Health Behavior Concepts

Questions: Errand 11. During the gathering with the relative you should dissect ideas of wellbeing, incapacity, and sickness and conduct corresponding to clients of wellbeing and social care.2. Your target likewise during the gathering is to console the relatives by surveying and examining with them how recognitions about explicit needs have changed.3. At last in you meeting you should examine the effect of at various times enactments, social approaches, society and culture on the manners in which that administrations are made accessible for people, for example, Mr Holland Park.Task 21. You ought to dissect the distinctive consideration needs that will be given and is accessible to Mr. Holland Park.2. You ought to likewise clarify current frameworks for supporting Mr Holland Park that are accessible to enable their dad to fulfill his needs and explicit needs.3. Ultimately, in your conversation, you ought to assess the neighborhood administrations accessible to their dad to help him and the fami ly.Task 31. clarify the methodologies and mediation that was utilized to help Mr Holland Parks explicit necessities and those of other assistance client in your consideration home.2. Furthermore, you should assess the viability of mediation procedures utilized for Mr Holland Park and furthermore to other help clients with explicit needs.3. At last, the inspector is intrigued to find out about rising advancements in the territory of administration clients with explicit requirements. Examine the expected effect of rising improvements for help with explicit needs.Task 4Understand procedures for adapting to testing practices related with explicit necessities. Answers: Undertaking 1 Investigating the different ideas related with the wellbeing conduct, handicap or potentially sickness, in setting to the clients of social consideration as well as human services administrations: The different ideas related with the wellbeing, conduct, inability and sickness of people with or without explicit requirements are being talked about in this segment of the report: Wellbeing The condition of physical, mental and social prosperity of an individual is cooperatively named as the strength of that person. The assessment of heath condition considers the capacities of an individual in playing out the different normal exercises, other than thinking about the entrance of the person to legitimate entertainment and additionally occupation. Inability Those debilitated physical, mental or potentially social states of an individual that puts limitations in transit the person in question would had an ordinary existence and access the essential necessities of life are named as the handicaps of an individual. Sickness The physical as well as mental incapacities of a person that powers physical debilitation for a short to a delayed timeframe are known as ailment of the individual. Social issues The unexpected and huge change in the conduct and demeanor of a person, which may be demonstrative of different psychological well-being issues, are known as social issues of that individual (Forrest, 1996). Appraisal of the difference in discernments in regards to the particular needs of individuals with time: The specific segments of the populaces who have learning handicaps as well as issues related with the maintenance of memory are commonly considered as individuals who have explicit necessities. Such bit of the populace can be considered as a heterogeneous gathering in setting to their particular incapacities, the degrees of their inability and different issues related with it, their age and/or ordinary wellbeing conditions (Fox, 1998). Already, the administration of the United Kingdom used to run clinics to give explicit necessities to those individuals who have been exposed to delayed mental as well as physical incapacities. Be that as it may, the nature of treatment accessible at these emergency clinics began disintegrating as an ever increasing number of individuals got mindful of the administrations and chose to get to them. At one point of time, the adapted exacerbated so much that administration chose to stop the framework. The expert representatives who used to work in these medical clinics were consumed by different particular work networks which offered types of assistance to that area of the populace with explicit requirements. As these work networks gave particular consideration to every particular issue, the adequacy of the treatment expanded through this procedure and it was conceivable to bring a bigger segment of the populace under such social insurance framework (Gravestock, 1996). The achievement of this framework has had the option to change the long existing impression of the basic mass to that segment of individuals who have explicit necessities. Investigation of the effect of social strategy, enactment, culture or potentially society on the different choices of social as well as medicinal services administrations which are accessible to individuals having explicit prerequisites: Enactment : At present, the accompanying authoritative arrangements guarantee that appropriate wellbeing or potentially social consideration administrations are accessible to the individuals with explicit necessities: Wellbeing Act 1999: guarantee that the social and additionally human services administrations suppliers will have the option to freely keep up their own financial plans, will be capable coordinate the administrations gave by them and build up the courses of action of different driving commissions. Individual Health Budgets: An activity taken by the administration of the nation for upgrading the nature of the social consideration gave to the grown-ups. Utilizing this approach, the patients can guarantee the charges of their individual medicinal services suppliers from the administration. SOCIAL POICY: Trusts have been established for the arrangement of care to the grown-ups and youngsters and at present there are in excess of 10 associations who are working in this space. SOCIETY: The general public assumes significant job in the manner an individual When the people with explicit necessities are rejected from the general public on account of their disease and additionally no so legitimate perspectives, the wellbeing states of these people intensify further. The social privileges of such individuals to get legitimate and honorable treatment and empathy are guaranteed by the different administrative laws presented by the administration (Bradshaw, 2000). CULTURE: Unfortunately numerous such social figures despite everything exist our general public which brings about biased mentality towards explicit races. Grown-up people are regularly separated because of the shade of their skin and additionally their ethnicity, at the same time making increasingly more defenseless against different mental issue. Indeed, even different social and additionally human services specialist organizations dispose of patients because of such unfair mentalities. Such long existing separations are the essential explanations for the physical and mental maltreatment that the old individuals frequently need to understanding, leaving them in detached circumstances. Figure: The Heath and Care System of UK, as distributed in the Department of Health Journal 2013 Errand 2: Investigation of the consideration prerequisites of people who have explicit requirements: As per the data gave by his family, Mr. Park has incapacities with respect to his vision and hearing, other than having testing conduct. In any case, as per the essential examinations, his difficult conduct is only a sign of the enduring he encounters because of his incapacities (Mansell, 1994). The accompanying course of treatment method has been formulated for him: A careful examination of his wellbeing conditions and related conduct issues. A two way treatment process in order to treat his physical incapacities alongside the conduct gives that he had been anticipating. Treatment meetings for his annoyance the board issues. Consistent correspondence with him in regards to his medical problems. Required drug under the oversight of clinical specialists. The different area specialists whose cooperation would be important for this procedure are: the social laborers, word related advisors, network medical attendants, physiologists and therapists. Figure: The Care Provider Network Depiction of the frameworks that exist so as to help people having explicit necessities: Different frameworks have been presented by the legislature in order to help those people who have explicit requirements, some of which are being talked about in the accompanying area: Network Engagement: The trust care chiefs are fundamentally liable for the commitment of neighborhood networks about the wellbeing and social consideration necessities of individuals with explicit requirements (Dean, 1996). The administration has given the obligation of keep up a cozy relationship with the nearby specialists, intentional associations and additionally other such offices on the trust care magistrates, in order to create methodologies for the improvement of the prosperity of the neighborhood networks. The system model planned for Health Promotion: This specific model fills the accompanying needs: Advancement, insurance and improvement of the soundness of the general mass. Ensuring that the best social insurance procedures are polished. Support of a procedure of significant worth for cash with the goal that the administrations are accessible at traditionalist evaluating. Assessment of the administrations which are accessible in the territory so as to help people who have explicit requirements: The United Kingdom has different arrangements and systems that are material in the divisions of the social as well as human services administrations of everyone. The National Healthcare Services or the NHS is the essential framework that has been executed so as to make such mind frameworks accessible to those people who have explicit requirements. The National Health Care administrations offer different types of assistance in the under-referenced areas: Crisis care unit General specialist administrations Administrations related dental techniques Administrations identified with different psychological well-being issues Different emergency clinic administrations Administrations identified with eye care et cetera. The NHS ventures make different administrations accessible to the individuals which can be utilized under various crisis and nonemergency ailments. The NHS111 is one such help which the clients of this framework as often as possible endeavor so as to talk legitimately to prepared

Emergency preparedness Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Crisis readiness - Assignment Example Hazard and weakness evaluation is the way toward researching whether there is a hazard or danger that presents peril to a particular organization. This is finished by security faculty who take a gander at a danger, powerlessness, and results of a speculated chance (Threat/Vulnerability Assessments and Risk Analysis, n.d.). A portion of the significant needs of a Healthcare Organization would be a finished arrangement of clinical types of gear, devices, drugs; enough space to suit individuals; and most particularly a gathering of educated and talented medical attendants and specialists. Then again, a medicinal services organization’s significant obligation during a crisis is have the option to give introductory treatment to facilitate the torment or even spare a real existence during the most essential time, before a patient’s condition is balanced out. Crisis readiness is tied in with predicting all the potential dangers or dangers that could occur concerning a specific movement, occasion, or in a specific area. Then again, catastrophes are harms that could be brought about ordinarily or man. Be that as it may, however there are calamities we can't examine, for example, a few seismic tremors, there are additionally some cataclysmic events that we can mull over, for example, waves being brought about by a quake post-quake tremor or a tropical storm brought about by an Earth-wide temperature boost. Man-made caused calamities, for me, are an aftereffect of imprudence or untrustworthiness which we can completely

#WeAreMIT

#WeAreMIT SMASH stands for Students At MIT Allied for Student Health. I am on the SMASH board as a representative from the MedLinks executive board. MedLinks is the student group at MIT that links or provides a midpoint between students and MIT Medical, and the MedLink role involves helping people go through rough times and directing students to the proper resources at MIT Medical and on campus to get the help students may need. This past Friday, SMASH hosted an event titled We Are MIT, and it was meant to be an open discussion with administration about mental health issues on campus. We brought up some really good points, and the number one take away was what everyone on every side of student health on campus is lacking communication. Ive been working on a project to collect and eventually publish data regarding student health on campus and where the communication gaps are largest. I spoke with Dean Randall, Director of Student Support Services at MIT, and Dr. Alan Siegel, Chief of Mental Health Services at MIT, regarding these issues, and we are going to have more information about student mental health by the beginning of next semester, which I plan on presenting in the form of a Tech Article, a Powerpoint presentation, and eventually a piece of writing about my thoughts about it through these MIT Admissions blogs and what my role in the search for information was/is. Anyway, back to the We Are MIT event. Overall, I think it went really well. I created a Coping With Anxiety document that a huge amount of people have told me is really helpful, and I plan on turning it into a more in depth article or brochure to hand out to MedLinks as the Training Coordinator. Im also designing a booklet for the information, and Im hoping to get it published so we can have cute little coping with anxiety booklets to hand out to people as MedLinks. So the discussion and the event were great. The Chancellor and President of MIT showed up for the first hour, and they mingled around and spoke with students about real issues that MIT has. I was honored to have the opportunity to explain the MedLinks program to a wide variety of people undergraduates, graduate students, professors, administrators, mental health clinicians and I think it really helped with shaping our image and cleared up some misconceptions about what MedLinks do and why we exist, and how vital our role in the community can be. MedLinks are not just band-aid dispensers. We are trained to deal with crises, VPR (Violence Prevention Response), QPR (Question Persuade Refer), Sex-ed, first aid, mental health issues and so much more. We are students helping students and promoting health on campus. Here are some pictures from the #WeAreMIT event. And of course, a picture of my cat. Enjoy! Overall, the event went really well. There were mental health clinicians there for the entirety of the three-hour event, and lots of really important administrators and faculty members for the first hour. We, the club members and executive officers, were there for a good part of the day, setting up and running things and cleaning up. Caitlin T. 16 and Max T. 15, co-presidents of SMASH, did a fantastic job. And, as always, here is a picture of Rory, very happy with her new toys back at my parents house.

