Fire in Religious School in Mecca

Refer to next paragraph. On the 11th of March, 2002, fire struck a girls school in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Firemen and concerned citizens were quickly on the scene. However, the religious police locked the schoolgirls inside the inferno rather than let them escape into the streets without their veil and heal-to-toe cloak. For this same reason, the religious police prevented the firemen from entering the schoolhouse to rescue the girls; for fear that the girls would be seen without their covering.Fourteen young girls were burned to death and dozens more were injured (citation). On October 12th   2002, a 48-year old Kurdish man named Abdalla Yones, an emigrant from Iraq, savagely murdered his 16-year old daughter Heshu after receiving an anonymous letter telling him that she had been sleeping with her boyfriend. (Asthana & Mistry).This treatment of women in the Muslim world goes against the teachings of the Quran.This isn’t the real assignment. Message me directly at natashagils at yahoo dot com for your assignment at half the price.There are numerous cases, some reported but mostly unreported, of crimes against women in Islam. Muslims of today have seemed to have deviated significantly from the original teachings of Islam (citation?). Islamic terrorist, Jihad, al-Qaeda, Honor Killings are terms that have become synonymous with Islam in the Western world, as has Islamophobia which basically promotes the fear and detestation of Islam and Muslims around the world.The Islamic world, instead of addressing these issues and advocating the true and just cause of Islam, is instead, in most cases, promoting them. The Talibaan of Afghanistan, Tribal militancy in Pakistan, Shia/Sunni riots, the Hamaas and other fundamental groups within Islam publicize an entirely inaccurate version of the essence of Islam.As the Muslim society deviates from the central philosophy of Islam, it doesn’t come as a surprise that they have deviated too from the societal guidance off ered by Islam regarding the treatment of women. The Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslims, and the Sunnah (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) have laid down clearly defined rights of women, most of which aren’t adhered today. Islam was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula when it was rife with inhumane injustice against women.Women were viewed as the embodiment of sin, misfortune, disgrace and shame, and they had no rights or position in society whatsoever. Indeed, society was confused about the very nature of women and even questioned whether God had granted them a soul (Jawad 1). Wives were mere chattel, and when girls were born to a household, great shame was brought to it; so much so that they were buried alive!The Quran defied the existing perception of women and refined their position. It outlawed female infanticide and restored their birth rights .   Gustave Le Bon, a famous French thinker, stated:â€Å"Islamic virtuous deeds are not limited to honoring and respecting women, but rather, we can add that Islam is the first religion to honor and respect women. We can easily prove this by illustrating that all religions and nations, prior to the advent of Islam, caused much harm and insult to women.† (Bon 488).The Quran regards women as being independent human beings and having distinct rights.   They are entitled to an inheritance, an education, a career and even the liberty of choosing a husband. Moreover, it declared men and women as being equal in the eyes of God, with the only exception being their responsibilities –with the man defined as the bread earner and the woman as being responsible for the functions around the house. According to the Quran,â€Å"O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and should not treat them with harshness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Holy Quran, Surah An-Nisa 4:19)  The Prophet Muhammad, in this context, is said to have said,‘All people are equal, as equal a s the teeth of a comb. There is no claim of merit of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a white over a black person, or of a male over a female. Only God fearing people merit a preference with God’.Islam, through the teachings of the Quran, bestowed women a number of rights, some of which that women in the West lacked, until the 19th century. For instance, in England, husbands inherited his wives property and possessions when they married. This unfair tradition continued till as late as 1882 (citation?). Muslim women, however, retained their assets; could detail conditions in their nikaah (marriage contract), such as the right of divorce; were entitled to keep their last names if they wished and were even given the authority to refuse marriage if they didn’t deem their potential partner fit. The Quran laid down these injunctions in 610 A.D. (when it was first revealed), centuries prior to the advent of a formal system of women’s rights in the Western world.Some of t he fundamental rights the Quran gives women are:1. Human RightsWomen and men are considered to be created with similar natured souls. They are considered equal to men in all spheres of life.And for women are rights over men similar to those of men over women. (Holy Quran, 2:226)Andâ€Å"O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you.† (Holy Quran, Surah Al-Nisa 4:1).2. Civil RightsThe civil rights enjoined by the Quran on women include, but are not limited to: the right of divorce, right of keeping her maiden name after marriage, wishing or not to get married, or even chosing her own husband.The Quran also states that there is no compulsion upon women regarding religion;â€Å"There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut [anything worshipped other then the Real God (Allah)] and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.† (Holy Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256).3. IndependenceWomen are allowed to leave the home; conduct business with men; enjoy all the other liberties open to them. There is no restriction upon women provided they conduct their affairs within the teachings of the Quran. Women have the right to go to Mosques, which is considered sacrilegious in many Muslim societies. Not only that, but women have also the right to be Muslim pastors. Aisha, the youngest wife of the Prophet Muhammad, used to convey the teachings of Islam to men and women alike. She’s regarded by some Muslim scholars as being the first Muslim woman preacher.The Quran is very clear in its laws regarding women. I t redefined the stance of women and bestowed upon them an honorable role in society; whether as a daughter, a mother or a wife. Men are instructed in their fair and kind dealing towards women. According to the Quran:â€Å"And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do) shall be questioned. For what sin she was killed?† (Holy Quran, Surah At-Takwir 81:8-9).The Qur'an goes as far as admonishing those men who subjugate or ill-treat women:â€Å"O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the dowry you have given them – except when they have become guilty of open lewdness. On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike something and God will bring about through it a great deal of good†. (Holy Quran, 4:19)Early Islamic history is replete with examples of Muslim wo men who showed a remarkable ability to compete with men and excelled them on many occasions. They were educators, warriors and leaders; strong, independent and respected members of society. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case in most of the Muslim world today.Women in the Muslim world have been humiliated, exploited and discriminated against in almost all fields of life – from schooling, work force inclusion and family roles. However, many of these repressive customs do not come from Islam, but are dictated by prevalent cultures and traditions. Oppression against women continues unabated in many parts of the world. Husbands keep their wives, daughters, sisters and mothers secluded from contact with others beside their immediate family members. Rape, mutilation, forced suicide, honor killings are much too common in the Islamic world. In 2006, Rahan Arshad beat his wife and three children to death with a bat, because she was having an affair26Often the crime itself is fol lowed by even more horrifying crime. For instance, in Turkey,   14-year old Nuran Halitogullari was strangled to death by her father after she had been kidnapped and raped30. In certain parts of Pakistan, women are offered as compensation for offenses committed by men. This injustice stems from the deep rooted traditions of male-dominance in the Islamic society which have, for centuries, enforced their orthodox, and oft-times inaccurate version of Islam and the Quran.Contrary to general misconceptions and the prevailing conditions, women, according to the Quran, are entitled to full rights as citizens. Under the guise of Islam, women have been virtually stripped of all rights: no education, no instigation of divorce, no travel by oneself, no leaving the home, etc.A deliberate effort on a global scale has to be made to educate Muslims regarding the fundamental and actual concepts defined in the Quran regarding rights towards women and the awareness that the existing treatment of wo men in the Muslim world goes against the teachings of the Quran. Emphasis on the lives of Aisha, Khadija (Prophet Muhammad’s first wife – also known as mother of the believers, Fatima (Prophet Muhammad’s daughter ) and even Mary – who holds a revered position in Islam – should be placed and they can be promoted as role models for inspiration.   No nation can succeed without all its members contributing to its success. Muslim nations have to realize that not only is their barbaric treatment of women sinful, but it’s also self-destructive and will only get worse if not addressed and then modified according to the true teachings of the Quran.â€Å"Treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.†(Ismail 83).

