected; the male athletes were housed at an army camp in Uxbridge and the women housed at Southlands College in dormitories. Missing Countries Germany and Japan, the aggressors of World War II, were not invited to participate. The Soviet Union, although invited, also did not attend. Two New Items The 1948 Olympics saw the introduction of blocks, which are used to help start runners in sprint races. Also new was the very first, Olympic, indoor pool Empire Pool. Amazing Stories Badmouthed because of her older age (she was 30) and because she was a mother (of two young children), Dutch sprinter Fanny Blankers-Koen was determined to win a gold medal. She had participated in the 1936 Olympics, but the cancellation of the 1940 and 1944 Olympics meant that she had to wait 12 more years to get another shot at winning.  Blankers-Koen, often called the Flying Housewife or the Flying Dutchman, showed them all when she took home  four  gold medals, the first woman to do so. On the other side of the age-spectrum was 17-year-old Bob Mathias. When his high school coach had suggested he try out for the Olympics in the decathlon, Mathias didnt even know what that event was. Four months after starting training for it, Mathias won gold at the 1948 Olympics, becoming the youngest person to win a mens athletics event. (As of 2015, Mathias still holds that title.) One Major Snafu There was one major snafu at the Games. Though the United States had won the 400-meter relay by a full 18 feet, a judge ruled that one of the U.S. team members had passed the baton outside of the passing zone. Thus, the U.S. team was disqualified. The medals were handed out, the national anthems were played. The United States officially protested the ruling and after careful review of the films and photographs taken of the baton pass, the judges decided that the pass had been completely legal; thus the United States team was the real winner. The British team had to give up their gold medals and received silver medals (which had been given up by the Italian team). The Italian team then received the bronze medals which had been given up by the Hungarian team.

Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster - Essay Example Tears not because of the tragedy itself, but the event resonates far into the deep recesses of what we know is true in every one of us. We all dream. We then work to bring forth the dream into reality, into actuality. And something goes wrong and how with the vision, the exhilaration of the dream - in contrast with how tragic our efforts become, we realize how fragile we are. For in itself, the dream, the challenge is made of sterner stuff. It' s as if reaching towards the dream is something that is beyond our control - for if it isn't, we would all stop telling fairly tales to children, knowing that in reality, it's not always a happy ending. (NASA) and of Morton Thiokol, the company which produced rocket motors of space shuttles (Greene p. 1; Berkes par. 6) fought for. The engineers supposedly voiced opposition to launching Challenger into orbit that fateful day. Challenger's launch of its 10th mission was already delayed for days by the cold weather and NASA's management was eager to launch despite concerns by engineers to delay take-off because the O-ring sealants (like washers in a faucet) in the rockets were not tested for complete reliability most especially during cold weather. Despite their opposition, the NASA management proceeded with the take-off and what the engineers feared came to pass. Hot gases from Challenger's right-side rocket leaked through the faulty O-ring and led to the explosion of the spacecraft. Like the mythical Icaru... No matter what their real personal lives might have been - we look at them like icons, the chosen ones to at the juncture of history. And looking at a picture of them smiling, with their blue astronaut suits, and holding their space headgear - we think of how the human race have stretched democracy into space. We are gladdened that of the seven, two were women - one of them a non-specialist, one an African-American and one an American of Japanese descent. These seven on board Shuttle Mission 51L, the tenth of Challenger's orbit into space was to do something probably routine for astronauts -which was to carry some equipment like satellite and cameras to observe something so ordinary as Halley's comet (Greene p. 1). What was extraordinary and made it special was that it was the first time a teacher was going into space and she was to be there especially to teach the first outer-space classroom lesson. Sharon Christa McAuliffe, 37 at that time, was chosen from the ranks of 11,000 teachers across the country to fly on Challenger. Her often quoted line from her Challenger Disaster astronaut application form was "I watched the Space Age being born and I would like to participate" (NASA website).1 The commander of the crew was Francis Scobee, 47 who enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and originally trained as an engine mechanic but longed to fly (NASA website). He pursued his dream and managed to fly 45 types of aircraft. As a NASA astronaut, he was part of the crew of the fifth Challenger obit flight who managed to retrieve and repair a satellite in orbit, the Solar Maximum Satellite. For Michael J. Smith, 41, the 10th Challenger mission where he was space shuttle pilot was his first flight into space. A member of the U.S.