What Is in Chewing Gum - Ingredients Then Now

Chewing gum seems like one of the strangest, most unnatural products that millions of people use every day. But what exactly is chewing gum? And what exactly are the ingredients used to make chewing gum? The History of Gum Originally, chewing gum was made from the latex sap of the sapodilla tree (native to Central America). This sap was called chicle. Other natural gum bases may be used, such as sorva and jelutong. Sometimes beeswax or paraffin wax is used as a gum base. After World War II, chemists learned to make synthetic rubber, which came to replace most natural rubber in chewing gum (e.g., polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate). The last U.S. manufacturer to use chicle is Glee Gum. Making Modern Gum In addition to the gum base, chewing gum contains sweeteners, flavorings, and softeners. Softeners are ingredients such as glycerin or vegetable oil that are used to blend the other ingredients and help prevent the gum from becoming hard or stiff. Neither natural nor synthetic latex are readily degraded by the digestive system. However, if you swallow your gum it will almost certainly be excreted, usually in pretty much the same condition as when you swallowed it. However, frequent gum swallowing may contribute to the formation of a bezoar or enterolith, which is a sort of intestinal stone.

Definition Of A Lazy Lister - 1427 Words

DEFINITION OF A LAZY LISTER A Lazy Lister is a Real Estate Agent, REALTOR â„ ¢, or Broker who has NOT put in maximum effort or taken advantage of every tool, technical platform, and opportunity to market their clients’ property to sell in a minimum timeframe for a maximum price. Lazy Listers cost their clients money. A lot of money! You may have already experienced the work of a Lazy Lister without realizing it. How many times, while looking at homes online, have you seen listings with so few photos you can’t event tell if you like the property. Or, perhaps you drove by a home with a yard sign and called for more information. You may have either not received a reply - or you received a reply so late you forgot which home you called about†¦show more content†¦From $5000 vacant lots to million-dollar luxury homes. I continue to be surprised by how many luxury homes I see being dramatically under-marketed by Lazy Listers. The problem is lack of awareness in the marketplace. Lazy Listers continue to exist because homeowners have not been given the questions to ask of, or shown what to look for in, a listing agent. As a result, there is a lower bar of expectation that listing agents have to reach and they get away with putting in less effort than is needed to sell your home for the highest price possible. According to a report by The Texas Association of Realtors, TAR, 79% of homeowners surveyed contacted one agent in the hiring process. This creates a non-competitive environment for real estate agents and promotes laziness. (insert graphic pg 188 of report) I have compiled this checklist to provide homeowners, like you, with the basic services you should expect from a professional agent to avoid hiring a Lazy Lister. When you know what you should be given in the form of quality of work and effort by a listing agent, you can confidently interview several agents until you find one that you know will not be a Lazy Lister. 20-POINT LAZY LISTER CHECKLIST Signs of a Lazy Lister Too Few Photos- This is one of the biggest complaints I hear from homebuyers shopping online. The maximum number of photos that can be posted is 40. There is always something that can be photographed to meet the maximum. IShow MoreRelatedEssay about Poverty in Our Society2241 Words   |  9 PagesPoverty in Our Society In this assignment I intend to show an awareness of the concepts, definitions and measurements of poverty, of the groups experiencing poverty, social exclusion and discrimination. I will then discuss Government anti-poverty policies, legislation and how social work can respond to poverty. I shall now discuss the history of poverty the legislation, theories and measurementsRead MoreAreas of Knowledge of Hrm11342 Words   |  46 PagesAND LABOUR RELATIONS Critical issues to be discussed are: - What is industrial relations? - contract of employment - trade unions and employers association - discipline and disciplinary action - Labour and retirement. Definitions of Industrial Relations Industrial Relations is the designation of a whole field of relationship that exist because of the necessary collaboration of men and women in the employment. – Dale Yoder (1972). Industrial Relations defined as the complexRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 PagesApple’s new iPhone hits the market City receives stimulus funds to expand light rail system All of these events represent projects. Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photobank via AP Images The Project Management Institute provides the following definition of a project: A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. Like most organizational effort, the major goal of a project is to satisfy a customer’s need. Beyond this fundamental similarity, the