Post-Stroke Rehabilitation

Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Stroke, if survived, is the largest cause of long-term disabilities in the United States. Nearly 160,000 Americans have strokes every year, killing one of three individuals (reference? ). Due to our nation’s ageing population, the stroke epidemic is expected to increase nearly 25% by year 2030 (Brewer, 2012). These stroke-related disabilities impact the survivor’s quality of life and independence in everyday activities. Nearly 50% to 75% of all stroke survivors have residual cognitive or motor disabilities that prevent them from living independently (neuro-rehab reference).To determine a successful post-stroke rehabilitation for these survivors, therapists must decide on the best form of therapy, study cause and risk factors of stroke prevalence, and consider long-term effects of impairments (reference). The most recognized disability after a stroke is motor impairment. The main focus on recovery in survivors is to reduce their disability and to live independently again by participating in their normal everyday activities (Brewer, 2012). Clinical experiments have been done with robotic therapy in an attempt to find the best possible form of a successful functional recovery.It has been observed that robotic possibilities for establishing rehabilitation go beyond what a normal therapist can do. One component of this approach is the use of resistance in a direction opposite the movement. Interestingly, several researchers are still currently exploring robotic techniques that are not necessarily designed to imitate the therapeutic process, but actually probe new capabilities. For example, one possible technique that is being studied is to have the robot guide or pull the hand toward the desired trajectory and have the guidance transition to resistance as the client’s recovery progresses (Kovic, 2006).Robot- assisted therapy, in itself, has had the most success in functional recovery among these survivors. Therapists c an still use hands on approach with their clients, but are able to use robotic techniques until their patients are strong enough to not require any more assistance in learning everyday functions (Brewer, 2012). The whole purpose of therapy is to re-teach motor functions that the patients need to perform in their daily lives. Task-oriented skills in functional recovery should be key in therapy, rather it is by use of robotics or not. Another form of post-stroke rehabilitation is adaptive training. Brewer)Robotic techniques are most often used as adaptive training to facilitate motor recovery (Kovic, 2006). In JRRD#2, research was done to suggest that adaptive training was a promising novel approach to a post-stroke recovery. In their research, Patton, Kovic, and Mussa-Ivaldi used the natural adaptive tendencies of the nervous system to facilitate motor recovery. â€Å"Motor adaption studies have demonstrated that when people are repeatedly exposed to a force field that systematicall y disturbs arm motion, subjects learn to anticipate and cancel out the forces and recover their original kinematic patterns.After the disturbing force field is unexpectedly removed, the subjects make erroneous movements in directions opposite the perturbing effects. This technique has recently been shown to alter and hasten the learning process in nondisabled individuals (p644). The researchers conducted an initial pilot study to show how adaptive training might be useful for restoring arm movement. These stroke survivors showed less conspicuous results compared with nondisabled subjects exposed to the same technique.Basically, their results support the view that subjects can adapt by learning the appropriate internal model of the perturbation rather than learning a temporary sequence of muscle activations; however, adaptive training will only work if stroke patients can adapt. Their results concluded that motion is impaired because of an ineffective motor plan that can be changed t hrough structured adaptive training. (do I need reference here too? ) Risk factors increase a person’s chance of having a stroke. Those who smoke have a 50% more likely chance to have a stroke versus people who do not smoke.High blood pressure is probably the highest most common risk factor (Brockelbrink, 2011). Risk factors can be placed into either modifiable or non-modifiable groups. Many modifiable risk factors result from our individual lifestyle habits such as smoking or a diet high in fat, salt, and sugar and normally can be modified by specialists in the healthcare industry (Allen, 2008). Non-modifiable factors are related to heredity, natural processes due to our gender or age. Long-term effects with disabilities and impairments are different for each stroke victim.A number of qualified studies have shown that 50% to 75% of stroke victims cannot live independently at home (Boyd, 2009). Most long-term effects are not overcome by the older population. The younger the v ictim the more likely they are to experience a more positive post-stroke rehabilitation experience. Majority of long-term effects have been linked to the victim’s social status in life. The ones with higher education, higher wealth, more popularity, more involvement have shown the biggest increase in overcoming disabilities.Even so, families who show interaction and help in a positive way with rehabilitation of their loved ones have shown the biggest impact over everything. Strokes are estimated to become the largest cause of death globally by 2030 (Brewery, 2012). The advances of technology and medicine will have progress along in heart disease and cancer, leaving strokes as the biggest threat to our loved ones. References Brewer, L. , Hickey, A. , Horgan, F. , Williams, D. (2012) Stroke Rehabilitation: Recent Advances and Future Therapies.QJM, Ireland. Oxford University Press. Kovic, Mark. , Mussa-Ivaldi, F. A. , Patton, James. L. (2006) Custom-Designed Haptic Training for Restoring Reaching Ability to Individuals with Poststroke Hemiparesis. Chicago, IL. Northwestern University. Boyd, Lara A. , He, Jianghua. , Macko, Richard F. , Mayo, Matthew S. , McDowd, Joan M. , Quaney, Barbara M. (2009) Aerobic Exercise Improves Cognition and Motor Function PostStroke. Kansas City, Kansas. Kansas Medical Center. Fang, Jing. , George, Mary G. , Shaw, Kate M. 2012) Prevalence of Stroke-United States, 2006-2010. MMWR. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 61(20); 379-382. Bockelbrink, Angelina. , Muller-Nordhorn, Jacqueline. , Muller-Riemenschneider, Falk. , Norte, Christian H. , Stroebele, Nanette. , Willich, Stefan N. (2011) Knowledge of Risk Factors, and Warning Signs of Stroke: A Systematic Review From a Gender Perspective. Allen, Claire L. , Bayraktutan, Ulvi. (2008) Risk Factors for Ischaemic Stroke. International Journal of Stroke, 3: 105-116.