Financial Crisis about Fannie Mae Research Paper

Financial Crisis about Fannie Mae - Research Paper Example The Congress and President Roosevelt then passed a bill allowing for the establishment of Fannie Mae in order to freeze up capital by buying mortgages from lenders (Birger 38). The company was therefore chartered by the Federal Housing Act of 1934 to relieve the housing problem and increase homeownership among Americans. The primary purpose of Fannie Mae was to develop a secondary mortgage aimed at rejuvenating the financially strapped lenders such as loans and saving associations, mortgage banks, and commercial banks. Being a charted financial institution which is regulated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae was not affected by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (Birger 44). Before the 2008 housing bubble burst, Fannie Mae was very successful. However, the fall in home prices and mortgage securitization changed the mortgage and housing sectors, which culminated in plummeting property values and foreclosures. The subprime events are partially blamed for unethical considerations by the lending institutions. However, the weight of the crisis can be explained by the global financial contagion, which was inevitable and hence characterized as bad luck. Following the global financial crisis, all the financial and credit institutions either were either culprits or victims. The financial hardship period was met by a higher degree of defaults in the loans and credits advanced to potential borrowers. On their part, Fannie Mae was blamed for their inability to regulate and control internal affairs which included poor accounting and credit policies (Birger 45). After the real estate cratered, it was criticized for being unable to safeguard their investment portfolio s. Having heavily invested in the subprime-backed securities, a higher rate of default in the mortgage industry adversely affected the company.

HOW DEVELOPMENT LEADS TO DEMOCRACY BY RONALD INGLEHART AND CHRISTIAN Essay

HOW DEVELOPMENT LEADS TO DEMOCRACY BY RONALD INGLEHART AND CHRISTIAN WELZEL - Essay Example The second is the apparent import-substitution strategies of â€Å"backward nations† such as Cuba, Myanmar, and North Korea which have grown the least in terms of political and economic growth. Finally, in contrast to backward nations, the democratization of South Korea and Taiwan confirm the logical flow of liberal economic policies leading to democratic political awareness to further growth and modernization. One of the more ambiguous arguments posited by the author, which may need further investigation is that correlations do not necessarily mean causality. In fact, in a system of institutions, the argument of endogeneity, that is, what really leads to what is often the case of debate. Is it that modernization causes democracy or democracy causes modernization? Even so, there are so many other variables in a system that can cause democracy or modernization. Finally, it is important to note that modernization, according to the author is a syndrome of social changes linked to industrialization, which penetrate all aspects of life, bringing occupational specialization, urbanization, rising educational levels rising life expectancy, and rapid economic growth. All these seem very promising, especially in the lieu of democratic institutions which promote equal and equitable social

Contemporary Management Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Contemporary Management Practice - Essay Example Various theories have been created in the past about management and researchers continue to use old theories and come up with new ones. Over this time period, great approaches to management have been identified. This paper will cover various management approaches and how these approaches are used by managers and those who are studying management. Body Empirical or case approach is one of the various management approaches that have been studied and often used in organizations. It is based on the assumption, that current managers can solve their problems through the experience of previous managers and what those managers did to solve issues faced by management (KOONTZ, 2004, p.16). This study states that people new to the management positions in the organizations can learn from the successful and the unsuccessful experiences that other managers have already been through. This approach is used in management educational centres for the help upcoming managers. This kind of management appr oach does not provide any practical aid until it is applied to practical problems. The downside of this approach is that this approach is based on generalization. This means that managers who follow this approach end up applying same problem solving methods to new scenarios although new scenarios may be different from older ones. Human behaviour approach is yet another approach that scientists came up with to explain what managers have to do to operate an organization successfully. The behavioural approach of management suggests that managers can operate in a better fashion if they learn about individual as well as group behaviour and they can use this knowledge to make people to work for the interest of the organization (DAFT, 2011, p.33). The theorists of this approach suggest that satisfied workers work harder and their levels of productivity are high. Behavioural studies only pay emphasis to the human part of the organization and exclude the remaining parts with which managers h ave to deal. Vilfred Pareto and Chest Bernard came up with the social systems approach, according to this approach an organization consists of various individual who work together to achieve organization’s aims and objectives (JACKSON, 2000, p.100). This approach states that managers need work in cooperation with workers by understanding the behaviour of individuals working in an organization to achieve organizational goals. Socio technical systems approach is a management approach that suggests that managers should not only pay emphasis to the social system of the organization, they even have to give importance to the technical system (CHASE, 2006, p.195). The approach further suggests that if an organization has to run successfully, then both the technical system and the social system of the organization should work together. This approach of management does not only focus on the human part of the organization, it even pay emphasis to the technological part of the organizat ion that managers have to deal with to bring in change and keep the organization updated. Every manager’s main duty is to make decisions to help solve organization’s problems. One management approach that only pays emphasis to the decision making side of a manager is known as decision theory approach (FLOMBERG, 2008, p.60). The theory suggests that all managers have to make decisions each day and the main task of all managers is to make rational decisions. They have to ensure that the decision they are making is in the best interest of the organization and the people they are representing. The downside of this approach is that this approach ignores other elements of management and only emphasises on the decision maki

