Differences between the Compensation and Benefits Programs used in U. S. and Germany

Compensation refers to the salary and/or wage structures and programs such as job descriptions salary, bonus-based benefits programs, merit based programs and commission-based programs (Patricia & David 125). Compensation and benefits are provided either as variable pay and/or base pay. Stock option plans In Germany, stock option plans are only available for leading employees and German board members. These are usually in the form of phantom stocks, stock appreciation rights or convertible bonds (Ohle 1). At the moment of their exercise, these stock options are taxable.In German stock options are granted in two forms whose difference is primarily based on the tax treatment on them. Stock options in U. S encompass Non-Qualified Stock Options, Put Options and Incentive Stock Options. However, a great percentage of these stock options are not exercisable immediately and are non-transferable thus making it impossible to readily determine their fair market value. This implies that stock o ptions are not taxable when granted in the context of U. S (Patricia & David 127). Operational retirement provisionsUnlike U. S, Germany has operational provisions for its retirement pension plans through which employers make it possible for their workers to change some of their wages into retirement operation plans. This revolves around various models such as the assistance funds, direct insurance, pension funds and direct benefits. U. S lacks such provisions which are not bound to taxation. In German’s case, the most common retirement operational provisions encompass plans such as the 401 (k) and the cash balance plans (Ohle, 1).On a different note, the pension program of US was not made such as to offer old age insurance by itself while that of Germany is considered to be primarily a grant for a basic insurance. Thus private and operational retirement plans are very vital to American retirees unlike for Germans. Private retirement provisions In Germany, there are a social security programs to which employees’ payroll taxes account for half of the contributions while the employers contribute the other half.These include long-range nursing care, unemployment benefits, pensions and health insurance and are the four major German social security parts (Ohle 1). Other social security programs cover social indemnity catered for by the government and the accident insurance handled by the employer. The U. S system on the hand comprises of: the state program for children’s health insurance, supplementary security income, temporary assistance for needy families, health insurance for the disabled and aged, unemployment benefits, state grants for medical assistance programs (DOL 1).The U. S social system is majorly funded through payroll taxes and the overall program is divided into three main parts: survivors, retirement and disability insurance. Unemployment benefits The unemployment program in U. S is funded by the federal and state unemployment taxes paid by employers. Unemployment benefits in Germany are divided into two categories: the unemployment insurance (UI) applicable to previously employed workers who were insured during their tenure; and the unemployment assistance (UA) which comes after UI and has no time limit. The U.S unemployment benefit system differs from the one in Germany in that it covers a wide range of areas not covered by the German program (DOL 1). This is because the U. S program includes a self employment assistance package for the re-employment period, trade readjustment allowance, extended benefits, and assistance for the unemployment due to disasters. Heath care insurance The compensation and benefits program in Germany encompasses a mandatory contribution towards social security in terms of payments to the legal state health care insurance program.However, big salaried employees can opt to join a private health care system rather than the state health care system which is also considered a bene fit to some extent. On the other hand, U. S. has a different health care program known as the Federal Employees’ Health Benefits (FEHB) that enables eligible employees to be part of a group plan for health insurance (Patricia & David 131). U. S also has two other options contributing to health insurance unlike Germany. These include: life insurance under the standard additional and family options and the long-term care insurance paid for fully by the employees. Leave and public holidaysThe terms of employment in German usually include a minimum of twenty-four paid leave days annually for those employees working six days a week on full time basis and 20 days to those working 5 days a week (Ohle, 1). Public holidays however vary form state to state. This includes other paid and protected leave days such as sick leave and maternity leave. U. S on the other hand has different terms when it comes to leave and public holidays. For instance, the U. S Family and Medical Leave Act doe s not entitled employees to any leave provides for a job-protected 12 weeks unpaid leave per any twelve month period incase of care emergencies.

MSc Development Finance

Furthering my knowledge in finance and economics is one of my goals. As a native of Brunei, a developing country, I would like to contribute to my country’s progress with the use of the knowledge and skills that I acquired during my undergraduate studies. Majoring in accounting and economics has provided me extensive knowledge of various economic principles and theories and their application in the business world. Although the University of Manchester has given me sufficient knowledge in the field that I have chosen, I believe that pursuing to study under this programme would provide me a broad yet focused knowledge in development finance and its practical application in the public sector. I chose to pursue this programme because of its international focus, group work, and emphasis on learning public finance, bank and non-bank financial institutions, international finance organizations, aid agencies and other finance-related areas of study that can help in understanding how the financial theories governing our country and the world economy work. The program is also designed to teach me financial inclusion and microfinance in relation to poverty reduction. My interest in development finance first sparked during my junior years. My wish to contribute to my country’s progress was further intensified by a course about economic policies of developing countries and their role in the international market. Working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Development in Brunei under the Finance Department for summer internship last summer 2007 has also provided me first-hand experience and knowledge in international trade. I am confident that this university has the capacity to provide students with knowledge beyond the conventional financial educational program. The programme of University of Manchester also includes strengthening the analytical decision-making skills of students. It also offers wider academic opportunities and school resources that will deepen my expertise and broaden my perspectives. I am especially interested and looking forward to the overseas field visit which is a crucial part of the programme. Most of the countries visited are developing countries like Brunei which face similar economic situations. The programme also allows students to conduct research in government and non-government organizations and other universities in the U.K. This can not only broaden my knowledge and hone my skills in finance, but also enhance my socializing and communication skills. With hopes and persuasion in my mind, I aim to establish a career that can contribute to the further development of the financial situation in my county. One of the careers that I have in mind is a job in Brunei Investment Agency (BIA). As mentioned earlier, my country is a developing country. Although we are an oil-producing country, I believe that in terms of investment and contribution to the world economy, there is still much room for progress. Through this programme, I know that I would be able to obtain what is necessary to achieve my goal. Thus, I see myself successful in a career on this field and making Brunei a more developed and investment-focused country. Â  

Bradford Assay

Bradford Protein Assay Practical Report 1. Present your data (including raw data and calculated concentrations) for the protein standards in the form of a clear table. Give one example of how you calculated protein concentration. Do not forget a descriptive title and units (4marks) Title either too long or not descriptive or absent Your results are in duplicate shouldn’t be referred to as ‘set1 set2’ or ‘original’ and ‘duplicate’ Many of you think units of absorbance are nm but A has arbitrary (ie no) units. nm indicates the ax of the chromophore Failure to give correct units in legends eg (ml) or (? g/ml) 2. Plot a graph of absorbance against protein concentration by hand. The graph should have an appropriate title and clearly labelled axes. Staple graph to the completed proforma and the Life Sciences submission sheet (4 marks) Mainly ok but both duplicate Abs- blank should be plotted and one line of best fit drawn through points. Do not extrapolate beyond the highest standard, you have no evidence that Beer-Lambert’s Law applies at high A. Make sure you choose appropriate scale and use full scale deflection on A4 graph paper. These types of graph are standard curves and that term should be in the title, remember we are not directly measuring the absorbance of protein, but a chromophore derived from the protein. 3. Present your data for unknown samples (including raw data and calculated concentrations of X Y) in the form of a clear table. Do not forget title and units. (4 marks) All data should be in one table but pay attention to typesetting and make sure that words/numbers are not split between 2 lines, this will lose marks. Absorbance of blank must be subtracted from values for unknown as they also contain non-specific absorbance. Many of you wrote dilutions incorrectly eg 1:2. The symbol : means ratio ? this actually means 1in 3. Either write as 1in 2 or 1:1 Never average absorbance-it’s not good practise (except for blank) you should convert to analyte then average your final results. Most dilute samples have least absorbance, many of you muddled your dilutions making final values incorrect. Always double-check arithmetic. If the final answer for the different dilutions don’t agree, look at your results and ask yourself if they seem right. Remember there is only one right answer for each unknown . Explain briefly each step of your calculations to find the protein concentration of X and Y, underlining your final answers. Convert to mg/ml. (6 marks) No need to explain how to read values from the std curve. Explain which absorbance values you read from the graph, what (if any) dilution factor you multiplied that value by, and then which answers you then averaged to get your final answers and why you ignored any data (eg poor duplicates or off scale cf standard- you cannot extrapolate beyond your std curve ) Some of you not using the proforma wrote too much. You will be penalised for exceeding allocated space in assignments, so be mindful of this 5. What is the chromophore measured in the Bradford assay? (2 marks) Many of you defined the term chromophore rather than describing the Bradford chromophore which is CBB + protein. (not CBB alone! ) The ? max at 595nm is formed when the dye binds to protein 6. What is the purpose of the blank? Why is it necessary to subtract the absorbance of the blank from all other results? (2 marks) The blank gives us the value for non-specific absorbance ; as we are interested in the specific (in this case protein) absorbance, we must subtract the blank absorbance from all other abs. values. Many of you didn’t subtract the blank from the unknown’s but as they are also mixtures of protein, NaCl and reagents measured in cuvettes, they also contain non-specific absorbance so you must subtract the blank. Many of you said the blank is used to zero the spectrophotometer (which it can be ) but we didn’t do that; we zeroed on water or NaCl then subtracted the blank mathematically. The blank you had to deduct was to remove the combined absorbances of water, NaCl and most importantly the dye in the uncomplexed state 7. The Biuret and Folin-Lowry are two other commonly used colourimetric protein assays. UV absorption can also be used to determine protein concentration. Describe the basis of these methods and compare them with the Bradford assay in terms of ease, sensitivity, range and interferences. (8 marks) You need to describe the biochemical basis(not the actual method) of the Biuret, Lowry and Bradford assays. The Lowry is a modification of the Biuret to improve it’s sensitivity so it’s appropriate to describe the Biuret method first , then describe the Lowry modification You need to state the range (the lowest- highest concentration they can detect) sensitivity(the lowest amount they can detect) for each assay. Some of you confused sensitivity with interference ie substances which, if present will give incorrect results. You need to state how reliable they are -whether they are prone to interferences. You could mention cost of reagents, ease of procedure Many of you placed too much emphasis on the ? ax of the different chromophores described but this is not really relevant. You need to state the wavelength at which proteins absorb UV radiation and which moieties in proteins absorb in the UV. ie at 280nm(near UV) it’s the aromatic amino acids, some of you also mention A200nm(far UV) at which peptide bonds absorb, although this is of little practical use. Note any inte rferences- remember many things absorb UV radiation Advantages of using UV- it’s non destructive so you can recover your sample for further investigation. Formula which relates UV absorption to protein concentration