Buddhism- a Religion or a Philosophy Free Essays

string(61) " behavior Christians are expected to follow \(Betty, 2008\)\." Albert Einstein believed that, â€Å"the religion of the future will be a cosmic religion that should transcend a personal god and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both natural and spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity† (Jammer, 1999). Buddhism qualifies as a religion depending on one’s point of view. We will write a custom essay sample on Buddhism- a Religion or a Philosophy? or any similar topic only for you Order Now If religion is defined as a system of worship or devotion to a higher deity then Buddhism does not fall under the religious category (Buddha Dharma Education Association, 2012). However, if religion is defined as a system of beliefs and rituals and morals then Buddhism classifies as a religious practice (Harshorne, 1996). The aspects of religion that include rituals and devotions are the very key aspects of the human experience. Although occupying the same socio-psychological space as other religions, they do not all necessarily share similar characteristics (Molloy, p5, 2010). Western scholars and religious thinkers often refer to Buddhism as an atheist or nontheistic religious practice (Florida, 1990). Despite apparent contradictions between Buddhism and theistic religions there are many elements of commonality. This paper supports Albert Einstein’s claim on religion through exploring Buddhism as a contemporary religion relevant to reality in relation to science, while considering the similarities shared by Buddhism and traditional religions such as Christianity. Why does it matter if we consider something a religion or not? There are Buddhists who speak confidently on â€Å"Panel discussions† stating that if using the word religion becomes a problem then they will not use it (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991). Buddhism shows no concern over whether or not it qualifies as a religion, as it is a matter of belief from within and not what people think of it. Smith, a religion historian states in his works that â€Å"beliefs are not primary to religion; faith is† (Florida, 1990) which reflects Buddhism’s emphasis on the importance of karma and leading a morally-based life. Smith also strongly believes that theistic religions invented the idea of god based on humanities â€Å"ignorance, weakness, fear, and desire†(Florida, 1990). Michael Stone is a psychotherapist and a Buddhist teacher who shares Albert Einstein’s view on religion. Michael attempts to incorporate traditional Buddhist teachings with today’s psychological and philosophical understanding (Stone, 2012). Science has created an abundance of contradictory views in traditional religious teachings that Buddhism stands out as a religion which accommodates scientific evidence (The Dalai Lama centre, 2012). Religion’s importance today has come into question when analyzed through the eyes of society’s logical mind. The Dalai Lama claims that â€Å"if modern science presents good evidence that a Buddhist idea is wrong, I will accept the modern science, (he gives the example of the Earth moving around the sun, which runs counter to Buddhist scripture)† (The Dalai Lama Centre, 2012). Science has therefore made many questionable beliefs come to reality through trial and error research that many base their beliefs on evidence (Molloy, p179, 2010). Buddhism: The Buddhist religion entails a sense of sacredness with one’s self in relation to the environment and the universe. All religions are concerned with the deepest level of reality and for most religions the core or origin of everything is sacred and mysterious† (Molloy, p7, 2010). The â€Å"Three Marks of Reality† encompasses the embedded truth in Buddhist theology which reinforces the belief in having no god but rather finding the god within (Molloy, p132, 2010). Sacredness in religion refers to a dedicated practice to a religious purpose not the belief in a mystical figure who controls life as we know it. Sacredness is an interesting place of experience, and since there is a common misconception about Buddhism, the Dharma equips one to make a conciliatory meeting with whomever. The Dharma is part of the Three Jewels of Buddhism since it covers Buddhist teachings in â€Å"how to view the world and how to live properly† (Molloy, p131, 2010). The Dharma accommodates a variety of other views and appreciates those views for what they are. The emergence of Buddhism was based on the spread of Siddhartha’s teachings who was the oblivious son of a powerful king. The main components of Buddhist belief are: â€Å"karma, compassion and reincarnation†, which were conceptualized as a result of Siddhartha’s sudden exposure to reality’s misfortunes (Molloy, p128, 2010). These features influenced followers to adopt a peaceful and moral journey through life if they seek a blissful reincarnated-self (Molloy, 2010). Having experienced the â€Å"four passing sights† which involves living with nothing but oneself, Siddhartha began his journey towards becoming a world teacher (Molloy, p128, 2010). He practiced â€Å"The Four Noble Truths† which are the â€Å"truths about life, that suffering exists, it has a cause, it has an end and there is a way to attain release from suffering† (Molloy, p143, 2010). In Buddhist literature it is believed that worshipping a higher deity disregards the notion of â€Å"karmic results of action† which they strongly believe in (Thera, 2012). Similarities of traditional religions (Christianity): Religion â€Å"suggests the joining of our natural, human world to the sacred world† (Molloy, p5, 2010). Buddhism revolves around the life and lessons of Buddha, and Christianity revolves around the life and lessons of Jesus Christ, who are the two prophets present in both fields of practice (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991). Both prophets followed the same strategy to uncover the worldly truths as they â€Å"stayed in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights’ facing evil, â€Å"Jesus by Satan and Buddha by the demon Mara and his daughters† (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991). As the holiness’ representatives, both religions have a centralized authority figure such as the Pope and the Dalai Lama to carry on the teachings of God and Buddha on a global scale (Molloy, p391, 2010). Similarities in both Christians and Buddhists theological practice reflect the fact that despite the difference in beliefs in a deity the foundations share some common ethics. Buddhism’s conception of reality refers to the basics of â€Å"The Four Noble Truths and The Nob le Eightfold Path† that can be applied to the Ten Christian Commandments (Molloy, p136, 2010). The Ten Commandments represent God’s rules of behavior Christians are expected to follow (Betty, 2008). You read "Buddhism- a Religion or a Philosophy?" in category "Essay examples" The early stage of Buddhism was initially rejected as a religion by westerners. However later on, western scholars considered â€Å"Buddhist concepts of nirvana and dharma as parallels to the Western notion of divinity or God† and they refuted it (Florida, 1990). The manifestation of Buddhist characteristics attributed to God’s existence in theistic religions is partly based on Buddhism’s perspective on reality and needing no god to control their way of life (Betty, 2008). Yet religious symbolism has been an important feature of all religions, including Buddhism and Christianity. The Christians pray to Jesus in churches while Buddhists pray to Buddha in monasteries. According to Molloy, â€Å"religious symbols, myths, and terminology at times suggest a universal language that all religions speak† (Molloy, p9, 2010). The differences: While both are classified as a religion, a prominent difference and focus of many arguments surrounds the notion of Buddhism’s lack of deity to worship. Any forms of God-like elements in Buddhism are seen as manifestations of a specific physical form (Betty, 2008). Gods in Buddhism are essentially considered manifestations of distinct physical elements and mediums from which Buddhists can contribute their physical energies toward enlightenment, which is a state of spiritual understanding (Hartshorne, 1996). Buddhism does not place great importance on having a higher divinity because they don’t think it will have an impact or even make a difference when practicing their values (Hartshorne, 1996). According to Stafford, â€Å"Buddhism and Christianity have much to teach each other about Ultimate Reality—God or Buddha Nature† (Stafford, 2008). Buddhism is considered a â€Å"psychological religion† as it provides the tools within a person to attain full-fledged happiness internally rather than externally (Thera, 2012). Whereas Christianity is a religion of doctrines where the institution of the church controls Christian practices on life (Molloy, p391, 2010). Therefore the ideas of ultimate reality differ greatly as both religions expect different outcomes from their practices. One focuses on what God expects while the other does not place any expectations other than attempting to reach personal happiness. The difference in guidance received by both Buddhist and Christian followers provides an understanding as to why Buddhism may not be considered a religion by some theist believers. Christianity stresses on the importance of human action based on God’s cosmic plan to impose good morals into society to fight between the good and evils life bestows (Molloy, p15, 2010). Buddhism on the other hand focuses on personal karma to justify the good reasons behind following a morally-based lifestyle. Pope John Paul II upset Buddhists when he stated that â€Å"Buddhism is an ‘‘atheistic’’ system and that ‘‘the doctrines of salvation in Buddhism and Christianity are opposed’’ (Stafford, 2008). The Pope’s words made it clear that he believes the rejection of a dogma in Buddhism raises a lot of questions in the sphere of religion when it comes to the nature of Buddha. Agreeably, â€Å"Christians have faith in God while Buddhists have faith in something other than God- emptiness, perhaps† (Florida, 1990). Since Buddhism and Christianity address â€Å"the relationship of ultimate- God or emptiness† as major opposing elements (Florida, 1990), Florida poses an interesting question regarding Christianity that â€Å"if ultimate reality is Emptiness, is the Christian forced to choose between identifying God with Emptiness and denying God altogether? ’ (Florida, 1990). This statement supports Christianity’s set requirements for fulfilling one’s â€Å"obligations† with no room for personal opinion to God whereas Buddhism allows a progressive growth from within, with the world around in tune with one’s personal opinion (Silva, 2011). The progressiveness of Buddhism suggests that there are no implications on what one should and can believe in, in pursuit of sacredness. Sacredness can either be defined as the emptiness attained in Buddhism when enlightened or â€Å"speak of the sacred as what people hold to be sacred† in Christianity (Florida, 1990) (Molloy, p 14, 2010). The holy books are another way to identify the difference in what is considered as guidelines or expected practices for both religions as they are not used for the same reasons. In Buddhism, there are many kinds of holy books known as the Sutras. Buddhists Sanskrit, serve as a guideline to a deep reality beyond â€Å"the reach of ordinary cognition and senses† (Thera, 2012). Buddhism believes in personal reason while Christians follow religious authority (Molloy, p19, 2010). Therefore, the Bible reveals the words of God that â€Å"cannot be questioned and are a compilation of claims about the physical or spiritual worlds to be accepted on faith† (Birnbaum, 2009). Can a religion both be atheistic and a religion? While attempting to understand what the topic of religion consists of, one must consider the fact that the term ‘religion’ was developed in the western culture thus representing their traditional idea of what is meant by religion. The western perception of religion â€Å"may not be entirely appropriate when applied across cultures or spiritual paths† (Molloy, p5, 2010). In â€Å"Going Beyond God,† Armstrong argues that many Westerners define â€Å"religion† much too narrowly because they use the Abrahamic religions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — and belief in the God of monotheism as the â€Å"standard† of what defines religion (Vincent, 2012). In a book called â€Å"One of Faith and Belief† Smith notes that â€Å"the world’s religious systems . . . are not all variations on a theme; they do not give differing answers to the same questions, they do not operate in a common mode† (Smith, 1979). Therefore it is needless to say that contemporary ideologies about religion are no longer strictly based on teachings that cannot be challenged. â€Å"Whether we should go on or not to call it faith in God, depends directly on what we think of the universe not on what be thought of it† (Florida, 1990). New scientific interrelations with religions such as Buddhism, will formulate a new branch that is â€Å"both spiritual and scientific† which would be suited for contemporary society logicality (O’Brien, 2009). Religion â€Å"suggests the joining of our natural, human world to the sacred world† whatever that may be for anyone (Molloy, p5, 2010). Therefore, why should believing in a divinity improve the humanity-focused problems experienced in religion? Conclusion: If Dharma was assimilated into our culture as a daily practice and was not represented by the word â€Å"Buddhism† the world would be a happier place. If children had to focus on their attention in early childhood education to learn to look at their mind, to regulate their emotions, to be trained in that way then having the name â€Å"Buddhism† to represent the practice would not matter (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991). If you try to categorize Dharma or Buddhist teachings it is really challenging, because it is a combination of a science, a religion, a philosophy or psychology. Buddhism can be seen as a religion which focuses on a way of life that allows the adoption of teachings in any other religion appropriate to one’s life journey (Molloy, 2010). Having drawn attention to the distinct similarities and differences both Christianity and Buddhism share this helps us develop an understanding of the dynamics present in both religions. Based on these comparisons it is clear to say that despite the differences, â€Å"Buddhist thinkers are less intent on systematizing† Buddhist thought into theories of ethical action, and â€Å"are more interested in examining particular Buddhist views on what it means to be a moral subject† (Heim, 2011). Based on my personal observations, if you go to any Asian country where Buddhism is practiced it is clear to say that the followers have very religious behaviors. All in all, Buddhists practice with one goal in mind, to end suffering. Therefore the idea of a higher deity seems senseless if it does not have a direct impact as to aid moralistically. â€Å"Answering a question such as, do you believe in a god, a Buddhist may answer â€Å"is answering that question either way, going to make me less or more sad†Ã¢â‚¬  (Los Angeles Interreligious Group, 1991). Bibliography: Betty, L. (2008). What Buddhists and Christians are teaching each other about God. Cross Currents. 58(1), 108-116. Buddha Dharma Education Association (2012). Morality. Fundamentals Of Buddhism. A BuddhaNet Production. Retrieved from http://www. buddhanet. net/fundbud6. htm Birnbaum, R. (2009). In search of an authentic engaged Buddhism: voices from ancient texts, calls from the modern world. Religion East West, (9), 25-39. Florida, R. E. (1990). Theism and Atheism in the Work of W. C. Smith: A Buddhist Case Study. Buddhist-Christian Studies. University of Hawai’i. Vol. 10, pp. 255-262 retrieved from http://www. jstor. org/stable/1390212 . Hartshorne, C. (1996). Buddhism and the theistic question. In Buddhism and the emerging world civilization (pp. 62-72). Carbondale, Ill: Southern Illinois Univ Pr. Heim, M. (2011). Buddhist ethics: a review essay. Journal Of Religious Ethics. 39(3), 571-584. Jammer, M. (1999). Einstein and Religion. Publish by Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://press. princeton. edu/chapters/s6681. pdf Los Angeles Interreligious Group (1991). An Early Journey. Buddhist-Catholic Dialogue. Retrieved from http://monasticdialog. com/a. php? id=334 Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the World’s Religions. Tradition, Challenge, and Change. McGraw Hill. Fifth ed. O’Brien, B. (2009). Why Buddhism Is a Religion, and Why It Matters. Religion and Spirituality. Retrieved from About. com Tablan, F. E. (2011). Towards a Buddhist-Catholic interreligious encounter: a Southeast Asian perspective. Studies In Interreligious Dialogue. 21(2), p188-210. The Dalai Lama Centre (2012). â€Å"Happy Night in Canada: The Dalai Lama and Leading Scientists Search for Happiness†. For Peace and Education. Retrieved from http://dalailamacenter. org/learn/â€Å"happy-night-canada-dalai-lama-and-leading-scientists-search-happiness† Thera, N. (2012). Buddhism and the God-idea. BuddhaNet edition. Retrieved from http://www. accesstoinsight. org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/godidea. html Stone, S. M. (2012). About. Centre of Gravity. Retrieved from http://www. centreofgravity. org/m_stone/ Silva. D. L. (2011). Radical Therapy. Buddhist Precepts in the Modern World. Retrieved from http://www. accesstoinsight. org/lib/authors/desilva/bl123. html Smith,W. C. (1979). Faith and Belief: The Difference Between Them. Princeton N, J. Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://www. amazon. ca/Faith-Belief-Difference-Between-Them/dp/1851681655 Vincent, H. (2012). Christian Buddhism?. Buddhist Geeks. Retrieved from http://www. buddhistgeeks. com/2010/08/christian-buddhism/ How to cite Buddhism- a Religion or a Philosophy?, Essay examples

Overpopulation is not the necessary and inevitable Essay Example For Students

Overpopulation is not the necessary and inevitable Essay consequence of high density of population. Tiny Monaco, a principality in southern Europe about half the size of New Yorks Central Park, has a crude density of nearly 20,000 people per square kilometer (50,000 people per sq. mi). Mongolia, a sizable state of 1,565,000 square kilometers (604,000 sq. mi. ) between China and Siberian Russia, has 1.5 persons per square kilometer (4 per sq. mi.); Iran, only slightly larger, has 37 per square kilometer. Macao, an island ossession of Portugal off the coast of China, has more than 26,000 persons per square kilometer; the Falkland Islands off the atlantic coast of Argentina count at most 1 person for every 6.5 square kilometers of territory. No conclusions about conditions of life, levels of income, adequacy of food, or prospects for prosperity can be drawn from these density comparisons. Overpopulation can be equated with levels of living or conditions of life that reflect a continuing imbalance between numbers of people and carrying capacity of the land. One measure of that imbalance might be the unavailability of food supplies sufficient in caloric content to meet individual daily energy requirements or so balanced as to satisfy normal nutritional needs. Unfortunately, dietary insufficiencies with long-term adverse implications for life expectancy, physical vigor, and mental development are most likely to be encountered in the developing countries, where much of the population is in the younger age cohorts. If those developing countries simultaneously have rapidly increasing population numbers dependent on domestically produced foodstuffs, the prospects must be for continuing undernourishment and overpopulation. Much of sub-Saharan Aftica finds itself in this circumstance. Africas per capita food production decreased 25% between 1960 and 1990, and a further 30% drop is predicted over the following quarter century as the popluation-food gap widens. Egypt already must import more than half the food it consumes. Africa is not alone. The international Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) projects that by A.D. 2000, no less than 65 separate countries with some 30% of the population of the developing world will be unable to feed their inhabitants from their own national territories at the low level of agricultural technology and inputs apt to be employed. Even rapidly industrializing China, an exporter of grain until 1994, has become a net grain importer; if its massive and growing population continues its new dependence on imported basic foodstuffs, world grain surpluses and food aid flows will be seriously affected. .