SOCIAL WORK MODELS METHODS AND THEORIES INCLUDING SOCIAL WORK Essay

SOCIAL WORK MODELS METHODS AND THEORIES INCLUDING SOCIAL WORK PROCESSES AND THE NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS - Essay Example The field works towards research and practice to improve the quality of life and to the development of the potential of each individual, group and community of a society. Social workers perform interventions through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice and teaching. The Social Work Processes In this given case study, the past life events of the couple, Dorothy and George eventually push them to such a helplessness. The humiliating response of racial unfairness from the close environment, loss and grief of loved daughter, ending hope of having another child, the failure to meet real challenges of life because of the couple ignorance and weaknesses, the tension of financial limitation and another sudden loss of their strength,Sadie; things become difficult and danger stands active – the couple are not able to cope with the things. The condition of the couple demands care and support from other member of the society, a social service intervention through social work activities is in need indeed. Considering the couple’s overall condition, in order to extend a standard and an organised response to the couple, the following process (Social Work, UNESCO) is to apply Assessment: Establishing what are the problems or issues (with the service user and others); Assessment involves assembling full and accurate information about a service user’s circumstances and how these came about. Essential to assessment is participation by the service user and others involved (e.g. family), and continuous consultation with colleagues and workers in other agencies and services when appropriate.The information collected must be accurately recorded in a systematic way to give a clear understanding of needs and a possible plan of action. Deciding on outcomes:Working out with the service user and others what can be achieved within a given time-span; Social work is a goal-directed activity and what matters to service users is a satisfactory outcome. E vidence-based practice draws on research findings, practice wisdom and past experience to identify what works in a given situation. Service user and worker join together to share their experience and expertise and decide what needs to be changed and what are the priorities within a given time scale. Planning: Deciding with the service user and others what needs to be done, in what order, by whom, by when and how; Planning involves reaching a decision on the course of action which seems most likely to achieve the agreed outcomes. The plan should be recorded, specifying the approaches to social work to be used, the persons responsible for carrying out the work and the anticipated time scale. Note that a plan may involve a decision to do nothing. Intervention: Putting agreed plans into action; Carrying out what has been formulated in the planning process and agreed with the service user and other key people involved, using specific approaches to social work. Intervention usually involv es some minor changes to plans as the situation continues to change and additional Information becomes available. Evaluation: Estimating with the service user and others how far and how well outcomes have been achieved; The process is carried out continuously as the action unfolds and in retrospect after it has been completed. It needs to look at outcomes for a range of people involved, which will differ. Outcomes could be examined in terms of the quality of life