Show how waves transfer energy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Show how waves transfer energy - Assignment Example The movement, drift and transmission of waves as an entity between two points results in transfer of energy. For example, in case of the water waves in the oceans and on sea sides, a thrust is felt and water displaces the sand and other elements on the beach side. This is a case of waves transmitting the energy. A wave itself moves in the form of the crest and trough and each has its own altitude and moves through the different frequencies (Giordano, 2012, p. 446). The waves enable producing energy in a specific manner. This includes the concept of potential energy being brought into motion and then converted into the kinetic energy. Kinetic energy within the molecules, particles and object itself enable the excitement of electrons and eventually leads to production of energy. The deterministic variables in terms of waves measurement, intensity and its overall capacity includes elements such as the frequency, the amplitude, and wavelength of the overall waves. Each of these has its own measuring units. For example, in case of the electromagnetic waves, the electric and magnetic waves move along a 90 degree to one another. They come into force as a result of the electric and magnetic field production. They slightly differ from the mechanical waves and they do so on the account of vacuum against the open platform. The mechanical waves on the other hand are slightly different and are relatively subject to the object and material in which they are propagating. Mechanical waves may operate in the liquid as well as the solid state. Another term associated with the movement of waves is that of the refraction and reflection. In case of the electromagnetic waves refraction takes place on account of passing through between a dense to thin medium, reflection is the simple bouncing back of the waves from a particular medium within or against any other medium or object that it comes in touch with. In the

Im One Archie Anderson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Im One Archie Anderson - Essay Example Environmental campaigns have also raised the need for alternative, renewable sources of energy within the society to conserve natural resources for posterity. The issue of environmental pollution caused by the burning of the fuels from this industry has led to an extensive criticism of the oil and gas industry in a harsh way. The I’m One Campaign sought to handle these crises by documenting all the benefits oil and gas to the American society. It reviews numerous aspects in which oil and gas are fundamental to the society to persuade them to support the industry. The advertisements states facts about the dependence of oil and the benefits it has to the American fraternity. Jobs, education and day to day activities within the American society get reviewed in the advertisement, and their relation to the existence of oil gets developed in the advertisement to enlighten the American consumers. (AmericanPetroleumInstitute) According to the campaign, 9.2 billion jobs in the US get maintained by the gas and oil industry. The capitalist nature of the US makes this statistic a welcome one as the citizens are in a constant mission to attain economic stability. The recession hit the country dearly leading to reduced job security, and thus any effort to improve the situation shall get immense support. This advertisement aims at this niche to enable the embracing of the oil and gas industry. The jobs that got covered in the campaign that get supported by the oil and gas industry were numerous. Among them were mechanics, power pricers, researchers, marketing coordinators, design engineers, field engineers, chemists, landmen and environmental, health and safety technicians. This long list in their advertisement brings out the quantity aspect of the benefits of the oil and gas industry. It goes to a personal level in naming the respective discipline apart from mentioning the staggering statistic of 9.2 billion

Analyzing argement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analyzing argement - Essay Example In â€Å"Execution,† Anna Quindlen argues that death penalty is wrong because it does not achieve its desired ends. She stresses that it cannot provide sufficient justice for victims and their families and it does not make any moral sense. These authors have similarities in the use of personal ideas and anecdotal and hypothetical evidence as evidence, logos through inductive reasoning and agreement on death penalty’s goals, and pathos through an empathic writing style that appeals to justice, although they differ in writing style, audience, and attitude toward death penalty. Quindlen is more persuasive than Mencken because her ironic tone emphatically argues that death penalty is wrong because it is simply morally insufficient as a form of retribution. These authors have similarities in the use of personal ideas and anecdotal and hypothetical evidence. Mencken talks about his personal ideas when attacking the opponents of death penalty. He argues from his personal viewpoint that crime deterrence is not the only goal of death penalty, and instead â€Å"katharsis† is â€Å"practically considered† and â€Å"more important† (1). By saying this, he shows that something more personal and emotional is behind the need for death penalty. Quindlen also offers her personal ideas on death penalty. She admits that her â€Å"guts† â€Å"govern† her ideas on death penalty, which is why she can be â€Å"hypocritical† about it (450.3). Like Mencken, Quindlen personalizes her attack on death penalty by asserting her personal feelings toward it. In addition, both authors use anecdotal evidence as proof for their arguments. For instance, Mencken says he has not heard any executioner who is complaining of his job and instead, he has â€Å"known many who delighted in their ancient art, and practiced it proudly† (1). By saying ancient art, he is underlining the proud tradition behind death penalty. Quindlen also uses anecdotal evidence when she says that the justice system is

Effects of emerging technologies in Accounting Information Systems- Research Paper

Effects of emerging technologies in Accounting Information Systems- focusing on XBRL - Research Paper Example Due to numerous benefits, XBRL captured the market and now-a-days few biggest economies in the world such as US, China, France and Japan organizations are obliged to implement XBRL for financial reporting (Geerts, Guido, et al 815-840). XBRL assures control of data sources and in addition, it ensures the integrity of reporting information by using the structured format of XML that are adapted to the financial particularities. It helps in facilitating and automating the import of data from diverse computing environments. Along with summiting the regulatory constraints, the enterprises that are implementing XBRL are benefitting from an innovative context for improvement and cost diminution relative to their reporting processes. Recently, XBRL has come out to be a viable option for the public sectors (Jiu, Li, Wang and Gong 84-96). There exists number of extensions of XBRL such as XBRL IFRS and XBRL US GAAP that are created for the adoption of specific norms and rules for reporting in f inancial accounting. The objective of the report is to explain the impacts of technological advancements such as XBRL in accounting information system and its relevance. The evolution in the world of XBRL was exceptionally rapid, progressing from the state of initiative of American accounting expert Charles Hoffman in 1988 to the state of international standard that are used internationally and promoted by a significant number of national and international jurisdictions. Considerable numbers of paper are dealing with the problems of XBRL and its significance in accounting information systems (Baldwin, Amelia and Trinkle 1-24). This research report goes beyond the research preoccupation for adopting XBRL as a standard format and tool generally in business reporting and particularly in financial reporting. This research report will review the effects of emerging technologies on accounting information systems (AIS) majorly focusing on XBRL. This

What is Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

What is Justice - Essay Example In that context, it will be really interesting to delve on the concept of justice in a lay and historical context. The laity tends to predominantly associate the term justice with fairness. In a general context, by justice, people tend to mean and expect to be treated fairly as a citizen and as a human in all spheres of public life. By justice, people expect not to be discriminated against owing to any personal or social attributes like race, ethnicity, gender, age and other political or social affiliations. In a biblical context, some principles tend to be rooted in the very essence of the concept of justice. As per Bible, justice is rooted in the very nature of God and, hence, humans should desist from dispensing justice as an omnipotent and all knowing entity (Greenberg, 1995). Hence, Bible facilitates a very liberal approach towards human justice, that extends due leverage to all the sides engaged in a dispute. Bibles envisages justice in the light of relationships and tends to settle the respective jurisdictions for the church, the state, the family and varied other constituents of the society (Greenberg, 1995). The Hebrews considered the God to be just and the one who expected his adherents to be just. The biblical idea of justice is rooted in the Covenant, which expects the believers to retain justice in interpersonal relationships otherwise they stood the chance of being judged. Plato gives much importance to the concept of justice in his works. Plato’s concept of justice is amply akin to the notions of ethics or morality that includes within its ambit all the duties of a man both as a citizen and as a family member (Parry, 1996). As per Plato, justice happened to be the virtuous aspect of the soul, before which men were expected to set aside the irrational desire to taste all pleasures (Parry, 1996). Hence, to a great extent, the Platonic concept of justice laid down the condition for exercising

Mesh Networks Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Mesh Networks - Coursework Example As organizations are relying more on high-speed wireless networks, security is a vital factor. Wireless security is a framework that emphasizes on prevention of workstations or networks from unauthorized access. An automated system known as mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) is integrated within the wireless networks to establish communication between wireless nodes or access points. However, MANET does not have centralized administration. MANET is defined as â€Å"Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) refers to a type of mobile network in which each node has the ability to act as a router, permitting adaptable multi-hop communications† [3]. The ad-hoc on demand distant vector protocol (AODV) that is operated by MANET provides loopholes for the hackers to gain access to the network or the system via a wireless network. AODV is widely used due to its significant advantages such as lower network overhead with a complex algorithm. However, AODV does not maintain the database for routing infor mation in the router. This is the area where there is a possibility of the hackers to break in the network. This paper will discuss the details associated with attacks incorporated with AODV. Moreover, other type of threats that may affect the domestic wireless network operating on an 802.11 will also be defined and discussed. 3. Introduction MANET is constructed on multiple routers knows as multi hop communication paths, these multi hop communication paths, can be dislocated any time and in any direction. The routing protocols that are associated with MANET are categorized in to hybrid, table-driven and demand-driven routing protocols [1]. Table-driven protocols attempt to synchronize routing information with the routing table for each wireless router. For example, Destination Sequenced Distance Vector (DSDV) and Wireless Routing Protocol (WRP) protocols fall under the category of table-driven protocols. Demand-driven protocols are associated with AODV and dynamic source routing pr otocol (DSR). Hybrid routing protocols interlinks with the other two protocols i.e. table driven and demand driven routing protocols. The wireless MANET network is associated with protocols that are not well designed in terms of network security, as there is no centralized administration to monitor or configure MANET. However, most of the wireless network protocols associated with MANET is designed for optimum bandwidth utilization but not for optimal security. These factors have made the wireless network vulnerable for the hackers and cyber criminals. One of the examples of mesh networks are illustrated in Fig. 1. Figure 1 Source: (Siraj and Bakar 1263-1271) One of the latest examples for mesh network is the youtube architecture, as shown Fig 1.2. Figure 2 Source: (Staehle et al. 144-148) In this competitive and evolutionary world of technological advancements, threats and vulnerabilities are a great concern. Similarly, any wireless protocol must address security issues during the design phase. The protocol must add

Mrk #1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Mrk #1 - Essay Example the same time outshine their performance in not only providing high quality computer products but at the same time services by getting well-trained employees who do not only have the knowledge about technology and computers but at the same time have passion for doing so. Also, screening possible employees to pick out those with friendly personalities, professionalism, and patience is key to achieve this. 3. Since there are a lot of players in the business that Best Value is in, brand equity is key to gaining the trust and confidence of customers to actually look to them for their needs instead of the popular brands/companies. This would be achieved by having a clear distinctive positioning of Best Value where customers of that certain market would be able to connect with them and know that they are the right place to go to. Establishing Best Value to be a local computer parts and service provider who under promises and yet over delivers without asking for too much of a cost should be clearly communicated to its customers so they will gain a top of mind position in their market. 4. Best Value sales representatives do a very important task of managing their expectations. An example of which would be to allow these customers especially those who are non-techie to understand what the parts are for, the reason why a certain part is dysfunctional and etc. aside from that, it is important to lay it down to prospective clients that they are not as big and as well-equipped as the other big companies out there so service rendered could take a bit more time but they would guarantee satisfaction at a lower cost for sure. Also, Best Value could make sure their clients are always happy by never forgetting a follow through even after the transaction is made. One could make a call and ask them how their computers are working. 5. The expansion towards providing LAN services could pose dangers such as the lowering of quality of computers being assembled, an employee base Best