Weapons of Mass Destruction The Terrorist Threat

Introduction In 1945, the U.S. caused an extensive obliteration when it dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which also ended the Second World War. This incident made the whole world to come to terms with the threat that weapons of mass destruction (WMD) pose to the world security.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Terrorist Threat specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Regrettably, as the major countries have agreed to stop the use of WMD, terror groups have made efforts to acquire and use them for causing havoc in various places around the world. Worse still, technological advancement of this century has increased the possibility of their construction and smuggling for illicit use in almost everywhere in the world. This paper provides an assessment on how a significant terrorist WMD attack can be conducted. Lacy and Benedek note, â€Å"WMD are used to kill large numbers of people, destroy large amounts of property, achieve political goals, and create terror, chaos, and social disruption† (2003, para. 2). They also say that the weapons include â€Å"biological or chemical agents, nuclear weapons, conventional bombs contaminated with radioactive materials, large conventional or â€Å"truck† bombs, and surprising sources such as hijacked airplanes† (Lacy and Benedek, para.2). Recent horrific incidences such as the Japanese subway attack using Sarin nerve agent, which resulted in the death of thirteen individuals and severely injured several others, have raised the alarm of the possible terrorist use of WMD. In addition, North Korea and other regimes such as Iran have issued threats of possible use of different biological and chemical weapons for causing widespread destruction. Therefore, their use by terrorist organizations is a cause of worry for many nations around the world. Chemical terrorism Chemical wea pons are made from chemical materials with toxic properties and they are meant to injure or incapacitate the enemy, or render a particular place unfit for productive use. Unlike conventional weapons or nuclear weapons, these dangerous weapons do not rely on explosive force to realize their goals; however, they rely on the unique characteristics of the chemicals in causing harm (Croddy Wirtz, 2005). In this century, approximately seventy different chemicals are available that can be used as chemical terrorism agents. During the First World War era, chemical weapons that were used were in the form of gases. In the modern era, however, terrorists can use liquids, solids, or gases having poisonous effects to cause mass casualties. Terrorists can either use persistent or non -persistent chemical weapons to cause destruction. Non-persistent agents, such as chlorine and sarin, stay for a limited period before losing their effectiveness after dissemination; therefore, this makes them to be beneficial for terrorists who want to take over and control a target as fast as possible. On the other hand, persistent agents stay for many days before losing effectiveness.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Chemical terrorism can be effected by use of agents that are organized into five different groups based on how they cause harm to the human body. The five categories are blister (vesicant), blood (systemic), choking, nerve, and psychotomimetric agents. Blister agents refer to the chemicals that cause extreme skin, eye, and mucosal pain and irritation resulting in large, aching blisters on parts of the body of those affected. The most common types of blister agents are sulfur mustards and lewisite, and they are heavier than air hence stay in the atmosphere for an extended period of time. Sulfur mustard is inexpensive and easy to manufacture, making it likely to be used by terrorists. The agents readily penetrate the skin causing life-threatening symptoms such as skin pain and irritation, large fluid blisters that are prone to infection, and mild respiratory distress. Since the blister agents are not as lethal as are the nerve agents, they are less likely to be employed by the terrorists. Blood agents, which are cyanide or arsenic based, get into the blood through inhalation or ingestion and cause death in a matter of minutes or seconds by inhibiting the conversion of oxygen into energy. At ambient conditions, the toxic chemical agents are volatile colorless gases, hence are more destructive when terrorists use them in confined areas. They are normally disseminated as aerosols and saturate the blood when inhaled. In order to be effective, terrorists can consider using higher doses of the blood agents that can cause symptoms of dizziness, weakness, and nausea on those affected. Permanent brain damage and muscle paralysis might also occur. A third type of chemical agent is a choking agent, which affect the victims breathing system by leading to a build-up of fluids in the lungs. The fluid-filled lungs render the affected individual unable to breathe and eventually suffocate. When the chemical agents are exposed to the eyes and skin, they corrode the surfaces leading to distorted vision and severe deep burns, and when they are inhaled, they cause multiple complications to the respiratory and the circulatory system. Even though some individuals can survive choking agent attacks, they end up suffering from life-long breathing problems. Currently, some of the choking agents that terrorists might use to achieve their objectives include chlorine gas, chloropicrin, diphosgene, phosgene, and trichloronitromethane.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Terrorist Threat specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Among these chemical weapon agents, moder n terrorists are likely to use phosgene since it is the most dangerous and since it is denser than air, it can remain in the air for a considerable amount of time. Chlorine is the most common and the degree of damage it causes depends on the level of contact one has with it. It is believed that modern terrorists can try to simulate the massive use of these weapons, which occurred during the First World War. For example, on April 22, 1915, the German forces opened up 168 tons of chlorine gas on their enemies at the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium, which resulted in the death of many unprepared soldiers. The fourth type of chemical agents is the nerve agents, which attack the victim’s nervous system by restricting the movement of the nerve impulses in the body. Therefore, the affected persons are unable to control their muscles, vomit and lose the ability to control their bladder, lungs stop working and they lose their ability to breathe. Eventually, the victims die by asphyx iation as control of the respiratory muscles is lost due to the effects of the agent. A number of the deadly nerve agents are easily vaporized or aerosolized. They mainly enter the victim’s body through the respiratory system and they can also be absorbed through the skin. Since they are considered as some of the most powerful and lethal of all chemical weapons, they have the potential of causing mass casualties when used by terrorist organizations. Nerve agents fall into two classes: G-series, such as tabun and sarin, and V-series, such as VE, VG, and VM. The fifth type of chemical weapons is the psychotomimetic agents, which affects a person’s mind. They make the victim to develop complications in his or her nervous system and reduces his or her ability to make decisions or move. The person becomes disoriented and can have delusions. The types of this agent that terrorists can use include 3-quinuclidinylbenzilate, Phencyclidine, and LSD In order to achieve the intend ed goal of use of chemical weapons, terrorists must ensure that they are effectively delivered or disseminated to the targets since their effectiveness is highly dependent on the prevailing atmospheric conditions as many of them are in gaseous form. Inappropriate weather observations and forecasting reduces their effective delivery. The most probable forms of attack that terrorists might use are dispersion, thermal dissemination, and aerodynamic dissemination. Dispersion techniques, such as the use of munitions, bombs, and spray tanks, are the easiest form of attack since they involve putting the agent on or next to a target immediately before dissemination, with the intention of efficiently using the material. Terrorists can use this technique by opening a container full of poisonous substances in a place full of people, for example, in a city bus stop.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thermal dissemination is a dispersal technique of chemical weapons by the use of explosives or pyrotechnics and it offers the advantage of disseminating the agent over a considerable distance. This may make it preferable to the terrorists over the dispersion technique. In disseminating the chemical agents, terrorists may use bombs or projectile shells, which expel the agent tangentially when detonation occurs. In spite of the limitations of the use of thermal dissemination devices, terrorists can efficiently use them in the early stages of chemical weapon development. Another delivery method is aerodynamic dissemination method in which a chemical weapon is released from an airplane without any explosion. Aerodynamic stress then spreads the agent to the targeted area. Today, terrorists can opt for this method over the thermal dissemination technique since it eliminates some of its limitations. In addition, the advances in technology have allowed ideal conditions to be predetermined b efore disseminating the chemicals through aerodynamics. Biological terrorism Biological terrorism refers to the deliberate use of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins, to kill, incapacitate, or seriously cause extensive harm to a person or persons. The biological agents normally exist in nature, but terrorists may try to modify them in order to increase their ability of causing illness or death to individuals. They can also be made to be resistant to medications or easier to move from one place to another. The bioterrorism agents are spread through inanimate materials and they are not easy to detect when present in these means of dispersion. The agents can also take sometime, up to several days, before causing disease. Other significant attributes that make the bio-weapons attractive for terrorists include their ease of acquisition, ease of dissemination, and can cause mass panic and disruption of a society apart from the real harm they can cause. In the past, bioterrorist s have successfully used biological agents to cause harm to innocent people. For example, in 1993, a religious group in Japan tried to aerosolize anthrax spores in Tokyo but the attack was a total failure. Only one person was infected. And in late 2001, letters infected intentionally with anthrax were sent to news media and the United States Congress and resulted in the death of five people. These instances, and many others not mentioned, illustrate that terrorist organizations are ready to obtain and use biological weapons to cause mass casualties. The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) has classified the biological weapons into three different categories based on the degree of danger that every agent can pose to the population. This also depicts how a significant bioterrorism attack can be conducted. Category A consists of high-priority agents that pose a significant risk to national security, â€Å"since they can be easily disseminated or transmitt ed from one person to the other, they have the ability of causing high deaths, are able to result in major public panic and social disruption, and need exceptional action for public health vigilance† (Friedewald, 2006, xxviii). The agents in this category are the ones that terrorists are likely to use for carrying out an attack and they consist of â€Å"tularemia, anthrax, smallpox, botulinum toxin, bubonic plague, and viral hemorrhagic fevers† (Porteus, 2006, para.9). Tularemia or rabbit fever is caused by a very infectious bacterium called Francisella tularensis, which causes fever, localized skin ulcerations, sore throat, systemic infection, and sometimes pneumonia. Infection to individuals is usually caused by breathing or intake of tainted food materials. Since Francisella tularensis widely occurs in nature, terrorists can isolate and grow it in large quantity in a laboratory for carrying out an attack. Anthrax is a non-communicable ailment caused when the spores o f the organism called Bacillus anthracis are inhaled into the lungs where they become active and multiply producing massive bleeding and swelling in the victim’s chest. The person then dies due to blood poisoning. As illustrated in the earlier sections of this paper, terrorists have attempted to use anthrax in several occasions. A highly notorious virus called variola causes smallpox and it is transmitted through the atmosphere from one infected person to the other. Smallpox has a high mortality rate of between twenty to forty percent. Although the World Health Organization declared its complete eradication in 1980, some cultures can still be found in Russia and the U.S. It is believed that the crumple of the Soviet Union made some nations to acquire virus samples of smallpox. This can fall in the hands of terrorists, which they can use to achieve their goals. Other significant threats as forms of biological warfare agents in this category include botulinum toxin and bubonic plague. Category B biological weapons consist of those that are second highest priority agents â€Å"since the terrorists find it moderately easy to disseminate, lead to moderate levels of ailment and low casualty rate, and need specific public-health action such as enhanced diagnostic and