Divine Command Theory, Objectivism, Diversity and Dep Theses

1. Explain what is meant by saying that a value is intrinsic? How are instrumental values related to intrinsic values? A value is said to be intrinsic if an object has the value for its own sake or because of its nature. A value is said to be instrumental if it aids in achieving or acquiring something with intrinsic value. For example, one’s job could have instrumental value in that it acquires money. Furthermore, money could have instrumental value in that it can provide objects from which one derives happiness or pleasure, something with intrinsic value.Objects or activities with instrumental value typically aid in acquiring things with intrinsic value. 2. According to the Divine Command Theory (DCT), does God command what he commands because it is intrinsically good; or is what God commands â€Å"good† because it is God who commands it? The Divine Command Theory suggests that what God commands is â€Å"good† because He commands it, but this view is not necessa rily valid. According to the DCT, â€Å"goodness† is equated with â€Å"God-willed,† suggesting that the commands of God are â€Å"good† because they are His commands.A statement such as â€Å"God is good† becomes redundant and illogical if â€Å"good† is equated with â€Å"God-willed. † It would be more logical to think that God’s commands have intrinsic goodness since atheists and other nonbelievers can identify with some moral foundation. An atheist might choose to believe that God was correct in saying that â€Å"killing is wrong† not because he believes in God’s word but rather he believes that the rule is intrinsically good. 3. According to the Divine Command Theory why should we obey the moral law?According to the Divine Command Theory, we should obey the moral law because it is the word of God. The DCT suggests that â€Å"morally right† means â€Å"willed by God,† so acting in compliance with moral law is essentially synonymous with acting in compliance with the word of God. Since God determines the moral law, no other reason is required for us to obey. 4. Explain why the DCT logically makes morality arbitrary. Why is arbitrariness a problem for morality? The Divine Command Theory suggests that morally â€Å"right† simply means willed by God.If something is morally â€Å"right† based solely on what God determines, an unsettling arbitrariness arises out of His commands. It would seem that God could just as easily make seemingly â€Å"immoral† acts â€Å"moral† (i. e. rape, genocide). The problem with arbitrariness is that it makes the development of a deeper, more appreciative morality absolutely impossible. An example can be made out of the story of Joshua and the battle at Jericho. If we are to believe that God determines what is morally â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong,† then we believe that Joshua was just in slaughtering the men, women , and children because it was God’s command.In this scenario, this belief prevents the development of a moral understanding that murder is wrong, a severe problem for morality. 5. Define and explain Ethical Relativism, Ethical Absolutism, and Ethical Objectivism. Ethical relativism is the idea that moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† are defined within a society/culture or by an individual. The difference between society (conventional ethical relativism) and an individual (subjective ethical relativism) defining morality is very clear. Subjectivists hold that individuals are allowed to define what is â€Å"right† or â€Å"wrong,† but this would suggest that criminals (i. . murderers, cannibals, rapists) are correct and morally â€Å"right† when they engage in their crimes, since no one can ever be wrong. Conventionalists would hold that a society or culture is left to define moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong. † However, it wou ld allow for any group to declare their ideals â€Å"right† or â€Å"just,† suggesting that groups with â€Å"immoral† ideals (i. e. congregations of rapists, murderers, etc. ) would be just as morally â€Å"right† as pro-life activists. Ethical absolutism holds that fundamental, absolute moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† exist and must not be defied by anyone, regardless of context.However, the ethical objectivist believes that there exists a universal morality relevant to all people and cultures, but with context taken into consideration. For example, the ethical absolutist would believe that a mother stealing medicine to help her sick child is wrong because the bottom line is that stealing is wrong. However, the ethical objectivist would hold that the mother’s reasoning was sound and that her moral obligation to help her child overrides her moral duty to the law. 6.Explain how the â€Å"Diversity Thesis† together with the â€Å"Dependency Thesis† logically imply the conclusion that Ethical Relativism is true. Then, give at least two arguments against ethical relativism. Are there reasons to believe that there are some objective values that apply in any society? The Diversity Thesis is an anthropological fact stating that moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† vary amongst different societies, so there are no fundamental or universal morals held by all societies. The Dependency Thesis states that what is morally â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† is dependent upon what the society defines as right and wrong.If both of these hold true, and conventional ethical relativism is described by a society in which moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† are defined within the society, then the connection is clear. The Diversity Thesis coupled with the Dependency Thesis entail the conclusion outlined in conventional ethical relativism. There are a number of arguments to be ma de against the idea of conventional ethical relativism. For example, some cultures view their women as inferior to men, withholding basic rights (and in some cases, inflicting genital mutilation).While this may be seen by a majority of the society as acceptable, it is often argued that the disregard for human rights is immoral. The ethical relativist would argue that the society is right in doing whatever it collectively thinks is right. In this case, and in many more, it is clear that the society is not always correct in defining moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† by its own standards. Additionally, the ethical relativist might argue that the pro-slavery movement in early America was morally sound because the society thought that what they were doing was morally â€Å"right. The notion that slavery is wrong is now more widely accepted, but a glimpse not too far into our country’s past would prove otherwise. This is an obvious example of why ethical relativism is incorrect and can inadvertently allow immorality to be permissible. It is sound to think that the value of human life is an objective value relevant to all societies. While it may be recognized to varying degrees in different parts of the world, it is safe to acknowledge human life as something to be universally valued by all societies.