Effects of the Fur Trade on Native Societies Essay Example for Free

Effects of the Fur Trade on Native Societies Essay Between the fifteenth and the nineteenth century the fur trade and slave trade connected the global commerce, and played a significant role in world history. Each of them transformed the destiny of North American and African society. Politically, economically and culturally, North Americans were dying slowly in seemingly more peaceful fur trade, and Africans were immediately hit by the wreaked havoc of slave trade. North America’s ostensible peace with the outside world could not avoid civil wars, as African people’s self-protection could not avoid European gory violent human plunder. In Africa, people were still live in a village community system with introverted self-governments. When colonists came, big kingdoms fragmented because the increasing of trade and arms. In this way, there was not a large-scale revolt or uprising in native Africa. As a result, small societies suffered from frequent slave raiding. As long as their own village was safe, they passively watched as people in other villages were raided and sold. Benin was a developed state in West Africa. In the 16th century the oba banned slave trade and relatively avoided slave traders. They bought arms from Europeans to protect themselves, but never helped others. In consequence, the power of oba declined in the 18th century and they could not stop the slave trade any more (456-457). When armed aggressors burst in small villages, they could not even protect themselves like Benin, but just be pillaged in desperation. Native Americans maintained cooperative relationships with Europeans under the fur trade. It protected them from extinction and slavery like those in Africa. However native people noticed the benefit of the fur trade, and then the profit of trade intensified the competition among tribes. They began to demand guns to deal with other tribes – and Europeans had gun. Therefore a circulation of furs and guns was fo rmed, and the increasing of arms imports aggravated the political conflicts of native people. In other words, more trade, more warfare. Fur trade brought North America both modern civilization and prolonged damage, yet the African economy was directly attacked by slave trade. North Americans traded furs with Europeans and received foreign goods and benefits such as pots, guns and metals. Europeans finished products gave them modern technology and tools, and caused the self-sufficiency system to transform to agricultural villages. Hurons lived in North America â€Å"in the early seventeenth century†. They traded many beavers and â€Å"received copper pots, metal axes, knives, cloth, firearms, and alcohol† (447). It was a big step for North America, to become a modern and developed society. Nevertheless, it was also the start of a long-term decline. â€Å"By the 1760s, hunters in southern British colonies took about 500,000 deer every year† (446). Hunters largely killed industrious animals, the amount of them sharply decreased. The fur trade absorbed labor supply, and restricted other developments. In reality, North America had been lagged behind chronically under the simple and dependent economic system caused by fur trade. Unlike North America, Africa had been steadily developing for a while in sixteenth century. The slave trade, was unprecedented havoc for native people and society. Just demographically, Africa lost millions of population in the fifteenth through nineteenth century. The productivity was greatly broken. The economy stagnated, or even retrogressed without technology. Both native North American and African people lost part of their ethos and native culture. North America was changed more by profit motive; however Africa was forced by demographical transformation and authorities’ avarice. Before European’s arrival, North Americans led a primitive lifestyle as a part of nature. They had laggard tools and technology but mastered natural environment. Their moral quality could be confirmed by the origin of Thanksgiving holiday: Native Indian helped European settlers tide over the hard time. Although they were economically backward, their spiritual civilization was wealthy. But after they began to trade with Europeans, they killed animals in quantity, overly reclaimed land, and broke their belief of nature. The benefits of furs led people to trade for guns and fight other tribes. Many of them became alcoholics, spent a lot of money to buy rum and brandy. They used foreign products all the time, and forgot their traditional crafts. In Africa, Europeans raided and drove away people in different cultures, and exterminated many ancient civilizations. The Europeans trading living human without caring whether they lived or died, was a bloody humiliation in the history. The hard truth is that many native authorities joined slave trading for their own interest. Dahomey was a highly authoritarian state in eighteenth century. They fully participated in slave trade and helped Europeans capture a lot of native people (456-457). It was a miserable shame of African culture and entire human history, that the chiefs of states helped invaders do human trafficking. Both trades certainly destroyed a part of native civilization, and changed a part of people. The politics, culture and economy of the native North Americans were gradually negatively affected while trading with Europeans and Africans were rapidly devastated by large human raid. Once, struggling in the wheel of history, they grew and died.