detection procedures† (Porteus, 2006, para. 10). Some of these agents or diseases include â€Å"brucellosis, food safety threats such as the Salmonella species, water supply threats such as vibrio cholerae, glanders, ricin, and Q fever† (Porteus, 2006, para. 10). Lastly, Category C is the third highest priority agents. They consist of emerging disease causing organisms that terrorists can modify for mass dissemination. This is because they are readily available, are fairly easy to manufacture and distribute, and are capable of causing mass casualties. Some of these agents or diseases include â€Å"nipah virus, yellow fever, the tickborne hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, and tubercul osis† (Porteus, 2006, para. 11). Probable forms of attack by use of biological weapons exist, but the means of delivery depends on the target chosen and the extent of damage anticipated. The first means of dissemination that terrorists might use is through the air by aerosol sprays. To accomplish the intended goals, a biological weapon must be made airborne so that an individual can be able to inhale a sufficient quantity of the pathogens to cause disease and eventually death. Second, the biological agents can be delivered by use of explosive devices. However, this method is not as effective as aerosolizing the agents since some agents are damaged by the blast leaving about five percent of the agent to reach the intended target. Third, terrorists can deliver them by contaminating food or water. This can be done either at the source or at some point in the distribution process. Another way can be through direct human contact. For example, a number of ricin-tipped umbrellas have been employed in different assassination attempts. Lastly, biological agents can also be delivered indirectly by means of infected animals or inanimate objects. Nuclear terrorism Terrorists’ use of nuclear weapons is the most destructive of all weapons of mass destruction. It involves the terror groups acquisition and use or threat of use of nuclear weapons or materials whereby sustained fission reaction takes place (Cameron, 1999). This implies that nuclear terrorism is confined to the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) or plutonium (Pu); nevertheless, some people use the term to allude to any type of terrorist weapon using radioactive materials, which involves the use of radiological dispersal devices (RDDs). Terror organizations, with the intention of causing mass casualties in a place, can employ RDDs materials, for example, cesium -137, strontium -90, and cobalt-60. These elements are readily available in several places around the world. A significant nuclear terroris m act can be conducted by the use of either of the two basic types of nuclear weapons: those that produce their explosive energy through nuclear fission reactions alone or through nuclear fusion reactions alone. Nuclear weapons that give out large quantity of energy by means of nuclear fission reactions are commonly called atomic bombs or atom bombs and their active material is enriched uranium or plutonium. Because of technological advances of this century, terrorists can easily manufacture them by use of either gun assembly or implosion method. The gun assembly method is whereby one piece of fissile uranium is fired into another so as to ignite an exponentially growing nuclear chain reaction. In the implosion method, either uranium or plutonium, or both, are compressed until they reach a critical mass. However, since this method is more complicated than the former, terrorists are less likely to use it in causing mass destruction. The second type of nuclear arsenal that terrorists can consider using is that which produces energy by means of nuclear fusion reactions and they are usually called thermonuclear weapons or hydrogen bombs. The bombs depend entirely on fusion reactions that take place involving the isotopes of hydrogen; though, they obtain a major part of their power from the ensuing fission reactions. In contrast to fission weapons, hydrogen bombs lack inherent limits to the energy they can produce, hence they are more powerful than the uranium- or plutonium-based fission bombs. In a typical thermonuclear weapon, the explosion of a fission bomb compacts and increases the temperature of lithium deuteride, resulting in the emission of neutrons, which strike the lithium atoms leading to the production of tritium. As the temperature of the fission reaction increases, tritium and deuterium are fused together leading to the production of helium and neutrons by both fission and fusion reactions. The reaction then continues through a series of chain reactio ns until it ends in an enormous explosion accompanied by a blast of neutron radiation. In addition to the two basic types of nuclear weapons, there are others that terrorists can consider using. Examples are the boosted fission weapon, which uses fusion reactions to enhance its efficiency, neutron bombs which can be specially designed to yield enormous quantity of neutron radiation, and â€Å"suitcase† bombs which are portable and could be about 48,000 cm3. The probable forms of attack that terrorists can use to deliver the nuclear weapons to their target include the use of gravity bombs, ballistic missiles, or cruise missiles. In order to successful, terrorists must consider the significant costs related to the delivery of nuclear weapons. Gravity bomb, whereby a bomber airplane is used to deliver the weapon, is the most traditional method of delivering nuclear weapons and it is much simpler since it does not offer limitations on the size of the weapon. On the other hand, it restricts the range of attack as well as the number of bombs that can be released. Currently, with the advancement in technology, terrorists can deliver nuclear weapons by the use of strategic bombers, with or without state sponsorship. Terrorists can increase the efficiency of delivering nuclear weapons to targets when they are mounted on missiles, which also lowers the chances of missile defense. Modern technologies, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVS) make the delivery of nuclear weapons possible in any part of the world with maximum accuracy. Cruise missiles have a shorter range and terrorists can target them to any place on the earth. Terrorists can prefer using cruise missiles to ballistic missiles because they are more difficult to detect and they have the ability of maneuvering anti-missile systems. Other potential terrorist forms of attack are the use of artillery shells and land mines. In addit ion to causing harm to individuals through their impact and detonation, nuclear weapons also affect individuals by the enormous quantity of radioactive material that they give out. The radiation can reach people through a number of ways. First, the radiation can reach the body of an individual when it is absorbed through an exposed portion of body parts such as the skin. Second, contamination takes place when radioactive substances gets into the atmosphere as minute particles and get inside the body of a person through the lungs, digestive system, or wounds on the skin. The radioactive substances can be in the form of solids, liquids, or gaseous particles. Lastly, body tissues and organs can be contaminated when they absorb gamma radiation, beta radiation, or alpha radiation. The contamination can occur before radiation drops to trace levels after an explosion has taken place. Radiological weapons Many atomic experts believe that terrorist organizations are likely to prefer using ra diological weapons in causing mass destruction. This is because, in contrast to nuclear bombs, they are able to spread radioactive substances over a wide area. This increases the possibility of causing destruction to people, animals, and infrastructure. A radiological weapon is principally referred to as a dirty bomb or salted bomb as it employs conventional explosives, such as wastes from nuclear power industries, to spread the deadly radioactive material. Because of these reasons, it is not recognized as a true nuclear bomb. Terrorist organizations can successfully employ radiological weapons for causing fear and death in an area with a large number of people. Because of the adverse effects of radiological weapons, they can make areas contaminated by radioactive dusts and smokes to be inhabitable for a considerable period, unless expensive decontamination efforts are carried out. Even though terrorists have not used radiological weapons before, previous incidences have raised the concern that terrorists may acquire and use them for causing mass casualties. For example, some radiological materials planted by Chen rebels were discovered and disarmed in 1995 and 1998. Moreover, some terrorist organizations, such as al Qaeda, have publicly expressed their willingness to acquire these weapons. Possible means of deployment of the radiological materials include the use of either radiological dispersal devices (RDD), which spreads the material into the environment, or radiological emission devices (RED), which uses an immobile radioactive source to make people come into contact with high levels of radiation. The source of RED can remain undiscovered for a considerable period of time such as the accident that took place in Goiania, Brazil in 1987 in which four people died and several others suffered from contamination effects. Terrorists’ use of RDD is likely to be more catastrophic, causing massive disruption and widespread panic among the population. If the RDD uses a chemical explosive, the preliminary outcome would come from the huge impact used to disperse the radioactive substance, and the radioactive fallout from this little â€Å"dirty bomb† would spread over a wide area. A â€Å"dirty bomb† is easily available to terrorists. It is a conventional chemical explosive laced with lower-grade radioactive substance that spreads when the bomb detonates, and it kills people through the initial impact as wells as through the resulting airborne radiation and contamination. Terrorists can deliver dirty bombs through various devices such as artillery shells, dynamite, and TNT. Radiological weapons can be employed in poisoning animals, aquatic life, and foodstuffs. Since they are not soluble in water, terrorists cannot poison water sources using them. Terror organizations can also launch a systemic attack in a nuclear plant. They can achieve this by overloading the reactor so that it functions as a radiological weapon. Potential terrorist targets The potential terrorist targets by the use of weapons of mass destruction are inexhaustible. If the chosen target will make the terrorist to realize his or her objectives, then is a viable quarry. Ideal targets may consist of, but not limited to, a place where there is large gatherings of individuals, packed stadiums, restaurants, office buildings, shopping malls, trains, subway systems, airliners, dams, oil refineries, seaports, nuclear power plants, and hazardous cargo on trucks and trains. It is important to note that terrorists may find some targets to be more attractive than others may be. For instance, a bus stop with no people may be less attractive to a terrorist than a full bus stop on a busy Monday. In using weapons of mass destruction, a terrorist is attracted to highly populated targets where many people can lose their lives and excessive damage on infrastructure can occur. The modern terrorist is usually attracted to symbolic targets; that is, places considered to be the might of a country. The September 11 attacks on the U.S. soil illustrate this. The terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center, which symbolized the economic strength of the U.S. and also represented the globalization that Muslim fundamentalists found to be so objectionable. Soft targets; that is, places that are poorly defended, also rank high on the modern terrorist’s target list. Examples are institutions of learning, hospitals, and shopping malls. These places are highly vulnerable to terrorists’ attack by the use of weapons of mass destruction since they lack adequate physical security necessary to deter terrorist. Conclusion To this end, it is clear that terrorists’ use of weapons of mass destruction is a major threat that must be countered in this century. Nevertheless, efforts can be made to counter its effects by adopting appropriate measures for prevention, detection, and action. Terrorism will not be completely obliterated from th e face of the earth if individuals settle down and stop making efforts to win the war that has been fought since the beginning of recorded history. This calls for establishment of drastic measures that can prevent them from obtaining or accessing chemical, biological, nuclear, or radiological weapons. Consequently, with the adoption of these counter strategies, the war on terror can be won significantly. Reference List Cameron, G. (1999). Nuclear terrorism : a threat assessment for the 21st century. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Croddy, E., Wirtz, J. J. (2005). Weapons of mass destruction : an encyclopedia of  worldwide policy, technology, and history. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. Friedewald, V. (2006). Clinical guide to bioweapons and chemical agents. Notre Dame, Indiana: Springer Verlag. Lacy, T. K., Benedek, D. M. (2003, July). Terrorism and Weapons of Mass  Destruction: Managing the Behavioral Reaction in Primary Care. Medscape Today. Retrieved from https://www.medscap e.com/viewarticle/452845 Porteus, L. (2006, June). Weapons of Mass Destruction Handbook. Fox News. Retrieved from https://www.foxnews.com/ This essay on Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Terrorist Threat was written and submitted by user Madeleine U. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