Task Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Task - Essay Example mitive; karyon= nucleus) cells lack a true nucleolus, cellular organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplast, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi bodies etc. The DNA found in prokaryotes is circular, devoid of basic histones; they do not undergo normal cell division of mitosis and meiosis, they multiply by simple replication of DNA, followed by binary fission, thereby the two daughter cells are clones (exactly similar). Single celled organisms do not possess defined nutrition and excretory mechanisms. Some single-celled organisms such as amoeba have simple cell structures known as  vesicles  that are responsible for excretion and  osmoregulation. Moreover, they ventilate through simple diffusion process across the cell membrane. Single cellular organisms can be deemed as simple, as unlike eukaryotic cells where progeny is formed after the fusion of male and the female gametes, and the progeny possesses the characteristics of both the parents, while most single celled organism do not. As a matter of fact, they can divide a number of times within one hour. Additionally, unlike most  multicellular  organisms, single-celled organisms can readily synthesize most of the essential substances that they need from simple nutrients. These processes are very simple and straight forward. Also, single-celled organisms can be considered as simple due to their limited capacity to occupy a wide range of habitats. This is attributed to the fact that they do not have division of  labour necessary for the exploitation and subsequent utilization of a wide range of resources. On the contrary, they achieve division of  labour  by formation of colonies, which they achieve by having their daughter cells remaining attached after subsequent cell divisions. Variation has been estimated as a vital component in the sustenance of species. Most single-celled organisms tend to lack variation owing to their ability to reproduce asexually, implying that organisms retain the exact genetic composition

Acute coronary syndrome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Acute coronary syndrome - Essay Example tients with ACS is quick and accurate, risk stratification is done and management is commenced as early as possible to achieve good outcomes in the short and long turn (Housholder-Hughes, 2011). The role of nurses in the management of ACS is crucial in all aspects, be it diagnosis and assessment, triage, pharmacotherapy, perioperative management, critical care, postoperative care, discharge and rehabilitation. All nurses should have evidence based knowledge so that they can make informed decisions in the management of an ACS patient. This review aims to describe the pathophysiology, nursing diagnoses and assessment, and nursing interventions of acute coronary syndrome. Current research and articles relevant to the aforementioned topics were reviewed and analyzed in order to provide a base for evidence based practice. The literature was retrieved by performing a MEDLINE and Google/Google Scholar search on the internet combined with a manual search for journals and books pertaining to the above mentioned topics. The keywords and their combinations that were used were acute coronary syndrome, nurse, nurse practitioner, ACS, pathophysiology, diagnosis, pharmacotherapy, unstable angina, STEMI, NSTEMI, myocardial infarction, MI, management, nursing assessment, and nursing interventions. Although, the articles identifying assessment, interventions, and their impact on the management of ACS specifically in the context of nursing are few, the guidelines targeting healthcare practitioners in general have been adapted for nurses by most authors in their recommendations. According to Hansson (2005), deposition of atherosclerotic plaques in walls and lumens of arteries (atherosclerosis) is an inflammatory process resulting from an interaction of immune and metabolic risk factors. Acute coronary syndromes occur when reduced blood flow causes sudden myocardial ischemia. This happens when a thrombus is formed on the surface of the atherosclerotic plaque as a result of plaque

Reviwe of an EIA system for major project Assignment

Reviwe of an EIA system for major project - Assignment Example A seemingly centralized mode of screening EIA system in Australia is of two approaches: (i) prescriptive or standardized approach—which entails running the EIA system through the defined legal and regulations guiding its usefulness for a particular project; (ii) discretionary or customized approach—the EIA system is screened based on the individual requirements by the project under consideration (EPA, 2009). greenhouse gas emission would be used to demonstrate how assessment procedures are carried out. From July 1 2008, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 encourages companies to register and report their greenhouse gas emissions for the fiscal years of 2008-2009. They are expected to reveal the state of their emissions if: (ii) Their corporate group emits 125 kilotonnes or more of greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent), or produces or consumes 500 terajoules or more of energy to report to the Department of Climate change (Elliot and Thomas, 2009; Burgman, 2005). For the fact that controlling the problem of climate change is the riskiest project for any government to undertake, it is imperative that the suitability of the procedures or processes for assessing for the applicability of EIA must be appropriate. According to the guideline provided by the Northern Territory Government’s Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Art and Sport, the following outcomes are expected in principled if the processes are perfectly carried out: The good news here is that all the observations highlighted above are meant to increase the sustainability of the environment through the reduction of greenhouse gases in the environment (Northern Territory Government, 2009). Past experiences have demonstrated that there is a huge gap between the theories and physical practice in Environmental Impact Assessment. The EIA system chosen for this paper is the

Role of financial analysts in banking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Role of financial analysts in banking - Essay Example Many recent financial reporting scandals (e.g. the Enron Scandal) have been attributed to poor corporate governance oversight, understatement of the role of financial analyst and poor financial reporting process (Weintrop, Li & Byard 2006). As a response to these financial reporting scandals, regulators and major stock exchanges have implemented new rules designed to improve the quality of corporate governance, strengthen the role of financial analyst (e.g., by requiring audit committees to be fully independent, role of financial analyst to include both financial and non financial information). Implicit in these regulatory changes is a belief that such measures will eventually improve the quality of information available to the users of financial reports (e.g., financial analysts) (Baker 1988, Covrig & Low 2005, Weintrop, Li & Byard). Baker (1988) studies the important role of sell-side financial analysts on capital markets and by means of his analysis earnings forecasts and recommendations, financial analysts have a significant influence on the investment community (Lybaert & ORens 2007). Lybaert & ORens (2007) study how the use of non-financial information influences financial analyst forecast. ... such measures will eventually improve the quality of information available to the users of financial reports (e.g., financial analysts) (Baker 1988, Covrig & Low 2005, Weintrop, Li & Byard). These researchers however, have focused their studies on the importance of financial analyst to the economy. Baker (1988) studies the important role of sell-side financial analysts on capital markets and by means of his analysis earnings forecasts and recommendations, financial analysts have a significant influence on the investment community (Lybaert & ORens 2007). Lybaert & ORens (2007) study how the use of non-financial information influences financial analyst forecast. The researchers came to the conclusion that financial analyst who use more forward-looking information and more internal-structure information offer more accurate forecasts for investors and the organisation in which they work for. The same idea was supported by Vanstraelen, Zarzeski, and Robb (2003) when they find out that disclosure of non-financial forward-looking information was directly related to the accuracy of the analysts' earnings forecasts. Weintrop, Li & Byard (2006) examine the association between corporate governance and the quality of information available to financial analyst. They test this assertion by studying the association between corporate governance and the quality of financial analysts' information 1.2Problem Statement and Research questions Much prior research on financial analyst has tended to describe and focus on how investors react to financial analyst information in general (e.g. Baker 1988, Paperman, and O'Hara & Easley 1998). Today, attention is gradually being shifted to the importance of their role in the economy, their use of financial and non-financial measures