Environmental Impacts By Mining Activities Environmental Sciences Essay

Environmental Impacts By Mining Activities Environmental Sciences Essay Mining and its allied activities have taken big strikes during the last century contributing significant infrastructure development and raising the living standards of mankind. However, they have also brought in their wake, degeneration and degradation of natural resources, pollution, health risk and socio-ecological instabilities. Bundelkhand region, occupying almost 71818km2 in the central planes of India, is known for its rich deposits of pyrophyllite, moram, salt peter, granite, diasporas, sand, etc. Currently, there are around 325 active mining sites in Jhansi district alone. Deforestation, dust generation, water, air and noise pollution and resource depletion are common hazards associated with opencast mining widely prevalent in this region. The present paper attempts to reveal the base line environmental quality and socio-economic setting in and around such mining sites with special reference to the effects on the air, water, changes of land use pattern and occupational health effects of mine workers etc. It also attempts to provide a framework for management strategies to improve the environmental conditions in the mining sites and its adjoining environments. The geographical location of Bundelkhand regions is such that it acted as gateway between north and south India. Administratively, it covers seven district of Uttar Pradesh. Mining and exploitation of mineral resources generally have a considerable impact on the land, water, air, and biological resources as well as socio-economic setting of the local population. Its foci are the environmental issues being confronted by the surface mining industries of Jhansi.The magnitude of impact depends on the methods, scale and concentration of mining activities, and the geological and geomorphological setting (Ghose and Majee 2001). In India the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) was formulated in 1994 to assess and compare the air pollution level for different areas (CPCB 1998). Opencast mining, widely prevalent in the Bundelkhand region, though cheaper are known to have more environmental consequences. In opencast mining a massive overburden will have to be removed for the exploitat ion of the various deposits. This will require excavators, transporters, loaders, conveyor belts etc., resulting into various environmental problems. Environmental impacts of mining operation at individual site may be local phenomena, but numerous mining sites clustered at a particular area may eventually led to environmental problems of larger magnitude. Large scale opencast mining operations in the study area disturb the land by directly removing mine wastes during excavation and concurrently dumping it in adjacent areas. Every mine, big or small, operating or new has to obtain environmental clearance from the Govt. of India (Ghose 1991). Jacko (1983) has given estimates of fugitive dust from some mining operations. Wind blown particulate matters of loose mine spoils and dust generation from crushers and excavation sites may affect ambient air quality in the mine and adjoin areas. Air quality status in Indian environment is dominated by suspended particulate matter (SPM) causing g reat concern to environmental planners (Ravindra 1991). Noise pollution, especially which due to blasting, might be reduced by strict adherence to noise emission standards (McClean 1992). Water resources are particularly vulnerable to degradation even if drainage is controlled and sediments pollution reduced. Rain and drainage water which may affect the plants, animals and human populations. Groundwater problems may be particularly troublesome in the semi-arid region of Bundelkhand since, water is a scarce resource and people rely groundwater is very difficult and expensive. 2 Methods Field surveys were carried out in some selected mine areas (Figure. 1) in Jhansi district to collect relevant information. Data and literature pertaining to the mineral deposits in the region was gathered from various sources. The information related to the status of health and socio-economic impacts were extracted by using structured questionnaires. The respondents include randomly selected mine workers and head of families residing in mine areas. The ambient air quality assessments were carried out in Gora Machiya granite mine area. High volume air samplers (HVS Envirotech Ltd., New Delhi) were used with an average flow rate between 1.1 1.3 m3 m-1. The air samplers were kept at a height of 6m. Sampling was done for 24 h in 8 h intervals. SPM and RSPM were computed after weighing the glass fibre filter paper (Schleicher and Schà ¼ll, Germany) before and after sampling. Analyses of water quality (APHA 2005) were done by collecting ground water from hand pumps, ponds samples from in and around mining area during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon. The hand pumps were operated 10 minutes before collecting the samples. Samples were collected in clean polythene bottles having air tight stoppers. Information pertaining to the health effects of granite mining on the mine workers and the local residents in the nearby villages were survey with the help of a structured Questionnaire. The information collected include, respiratory, eye, hearing loss, skin, accident and others. Various informal interviews with miners, mining officials, government officials, and local community members (around the source of air pollution) were conducted during the study period. 3 Result and discussion Mining in Bundelkhand region are mainly carried out by opencast extraction method. Open cast mining involves the removal of overburden including the valuable topsoil and plus the natural vegetative cover to meet the ore deposits. These activities are associated with harmful effects to the local environment. Mining activities are carried out in various stages, each of them involving specific environmental impacts. Broadly speaking, these stages are: deposit prospecting and exploration, mine development and preparation, mine exploitation, and treatment of the minerals obtained at the respective installations with the aim of obtaining marketable products.The emerging environmental hazards associated with open cast mining practices are many but the major problems may be summarized as follows: 3.1 Air Pollution Opencast mining operation creates enormous quantity of dust of various sizes which passes into transportation and disperse significant amount of suspended particulate matters (SPM) and gaseous pollutants in to the atmosphere. These pollutants not only affect the mine workers but also affect the nearby populations, agricultural crops and livestock. During the field study it has been observe that RSPM and SPM is the major source of emission from opencast granite mining in Jhansi. The minimum and maximum value of RSPM and SPM is 155 µg m-3 to 234 µg m-3; and 393 µg m-3 to 541 µg m-3 respectively. The extent of harmful affects depends largely on meteorological conditions prevailing in the region. Depending on the size suspended particulate matter may cause (a) Respiratory disorder in animals and human due to inhalation of fine particles, (b) Ophthalmic disease, as particulates act as carrier of pathogens, (c) Lower agricultural yields due to obstruction of light needed for photos ynthesis by the dust cover on surface layer of plants, and (d) Poor visibility near crusher. The variation of SPM and RSPM in the four sampling stations for the month of November to January is depicted separately in Figure 2 4. In general the SPM load in all the sampling stations was more than the RSPM concentration and this is as per expectation. 3.2 Water pollution Mining activities are known to affect both the surface and groundwater regime. The local topography and drainage pattern may considerably influence the severity of pollution. The main sources of liquid effluents in opencast mining are: (a) De-watering of mine water, (b) Spent water from dust extraction and dust suppressing system and (c) Leachate run off from waste dumps. The water composition of the mine water primarily depends upon the host rock composition as well as the mineralization process. Generally, sulfides containing minerals yield acidic mine water whereas in mineral bearing oxides, the pH of the water may go up to 8.0. pH of the mine water of the area was alkaline in nature (7.6-8.5) and conductivity varied between 372 and 1642  µS cm-1 (Table 1). The average conductivity (1,009  µS cm-1) and TDS (839 mg l-1) values for mine water are higher as compared to the groundwater (864  µS cm-1 and 669 mg l-1) and surface water (411  µS cm-1 and 303 mg l-1). Due to exces sive soil and other structural erosion the runoff water contains high amount of suspended solids. These decrease the penetration of light in water bodies receiving the runoff water affecting the survival of living organisms. The leachate water can be extremely toxic containing heavy metals depending on the overburden composition and may pollute the ground water. 3.3 Noise Pollution In open cast mining blasting is a common practice which produces high intensity of noise. Deafness is brought about by slow but progressive degeneration of neuro-sensorial cells of the inner ear. Besides, noisy working environment in the mining sites are known to result into communication impairments, task interference, sleep interference, change in personal behavior, etc. of the mine workers. In addition, noise produces other health effects, influences work performance and makes communications more difficult. Besides, the fauna in the forests and other areas surrounding the mines/industrial complexes is also effected by noise and it has generally been believed that wildlife is more sensitive to noise and vibrations than the human beings.The noise level is comparatively high in the active zones in the granite quarries due to drilling, blasting and the mine service stations. It was found to be in the range of 96 to 125 dB. These are much above the limits of 75 dB prescribed by WHO for day time industrial areas (WHO 1980). In the granite quarries the exposure for long periods to these high levels of noise is likely to affect the ear diaphragms of the workers. Instantaneous loudness from blasting can reach 100 dB and vibrations can be felt up to 2 km distant. At 10 metres, the noise from excavators, spreaders, conveyor belts and their driving stations all may attain 85-95 dB. Even at 1,000 metres noise sources of 75 dB create loudness levels as great as 49 dB (UNECE 1988). 3.4 Land degradation Opencast mining excavates large land areas to extract the mineral ore and at the same time requires huge areas to dump the mine spoils. During this course of action often lands under the cover of forest or agriculture are diverted for mining. Some important impacts on the lands due to opencast mining may be: (a) Change in topography resulting in drastic change in drainage pattern and reduction in aesthetic value, (b) Slope stability problems triggering lands slides and rapid soil erosion, (c) Rapid siltation and degradation of surface water bodies and (d) Blanketing mine spoils in the nearby agricultural and grazing lands. A change of land use pattern in Goramachiya village has been shown in figure 5. 3.5 Improper disposal of mine-wastes Dumping 0f mine wastes without proper location of will cause adverse impact on environment. This depends on the type of mineral, the method of mining and nature of topography around the mines. Actually in course of mining materials is far more than mineral of economic value, which is utilized. The rest is disposed at mine site. The rejected materials may be the overburden, inter burden, side burden, on the tailing rejected after beneficiation. This material is physically, chemically and structurally unstable and is to be dumped on the adjoining land area, add to be the deleterious impact prone to subsistence chemically as well as hydrological unstable for plant growth as it carried for with water streams and degraded environment on the land in vicinity. 3.6 Loss of Biodiversity One major crisis of the present day in Bundelkhand region is the rapid loss of biodiversity. Large scale operations of mining activities have contributed directly or indirectly to the depletion of the biological diversity in the region. Vegetative covers are open up at various places to expedite excavation of ore, development of mining infrastructure and dumping of overburdens. Removal of vegetative cover is often followed by massive soil erosion, siltation of river and reservoirs. The direct impacts on the living organisms in the mining areas may range from death of plants and animals due to mining activity or contact with toxic wastes and mine drainages, disturbance of wildlife habitat due to blasting and heavy machines. Indirect impacts may include changes in nutrient cycling, disruption of food chain and instability of ecosystem. 3.7 Occupational Human Health Problems Opencast mining is more severe an air pollution problem in comparison to underground mining. In active mining sites, miners are persistently exposed to large concentrations of dust, gaseous pollutants, high levels of noise and last but not the least accidents, which constantly pose a severe threat to miners life. The data on various health effects obtained from the current survey for the mine workers and the population inhabiting in and around the granite mining site is illustrated in Figure 6. Health problems related to skin and respiratory disorder are widely prevalent in the area. Maximum of the respondents complain problems related to skin and respiratory diseases. A total of 108 respondents have skin problems which comprises of 74 men and 35 women. The digging, blasting and drilling of granite mine generated dust particles of various sizes into the immediate atmosphere. Crystalline silica is a common but variable component of granite. Most of this dust is usually made up of sil ica (occurring as silicon dioxide SiO2). As the mining is increasing, workers exploitation is also increasing. Workers are facing serious problems of their health, livelihoods, and minimum wages. The most prevalent occupational diseases among the mine workers in Bundelkhand are: (a) Hearing problems: Effect of heavy noise from use of heavy machineries and rock blasting cause auditory effect as well as non-auditory effects in mine workers and surrounding people, (b) Auditory impact: Auditory effect of noise causes impairing of hearing, (c) Non-Auditory impacts: These type of effect cause loss of working efficiency due to the physiological disorders like hypertension, cardiovascular disease and so on, (d) respiratory problems: Mineral dust particles originating from mining activities on inhalation by lungs and thereby causing a number of concerned problems like silicosis. These diseases are common in Goramachiya and Dagara village of Jhansi. (e) Eye problem: Dust particle from mining activities contribute to cause of certain eye problem like conjunctivitis and kerato conjunctivitis and (f) Skin problem: Deposition of dust particles on skin interrupts U.V. radiation, which causes different skin diseases. 4. Remedial Measures 4.1 An environmental management plan (EMP) for sustainable mining activities India, however, is not a unique case, as it is a well known fact that most mining adversely impacts on the environment. It is mandatory to draft an environmental management plan (EMP) before commencing such projects in India. Several countries have adopted different strategies for tackling pressing environmental problems in the industry. For effective implementation of an EMP, a mid-term corrective measure is essential, such as a time bound action plan, this includes a programmed for land reclamation, afforestation, mine water treatment, surface drainage and check dams, and sewage treatment. Development has environmental costs. Therefore, the role of the law is to see how and where to absorb these costs to keep damages at a minimum. The responsibility to improve environmental management rests with the Project Officer of the project. As far as air, water, noise and soil pollution control measures are concerned; samples are collected and tested at strategic locations during all four se asons. The implementing authority is guided and advised as per the data received from the laboratories. 4.2 Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the proven management tools for integrating environmental concerns in development process and for improved decision making. As EIA and EMP have been made statutory requirements for starting new mining ventures as well as for existing mines, (at the time of renewal of mining plans) measures to prevent environmental degradation have become a subject of priority with the mine managements. In the initial years, environmental clearance was only an administrative requirement. Since 1994, EIA and environmental clearance have been made statutory for 30 categories of developmental activities in the sectors of industry, thermal power, mining, river-valley infrastructure and nuclear power. The minerals reserves in the Bundelkhand region are varied and huge in quantities, it is expected that the mining activities may be intensified in future further deteriorating the environmental quality. Proper environmental impact assessment and some times a socio-economic impact assessment should be carried out. Baseline data should be effectively incorporated in management of the mining sites in Bundelkhand region. For proposed mining projects, it is necessary to address the potential environmental impact issues that may arise due to proposed mining activities i.e. an assessment of the potential impacts of a project on the pre-mining environment. The plans required for the EIA must be at appropriate scales to show the level of detail required for the particular project or aspect described. The economic growth and development of the country depends not only on resource optimisation but also on environment management. This aspect of industrialization was not envisaged by planners in the past. 4.3 Afforestation Afforestation practices help in restoring and enhancing the vegetative cover in mine areas in various ways. For reclamation through Afforestation following inventories are the prerequisites such as area to be planted, slope gradient, quality of soil, climate conditions and nature of biotic pressure. For plantation priority must be given to native species in the following order, mining sites, overburden sites and abandoned sites. Those species have to be selected having fast growing tendency to enable to maximum canopy in short time as well as hard woody and ability to fix direct atmospheric nitrogen. 5. Conclusion Mining activities are unsustainable not only because they exploit non-renewable resources, but also because they leave behind them destruction of the environment and society, which is very often irreversible. Because of its impacts, mining is one of those activities that need to be strictly controlled at all stages, from prospection and exploitation to transportation, processing and consumption. After abandoned of mines, there is no proper closure of mines; waste dumps will be there, no rehabilitation of the area, no compensation for the labours. There will be always question of that whether land will be given back to the landholder or not. It has been suggested that after closure of mine lands should be given to the landholders, after proper rehabilitation of land. Then they can start to earn his livelihood from the cultivating their own land. Environmental quality must be sustained in areas affected by surface mining. This requires designing and developing environmentally sensitive strategies for extraction and land reclamation. It demands a more rigorous control of environmental impact assessment and more attention to ensuring productive and sustainable land restoration. Mine rejected granite waste stone materials should be distributed to the local people who are inhabitant the satellite village and also initiate for the manufacture of brick in house purposes and roads. Filter masks should be provided to the workers and plants crushers and mine areas.