10 Important Steps to Become a Travel Nurse

10 Important Steps to Become a Travel Nurse Want to be a nurse, but also want to travel? If you think that shorter term temporary jobs might be the best fit for your lifestyle and career, this might be a good field for you- and valuable work experience. If you think being a travel nurse is for you, here are ten steps to breaking into travel nursing.1. Get the educationStep one is getting the required education for the job. You’ll need a high school diploma or GED, plus completion of an accredited nursing program at the college level. In order to pass the required NCLEX exam, you’ll need at least an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or an ASN, which you can get in 2-3 years. Though you might wish to bump it up to a full on Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN), which more and more hospitals will start to require. If you’re short on time or funds, start with an Associate’s and move on if you need a BSN further down your path.2. Take the NCLEXYou’ll need to pass this exam before you proceed. This is required in order to qualify as an RN or licensed private nurse. The test is administered by the NCSBN.3. Get experienceYou’ll need hands-on nursing experience- usually a minimum of one year before a hospital will consider you for specialty jobs or assignments. That’s the bare minimum. Most places will ask for 2-3 years experience. Before choosing a specialty or a first job to acquire your much needed experience, consider the following most in demand specialties: ICU, ER, MS, MS/TELE, TELE, OR, LD, PACU, CVICU, Cath Lab, PEDS, PICU, NICU, Case Management, SDU, PCU, CVOR, PostPartum, Mother Baby, and Home Health. And if you want to travel, consider moving to one of the 24 states that honor the Nurse Licensure Compact. This will make sure your license is valid in whichever state you’re sent to work in. 24 possibilities!4. Figure out your tax situationYou’ll need to qualify for tax-free compensation by maintaining a legitimate tax home. Here are two valuable resources to help you learn just how to do that: Qualifying for Tax Free Stipends and Deductions As a Travel Nurse, andEverything Travel Nurses Need to Know about Taxes, Stipends and Tax-Free Money. Remember, if you don’t qualify for tax-free compensation, you will be asked to pay income taxes on that money at the end of every year.5. Figure out what you wantFigure out where you would (and wouldn’t) want to travel and which type of hospitals you’d most like to work in before you start applying. This will help you figure out which agencies to use to find your jobs.6. Figure out how much you want to makeDifferent agencies offer different packages and perks. Figure out which matter most to you: housing, travel stipend, benefits, 401k, rental cars, etc. Also make sure you have a solid understanding of how travel nursing pay packages are structured, as it’s very different from traditional salaried compensation. Make a strategy for how to compare diff erent pay packages before choosing. And make sure to do all this before you start applying.7. Start looking for agenciesOnce you know what you want, you’ll know which agencies can help you get it. There are services like Highway Hypodermics, or Travel Nursing Central that rate agencies’ success. You can also try a lead generator, a website that will connect you to â€Å"top agencies† by passing your information on to those agencies. But networking is also a good strategy. Ask your colleagues for referrals. And make sure to sign up for BluePipes, a professional networking site for healthcare pros. When you hear from an agency, make sure to ask the right questions about whether they can get you want you need before signing on.8. Make your profileEvery hospital will require an extensive application submission from you and your agency. Use BluePipes to tailor and control your submission profile and spare yourself some redundant paperwork.9. Get your papers togetherY ou’ll need to make sure all of your certifications and qualifications are up to date and ready to be delivered to a new employer STAT. Agencies will often help coordinate this- plus medical records- but it’s always a good idea to have your own set ready to go at all times. Never lose out on a job because of paperwork.10. Get hiredFinally it’s time to start submitting to jobs, preparing for interviews, signing contracts. Make sure to negotiate for what you need- and do some research into the peculiarities of travel healthcare compensation negotiation before you attempt this.Once you get your first gig, you’re well on your way! Congratulations, you’re a travel nurse.

Critical Social Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Social Analysis - Essay Example The basic assumption of the article underlined the fact that the privileges enjoyed by the whites deliberately override the basic rights and freedom of persons belonging to different color of skin, culture and religion. The repercussions of such discriminations are extensive and often abusive for underprivileged segment of society living in extreme poverty and sub human conditions in various parts of the world. The condition in South Africa is worth mentioning because of the abject poverty which has resulted in HIV/AIDS pandemic. As per the article, out of 3 million cases, 2.4 million HIV/AIDS cases were in Africa only! The writers are appalled that such human misery has, neither evoked empathy among the rich nations nor has it penetrated their hard faà §ade of self interest. One of the major ideas that the article propagates is that of health being one of the fundamental rights of all persons. Health is incorporated in the 1946 constitution of WHO2 and 1948 declaration of Human Rights. They clearly state the need for a minimum standard of living and access to medical facilities, food and housing for every human being, irrespective of race, religion, political belief and socio-economic conditions. The concept has been accepted in theory but practical implementation has yet to take off. The callous attitude towards the less fortunate can be gauged by Andrew Natsios, USAID Director when he said that Africans should not receive lifesaving AIDS treatment because ‘they don’t know what Western time is’(Salim). This is most blatant expression of racism at its worst not because of its offensive content but that it is uttered by a man of authority who is fully aware that he will get away with any blasà © attitude because he is white and he is American. America indeed, has turned out to be the biggest promoter of global apartheid. The inequalities and discriminatory practices are a legacy

MIS case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MIS - Case Study Example This may help to enhance the efficiency of service delivery (German, 2010). The relationship between regulatory consideration and wireless services arises from the fact that Sprint Company must install towers and equipments. The installed towers and signal may help the company to send wireless signals to its customers located in different locations. This will further enable the company to realize its strategies of providing the fasted and the most efficient wireless network as compared to its competitors in the telecommunication industry. This means that for this to happen Sprint company must take into consideration the regulations placed by the state and local government when installing towers and equipments that will facilitate effective and efficient supply of a higher bandwidth wireless network. For instance prior installing walls and equipment on the identified location, Sprint must obtain the approval of the local government, property owners to mention just but a few. In addition, the company must observe numerous bureaucracies that had been put forth by California commission regarding the sites situated near the Oceans (German, 2010). The interest of individual as customer conflict with that of homeowners in the sense that individual customers want a 4th generation Cellular services while home owners are against the installation of towers inside their building as they fear the higher frequencies may be detrimental to their property. Further, the homeowners value aesthetic more than the placement of new infrastructures for wireless connection Sprint Company. This has made it quite difficult for Sprint Company to implement its goals/objectives of providing a higher bandwidth wireless network connection to its customers and hence decrementing its profit maximization. However, despite the above a conflict of interest

Virgin Organizational Culture

Virgin Organizational Culture Virgin Groups (History) Virgin was started in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson. Today, it is one of the worlds biggest brands in many sectors like financial services, travel, music, transportation, mobile telephony, music and fitness. With 300 companies worldwide, virgin employs about 50,000 people in 30 countries, its global branded revenues in 2009 Â £11.5 billion (About Virgin, 2010). In 1968, Richard Branson issued his magazine student. To the surprise of his family he sold 50,000 copies of his magazine. In 1970, he dropped out of school and started Virgin, it began as a mail-order record company, at that time a new has been introduced that enabled people to sell records at prices that were discounted and Branson took advantage of this law. Branson new company was an instant success, sales boosted. Then, a postal strike negatively affected the mail order business. Branson changed his strategy. He opened a small record store and it was successful, many other stores followed. Many setbacks followed the strike such as tax rates and labor strikes. However, Bransons character helped him overcome these obstacles because he enjoyed overcoming new challenges. He chose to name his company virgin because it means his lack of knowledge of the type of business he entered into. In the late 1970s Virgin sponsored many bands that became very popular in the UK. During the early 1980s Branson started the airline industry by flying people between America and London. He offered entertainment and unique features for passengers. During the early 1990s Virgin Atlantic opened routes to Tokyo, Greece, Hongkong and several U.S. cities Branson continued to sign records with big stars and make millions of dollars and expand his stores to new areas. Bransons extraordinary management methods was one of the key reasons of virgins success during the 1970s and 1980s, Branson favored slacks and sweaters and abandoned the traditional formal workplace suits and ties, furthermore another technique that Branson used was that he operated his holding company from his private barge relying on his personal assistant to keep him in contact with his administrative staff, Bransons barge was located in the industrial regents canal (Virgin Groups Company History) Introduction to Organizational Culture Cultural Functions It is hard to define a culture in a single way; culture is a broad word that can be adjusted on each and every nation differently. Not limited to nations, societies, and individuals, culture can be seen everywhere even in companies and organizations. Culture contains several values, principles, beliefs and behavioral style, artifacts, language and ceremonies, inside and outside an organization, where the employees can contribute to the organization within its rules and boarders. In the industry each and every union customs their own traditions, an organization will set its own culture based on its needs and requirement to represent itself (Components of Culture, 2005). The organizational culture is important to indentify the companys identity which will be successful by introducing three important functions (Principles of Management, 2008): Control system: this function basically states what the organization managers and staff are allowed and not allowed to do, it stays within certain rules that the work force of the company should follow, and it states their behavior. Social glue: it is driving the employees to feel more belonging and integrated to the organization as it fitful their needs and social networking, and to be an important role in this company. Sense making: this important area helps the employees to understand how the company functions, what are their goals, vision, values and how do they practice in their daily life to move forward with it. These important functions also apply on Virgin, since the 1980s Branson had his own unique style of management. He gave managers the authority and full control over the projects that he established. He heavily relied on a group of executives that he selected, he trusted them and allowed them to work in their Divisions with minimum interference, based on their performance Branson offered his executives high-value incentives. An example of Bransons innovative techniques to break up his large-less personal organizations into smaller units he disbanded his record enterprise into five companies by the late 1980s, each of which focused on different artists and bands. In addition, he empowered his employees to take risks without fear of failure. He is also well known to be an adventurer and a risk-taker (Virgin Groups Company History) Adaptive Culture Ethical Culture A culture of an organization is not only affected internally, it could also get affected externally, where it is very important for any organizations culture to be adaptive to change as the employees focus on changing the culture aligned with the environment surrounding it based on its needs and to keep track with the changes (Principles of Management, 2008). To create adaptive culture, there must be a strong communication between the staff and departments; therefore Virgins way of communication is well-built, where Branson is accessible easily for all staff to listen, understand what the employee needs to take this company to the higher level. Branson is a good example of a manager, where he gets to fly in the economy class and help in serving food, that makes him live the moment and observe what needs to be changed in his company (Brown, 2010). An organization should not only have an adaptive culture, but also it should encourage having an ethical culture where their employees can practice their values ethically and competing with honor (Principles of Management, 2008), for instance Virgin airlines; they look for people who are optimistic, enthusiastic and humble. The airline uses behavioral event interviewing, in which applicants are asked questions to Indicate particular behaviors and motivations that align with a Virgin Blue personality template (Breaking in a new culture: the Virgin Blue story, 2010). Strengthen the Organization Cultural Strategies Changing and strengthen the organization culture could be done in so many ways, one of the factors is the actions of the leaders and founders where they got the opportunity to set the standard for the company (Principles of Management, 2008), just like what Virgins high profiled leaders did, the reason behind the success, it is because it has 12 members who were there from the start and they established the culture of virgin (Breaking in a new culture: the Virgin Blue story, 2010). Another way of strengthen the culture is by consistent rewards for the employees to encourage them to behave in a certain way, not limited to rewards but in addition selecting and socializing employees that could blend in with the organization culture. Moreover, aligning artifacts where sharing the stories and the support of the culture and celebrating their goals (Principles of Management, 2008). Virgin did not neglect their employees, Branson is a generous man, where he opens his house for staff parties, send them Christmas gifts, give them responsibilities to make them have the sense of ownership as they are well treated with autonomy (Brown, 2010) Nothing comes without planning and strategizing, so does the culture where there are some strategies to merge different organizational cultures (Principles of Management, 2008): Assimilation: it is when an employee gains the cultural values from a company, and it works best when a company has a weak culture. Deculturation: it is basically stripping a company from its own culture and enforce new rules and values on it, and this happens when a certain culture doesnt work for a company that needs to change. Integration: it is based on combining two cultures into one advanced culture and put it into the best picture; this case can work in an existing culture to improve it. Separation: this case happens while merging companies, however, they agree on remaining different as their business pattern requires different cultures. Conclusion Virgin have their own values such as value for money simple, but not cheap, quality values, values for challenges, brilliant customer service, enjoyment and having fun Humor, but not offensive, and last but not least value for innovation Thinking outside the box (Brown, 2010). To conclude, culture is an important broad topic, and it shapes the identity of an individual or a company, it is recommended for every new entry in the industry to clarify their values, beliefs and rules to have a strong presence in the market, any organizations culture should always be fit within the environment, moderately strong and adaptive, managers should always be aware of presenting their brand in the best way possible, and culture is one of the elements that will help creating the companys brand.