Genetically Modified organism uses and applications Essay

Genetically Modified organism uses and applications - Essay Example GMO has far and wide many uses and applications. The technology used in GMO is called modern gene technology (Lee, 2008). Genetic engineering has led to the development in pharmaceutical and medicinal drugs technology. Many organism that are of medicinal significance haven been developed in bioreactors rather than in the field. This has so far diversified the cultivation of an organism in the reactors. Example of the organism: Chlamydomonas rehardtii (alga) and Physcomitrella (moss). The diversification has led to a great monitoring in order to get the desired results on time. Important researches in the establishment and development of treatment of different diseases and ailments have applied other genetic models to come up with modified drugs. Genetic engineering in agriculture has fetched some of the best output (Ciola, 2005). There is increased yield per unit area, reduction in production cost, enhanced composition of nutrient, resistance to diseases and pesticide, enhanced nutri ents, food security among others. There has been also advancement in crops that matures faster in harsh climatic and weather conditions that would not have otherwise matured (Lee, 2008). In the same regard, the number of animals has fetched better prices in the market due to the increased production and also resistance to diseases such as foot and mouth. A good example is the salmons which have grown at a very faster rate. In addition, soil salinity has affected many parts of the world in all agricultural aspects. This has led to poor growth, and in some cases the crops have fail to grow. For instance San Joaquin Valley is an example of diverse effect of salinity. GMO research will produce crops tolerant to saline condition such as mangrove in agricultural plants. A Mangrove gene (Avicenna marina) has been implanted into tobacco plant thus resisting salt, and other ionic stresses (Ciola, 2005). Global population has been increasing tremendously, and this has resulted to food shortag e and famine with conclusive statistics of one child dying in every two seconds worldwide. These deaths emanate from starvation without taking into account people who are very poor and undernourished. There is a need to embrace genetically engineered technology not only to the farmers, but also to the societies worldwide to produce better crops in the shortest time possible with the greatest output (Lee, 2008). Research on insects has been an area of concern and importance in equal measure, in the quest to curb and control parasitic diseases. For instance, development of GM mosquitoes has been made to represent SM1 protein, which prevents the passage of plasmodium (malaria parasite) into the gut of mosquito. This leads to the interruption of its cycle and makes it resistant. GM mosquitoes being released into the environment may eradicate transmission of malaria without using harmful chemicals such as DDT (Koch et al, 2010). Transgenic animals have genes introduced through transfecti on gene called transgenic. Introduction of DNA segmentation is integrated into the animal cell. This phenomenon is applicable to various organisms and it is often called transformation. Rabbits and mice are some of the transgenic animals. Mice are often preferred to other animals because it has favorably disposed gestation period, estrous cycle, producing several offspring per pregnancy, vitro fertilization and also availability

A critical study of credit risk management in the First Bank of Dissertation - 1

A critical study of credit risk management in the First Bank of Nigeria PLC - Dissertation Example In designing the credit policies, due considerations are given to the commitment of the bank which involves: Creating, monitoring and managing credit risk in a way that complies with all the applicable laws and bank regulations (Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems, 2010) Identifying the credit risk in every investment, loan or in other activities of the Bank (Risk management disclosure, 2011). Utilizing appropriate, accurate as well as timely tools to measure the credit risk in every department (Risk management disclosure, 2011). Adopting a risk-based approach in determining the appropriate pricing strategy while lending products and service offerings (Risk management disclosure, 2010). Setting an acceptable risk parameter. Maintaining an acceptable level of credit risk for the existing individual credit exposures. Maintaining acceptable levels in the overall credit risks for the portfolio of the bank. Coordinating the credit risk man agement and other risks that are inherent within the Bank’s business activities. Setting remedial and recovery measures and actions (Risk management disclosure, 2012). To effectively handle its credit policies and practices in the first bank of Nigeria, five departments have been formed that control and manage credit processing functions. This are- 1. Credit Analysis & Processing (CAP) which is responsible in developing the appraisal of non-specialized credit requests and processing in order to obtain requisite approvals that are in line with the Bank’s policies (Credit Risk Management, 2009). 2. Specialized Lending Department (SLD) is responsible for the appraisals of credit requests and processing till its final decision to sanction specialized types of credit which are peculiar because of the size and complexity involved in such transactions (Transformation, 2010). It handles departments like power, oil and gas both upstream and downstream, utilities such as water p rojects, etc, transportation like mass transit, aviation, commercial real estate business projects which are the business proposals that are conceived for commercial gain, infrastructure that would also include concessions in public assets. 3. Credit Risk Management (CRM) which is concerned with the planning, monitoring and the reporting of the credit portfolios (Principles for the Management of Credit Risk, 2012) 4. Remedial Management Unit (RMU) that would have a bias for the proactive work-out of accounts that would show early signs of weaknesses and 5. Classified Assets Management (CAM) that would be concerned with for the recovery of the classified retail loans which are 90 days past their due date, wholesale accounts that are classified as lost with days past their due period (DPD) by over 540 days and accounts that are written off from the on-balance sheet into their CAM SOL (Risk management disclosure, 2012). 4.2 Internal ratings scale In measuring the credit risk of loans a nd advances to their customers and to the banks at a counterparty level, the Group considers the following features. The first feature concentrates on the character and the capacity to make payments by the client or the counterparty on their contractual obligations. The second feature surrounds the current exposure of the bank to the counterparty and its likely development in future. The third and the last feature center around the credit history analysis of the counterparty and its likely recovery ratio in the cases of default obligations (Risk management disclosure, 2012). The Group also has internal credit limits for approval for various levels in the credit process. The levels are shown in the following table. Approval levels Investment grade