Contemporary Management Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Contemporary Management Practice - Essay Example Various theories have been created in the past about management and researchers continue to use old theories and come up with new ones. Over this time period, great approaches to management have been identified. This paper will cover various management approaches and how these approaches are used by managers and those who are studying management. Body Empirical or case approach is one of the various management approaches that have been studied and often used in organizations. It is based on the assumption, that current managers can solve their problems through the experience of previous managers and what those managers did to solve issues faced by management (KOONTZ, 2004, p.16). This study states that people new to the management positions in the organizations can learn from the successful and the unsuccessful experiences that other managers have already been through. This approach is used in management educational centres for the help upcoming managers. This kind of management appr oach does not provide any practical aid until it is applied to practical problems. The downside of this approach is that this approach is based on generalization. This means that managers who follow this approach end up applying same problem solving methods to new scenarios although new scenarios may be different from older ones. Human behaviour approach is yet another approach that scientists came up with to explain what managers have to do to operate an organization successfully. The behavioural approach of management suggests that managers can operate in a better fashion if they learn about individual as well as group behaviour and they can use this knowledge to make people to work for the interest of the organization (DAFT, 2011, p.33). The theorists of this approach suggest that satisfied workers work harder and their levels of productivity are high. Behavioural studies only pay emphasis to the human part of the organization and exclude the remaining parts with which managers h ave to deal. Vilfred Pareto and Chest Bernard came up with the social systems approach, according to this approach an organization consists of various individual who work together to achieve organization’s aims and objectives (JACKSON, 2000, p.100). This approach states that managers need work in cooperation with workers by understanding the behaviour of individuals working in an organization to achieve organizational goals. Socio technical systems approach is a management approach that suggests that managers should not only pay emphasis to the social system of the organization, they even have to give importance to the technical system (CHASE, 2006, p.195). The approach further suggests that if an organization has to run successfully, then both the technical system and the social system of the organization should work together. This approach of management does not only focus on the human part of the organization, it even pay emphasis to the technological part of the organizat ion that managers have to deal with to bring in change and keep the organization updated. Every manager’s main duty is to make decisions to help solve organization’s problems. One management approach that only pays emphasis to the decision making side of a manager is known as decision theory approach (FLOMBERG, 2008, p.60). The theory suggests that all managers have to make decisions each day and the main task of all managers is to make rational decisions. They have to ensure that the decision they are making is in the best interest of the organization and the people they are representing. The downside of this approach is that this approach ignores other elements of management and only emphasises on the decision maki

U.S. History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

U.S. History - Essay Example It should be noted that legalization of slavery was prevalent just before the eruption of American civil war (Kellogg 47). This is where most of the slaves were emancipated from slavery. As a fact, emancipation from slavery was a series of processes that were subsequent statutes. This helped end the period of slavery in the United States. Apparently, some states were still practicing slavery in the beginning of the 19th centuries. However, the elites in the colonies were also the acme of leadership in the states after annihilation of slavery. Since they had an upper hand in leadership, they were advantaged to clinch the leadership of the states. For example, renowned economists and politicians were able to retain some of the leadership positions in the states. Since the colonies were abolished, they took the opportunity to control the states since they had replaced the colonies. Slavery is stated as the exclusive right to own human beings with their descendants. As a fact, the owners of the slaves were to benefit from the free labour they offered. This aspect helped develop the northern and southern states in the United States. To begin with, slavery was an aspect that was protected under the constitution. Therefore, it was acceptable for people to own other human beings for their personal reasons. Secondly, the slavery in the United States was ostensibly benefiting the southern states (Kellogg 49). Though it did not directly benefit the northern states, they were willing to enhance its continuity. As a fact, most of the industries in the northern states, especially textile and shipping depended on the crops grown in the southern states. Thirdly, slaves were treated with utter inhumane nature since they were considered property. For example, most of the owners treated the slaves with brutality, rape and inhumane whipping. In some bizarre instances, the slaves were executed. Consequentially, stopping slavery in the United States was a commitment from all quarters. This was done through rebellions and failure to comply. Similarly, some slaves had to escape to other regions like Canada, which did not believe in slavery. A subsequent phenomenon of market revolution was introduced in the United States. This was to enhance the capitalist state in improving its economy. Apparently, market revolution is considered one of the contradictions in the United States. Though it was a change on how manu al labour was handled, it had similar characteristics of slavery. The United States decided to ratify its constitution to become an independent country. This was initiated in the mid 1770’s. Apparently, many patriots deciphered that it was time to make United States and independent country. To make this happen, the patriots clutched control of all the colonies in the United States. Immediately after this, they declared an independence war. After over a decade, the United States ratified its constitution in 1789. After the 1800 elections, the democratic republic party was dominant both in the US house and in the senate (Kellogg 68). Similarly, they were able to clinch the presidency due to their strong support for state rights. The initiation of this government led to enhancement of the independent judiciary system. As such, there were limited criticisms in concerns to the judiciary, presidential system and the congress as their independence was reinstated. Though there was a better system in the congress, judiciary and presidential syste