Analysis of Causes of UAE Economic Downfall

Analysis of Causes of UAE Economic Downfall Introduction and Business reasons: The global liquidity crunch has affected most of the countries and among the highly affected countries is United Arab Emirates which was one among the growing business hubs in the world with its massive development and acceptance of different culture and business. Dubai known as the economic capital of U.A.E was badly affected by the recession. Consequently, huge fortunes have been wiped out due to Dubais current economic crisis exposing the risk of doing business in the Gulf. The expansion of Dubai was very ambitious but improbable. A $64 billion project that was initially planned at 107 square miles for a development that was to be the worlds largest collection of theme parks, shops, residences, and hotels called the Dubai Land.  For now all these remain a fantasy which is the cause of the economic downturn. WILSON, Z (2009) As a consequence to that, various other projects like an underwater hotel, a Tiger Woods golf course, a residential community set among full-scale replicas of the Seven Wonders of the World, a rotating skyscraper, and a beach designed by Versace, complete with chilled sand have been delayed. However after six years of quick expansion, the emirate had approximately $600 billion going into construction and is home to the worlds tallest building, the worlds largest shopping mall,  the biggest man-made island and  an indoor ski resort. These rapid developments caused a 7% increase in population anually. WILSON, Z (2009) However, once the recession hit the country, the economic conditions and development scuttled. Currently, an estimated 50% of construction have been delayed or cancelled, banks have stopped lending, real estate prices fell down by 41% in the first quarter of 2009 and are estimated to drop more and the stock market has fallen 70% from its peak. Due to this economic crisis, the expatriates living in the emirate are either fleeing or have lost their jobs. When the economy of Dubai was in its booming stage, it had 80% of its total 1.7 million residents to be foreigners. As long as this economic condition prevails in the emirate, life is going to be a challenge for the foreigners and other residents. However Abu Dhabi which is the capital of U.A.E has helped Dubai with $10 billion which is still a small amount when compared to the debt of Dubai estimated to be over $50 billion. Abu Dhabi is also being affected slowly due to the recession. However the impact is lesser than Dubai since Abu Dhabi controls over 90% of U.A.Es oil reserve and is also home to one among the biggest investment company in the world known as ADIA (Abu Dhabi Investment Authority) The research will have its focus mainly on the damage done to the financial market and Business of the country. U.A.Es strategy towards gaining momentum in overcoming the economic crisis will be critically analyzed. Personal reasons: U.A.Es development has always amused me. The country is one among the leading business hubs with all major multinational companies in the world. I had always wanted to study the business sector and financial market of U.A.E but coming from an Engineering background I did not have the tools and resources to do so which is the reason I have taken MSc International Business. I am taking this opportunity to study the countrys business using the tools and resources that I have already studied and going to study during my course. Moreover it would help me to understand more about International Business and reasons to the economic downfall of U.A.E. This would also help me once I go back in order to start a business. The knowledge of the economic situation and its detailed study would help me a great deal. III.PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW: During the late 2007, with the US economy going through its worst post war recession, the global economy faced the most synchronised recession ever which was a result of increased globalisation and global interdependence financially and trade linkages. The economies of almost all the major developed countries shrivelled rapidly along with many trade dependent developing countries which include U.A.E along with other major countries like India and China. Anirvan B and Pami D (2010). Before the spread of the global recession, it was believed only the U.S economy will face the economic downfall. But almost the whole of Europe and cuntries like India and China were also hit badly along with U.A.E which is a small developing country with big ambition. The economy of dubai was growing at an alarming rate with projects estimated to approximately $660 billion until the recession hit. In november 2009, the announcement of Dubai that it was going to freeze $26 billion of debt was a shock to the world and after two months when the real estate market crashed, Dubai government had over $60 billion debt which created serious doubts in the minds of investors about Dubai. A political science professor at Durham University in the U.K. stated The real story of Dubai is that it was a trick, Christopher D (2010). Abu Dhabi which is the capital of United Arab Emirates has been using its $43 billion of annual oil revenue to work controlled by one among the worlds biggest investment company called ADIA (Abu Dhabi Investment Authority) building art museums, mosques and a renewable energy research institute. Pendleton and Devon (2010) Vol.  185 Issue 5, p108-109 With the likes of abundant oil reserves of Abu Dhabi and one of the worlds biggest institutional investors (ADIA), Dubai has a ray of hope in surviving the current economic crisis. Abu Dhabi Inbestment Authority is known to be one of the biggest financial institutions in the world ranking second after the Bank of Japan, according to the Oxford Business Group. Roy and Sudip ()2006, Vol.  37 (444), 70-76. The company established in 1976 by the late ruler of U.A.E Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahiyan had its gaol towards investing the countrys surpluses in International market with low risks. The company currently manages U.A.Es surplus oil reserve which is estimated to be approximately $500 billion. The company has been able to raise its liquidity during this global crisis when equity market was struck severely. The country is mainly depending on the turnover of this establishment. The companys aproach towards investment in US and Europe market are looking strong. Sheikh Ahmad say s US treasuries are still the most liquid benchmark bonds in the world and will remain an important diversification tool. Mccrum and Philip (2010), Vol.  54 ,8, p30-31. In 2009, Dubais Jebel Ali airport which is going to be the worlds biggest airport found its construction at halt as its development plans were threatened by the gloabl economic crisis. The current economic situation has mainly affected the real estate market of U.A.E. With reduced net migration, decreasing jobs and the lack of availbility of credit has badly affected the real estate market. The prices for properties has gone down by 40% and reduced liquidity and credit for developers has shut down major projects. While there is no consumption data, inflation figures are below requirements. Dubais à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"housing, electricity, gas and other fuels inflation was at 0.5% in February 2009 which was the lowest during that year. Emerging Markets Monitor (2010) 16,(32) 17. The emirate of Abu Dhabi shows less vulnerability to the current economic crisis when compared to Dubai. The Dubai Government had announces at 6 month stand still for debt payments in november 2009. U.A.Es economic recovery only started gaining momentum in 2010. In this research, I will endeavour to highlight the key positive development that has occured since the recession and critically analyze the countrys future strategy. IV.RESEARCH questions and OBJECTIVES: 4.1 Research QUESTIONS: What are the reasons for the tragic economic downfall of U.A.E especially in the emirate of Dubai? What is the extent of damage to the financial market and business in the country due to the recession? How badly is the real estate market sector affected due to recession and what are its impacts on the residents? How has this economic downfall affected the countrys financial market? What are the measures undertaken by the government and private business sectors to recover from the financial crisis? 4.2 Research OBJECTIVES: To critically analyze the reason for the economic downfall in U.A.E. To critically analyze and comment on the extent of damage and the precise business sectors that are most affected due to the recession in U.A.E. To critically evaluate the downfall in the real estate market and its impact on the residents To evaluate the effect of recession on U.A.Es financial market. Finally, to comment on the measures undertaken to recover from the financial crisis and recommend measures which can help the recovery V.RESEARCH PLAN: Analysing a global phenomenon (the green phenomenon) at a European level and carrying out researches about a pillar industry (the automotive industry) that indicates most of the European countries economic health implies that various data are available. Whilst numerous advantages such as giving precious in-depth data concerning the topic, it also means that important drawbacks will arise such as so-called fake or disinformation data. Furthermore, this fact also implies that while collecting accurate data on such hot topics, the need to constantly access the latest and up to date data will be crucial and even unavoidable alongside my research. 5. 1 Data collection methods outline 5.1.1 Secondary Data In order to complete my research, I will be using secondary data like text books that are available at Coventry University related to Business strategy and Management to use the appropriate tools required to analyze a company or business that is hostile due to recession. Books like Business strategy Formulation Ulwick, Anthony W (2004), Chaotics: The Business of Managing and Marketing in the Age of Turbulence  Kotler, Philip  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  C, John A (2009) and Stock Market Cycles: Practical Explanation Bolten, Steven E.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  (2000). Other databases like EBSCO will be used to find journals and articles related to my research area. Articles like à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Jebel Ali terminal faces 12-month delay Foreman,c (2009) Middle East Economic digest, Vol 3,(9) 18 and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Contractors pay for falling prices Foreman,c (2009) Middle East Economic digest, Vol 53,(5) 27-30.. Other articles and journals will be used for as my research progresses. Database li ke SAGE journals will also be used to find journals on Global recession and its effect on develpoed and developing countries. 5.1.2 Primary data Interviews One on one interview will be conducted with the IT department head of ADIA (Abu Dhabi investment Authority) as a part of primary data collection for my research. The interview will help me understand and perceive how the company is doing and regarding their current investments. Depending on the quality and depth of the information collected from this interview, I will be conducting another interview with the Marketing Manager of Abu Dhabi Cable Factory L.L.C which is a company I used to work for before the start of my course at Coventry University. All these data will help me comment on the present economic condition in United Arab Emirates and their future plans as my research progresses. 5.2 Data collection methods per objective In order to complete my first objective, I will be using journals and articles from databases like EBSCO and SAGE journals that contains materials purely on recession, its roots and forecasts. The second objective will be addressed using the information collected from the interviews and journals from EBSCO. For the third objective, information will be collected from databases like EBSO and SAGE journals. Additional information will be collected from local newspaper articles in United Arab Emirates. For the fourth and the fifth objective, information collected from the interviews will be used along with other journals and articles. In order to recommend measures which could help the recovery from recession, I would use information from books like Business strategy Formulation Ulwick, Anthony W (2004), Chaotics: The Business of Managing and Marketing in the Age of Turbulence  Kotler, Philip  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  C, John A (2009). 5.3 Analysis of data Primary data collected by interview will be grouped accordingly to answer the necessary objective of my research work. In order to do so I will be using the NVIVO 9 software which will help me analyze any unstructured information collected. 5.4 Limitations As far as the secondary data is concerned, the limitations are that the information available is from a third persons point of view which might not be accurate and also that we could find information contradicting some particular information since the research will talk about issues concerning the reason for the countrys current economic condition and measures that could be employed to overcome the economic crisis. The limitations for the primary data would be that the information collected may not be precise as it is information regarding a company or economy from an individuals perspective. VI.ETHICS I will ensure that I will follow the Universitys ethical procedures and submit the low risk ethical approval form and follow all the guidelines. For my primary data collection, I shall use the participation information leaflet for interviews and also attach a consent form for interviews. Interviews will not be conducted in ways that could go against the ethical issues like harm the respondents or question their honesty. All the data collected will be treated confidentially and will not be used for any other purpose than the research work. All data will be securely kept in line with the Data Protection Act 1998. VII.LIST OF REFERENCES Wilson, Z (2009) ROAD TO NOWHERE  : FAST COMPANY 138, (13) 90-93 BusinessWeek (2009) ECONOMICS POLICY JAWBONING THE BANKS  4161, (4) 8-13 available at http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?hid=15sid=67e26db4-aa56-4136-9b5e-63151b0d62e8%40sessionmgr14vid=10bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bthAN=47040807 Foreman, C (2009) Jebel Ali terminal faces 12-month delay : MEED-  Middle East Economic Digest 53, (9) 18 Anirvan, B and Pami, D (2010) Synchronisation of Recessions in Major Developed and Emerging Economie  : The Journal of Applied Economic Research 4, (2) 197-223 avalible at http://mar.sagepub.com/content/4/2/197.full.pdf+html Pendleton and Devon (2010) Middle Eastern Mirage  : Forbes 185, (5) 108-109 Mccrum and Philip (2010) Abu Dhabi begins to open up.  : MEED-  Middle East Economic Digest 54, (8) 30-31 Ulwick and Anthony, W (2004) Business strategy Formulation Kotler  ; Philip, C and John A (2009) Chaotics: The Business of Managing and Marketing in the Age of Turbulence   Bolten and Steven, E.