Training And Development Strategy Essay Example for Free

Training And Development Strategy Essay 1.0 Executive summary Training involves has to do with behaviour modification which is implemented in a formal and systematic manner. Organizational training and development needs to be incorporated in Fair Price. The aims and objectives of carrying out training in this store are to minimise absenteeism and equip employees with skills etc. There are various steps that are taken in employee training and development including formulation of training policy. There are poor levels of supervisory skills in this store which can be improved by mentoring and coaching. Training existing and new staff will help Fair Price store to have skilled manpower though it may be costly. Management training should include both men and women with larger percentage being women. Management development of managers in this store will help to improve their skills. There are different models which have been used including Kirkpatrick’s 4 level model. If training and development is well implemented in this store it will solve the existing problems and lead to success. 2.0 Introduction Training involves a behaviour modification which is normally carried out in a formal and systematic manner. It is as a result of planned experience, instruction and education. Training and development plays a big role in achievement of organisational goals. (Brooks, 1999)   Most of these goals are normally long term in nature. Training is part of the strategic framework of organisations.   It produces a comprehensive and coherent plan that helps in developing employees and other stakeholders in organisations. When a business incorporates training and development therein, it acquires a competitive advantage over the other businesses. This is because the intellectual capital in the business is greatly developed. In fact employees in an organisation get an opportunity to improve their skills in their areas of specialization.   This leads to great impacts on the organisation as a whole. There is usually improved team performance when training and development strategies are incorporated in a business. (CIPD 2006) Research shows that such training influences the performance of employees at personal levels. For instance employees are in a position to carry out self evaluation of their performance and implement self corrections where necessary. 2.1Justification Fare Price stores needs to incorporate organisational training and development strategy in its management system. This is because a close evaluation at Fair Price store shows that it requires training and development in many areas. For instance the previous store manager never tried to implement company appraisal scheme in the organisation. (Cherrington, 1994) The employees that continue learning never see the benefit because the management was not acknowledging it.   The previous manager did not seek qualified personnel to carry out the responsibilities therein. This has led to underperformance in this organisation. (DTI 2006)   Employees are given posts and responsibilities that they are not qualified for. The previous manager never considered Investing in People. In fact the supervisors in Fair Price store are not qualified at all. There is a lot of absenteeism in this supermarket. The supervisors therein are not concerned and they are not doing anything about it. The absenteeism is taken in form of sick leave. Even the till operators complain that no one notices their presence. This shows that there have been poor relations between management and employees in this supermarket. In fact even when they do not report to duty, no one notices. This has created a sense of irresponsibility in them. Research shows that when people are not appreciated, they never do their best. They do shoddy work. Employees in Fair Price store are really demoralised.   How can all the managers in an organisation be male only? This is what is happening in Fair Price supermarket. (Fawson, T. 1999) There is no gender equality in the management. All the managers are male despite the fact that most of the employees in this supermarket are women. Women constitute seventy five percent of the two hundred employees in this supermarket. This means that most of the issues affecting the female staff are not adequately addressed. It is only the wearer of the shoe who knows where it pinches most. There is no way that the male managers can adequately address feminine issues.   (Burgoyne, J. 1997)They simply cannot understand because they are not female. Having considered all these factors, I strongly feel that implementing a training and development strategy in this supermarket will be very beneficial both the staff and the organisation at large. 2.2 Performance appraisal management system Performance appraisal is one of the training needs in Fair Price store. This is whereby employees that are best performers are rewarded by the management. 2.3 Succession planning This need to be carried out in Fair Price store and it includes. (Brooks, 1999)There needs to be smooth transition from the old management to the new management in this store. This has not been practiced in Fair Price store. 2.4 Mentoring and coaching Fair Price store needs to put in place mentoring and coaching mechanisms. (Brooks, 1999) Management in this organization needs to mentor employees and also to coach them on various leadership and job skills. This has not been practiced in this store. 2.5 Personal development Management in this store has to consider personal development of employees. This is where they are given training on their professional skills. (Brooks, 1999)This will benefit them. Fringe benefits given to employees help in promoting personal development. All these have not been implemented in Fair Price store. 3.0 Aim and objectives The aim and objectives of carrying out training and development strategy in Fair Price store include: To recruit new staff on merit basis. To help eradicate or minimize absenteeism in Fair Price store.   Ensure gender balance in management. Introduce an Information technology system for checkouts. Implement employee appraisal schemes. To improve leadership and professional skills of employees To enhance behaviour modification among employees 4.0 Steps for employee training and development The following steps will be taken in the training and development strategy in Fair Price store. Formulation of a training policy Identification of training needs in Fair Price store Training plan development Conducting of the training program Training responsibilities Training evaluation 4.1 Formulation of training policy Training policies normally give a guideline on degree of training that should be carried out in an organisation. They direct on the employees that need to be trained. In this stage there is allocation of profits to the training. This has to be done annually. Aims of training are clearly evaluated at this stage. (CIPD 2007)All these information has to be disseminated to the employees and the entire staff in Fair Price store. This will help them to understand that the management is interested in their welfare. This is in relation to career development. Training the employees in Fair price store will greatly influence in goal achievement. In fact the employees’ personal skills will be sharpened and this is very beneficial to Fair Price supermarket in general. The training in Fair Price store can be carried out in two ways. One of them is where it is oriented to actions. The other way relates to performance of the employees. This includes meeting targets. Performance training has to do with competence of employees. (Phillips, J. 1996)This means that they are trained to be more competent in their various responsibilities. When the training is action oriented, the employees in Fair Price are trained to make things happen. For instance they can be trained in customer care skills that will influence many customers to visit and purchase from the store. 4.2 Identification of training needs in Fair Price store When implementing training and development strategy, it is very important to identify the training needs in the organisation. Fair Price store has to identify its various training needs. This will help in realizing what the employees in this store know and what they can do. (CIPD 2007) It will also help in identifying what they need to know such that services in Fair Price store are improved. This is in relation to the goals in Fair Price store. For instance one of the goals is to ensure customer satisfaction in their service provision. The training needs in Fair Price store have to be analyzed at a corporate level. After that the analysis has to be done at the departments in this store. This includes customer care, finance and sales departments. (CIPD 2007)   Later on they need to be analyzed at team levels then finally at individual level. There are various tools that can be used when carrying out this analysis. This includes administering questionnaires to the employees.   This is because employees normally have first hand information concerning what they know and what they need to know. Focus group discussion between management and employees can be used in this store in identifying the training needs. This will really work for this store.   (CIPD 2007)   These discussions should also be done between the management and the departmental heads. This information will really be beneficial to Fair Price store when carrying out their long term and short term goals on training. 4.3 Training plan development Much thought has to be done when developing a training plan. This is in relation to the outcomes of learning program. Fair Price store management has to be keen in examining any changes in behaviour of employees after training is done. Now after identifying training needs then the training program content has to be put in place. After identifying the training objectives, an analysis needs to be done such that this stores’ management knows exactly what to do. .   (CIPD 2006)     All these things have to be put in place so that Fair Price store’s objectives are met. The content will greatly determine how long the training will take place. The length of the training will be influenced by modes of delivering information. For instance lectures may need long time to accomplish all that is required unlike the use of handouts. Training can also be done by the managers by carrying out on job training of the employees in Fair Price store. They can do this by coaching the staff at low levels in Fair Price store. These employees just learn how to do their job under the managers guidance.   They just learn naturally as they interact with other employees and managers. (CIPD 2007)  Ã‚     This is done on a day to day basis. Supervisors and also other senior employees in Fair Price store should go for training which can be done externally and not necessarily internally. They can make good use of consultants who provide these services at a fee. Through this the senior employees will gain skills in leadership and technical areas which they are lacking. 4.4 Conducting the training program In this stage there is monitoring of the courses that were identified during when analysis of training needs was being done. (Parry, S. 1996)This helps in ensuring that all the activities carried out in the training are within the budgets of Fair Price store. Management in this fair Price store should evaluate the training and know whether it is effective or not. 4.5 Training responsibilities Training in Fair Price store should not be carried out on an ad-hoc basis. This is because training will help this store to achieve its corporate goals. This human resource department in Fair Price store should be concerned with all the training and development needs therein. This should not just be done by the human resource department in general but a unit in this department will be more efficient. This unit will carry out coordination of every activity that is related to training and development. This unit will be responsible for evaluating both internal and the external people responsible in facilitating the training. It will also be responsible for planning the training and development activities in Fair Price store. Managers in this store should come to knowledge that it is their responsibility to oversee all the training activities. 