Sin Tax Bill (For the Government) Essay Example for Free

Sin Tax Bill (For the Government) Essay According to James Sadowsky, author of The Economics of Sin Taxes, taxes imposed on products seen as vices such as alcoholic liquors and tobaccos are called sin tax. Aside from the commodities being objects of disapproval, even their consumers accept such taxes because they seem to hit two birds in one stone. First, they raise revenues and second, they made vices expensive. House Bill 5727 or also known as the Sin Tax Bill aims to reform the imposed tax on the sin products (Official Gazette, 2002). We support this bill for three reasons. First, the government can collect more revenues. Second, it promotes health by dissuading the consumption of the vices. And lastly, the poor sector benefits from it. Sin tax is a form of an excise tax. It is a tax levied on some commodities but not all commodities unlike sales tax. This is how the government generates more revenues (Sadowsky). However, the opposition claims that this bill will backfire on its goals. Since the price of the price of the commodities will rise, the demand will decrease. Thus, there will be no revenues to generate which contrast one of the goals of the bill since industries such as tobacco will die. However, the products under sin tax are vices. Some people are already addicted to them. Even if the price of these products will rise, people will still buy though some price conscious such as the poor sector and students will cut their consumption (Fonbuena qtd. Monsod, 2012 ). Plus, even the demand for the sin products will decrease; the increased tax will make up for the loss demand. Thus, the industries will not die. The opposition also said that the rate of smuggling will worsen. However, according to economist and former Economic Planning Secretary Solita Monsod, there is no connection between the rise of the levied tax and smuggling. Countries such as Japan and Singapore who levied tax the highest on sin products even have the lowest rate of smuggling. Moreover, aside from being a revenue bill, Philippine College of Physicians, New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP), and other health advocates claim that the bill is importantly a health bill. According to Emerson Rojas, New Vois President, should the sin tax bill be passed, more adult smokers would be encouraged to quit smoking, and also discourage the start of young smokers. Many people can be prevented from having diseases gained from these vices. Moreover, a big portion of the revenue will go to public health while the smaller will go to affected tobacco workers (Reyes qtd. Drilon, 2012). According to Health Undersecretary Ted Herbosa, money collected from the industry will be used to enroll millions of poor families into socialized healthcare and for the improvement of the whole healthcare service delivery. Thus aside from improving public health, the poor sector will benefit more from the bill. However, the opposition claimed that there is inequality in the bill. The poor are the ones to burden the raised tax. But then according to Solita Monsod, the poor are the ones who are supposed to lessen their expense on these vices since they are the ones who can barely afford to pay medical needs if they acquire diseases from these vices. Sources Belo, Walden. The Sin tax Promoting the Nation’s Health. Inquirer. May 12, 2012. Web. Fonbuena, Carmela. 5 False Economic Claims on Sin Tax According to Solita Monsod. Rappler. October 18, 2012. Web. Investopedia. Sin Tax. Web. Official Gazette. Sin Taxes. September 19, 2012. Web. Reyes, Karl John. Sin Tax Passage to Affect Ph Trade, Finance and Social Services – Drilon. Interaksyon. September 28, 2012. Web. Tan, Kimberly. Liqour, Tobacco Companies reminded of Sin Products Social Impact. Gma News. August 23, 2012. Web The Wages of the sin Taxes. May 15, 2012. Web. Sin Tax Bill: Both Revenue And Health Measure. Manila Bulletin. October 2012. Web. INTRODUCTION: Sin Tax A state-sponsored tax that is added to products or services that are seen as vices, such as alcohol, tobacco and gambling. These type of taxes are levied by governments to discourage individuals from partaking in such activities without making the use of the products illegal. These taxes also provide a source of government revenue. Explanation: Sin taxes are typically added to liquor, cigarettes and other non-luxury items. State governments favor sin taxes because they generate an enormous amount of revenue and are usually easily accepted by the general public because they are indirect taxes that only affect those who use the products. When individual states run deficits, the sin tax is typically one of the first taxes recommended by lawmakers to help fill the budget gap. Source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sin_tax.asp#ixzz2HTDslR4A Why are we supporting it? 1. To promote health by discouraging vice. 2. To collect more revenue for healthcare. Health: According to the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippines has an estimated 17.3 million tobacco consumers, the most number of smokers in Southeast Asia. Filipinos on average consume 1, 073 cigarette sticks annually, while the smokers in the region consume less than a thousand sticks yearly. This high consumption rate is seen as a result, among others, of the very low cigarette prices in our country. Smoking is responsible for 71 percent of lung