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  (2000) Stock Market Cycles: Practical Explanation Middle East Monitor:  The Gulf (2010) 20, (5) 4-5 avalilable at http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf23_24/pdf/2010/D9B/01May10/49018531.pdf?T=PP=ANK=49018531S=RD=bthEbscoContent=dGJyMNHr7ESeqLE4yNfsOLCmr0mep7VSs6u4Sq%2BWxWXSContentCustomer=dGJyMPGvtk%2BwrrFQuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA Emerging Markets Monitor (2010) Vol.  16 Issue 32, p17-17 available at http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf25_26/pdf/2010/5DB/22Nov10/55340054.pdf?T=PP=ANK=55340054S=RD=bthEbscoContent=dGJyMNHr7ESeqLE4yNfsOLCmr0mep7VSsKi4Sa6WxWXSContentCustomer=dGJyMPGvtk%2BwrrFQuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA Analysis of Causes of UAE Economic Downfall Analysis of Causes of UAE Economic Downfall Introduction and Business reasons: The global liquidity crunch has affected most of the countries and among the highly affected countries is United Arab Emirates which was one among the growing business hubs in the world with its massive development and acceptance of different culture and business. Dubai known as the economic capital of U.A.E was badly affected by the recession. Consequently, huge fortunes have been wiped out due to Dubais current economic crisis exposing the risk of doing business in the Gulf. The expansion of Dubai was very ambitious but improbable. A $64 billion project that was initially planned at 107 square miles for a development that was to be the worlds largest collection of theme parks, shops, residences, and hotels called the Dubai Land.  For now all these remain a fantasy which is the cause of the economic downturn. WILSON, Z (2009) As a consequence to that, various other projects like an underwater hotel, a Tiger Woods golf course, a residential community set among full-scale replicas of the Seven Wonders of the World, a rotating skyscraper, and a beach designed by Versace, complete with chilled sand have been delayed. However after six years of quick expansion, the emirate had approximately $600 billion going into construction and is home to the worlds tallest building, the worlds largest shopping mall,  the biggest man-made island and  an indoor ski resort. These rapid developments caused a 7% increase in population anually. WILSON, Z (2009) However, once the recession hit the country, the economic conditions and development scuttled. Currently, an estimated 50% of construction have been delayed or cancelled, banks have stopped lending, real estate prices fell down by 41% in the first quarter of 2009 and are estimated to drop more and the stock market has fallen 70% from its peak. Due to this economic crisis, the expatriates living in the emirate are either fleeing or have lost their jobs. When the economy of Dubai was in its booming stage, it had 80% of its total 1.7 million residents to be foreigners. As long as this economic condition prevails in the emirate, life is going to be a challenge for the foreigners and other residents. However Abu Dhabi which is the capital of U.A.E has helped Dubai with $10 billion which is still a small amount when compared to the debt of Dubai estimated to be over $50 billion. Abu Dhabi is also being affected slowly due to the recession. However the impact is lesser than Dubai since Abu Dhabi controls over 90% of U.A.Es oil reserve and is also home to one among the biggest investment company in the world known as ADIA (Abu Dhabi Investment Authority) The research will have its focus mainly on the damage done to the financial market and Business of the country. U.A.Es strategy towards gaining momentum in overcoming the economic crisis will be critically analyzed. Personal reasons: U.A.Es development has always amused me. The country is one among the leading business hubs with all major multinational companies in the world. I had always wanted to study the business sector and financial market of U.A.E but coming from an Engineering background I did not have the tools and resources to do so which is the reason I have taken MSc International Business. I am taking this opportunity to study the countrys business using the tools and resources that I have already studied and going to study during my course. Moreover it would help me to understand more about International Business and reasons to the economic downfall of U.A.E. This would also help me once I go back in order to start a business. The knowledge of the economic situation and its detailed study would help me a great deal. III.PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW: During the late 2007, with the US economy going through its worst post war recession, the global economy faced the most synchronised recession ever which was a result of increased globalisation and global interdependence financially and trade linkages. The economies of almost all the major developed countries shrivelled rapidly along with many trade dependent developing countries which include U.A.E along with other major countries like India and China. Anirvan B and Pami D (2010). Before the spread of the global recession, it was believed only the U.S economy will face the economic downfall. But almost the whole of Europe and cuntries like India and China were also hit badly along with U.A.E which is a small developing country with big ambition. The economy of dubai was growing at an alarming rate with projects estimated to approximately $660 billion until the recession hit. In november 2009, the announcement of Dubai that it was going to freeze $26 billion of debt was a shock to the world and after two months when the real estate market crashed, Dubai government had over $60 billion debt which created serious doubts in the minds of investors about Dubai. A political science professor at Durham University in the U.K. stated The real story of Dubai is that it was a trick, Christopher D (2010). Abu Dhabi which is the capital of United Arab Emirates has been using its $43 billion of annual oil revenue to work controlled by one among the worlds biggest investment company called ADIA (Abu Dhabi Investment Authority) building art museums, mosques and a renewable energy research institute. Pendleton and Devon (2010) Vol.  185 Issue 5, p108-109 With the likes of abundant oil reserves of Abu Dhabi and one of the worlds biggest institutional investors (ADIA), Dubai has a ray of hope in surviving the current economic crisis. Abu Dhabi Inbestment Authority is known to be one of the biggest financial institutions in the world ranking second after the Bank of Japan, according to the Oxford Business Group. Roy and Sudip ()2006, Vol.  37 (444), 70-76. The company established in 1976 by the late ruler of U.A.E Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahiyan had its gaol towards investing the countrys surpluses in International market with low risks. The company currently manages U.A.Es surplus oil reserve which is estimated to be approximately $500 billion. The company has been able to raise its liquidity during this global crisis when equity market was struck severely. The country is mainly depending on the turnover of this establishment. The companys aproach towards investment in US and Europe market are looking strong. Sheikh Ahmad say s US treasuries are still the most liquid benchmark bonds in the world and will remain an important diversification tool. Mccrum and Philip (2010), Vol.  54 ,8, p30-31. In 2009, Dubais Jebel Ali airport which is going to be the worlds biggest airport found its construction at halt as its development plans were threatened by the gloabl economic crisis. The current economic situation has mainly affected the real estate market of U.A.E. With reduced net migration, decreasing jobs and the lack of availbility of credit has badly affected the real estate market. The prices for properties has gone down by 40% and reduced liquidity and credit for developers has shut down major projects. While there is no consumption data, inflation figures are below requirements. Dubais à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"housing, electricity, gas and other fuels inflation was at 0.5% in February 2009 which was the lowest during that year. Emerging Markets Monitor (2010) 16,(32) 17. The emirate of Abu Dhabi shows less vulnerability to the current economic crisis when compared to Dubai. The Dubai Government had announces at 6 month stand still for debt payments in november 2009. U.A.Es economic recovery only started gaining momentum in 2010. In this research, I will endeavour to highlight the key positive development that has occured since the recession and critically analyze the countrys future strategy. IV.RESEARCH questions and OBJECTIVES: 4.1 Research QUESTIONS: What are the reasons for the tragic economic downfall of U.A.E especially in the emirate of Dubai? What is the extent of damage to the financial market and business in the country due to the recession? How badly is the real estate market sector affected due to recession and what are its impacts on the residents? How has this economic downfall affected the countrys financial market? What are the measures undertaken by the government and private business sectors to recover from the financial crisis? 4.2 Research OBJECTIVES: To critically analyze the reason for the economic downfall in U.A.E. To critically analyze and comment on the extent of damage and the precise business sectors that are most affected due to the recession in U.A.E. To critically evaluate the downfall in the real estate market and its impact on the residents To evaluate the effect of recession on U.A.Es financial market. Finally, to comment on the measures undertaken to recover from the financial crisis and recommend measures which can help the recovery V.RESEARCH PLAN: Analysing a global phenomenon (the green phenomenon) at a European level and carrying out researches about a pillar industry (the automotive industry) that indicates most of the European countries economic health implies that various data are available. Whilst numerous advantages such as giving precious in-depth data concerning the topic, it also means that important drawbacks will arise such as so-called fake or disinformation data. Furthermore, this fact also implies that while collecting accurate data on such hot topics, the need to constantly access the latest and up to date data will be crucial and even unavoidable alongside my research. 5. 1 Data collection methods outline 5.1.1 Secondary Data In order to complete my research, I will be using secondary data like text books that are available at Coventry University related to Business strategy and Management to use the appropriate tools required to analyze a company or business that is hostile due to recession. Books like Business strategy Formulation Ulwick, Anthony W (2004), Chaotics: The Business of Managing and Marketing in the Age of Turbulence  Kotler, Philip  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  C, John A (2009) and Stock Market Cycles: Practical Explanation Bolten, Steven E.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  (2000). Other databases like EBSCO will be used to find journals and articles related to my research area. Articles like à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Jebel Ali terminal faces 12-month delay Foreman,c (2009) Middle East Economic digest, Vol 3,(9) 18 and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Contractors pay for falling prices Foreman,c (2009) Middle East Economic digest, Vol 53,(5) 27-30.. Other articles and journals will be used for as my research progresses. Database li ke SAGE journals will also be used to find journals on Global recession and its effect on develpoed and developing countries. 5.1.2 Primary data Interviews One on one interview will be conducted with the IT department head of ADIA (Abu Dhabi investment Authority) as a part of primary data collection for my research. The interview will help me understand and perceive how the company is doing and regarding their current investments. Depending on the quality and depth of the information collected from this interview, I will be conducting another interview with the Marketing Manager of Abu Dhabi Cable Factory L.L.C which is a company I used to work for before the start of my course at Coventry University. All these data will help me comment on the present economic condition in United Arab Emirates and their future plans as my research progresses. 5.2 Data collection methods per objective In order to complete my first objective, I will be using journals and articles from databases like EBSCO and SAGE journals that contains materials purely on recession, its roots and forecasts. The second objective will be addressed using the information collected from the interviews and journals from EBSCO. For the third objective, information will be collected from databases like EBSO and SAGE journals. Additional information will be collected from local newspaper articles in United Arab Emirates. For the fourth and the fifth objective, information collected from the interviews will be used along with other journals and articles. In order to recommend measures which could help the recovery from recession, I would use information from books like Business strategy Formulation Ulwick, Anthony W (2004), Chaotics: The Business of Managing and Marketing in the Age of Turbulence  Kotler, Philip  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  C, John A (2009). 5.3 Analysis of data Primary data collected by interview will be grouped accordingly to answer the necessary objective of my research work. In order to do so I will be using the NVIVO 9 software which will help me analyze any unstructured information collected. 5.4 Limitations As far as the secondary data is concerned, the limitations are that the information available is from a third persons point of view which might not be accurate and also that we could find information contradicting some particular information since the research will talk about issues concerning the reason for the countrys current economic condition and measures that could be employed to overcome the economic crisis. The limitations for the primary data would be that the information collected may not be precise as it is information regarding a company or economy from an individuals perspective. VI.ETHICS I will ensure that I will follow the Universitys ethical procedures and submit the low risk ethical approval form and follow all the guidelines. For my primary data collection, I shall use the participation information leaflet for interviews and also attach a consent form for interviews. Interviews will not be conducted in ways that could go against the ethical issues like harm the respondents or question their honesty. All the data collected will be treated confidentially and will not be used for any other purpose than the research work. All data will be securely kept in line with the Data Protection Act 1998. VII.LIST OF REFERENCES Wilson, Z (2009) ROAD TO NOWHERE  : FAST COMPANY 138, (13) 90-93 BusinessWeek (2009) ECONOMICS POLICY JAWBONING THE BANKS  4161, (4) 8-13 available at http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?hid=15sid=67e26db4-aa56-4136-9b5e-63151b0d62e8%40sessionmgr14vid=10bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bthAN=47040807 Foreman, C (2009) Jebel Ali terminal faces 12-month delay : MEED-  Middle East Economic Digest 53, (9) 18 Anirvan, B and Pami, D (2010) Synchronisation of Recessions in Major Developed and Emerging Economie  : The Journal of Applied Economic Research 4, (2) 197-223 avalible at http://mar.sagepub.com/content/4/2/197.full.pdf+html Pendleton and Devon (2010) Middle Eastern Mirage  : Forbes 185, (5) 108-109 Mccrum and Philip (2010) Abu Dhabi begins to open up.  : MEED-  Middle East Economic Digest 54, (8) 30-31 Ulwick and Anthony, W (2004) Business strategy Formulation Kotler  ; Philip, C and John A (2009) Chaotics: The Business of Managing and Marketing in the Age of Turbulence   Bolten and Steven, E.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  (2000) Stock Market Cycles: Practical Explanation Middle East Monitor:  The Gulf (2010) 20, (5) 4-5 avalilable at http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf23_24/pdf/2010/D9B/01May10/49018531.pdf?T=PP=ANK=49018531S=RD=bthEbscoContent=dGJyMNHr7ESeqLE4yNfsOLCmr0mep7VSs6u4Sq%2BWxWXSContentCustomer=dGJyMPGvtk%2BwrrFQuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA Emerging Markets Monitor (2010) Vol.  16 Issue 32, p17-17 available at http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf25_26/pdf/2010/5DB/22Nov10/55340054.pdf?T=PP=ANK=55340054S=RD=bthEbscoContent=dGJyMNHr7ESeqLE4yNfsOLCmr0mep7VSsKi4Sa6WxWXSContentCustomer=dGJyMPGvtk%2BwrrFQuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA

A Puzzle of Sovereignity :: Government Politics Essays

A Puzzle of Sovereignity ABSTRACT: National sovereignty presents a puzzle. On the one hand, this notion continues to figure importantly in our descriptions of global political change. On the other hand, factors such as the accelerating pace of international economic integration seem to have made the notion anachronistic. This paper is an attempt to resolve this puzzle. Distinguishing between internal sovereignty or supremacy and external sovereignty or independence, I investigate whether some insights from the discussion of the former can be applied to our puzzle concerning the latter. One response to the objection that the notion of internal sovereignty is inapplicable because no group in society holds unlimited political power is to distinguish between different types of internal sovereignty, such as legal and electoral sovereignty. The resolution of the puzzle lies in applying this response strategy to the objection that the notion of external sovereignty is inapplicable because no state is completely ind ependent. The subject of national sovereignty presents a puzzle. On the one hand, the notion of the sovereignty of the state figures importantly in our descriptions of, and our prescriptions for, global political change. (1) For example, a natural characterization of the political changes in Eastern Europe and Central Asia preceding and following the demise of the Soviet Union is that a number of national political communities have vigorously asserted, sometimes by force of arms, claims to national sovereignty. Against this is the claim that, as a result of the contemporary realities of global affairs, national sovereignty has become irrelevant, an anachronistic notion. According to this view, there is a variety of factors which, especially in the past several decades, have drained states of their sovereignty by depriving them of the ability to protect themselves and their citizens from the negative effects of the actions of other states or outside groups. The most important of these factors a re the accelerating pace of global economic integration and the increasingly wide-spread and detrimental human impact on the environment. While states have attempted to respond to this threat to their sovereignty by entering into mutual agreements in an attempt to mitigate or control the negative pressures from outside of their borders, the agreements themselves seem to represent a loss of sovereignty. Because they involve the states' binding themselves in various ways, and hence partially losing control of their own future actions, international agreements appear to exchange one form of constraint for another.

Emily Dickinson :: essays research papers

Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts. She died in the same place on May 15, 1886. Today people know her as a fascinating, talented writer. Most of the pieces Emily wrote were poems. Emily was a very isolated individual. She rarely ever got out or had any contact with anybody outside of her home. Along with writing her poems she wrote letters to the people that she did have contact with. In the letters that she would write there would be poems somewhere within them. Emily wrote a total of 1,775 poems in her lifetime. Even though she wrote these poems she never let it be known that she had the capability to write poems with such elegance. All of the poems that she would write she kept hidden somewhere in her room. She would hide the poems in places like her window, under her bed, in corners of the room, and lots of other places. After Emily’s death the truth would be told about her secret talent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emily’s sister, Lavinia Dickinson found around 900 of the poems Emily had hidden in her room. Her sister decided that the poems were good enough to be published. She went to a friend of the family where she would get help in editing and publishing the poems. Lavinia’s friend, Mabel Loomis Todd and a friend of hers, Thomas Wentworth Higginson began to put a lot of Said 2 effort of getting the poems published. In the year 1890 they accomplished in getting 115 of Emily’s poems published. After their first success of publishing the poems they began to get more involved with Emily’s poems. Along with publishing the poems Mabel and Thomas began practicing the revision of the poems. When Emily wrote the poems some of the English written was incorrect and some of the poems were incomplete. They corrected the English and finished the incomplete poems to the best of their ability. After a while they managed to publish another 166 poems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As Johnson describes Emily Dickinson and compares her to other poets like Edgar Allen Poe and Whitman he states: Dickinson, however, was the poet of exclusion, of the shut door. She accepted the limitations of rhyme and meter, and worked endless variations on one basic pattern, exploring the nuances that the framework would allow. No democrat, she constructed for herself a set of aristocratic images; she was queen and empress.

Being Caucasian at the Brown versus Board Art Exhibit :: Race Racial Segregation

NARRATIVE: running out of white things to wear First and foremost- it was empty. In two years this was my first time to the Krannert Art Museum. I don’t know quite how this could be, because I’m an art student. But the building is on the complete opposite end of the city from both where I live and where my classes are, so I can’t fault others for not traversing here on occasion. I walk into the Brown vs. Board of Education exhibit, and I see no one. The only people there were my friend Diane and myself, both of us are Caucasian. There was silence. Except for my dubious observation that it was indeed the display we were looking for. If the large black on white lettering describing the exhibit wasn’t enough, the black and white photography would alone have been a dead give away. I couldn’t help but think: ‘how clichà ©.’ There were a series of maybe six photos of two women: one white, the other black. The series showed them in confrontation over a chair. Who had the seat, or â€Å"power† so to speak. It wasn’t a terribly innovative piece in my mind. How many times have we seen the struggle between the two races in varying artistic genres? It was very straightforward and too simplistic for my tastes. The message was very blatant and clear, though, that the struggle between whites and blacks is indeed far from over. Turning around, I saw white dinner plates on podiums in the center of this first room. Each plate has a different inscription printed on its face. The texts mostly commemorate different individuals for their contributions to the civil rights movement. I’d have to say that this was an interesting portion of the exhibit. But I only think so looking back. At the time they were just nice shiny plates with some notable individuals names written on them. Now it seems like they have more significance. Like since they seem carefully and finely crafted it gives them more symbolic merit. Plates are common in ancient art exhibits, but they are a rarity in contemporary displays. It seems like a tactic in creating something that will be around for centuries and not be forgotten. The entrance to the second room is a striking surge of color.