4.6 Training evaluation This is very important since it will help to assess how effective the program is. This helps to know whether the objectives set at the planning stage were met or not. (Easterby, 1997) For instance the performance of the employees can be greatly monitored to see whether it has improved or not. In case the objectives are not met then necessary adjustments have to be put in place. These adjustments will help in improving the training so that it is more effective. For instance managers in Fair Price store should evaluate whether the employees’ skills have improved after the training or not. (Parry, S. 1996)Behaviour change in staff should be evaluated concerning absenteeism from work. This stage is should be done thoroughly and stakeholders should be given an opportunity to give the reasons why the objectives were not achieved and factors that contributed. Evaluation should be carried out to whether employee’s supervisory skills have been improved. Evaluation can be carried out in four levels. They include the following; 4.6.1 First level In the first level, there is the measurement of the reaction of the people who participated in the training. They include employees and external trainers. In this stage the degree of satisfaction of participants is evaluated whether it was poor, fair or excellent. (Parry, S. 1996)   In this case employees in Fair Price store can be interviewed by the managers or they have an open forum. Through this managers can know whether the training was effectively carried out or not. 4.6.2 Second level The evaluation is carried out in relation to achievement of objectives. This is to know whether the objectives were attained or not. (Alliger, G. 1989) The objectives in this case were to reduce absenteeism, to ensure behaviour modification in employees and to ensure that employee’s skills are improved. This can be evaluated whether they have been achieved or not. 4.6.3 Third level In this level the degree of behaviour change is evaluated. This is to know whether the employees’ behaviour has improved or not. Mangers in Fair Price store can evaluate behaviour change in the employees by observing their behaviours when at work. (Alliger, 1989) This can be noted down and those that have improved should be acknowledged by the managers.   Those that have not improved in their behaviour can be asked the reasons why and necessary steps taken. 4.6.4 Fourth level The results of the training are evaluated at this level. The costs of the training are evaluated against the benefits achieved. Managers in Fair Price store should evaluate the results of the training needs. (Alliger, 1989)   This can help them to know whether it was worth the initiative or not. The costs that Fair Price as a store incurred should be calculated against the benefits that the store would have achieved. This needs good use of records concerning the expenses that were incurred by the organization in carrying out the entire training. 5.0 Critical evaluation of options to tackle poor level of supervisory skills There are various ways of dealing with poor supervisory skills in Fair Price store. Now having a closer look at the supervisors shows that they are not qualified for the job they are doing. (Parry, 1996)They do not have leadership skills at all and this is clearly seen in the way that they deal with absenteeism. One of the ways of dealing with this is carrying out retrenchment of these under qualified staff. While this will help eliminate untrained staff, it may create a very poor relationship between managers and some employees. Though it is worth it since the store’s structure has to be reorganised. Carrying out organisation al learning for these supervisors can be very expensive for the store. In fact some of them may not understand due to lack of basic knowledge. Instead of retrenching them, they can be demoted to responsibilities that do not require skills like sanitation duties and packing the goods. New staff can be recruited on merit basis to do supervisory work in this store. Mentoring and coaching can be carried out by the managers in this organization. This should be carried out especially in relation to supervisors in this store. This can be done by the managers in this store showing the right examples to the supervisors. Managers can also have coaching sessions with supervisors and this will help improve supervisory skills though its time consuming. 6.0 Women only management training It would not be appropriate to carry out women only management training in Fair Price store in the name of levelling the playing field. (Kaufman, R. 1996)This still would not be gender sensitive. It will still be biased. Rather management training should be carried out for both male and female employees. Women should constitute two thirds of those attending the management training while then men should be a third. This is in relation to the gender ratios of the staff in Fair Price store. This will help in addressing feminine issues affecting the female employees. On the other hand if all the managers are women, the management in this store will not be stable. The male employees will never be comfortable with this. 7.0 Critical evaluation of option of training existing and new staff On opening of the new ‘mega store’ there will be the option of recruiting one hundred and fifty extra staff in various areas of the store. This is a positive venture though it has got its own challenges. Having a large number of employees to manage means having more problems to solve. Management development courses will be beneficial to managers at this stage. One of the challenges that are posed by this venture is in the financial sector. (McNamara, C. 2001)This is because the recruitment process can be very expensive. This is because there are costs that are incurred in advertising vacancies. The entire recruitment process can be quite tedious. There are also other financial implications like paying the salaries of one hundred and fifty extra people. The new employees will have to be recruited on merit basis unlike what initially happened in Fair price store under the previous store manager. Training of existing and new employees can be done with the help of National initiatives which were introduced by the government. The government helps in provision of resource materials in staff training. These resource materials include books in various professions that help the employees in the training. (Hoberman, S. and Mailick, S. 1992)   The government plays a big role in identifying modules that assist organisations such as Fair Price store to carry out training of employees. Fair price store can really benefit from government initiatives where it will be assisted to link up with qualified personnel that can be employed in the new store. This store will greatly benefit by receiving awards and scholarships through the National initiatives introduced by the government. The government offers scholarships and training opportunities that are quite collaborative in nature. Fair Price store can also gain through research that is carried out by the government. It will get a concrete base of knowledge from National Initiatives introduced by the government. 8.0 Management Development effectiveness In management development managers skills are improved. This is usually very beneficial to the organisation and even to the managers. It gives managers knowledge on how to deal with various issues in the organisation. This always plays a great role in the success of the organisation. (Gupta, K. 1999)   In this case managers are given the chance to broaden their reasoning in the business sector while at the same time continuing with their management responsibilities in the organisation. They learn more on new methodologies of handling human as a resource. It helps managers to gain knowledge in managing themselves first. Knowledge is also gained that helps them to manage employees in the organisation. Leadership skills of managers are greatly sharpened by management development. This will be effective for Fair Price store managers basing on the following evaluation models. 8.1 Flashlight Triad Model This model involves use of technology in accomplishment of various tasks. The technology should enable accomplishment of a specific activity. (Alliger, G. 1997) Management development will help managers incorporate appropriate technology in management areas like information technology. 8.2 Connoisseurship Evaluation An expert in the study field estimates how worth the new innovation is. (Alliger, G. 1997)   The threats that exist are clearly shown. Managers will be helped to use this model in their organisation. 8.3 Adversary Evaluation In this model there is a critical look at both sides of the innovation. This includes both the negative and the positive. (Alliger, G. 1997)This is to show whether the innovation is beneficial or not. 8.4 Kirkpatrick’s 4-level model In this model, the managers are helped to evaluate the reaction of employees on training and learning. (Alliger, G. 1997)Changes in behaviour are also noted in evaluation of the training by the managers. 9.0 Conclusion It is important for every business organisation to incorporate a training and development strategy. This helps in modifying employee’s behaviours. Organisational goals are easily achieved when training and development is well implemented. There are various steps in employee training and development. All these steps are important and should be carried out by business organisations. Evaluation will help in knowing whether the set objectives were achieved or not. 10.0 Recommendation Fair Price store has to include training and development strategy in its management. This will help in solving problems that exist in this store such as unskilled personnel, lack of appraisal scheme. This will help in motivating employees and will minimise absenteeism problems. Above all it will lead to the overall success of Fair Price store to the benefit of the stakeholders therein. 11.0 References Alliger, G. (1997): A meta-analysis of the relationship among training criteria. Personnel Psychology, 50, 341-358 Alliger, G. (1989): Kirkpatricks levels of training criteria: Thirty years later. Personnel Psychology, 42, 331-342 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (2006): Training and development strategy; New York; Sage Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (2007): Creating a Training and Development Strategy; New York; Sage Beard, C. and Wilson, J. (2002): The power of experiential learning: A handbook for trainers and educators. London: Kogan Brooks, H. (1999): Workshops; Designing and facilitating experiential learning; Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Burgoyne, J. (1997): Management learning; Integrating perspectives in theory and practice; London; Sage Cherrington, R. (1994): Pinning down experiential learning. Studies in the education of adults, 26(1) Easterby, S. (1997): Research traditions in management learning; Management learning: Integrating perspectives in theory and practice. London; Sage; pp. 38-53 DTI (2006): National Training and development Strategy; New York; Macmillan Press Fawson, T.   (1999): A study of executive education programs at ATT; Measuring learning and performance. Alexandria, VA: American Society for Training and Development. Gupta, K. (1999): A Practical Guide to Needs Assessment; San Francisco; Jossey- Bass/Pfeiffer Hoberman, S. and Mailick, S. (1992): Experiential management development; From learning to practice; New York; Quorum Books Kaufman, R. (1996): What works and what doesnt: Evaluation beyond Kirkpatrick. Performance and Instruction, 35(2), 8-12 McNamara, C. (2001): Employee Training and Development: Reasons and Benefits; New York; Macmillan Press Parry, S. (1996): Measuring trainings ROI. Training Development; 49(2), pp. 72-78 Phillips, J. (1996): ROI; The search for best practices. Training Development; 50(5), pp. 42-48