cancer deaths in the world. Consequently, lung cancer is the leading form of cancer in the Philippines. DOH statistics reveal that 10 Filipinos die every hour because of smoking. According to the DOH, a 10 percent increase in tobacco taxes will reduce the number of smokers by two million by 2016. A significant decline in the number of smokers will likewise reduce the number of smoking-related deaths. Meanwhile, drinking alcohol, though effects are relatively less severe health-wise than smoking, has posed a number of costs on the individual and society. Revenue: The sin tax proposes the following reforms: * Maintain the specific form of excise taxation (e.g., per piece, per pack, per proof liter) to discourage consumption, have more revenues that are predictable and easier to administer, and devoid of incentives for manufacturers and importers with under-invoice products; * A shift from a multi-tiered tax structure to a single tax structure: (1) For cigarettes, a two-rate structure of P14 and P30 per pack for the 1st two years, and a uniform rate of P30 per pack of cigarettes on the third year. (2) For fermented liquor, immediate implementation of unified rate of P25/liter. (3) For distilled spirits, a two-year transition period to a unified rate of P150 per proof liter on the third year. * Adopt an automatic annual adjustment of tax rates using relevant NSO-established tobacco and alcohol indexes after the third year. * A shift from a raw-material criterion to an alcohol-content criterion in taxing distilled spirits. * Revenues from sin taxes are to augment the funds of the Aquino ad ministration’s universal health care program. * The continued sharing with tobacco farmers of the incremental revenues. STATEMENTS FROM HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS ABOUT SIN TAX BILL: Sin Tax Bill: Both Revenue And Health Measure Manila Bulletin – Wed, Oct 3, 2012 The Philippine College of Physicians, New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP), and other health advocates on Tuesday urged legislators to view Senate Bill 3249, otherwise known as the Sin Tax Bill, not only as a revenue bill, but more importantly as a health bill. , Its time to take action and pass the true sin tax bill, and not a token sin tax bill in favor of our tobacco manufacturers said former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral. She is asking lawmakers to pass the bill in order to lower tobacco consumption in the country. New Vois President Emerson Rojas shared the harmful effects of tobacco. Rojas was a heavy smoker who eventually suffered from Stage 4 laryngal cancer. He is now unable to talk, save for a device he is now using which is an electrolarynx. The Philippines has the cheapest prices of cigarettes in the Western Pacific Region, he lamented. Should the sin tax bill be passed, more adult smokers would be encouraged to quit smoking, and also discourage the start of young smokers. Let us be on guard against the watering down of SB3249, urged Rojas. On the other hand, Department of Health Consultant on Non-Communicative Diseases Dr. Tony Leachon and Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the Philippines representative Dr. Maricar Limpin are pushing for the passage of the sin tax bill so that the government would have more money to build better hospitals and provide premium health care for the poor. With the sin tax, there would be better revenue for health, noted Leachon. DOH: Sin Tax is Pro-Poor This thought is backed up by the DOH, which believes that the sin tax is not only anti-cancer, but pro-poor as well. As the tobacco industry targets the poor in marketing their products, it will also be the poor who will benefit from the sin tax as money collected from the industry will be used to enroll millions of poor families into socialized healthcare and for the improvement of the whole healthcare service delivery, said Health Undersecretary Ted Herbosa. According to the 2012 survey of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, the prevalence of smoking in the country is higher among the poorest of the poor with 40 percent belonging to the lowest quintile while 36 percent come from the second lowest quintile. The figures are the opposite among the rich, where 25 percent of smokers are considered affluent. This means that of the 17.3 million adult smokers in the country, 76 percent of them are poor. This also reinforces previous studies that the poor spend more on cigarettes than on education and health, said Herbosa. Citing results of the 2009 Family Income and Expenditure Survey, the health undersecretary said the countrys poorest spend as much as 67 percent of their income on food and that two-thirds of them do not see a doctor or do not seek a health facility when they get sick. Herbosa said as the poor are likely to be less informed of the harmful effects of smoking, they serve as a major market for the tobacco industry. They also suffer most from all diseases and economic burden attributed to smoking. According to Prof. Tony Dans of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, half of the annual 300,000 deaths from non-communicable diseases in the country are attributed to smoking. A total of P188 billion is also being lost every year from the top four killers of Filipinos (lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart attack, and stroke) which are all smoking-related. We have to turn the tide and make