The Pirate Bay

C ASE S TUDY The Pirate Bay: The World's Most Resilient Copyright Infringer? The Pirate Bay (TPB), a Swedish Web site (Piratebay. org), is one of the world's most popular pirated music and content sites, offering free access to millions of copyrighted songs and thousands of copyrighted Hollywood movies. In June 2011, The Pirate Bay reported that it had about 5 m illion r egistered u s ers, a nd 25 m illion n on-registered u sers ( so-called â€Å"free riders â€Å"). To p ut t hat n umber i n p e rsp ec tive, c onsider t hat i t is n early t hr ee t imes t h e p opulation o f S weden i tself (9 m illion).T he P irate Bay is r egularly i n t he t op 100 m ost p opular Web sites i n t he w orld, a nd r eac h es 1 % o f t he global I nt e rn et popula ­ tion, according to I nternet a nalysts i n 2 0ll. I n S weden, Norway, a nd t he Ne therlands, i t o ften r anks a s o ne o f t he t op 10 s ites. T his d espit e t he fac t t hat TPB h as b een s ubjected t o r epeated l egal effort s to s hut i t do wn . I t b ills itself a s â€Å"the world's m ost r esilient b ittorrent site. † But t he h attIe is far f rom over.T he I nternet i s b ecoming a t ough p lace f or m usic a nd v ideo p irates to m ak e a liv in g i n p art b e c aus e o f e nforce ­ ment a ctions, b ut m ore i mportantly b ecause o f new m obile a nd w ireless t echnologies t hat e nable h igh-quality c ontent to b e s treamed for j ust a s mall fee. Q. search Torrents I ~ I ~ 1::rt. J.!! 9! I! I ~ 1D! R..! 92 How d o I clo wn'o. d? == ­ F irst s ome b ackground. T he P irate Bay is p art o f a E uropean s ocial a nd p olitical m ovement t hat o pposes c opyrighted c ontent a nd d emands t hat m usic, v ideos, TV shows, a nd o ther d igital c ontent b e f ree a nd u nrestricted.I n t he w ords o f t he P irate Party, â€Å"the P irate B ay is a u nique p latform for d istributing c ulture b etween r egular p eople a nd i ndependent a rtists, a nd t hat's s omething w e w ant to p res erve. † I n a u nique t wist o n p rior e fforts to p rovide â€Å"free† m usic, T he P irate Bay d oes n ot o perate a d atabase o f c opyrighted c ontent. N either d oes i t o perate a n etwork o f c omputers o wned b y † members† w ho s tore t he c ontent, n or c reate, o wn, o r d istribute s oftware ( like BitTorrent a nd m ost o ther s o-called P2P n etworks) t hat p ermit s uch n etworks t o e xist i n t he f irst place.T hese w ere t he o ld t echniques for r ipping o ff m usic. I nstead, T he P irate Bay s imply p rovides a s earch e ngine t hat r esponds to u ser q ueries for m usic t racks, o r s pecific m ovie t itles, a nd g enerates a l ist o f s earch r esults t hat i nclude P2P n etworks a round t he w orld w here t he t itles c an b e f ound. By click ­ ing o n a s elected l ink, u sers g ain a ccess t o t he c opyrighted c ontent, b ut o nly a fter d ownloading s oftware a nd o ther files f rom t hat P2P n etwork. Voila' â€Å"No body, n o c rime. T he P irate Bay j ust l inks i ts u sers to s tolen m edia files. W hat c ould b e i llegal? T he P irate Bay c laims i t is m erely a s earch e ngine p rovid ­ ing p ointers to existing P2P n etworks t hat it d oes n ot i tself c ontrol. I t c laims t hat i t c annot c ontrol w hat c ontent u sers u ltimately f ind o n t hose P2P n etworks, a nd t hat it is n o d ifferent f rom a ny o ther s earch e ngine, s uch a s Google o r Bing, w hich a re n ot h eld r esponsible for t he c ontent f ound o n s ites l isted i n s earch r esults.F rom a b roader s tandpoint, T he P irate Bay's f ounders a lso c laim t hat c opyright l aws i n g en ­ eral u njustly i nterfere w ith t he f ree flow o f i nformation o n t he I nternet, a nd t hat i n a ny e vent, t hey w ere n ot v iolating S wedish c opyright law, w hich t hey f elt s hould b e t he o nly l aw t hat a pplied. A nd t hey f urther c laimed t hey d id n ot e ncourage, i ncite, o r e nable i llegal d ownloading. N ever theless, t he d efendants h ave n ever d enied t heirs w as a c ommercial e nterprise.D espite all t he t alk b y t he P irate P arty c alling for t he free, u nfettered s pread o f c ulture, T he P irate B ay w as a m oney-making o peration f rom t he b eginning, d esigned to p roduce p rofits for its founders, w ith a dvertising a s t he p rimary s ource o f r evenue. H owever, i n a r uling t hat p uts to r est t he n otion t hat t he l aw is a lways b ehind t he d evelopment o f t echnology, t he F irst S wedish C ourt i n S tockholm d eclared t he f our f ounders g uilty o f v iolating S wedish c opyright law, a nd s entenced e ach t o o ne y ear i n p rison a nd p ayment o f $3. m illion i n r estitution to t he p laintiffs, all S wedish d ivisions o fthe m ajor r ecord l abel f irms ( Warner Music, Sony, a nd EMI G roup a mong t hem). T he c ourt s aid â€Å"By p roviding a w ebsite w ith † . w ell-developed s earch f unc ­ tions, e asy u ploading a nd s torage possi bilities, a nd w ith a t racker l inked to t he w eb ­ site, t he a ccused h ave i ncited t he c rimes t hat t he file s harers h ave c ommitted. † T he c ourt a lso s aid t hat t he f our d efendants h ad b een a ware o f t he fact t hat c opyrighted m aterial w as s hared w ith t he h elp o f t heir site.T he p rison s entence w as j ustified b y † extensive accessibility o f o thers' c opyrights a nd t he fact t hat t he o peration w as c on ­ ducted c ommercially a nd i n a n o rganized f ashion. † I n o ther w ords, t he c ourt b elieved t he d efendants w ere e ngaged i n a c ommercial e nterprise, t he b asis o f w hich w as e ncouraging v isitors to v iolate t he c opyrights o f o wners. I n fact, t he p rimary p urpose o f T he P irate B ay w as to violate c opyrights i n o rder to m ake m oney for t he o wners ( commercial i ntent). Enable,† â€Å"induce,† a nd † encourage† c opyright i nfringement a nd † intent to sellà ¢â‚¬  a re k ey w ords i n t his r uling a nd T he P irate Bay case. T hese c oncepts g rounded i n W estern l aw a re n ot â€Å"disabled† b y n ew t echnology, b ut i nstead c an b e, a nd are, e xtensible to n ew t echnologies, a nd u sed to s hape t echnology t o society's n eeds a nd w ishes. I ndeed, t here's a c onsensus d eveloping a mong p rosecutors a nd c ourts w orld ­ wide t hat i nfringement is n ot j ustified s imply b ecause i t's t echnically p ossible to do i t o n t he I nternet.T he P irate Bay is a ppealing t he c ourt j udgment, h as p aid n o fine, a nd i ts o wners h ave, as yet, n ever s pent a n ight i n j ail. T he P irate Bay Web site c ontinues to o perate i n S weden m uch a s before. Well, almost. I n 2 0ll, t he f irm m oved i ts s ervers i nto c aves i n S weden, a nd d ispersed m ultiple c opies o f i ts p rogram to o ther c ountries j ust i n c ase Swedish police t ry t o confiscate its s ervers a gain. Meanwhile, t he u . S. g overnment p ressured t he S wedish g overnment to s trengthen i ts copyright laws to discourage r ampant d ownloading.I n S weden, downloading m usic a nd v ideos from illegal sites w as v ery popular, e ngaged i n b y 43% o fthe S wedish Inter ­ net p opulation. 1b s trengthen its laws, S weden a dopted t he E uropean U nion c onven ­ tion o n c opyrights, w hich allows c ontent o wners to receive f rom I nternet p roviders t he n ames a nd a ddresses o f p eople s uspected o f s haring p irated files. I n F rance, participat ­ ing i n t hese p irate sites will r esult i n b anishment f rom t he I nternet for u p to t hree y ears.As a result, I nternet traffic i n S weden d eclined b y 40 % , a nd h as s tayed t here. Like t he f ight a gainst t he o riginal C aribbean p irates o f t he s eventeenth c entury, g lobal forces c ontinue t o m arshal a gainst T he P irate Bay. N ot t he B ritish N avy t his t ime, b ut a l oose c oalition o f t he U nited S tates a nd a n umber o f E urope an c ountries .. T he f irm h as b een h ounded b y l awsuits, police raids, a nd c onfiscation o f s ervers i n F rance, Finland, Italy, G ermany, D enmark, I reland, t he U. K. , a nd G reece.T hese c ountries h ave i n s ome c ases r efused to allow I nternet s ervice p roviders i n t heir c ountries to h ost T he P irate Bay, o r l ink to T he P irate Bay, n o m atter w here i n t he w orld i ts s ervers a re l ocated. T he P irate Bay h as c aused E ngland, France, Malaysia, F inland, a nd m ost r ecently t he U nited States, to c onsider s trong i ntellectual p rop ­ erty p rotection l aws t hat w ill p revent d omestic s earch e ngines a nd ISPs f rom l inking to i nfringing sites, o r r esolving t heir d omain n ames. C alled t he P rotect IP Act, t he p roposed l egislation n ow i n t he U.S. S enate i s a n e ffort to s hut o ff t raffic f rom t he U nited S tates to offshore p irate s ites t hat h ave n o s ignificant u se o ther t han e ngaging, e nabling, o r f acilit ating t he illegal c opying o r d istribution o f c opyrighted m aterial i n † substantially c omplete form. † T he t arget s ites m ust b e † dedicated t o infringing. † I n a ddition, t he l aw w ould p ermit i ntellectual p roperty o wners a nd g overnment a gencies to s eek i njunctions a gainst i nfringing sites, p otentially s hutting t hem d own i mmediately u ntil t he i