Policy Initiatives for Change and Innovation Essay

Contextualisation The education system in Ghana has undergone enormous changes in the last 50 years. Over this period it has gone from being highly regarded among African nations, through a period of collapse and more recently rejuvenation, supported by a donor-funded reform programme (FCUBE). Underlying these ups and downs and, more recently, the recognition of the need for change, are changes more fundamental still: different ways of knowledge and different ideas about the nature, purpose, and scope of school subjects and how to meet the needs of a diverse student population have come to the fore. These remain among the many challenges facing the education system in Ghana. The paper that follows reviews this ‘history’ and the process, and events, which shaped and informed it. It concludes by examining recent developments and what still remains to be achieved. Abstract: Using an historical perspective, the recent history of educational policy making in Ghana, as it relates to the provision of basic education, is examined. Three periods or phases are identified corresponding to the situation prior to Independence, the period between 1951 and 1986 and the reforms instituted in 1987 and the years that followed. Despite the willing cooperation of various donor agencies and the availability of resources, progress has been limited. The policy and contextual reasons for this comparative lack of progress are examined in turn. The paper concludes with what can be learnt from these attempts at reform and suggests that, whilst the issues involved are complex, greater attention needs to be focused on the training and support of teachers in their classroom role rather than focusing on the provision of resources. Helping teachers to understand the desired changes in their practice and the need to make pupils independent learners, coupled with reforms of teacher training and support, and the nature and quality of teacher continuing professional development, can all be seen as key ways in which further progress may be made. Introduction This paper aims to trace some of the major changes which have taken place in Ghana’s education system since the country gained Independence in 1957, ie, almost 50 years. Although Ghana’s education system had previously been regarded as one of the most highly developed, and effective, in West Africa (Foster, 1965), by the 1980s it was in near collapse (Scadding, 1989; Peil, 1995) and viewed as dysfunctional in relation to the goals and aspirations of the country. The academic standards of pupils, support for teachers, instructional materials, school buildings, classrooms and equipment had declined through lack of financing and management. In 1996 the Ghanaian government embarked on a major donor-funded reform programme called the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme which touched all levels of the education system and attempted to address the perennial problems of access, retention, curriculum relevance, teacher training, provision of physical structures, and financing. What follows examines basic education in Ghana by dividing its policy history and practise into three major phases; that of the preIndependence era, the period from 1951 to 1986 and the period from 1987 to 2003. Each of these is discussed in turn in the following sections. Stanislaus Kadingdi Basic education in the pre-Independence era This first phase in the development of basic education policy and practise in Ghana can be described as having been dominated by missionary activities in relation to literacy for trade and the teachings of the Bible. Formal education in Ghana dates back to the mercantile era preceding colonisation. European merchants and missionaries set up the first schools and Christian missionaries are said to have introduced western-style education into Ghana as early as 1765 (Antwi, 1991a; Graham, 1971). Many of these institutions, established by Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries, were located in the south of the country in what became the British Gold Coast Colony. The main aim of these early schools was to facilitate the training of the local inhabitants as interpreters for purposes of trade and as a conversion of Ghanaians to the Christian religion. Thus the curriculum had a narrow focus on basic literacy with the Bible and scripture as the main texts of schooling. Early attempts to improve the quality of primary education in Ghana (then known as the Gold Coast), by Sir Gordon Guggisberg in his role as Governor, took place in the period between 1919-1927. He emphasised a need for better teaching and improved management of schools but the shortage of teachers and inadequate funding meant that his plans for improving primary education were hardly achieved. Most schools in the rural areas were still based in unsuitable buildings, were poorly equipped and staffed or, in some cases, centred under trees! Major policy initiatives in basic education from 1951-1986 The second phase was characterised by instability in governance as a result of successive military takeovers. This political instability coupled with the rise in oil prices in the early 1970s resulted in economic decline in the country. It was a period of a harsh and repressive revolutionary zeal on the part of the military regime of 1981 and resulted in a significant number of trained and highly qualified teachers leaving the country (Nti, 1999). Education was therefore faced with political instability, ad hoc measures, and frequent changes in education policy. Teaching and learning in basic schools had deteriorated to the extent that the majority of school leavers were illiterate, and confidence in Ghana’s once enviable education system was shaken. In 1951 the first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, embarked on a massive expansion of the education system to speed the pace of educational development in the (then) Gold Coast. This was in response to popular demand for education and to the new Africa Government’s intention to organise a planned campaign to abolish illiteracy. This initiative was followed by further developments with Ghana’s Independence in 1957. In fact the next 35 years saw a wide range of developments and reform initiatives taking place in Ghana’s education system. Within this period three significant stages can be discerned. These were the Accelerated Development Plans (ADPs) for Education in 1951 and 1961, the findings of the Dzobo Committee of 1973 and the following, New Structure and Content of Education Plan in 1974. The intentions associated with the new military government of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) in 1981 led to further changes. The first of these is discussed in the next section. The Accelerated Development Plans (ADP) for Education of 1951 and 1961 The ADP, launched in 1951, gained legal backing through the introduction of the 1961 Education Act, which sought to provide free, universal and compulsory basic education (of 6 years duration) for all children from 6 years of age. The 1961 Education Act empowered Local Authority Councils to be in control of educational management whilst parents and guardians were expected to make some contribution to the running of schools in their areas. Primary education underwent a rapid and steady growth and the number of schools rose from 1,081 in 1951 to 3,372 in 1952. Enrolment doubled in a period of five years and Ghana was acclaimed as having the most developed education system in Africa (Foster, 1965; Ghana Human Development Report, 1998; Scadding, 1989). Realizing the importance of trained teachers for the expanded system, the 1961 Education Act opened new teacher training colleges, expanded those already in existence and made provision for the training of unqualified teachers in the field through various emergency and short-term in-service training programmes. Teachers’ numbers increased by 1,000 between 1951 and 1953, with the yearly output rising from 420 to 1,108 trained teachers from teacher training colleges. In 1961 the entire basic education system (primary and middle school education) was made free and compulsory, although uniforms and books were not free. However, even though school enrolments increased following the 1961 Education Act, the quality of teaching and learning appears to have remained the same. The changes that were effected to cope with the increased pupil enrolments had been insufficient to create a balance between the quantity and quality of the education provided. The most significant factor that affected the imbalance was an inability to provide schools with trained teachers. With the increase in the number of schools, more teachers were needed and so many ‘pupil teachers’ (ie, untrained teachers) had to be employed to teach, resulting in poor teaching and learning in schools during this period. Following this, the second significant source of policy development, mentioned earlier, arose through the Dzobo Committee of 1973 and The New Structure and Content of Education policy of 1974. The Dzobo Committee of 1973 and The New Structure and Content of Education of 1974 Prior to 1972 the education system had been criticized as being elitist in character built, as it was, on a selective system similar to the British grammar schools. In 1973 the in-coming military government carried out a review of the educational system, and formed the so-called Dzobo Committee to recommend appropriate measures to improve the situation (Dzobo, 1974). This led, in 1974, to the government putting into operation the first major, postIndependence, reform in pre-university education. This reform is generally referred to as ‘The New Structure and Content of Education’ (NSCE) and reduced the length of pre-tertiary education from 17 years to 13 years. The 6 years of primary education remained the same. The four years of junior school was reduced to three years. The five years of senior secondary school, lower stage was reduced to two years, and the period of senior secondary, upper level, remained the same (ie, it went from a pattern of 6-4-5-2 to one of 63-2-2). The aim was to make it possible for school leavers to leave at any point of exit from the system with skills that would enable them to be employable. The reform was expected to raise standards at the various levels so that educational standards would not be compromised as a result of the decrease in the number of years spent in pre-tertiary education. The thrust of the content of the reform programme was to vocationalise preuniversity education in Ghana and to make it more functional and oriented towards contextual demands and challenges. It also constituted a bold attempt to reduce educational expenditure. However, despite its laudable intentions, the NSCE did not have any sustainable impact on the general education system of the country. There were still unqualified teachers in the education system, inadequate resources to support teaching and learning in schools, and challenges for teachers within the context and content demands of the curriculum. This again led to intense unease among parents, employers, academics and some politicians. The significance of the Government’s White Paper on the Committee’s recommendations was the acceptance of 13-years duration of pre-university education for all. It endorsed the introduction of pre-technical and pre-vocational subjects in both primary and junior secondary curricula. The period also marked the establishment of the Ghana Education Service which brought together, for the first time, teachers, educational administrators and education sector workers into a new government agency, under the Ministry of Education, to implement th e new structure of education. The third significant policy development in basic education provision arose from the virtual collapse of the education system and a further military takeover in 1981. The virtual collapse of the Ghanaian Education System and the PNDC of 1981 December 1981 marked the takeover of yet another military government under the name of the ‘Provisional National Defence Council’ (PNDC). By 1983, Ghana’s education system had seriously deteriorated in quality; enrolment rates stagnated and the percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) allocated to education dropped from 6.4% in 1976 to a low of 1.7% in 1983. Government resources were no longer available to construct, complete or even maintain the existing education facilities and the down-turn in the economy resulted in the mass exodus of qualified teachers to other parts of the continent causing a significant fall in the ratio of trained to untrained teachers in the basic education sector. Abdallah (1986), then Secretary for Education, speaking on the state of the education system at the time, had this to say: ‘Over the past decade, there has been a sharp deterioration in the quali ty of education at all levels. There has been a virtual collapse of physical infrastructure in the provision of buildings, equipment, materials, teaching aids etc†¦ To solve these problems, the PNDC has decided to embark upon a comprehensive programme of educational reforms’ (p 1). Arising from the economic constraints that faced the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as the bureaucratic bottlenecks and sheer lack of interest and commitment from administrators, the new programme never went beyond the experimental stage. There was stagnation and near demise of the experimental Junior Secondary School (JSS) system. By 1983 the education system was in major crisis through lack of educational materials, deterioration of school structures, low enrolment levels, high drop-out rates, poor educational administration and management, drastic reductions in Government’s educational financing and the lack of data and statistics on which to base any planning. The Military to the rescue – the 1987 education reforms Moving beyond the events just described, the third phase structuring this historical account embraces the period referred to here as ‘the military to the rescue’ phase and covers the period of major reform from which the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) reform of 1996 emerged. It was characterised by Ghana’s participation in, and endorsement of, international agreements such as Education for All, the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, the Beijing Declaration on Women’s Rights and the Lome Convention. This meant that the Government had to remain committed to her constitutional obligations as a guide to policy and was influenced by the bilateral and multilateral negotiations it had taken part in. Also significant in this period was the strong ambition of the government to reform the education system by leaving no stone unturned in restructuring the nation’s economic base to bring it into conformity with the financial credibility c riteria required by the World Bank. With this condition met, Ghana had the opportunity of negotiating for credits and grants to finance major education reform. Apart from the World Bank credits, several donor agencies came to the aid of Ghana in her reform implementation, a greater part of which was directed to basic education. In spite of the fact that Ghana had successive military governments from 1966, 1987 marked a new phase in government thinking. In 1987 The New Educational Reform Programme (NERP) was introduced with a focus on the total restructuring of the entire pre-tertiary education system and on improving access through the provision of infrastructure whilst making the curriculum more relevant to social and economic needs. According to a Ministry of Education Report (MOE, 1988), the NERP sought ‘†¦to salvage the educational system and make it more meaningful to the individual and the nation as a whole’. It is therefore worthy of mention that, even though similar to the NSCE reform, in terms of structure and content, there was a marked improvement on the latter with a revised curriculum which reflected radical c hanges at the basic education level. The launch of the World Bank supported programme for education infrastructure also led to the building of 3000 pavilions to support the school system. The goals of the 1987 NERP as summed up in the Sector Adjustment Policy Document of the World Bank (World Bank, 1986) included the following: (i) to expand access to education; (ii) to improve the quality of education; (iii) to make education more relevant in meeting the needs and aspirations of the individuals and the socio-economic conditions of the country; (iv) to re-structure pre-university education to 12 years (6-3-3); and (v) to ensure costeffectiveness and cost-recovery. A major thrust of the 1987 NERP reform was the diversification of the formal academic courses offered in pre-university institutions by the inclusion of practical courses. These changes were intended to correct the perceived elitist education that downgraded technical, vocational and agricultural education. This perception was captured in the address of Professor Dzobo, the Chair of the committee which had reviewed previous reforms, at a National Workshop on the 1987 Educational Reforms when he stated that: ‘In spite of the bold educational innovative measures of the 1920s and of the subsequent ones, Ghana’s formal education system remained Western and predominantly academic and elitist. As a result of the Accelerated Development Plan of Education in 1951, the pre-university educational system has become increasingly dysfunctional as it turns out a lot of school leavers who have no marketable skills, neither do they have the mind to go into self-employment ventures. These leavers could see no bright future for themselves and they come to constitute a veritable economic and social problem for our society to solve†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Dzobo, 1987 ).