the tobacco industry pay for the health and economic burdens that smoking brings. By taxing tobacco we will be able to enroll a total of 10.9 million poor families into the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and increase catastrophic benefits from 10 percent to 30 percent of the total cost, said Herbosa. The DOH also plans to use revenues from the sin tax to hire an additional 10,000 doctors, 50,000 nurses and midwives, and 100,000 community health teams to fill in gaps in health personnel. In addition, a total of 2,243 rural health units, 403 district hospitals, and 37 DOH-retained hospitals will also be enhanced as a result of sin tax revenues while about 700,000 rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines will be purchased for poor infants. By taxing the tobacco industry we will not only improve our countrys healthcare service delivery but we will also prevent diseases and premature deaths because of smoking, Herbosa explained. The DOH estimates that around 170,000 deaths would be prevented during the first year of implementation of the sin tax. Meanwhile, around two million smokers are expected to quit from consuming tobacco by 2016 as a result of a higher tobacco levy. We will be able to save the lives of the poor and prevent our children from taking up smoking when we increase the tax for tobacco products. At the same time we will be able to improve our healthcare service delivery to cater to the poorest of our population, Herbosa said. †¦. http://ph.news.yahoo.com/sin-tax-bill-both-revenue-health-measure-213324211.html POSSIBLE ARGUMENTS FROM THE OPPOSING SIDE: FALSE CLAIMS’ Here are the top 5 false claims that the industry is supposedly spreading: †¨1. Tax increase will intensify smuggling Presenting statistics in various Asian countries, Monsod showed that there’s no relation between increase in excise tax on cigarettes and illicit trade. Countries where cigarettes are most expensive — Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and Australia — have the lowest incidence of illicit smuggling. â€Å"There’s no relationship,† said Monsod. †¨2. Sin tax is inequitable Critics of the Sin Tax measure argue that it’s the poor that will bear the most proportion of the tax. Implenting a unitary sin tax, based on the original version of the legislative proposal, means the same tax will be imposed cheap and high-end cigarette brands. In the Philippines, the biggest proportion of smokers also come from the poor. Monsod said it’s not an issue. â€Å"We are not taxing a good. We are taxing a bad. The proportion of smokers is higher among the poor. Who buys the most? The poor. And they are the ones suffering [health-wise]. Do not use problem of inequity because precisely we want to stop the poor from smoking. They’re spending so much buying cigarettes. They cannot afford the cost of medication,† said Monsod. †¨3. Farmers, retailers to lose livelihood Monsod questioned the statistics of the Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) a total of 840,146 people are employed in tobacco farming. With 32,325 hectares of farmland, that would mean there are 26 tobacco farmers and helpers per hectare. â€Å"Does that sound right to you? And yet, this was accepted without demur by our legislators. Nonsense. There are 52,000 farmers based on National Tobacco Administration data,† said Monsod. If the annual income per hectare is P80,000, it means that the annual income of a tobacco farmer is P3,269, Monsod data. â€Å"I am only using their data to show that their numbers are ridiculous†¦ How can anybody survive with P3,000 a year,† Monsod added. Another argument against the Sin Tax measure claims retailers will suffer from loss of sales from cigarettes. Monsod said retailers will likely keep their profits from cigarette sales because the demand for the product is elastic. And even if they lose sales from cigarettes, Monsod said it shouldn’t be a problem. â€Å"If people stop buying cigarettes, you think they’re not going to buy anything else? Cigarettes loss will be milk’s gain or rice’s gain,† she said. †¨4. Tobacco industry will die and gov’t will lose money All studies show the contrary, Monsod said. Price increase, she said, will not decrease sales because demand for cigarettes is elastic. Price increase will not deter smokers, said Monsod, because smokers are already â€Å"addicted.† They will continue to buy cigarettes, she said. â€Å"If you have diabetes and insulin increased by 300%, you are still going to buy insulin,† she explained. †¨5. Negative net economic benefits Based on Monsod’s presentation, the annual gross revenue from cigarette sales is P103 billion but its cost to health is P188 billion. Monsod said that is a net cost of P85 billion. ‘Even if the revenues were there, you will still say ‘Remove Tobacco,’ she added. It’s important that Congress passes a unitary sin tax, Monsod added. â€Å"A unitary tax is absolutely imperative. If it is not unitary, what you are essentially doing is, you are throwing the poor to the dogs. Let them die. You are allowing them to kill themselves cheaper,† Monsod said. Most, if not all, countries like the U.S. and Great Britain have adopted a unitary tax, she added. The House of Representatives in June passed on third and final reading a two-tier excise tax structure for tobacco products and 3-tier for alcohol. The diluted measure reduces projected revenues from P60 billion a year to P30 billion a year.