ssues c an b e a rgued i n c ourt.For o nshore sites, t he I mmigra ­ tion a nd C ustoms E nforcement (ICE) a gency a lready s eizes Web site d omains t hat v iolate U. S. laws o n I nternet g ambling a nd i ntellectual p roperty t heft, a nd r edirects t his t raffic to a Web p age h osted b y ICE e xplaining t he a ction. T he P rotect I P Act a nd s imilar l egislation i n E urope is o pposed b y civil l iberties g roups a nd s earch e ngine f irms s uch a s Google.T he E lectronic F rontier F oundation (EFF) b elieves d efining † dedicated i nfringing sites† c ould b e s omewhat a rbitrary, a nd t he l egislation i ntroduces t he p ossibility t hat g overnment a gencies c ould c ensor o r s hut d own Web sites, t hreatening f reedom o f s peech. Eric Schmidt, n ow C hairman o f Google, said i n May 2011 t hat Google will fight all proposed restrictions o n s earch e ngine linking b ecause t hey c ould â€Å"set a disastrous precedent† for freedom o f speech, a nd l ead to censorship similar to t hat i mposed b y C hina.Because Google's s earch e ngine is u sed b y m illions o f people e very d ay to find BitThrrent sites, Google itself is a major contributor to infringement, albeit unintentionally. Meanwhile, t he w orld's largest advertising agency, GroupM, h as k eelhauled T he P irate Bay a nd 2,000 o ther s ites worldwide b y p utting t he s ites o n i ts blacklist o f copyright infringing sites w here it will n ot b uy a dvertising space.Pirating intellectual p roperty is, above all, about t he m oney, as a ny good pirate knows. T h e P irate Bay case is j ust t he l atest i n a saga o f c ourt c ases involving t he r ecord industry, w hich w ants to preserve its d ominance o f c opyrighted music, a nd I nter ­ net u sers who w ant free music. I n 200S, after several years o f h eated c ourt b attles, t he c ase o f Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios v. Grokster, et al. f inally r eached t he u . S. Supreme Court.I n J une 200S, t he C ourt h anded d own its u nanimous decision: Inter ­ net file-sharing services s uch as Grokster, StreamCast, BitThrrent, a nd Kazaa could b e h eld liable for copyright i nfringement b ecause t hey i ntentionally s ought to induce, enable, a nd e ncourage users to share m usic t hat w as o wned b y r ecord companies. Indeed, i t w as t heir b usiness model: steal t he music, g ather a h uge a udience, a nd m onetize t he a udience b y a dvertising o r t hrough s ubscription fees. Since t he c ourt ruling, Kazaa, Morpheus, Grokster, BearShare, iMesh, a nd m any o thers h ave e ither . one o ut o f business o r s ettled w ith t he r ecord firms a nd c onverted themselves i nto legal file-sharing sites b y e ntering i nto relationships w ith m usic i ndustry firms. I n May 2010, M ark Gorton, founder o f t he l argest u. S. pirate site, LimeWire, lost a copy ­ right i nfringement case. I n May 2011, a dmitting h is guilt (â€Å"I w as wrong†), a nd h aving facilitated t he m ass p iracy o f billions o f s ongs over a lO-year period, Gorton a nd h is file-sharing c ompany a greed to compensate t he four largest record labels b y p aying t hem $10S million.T hese l egal victories, a nd s tronger g overnment e nforcement o f c opyright laws, have n ot p roven to b e t he m agic b ullet t hat m iraculously solves all t he p roblems facing t he m usic i ndustry. I n a ddition to t he i ssue o f illegal downloads, legitimate digital music sales h ave so far failed to m ake u p for falling CD s ales revenues. T he o nly h ope for t he m usic i ndustry is to cha nge its b usiness m odel a nd decisively move towards digital distribution platforms. H ere t hey a re m aking s triking progress b ut c ontinue to face r evenue declines.I n 2011, digital m usic sales a ccount for n early SO% o f industry r evenues, totaling $S. 7 billion, u p f rom $1. 9 billion i n 2006. I n 2 m2, digital sales o f m usic will exceed sales from CDs. I n 2011, a nnual r evenue f rom CD s ales is 1ess t han h alf of 200S1evels. Album sales o f 12 o r m ore songs, b oth digital a nd o n CD, a re also d own IS% a nnually o ver t he s ame p eriod. Since 2003, t housands o f r etail music stores have closed, a nd Walmart h as c ut b ack s helf s pace devoted to CDs a nd n ow c arries only t he t op titles.As CD sales o f complete albums p lummet, o nline m usic s ales o f singles are soar ­ ing rapidly, l ed b y iThnes. Sales o f digital m usic a t iThnes, Rhapsody, a nd e Music have b een growing a t a bout SO% p er y ear s ince 2006. Apple dominates t he m usical d ownload s cene a nd h as b ecome t he l argest retailer o f m usic i n t he U nited States, – SOURCES: â€Å"World's Biggest Ad Agency Keelhauls 2,000 Pirate Sites,† by Natalie Apostolu, The Register, June 14, 2011; â€Å"Internet Piracy and How to Stop It,† New York Times, June 8,2011; â€Å"The â€Å"Pirate Bay: FiveYears After the Raid,† by Ernesto, Torrentfreak. com, May 31,2011; â€Å"Why Google Would Defend Pirate Bay? ,† by Parmy Olson, Forbes, May 19, 2011; â€Å"The Protect IPAct: COICA Redux,† by Abigail Phillips, Electronic Frontier Foundation, May 12,2011; â€Å"Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft 01 Intellectual Property (Protect IP Act) 012011,† United States Senate, 112th Congress, 1st Session, 2011; â€Å"Pirate Bay Keeps Sinking: Another Law Suit Coming,† by Stan Schroeder, mashable. com, June 22, 2010; â€Å"Idea Man 01 LineWire at aCrossroads,† by Joseph Plambeck, New York Times, May 23, 2010; â€Å"Pirate Bay Sunk by Hollywood Injunction For Now,† by Charles Arthur, The Guardian, May 17 2010; â€Å"British PutTeeth in Anti ­ Piracy Proposal,† by Eric Planner, New York Times, March 14,2010; â€Å"How Pandora Slipped Past the Junkyard,† by Claire Cain Miller, New York Times, March 7, 2010. r eplacing Walmart. By 2011, t he i Thnes Store h ad s old o ver 15 billion songs, 450 million TV shows, a nd o ver 100 million movies, m aking i t t he w orld's m ost p opular o nline m usic, TV, a nd m ovie store.Its r evenues a re u p 75% i n t he l ast year. Driving t his p erformance, o f course, are t he s ales o f its various i-devices. By mid-2011, Apple h ad s old over 300 million iPods (all models), over 125 million iPhones, a nd 25 m illion iPads. A nd a ccording to a s tudy b y A rbor N etworks a nd t he U niversity o f M ichigan, p eer-to-peer t raffic is s hrinking d ramatically, a nd s treaming o f video a nd m usic f rom l egiti mate s ites h as g rown to o ver 10 % o f all I nternet traffic.R esearchers s urmise t hat c onsumers h ave j ust f ound i t a l ot e asier a nd m ore c onvenient t o access videos a nd m usic f rom t hese s ites r ather t han u sing P2P s haring s ites w here a m ovie c an t ake e ight h ours to download, a nd w here d ownloading m usic t racks c an also b ring a h ost o f m al ware w ith t he m usic. I n a ddition, t he w hole i dea o f â€Å"owning† m usic i n t he f orm o f records, tapes, CDs, a nd m usic files s tored o n y our h ard d rive is o ut o f d ate. While s ubscription m odels i n t he p ast d id n ot w ork, t hey w ere l imited t o s treaming m usic t o d esktop a nd l aptop PCs.I n t he w orld o f mobile I nternet d evices, t he i dea o f s treaming m usic all d ay l ong t o y our i Phone o r B lackBerry is m uch m ore a ttractive. I n 2011, P andora, t he m usic ­ streaming service, h as o ver 94 m illion r egistered u sers a nd 34 m illion s ubscribers, 30% o f w hom c onnect w ith s martphones. T he U. K. m usic s ervice Spotify o pened to U. S. c ustomers i n J uly 2011, a nd o ffers its 10 m illion s ubscribers a ccess to m ore t han 13 m illion s treaming m usic t racks t hat c an b e p layed i nstantly b y j ust d ragging t he s ong y ou w ant t o y our i Phone a pp.Users do n ot n eed t o w ait for d ownloads o r c lutter t heir h ard d rives a nd f lash drives w ith files, o r o rganize t he t housands o f s ongs o n t heir s torage devices. However, a d ownload s ervice was a dded i n 2011. I n e ach o f t hese n ew m edia d elivery p latforms, t he c opyright o wners-record c ompanies, a rtists, a nd H ollywood s tudios-have s truck l icensing d eals w ith t he t ech ­ nology p latform o wners a nd d istributors (Apple, Amazon, a nd Google).T hese n ew p latforms o ffer a w in-win s olution. C onsumers a re b enefitted b y h aving n ear i nstant a ccess to high-quality m usic t racks a nd v ideos w ithout t he h assle o f P2P software downloads. C ontent o wners g et a g rowing r evenue s tream a nd p rotection for t heir c opyrighted c ontent. A nd t he p irates? T he P irate Bay a nd o ther p irate s ites m ay n ot b e a ble to c ompete w ith n ew a nd b etter w ays to l isten t o m usic a nd v iew v ideos.Like t he r eal p irates o f the C aribbean, t echnology a nd c onsumer p reference for e ase o f use m ay l eave t hem b ehind. Case Study Questions 1. Do you think The Pirate Bay can continue to survive in a global Internet world? Why or why not? 2. Why is legislation like The Protect IP Act opposed by Google and civil liberties groups? 3. Do you think it is possible to reliably identify â€Å"dedicated infringing Web sites? † What criteria do you suggest? 4. Why does cloud computing threaten pirate sites?