A Raisin In The Sun English Literature Essay

A Raisin In The Sun English Literature Essay Who is Lorraine Vivian Hansberry? Lorraine was born In Chicago on May 19, 1930 She based most of her novels on her life, she was 28 years old when she wrote her first play A Raisin in the Sun which won The Drama Critics Award for best play of the year and made Hansberry the first black, youngest person, and fifth woman to win that prize. She was the youngest of four children Carl, Jr., Perry, and Mammie. Her parents were well educated successful black citizens who publicly fought discrimination against black people. Her father, Carl Augustus Hansberry, Sr., was from Gloucester, Mississippi, he moved to Chicago after attending Alcorn College, and became known as the kitchenette king after subdividing large homes that were vacated by whites who were moving to the suburbs he then sold these small apartments or kitchenettes to African American migrants from the South. Hansberrys mother, Nannie Perry, a schoolteacher and, later, ward committeewoman, was from Tennessee. At the time of Lorr aines birth, she had become an influential society matron who hosted major cultural and literary figures such as Paul Robeson, Langston Hughes, and Joe Louis. Lorraine and her siblings enjoyed privileges unknown to their schoolmates; the parents filled their children with racial pride and civic responsibility. They founded the Hansberry Foundation; an organization designed to inform African Americans of their civil rights, they also encouraged their children to challenge the segregation policies of local restaurants and stores. (Cliffnotes, James, Rosetta). When Hansberry was a child she and her family lived in a black neighborhood on Chicagos Southside. During this time segregation enforced the separation of whites and blacks which was still legal and spreaded throughout the South, Northern States. This was including Hansberrys own Hometown Illinois. Carl and Nannie Hansberry challenged defensive real estate agreements by moving into an all-white neighborhood. Hansberrys family became one of the first to move into an all white neighborhood but, a mob of whites gathered in front of the house and threw a brick through the front window, narrowly missing eight-year-old Lorraine this forced the family to move out. Her father won a narrow victory over restrictive agreements from the Supreme Court, but the decision failed to set examples on their issue. Hansberry still attended Betsy Ross Elementary and Englewood High School even though her family stayed in a all white neighborhood it didnt change her right to get a education with all the other white kids because of her skin color she still had to attend a segregated public school for blacks .Lorraine Hansberry became interested in theater in high school, and pursued this interest in college. Her familys move into a restricted white neighborhood in 1937 helped her battle with injustice; this filled her with a sense of social activism. Their struggle would become the subject of her first major play. Departing from the family tradition of attending black colleges, Hansberry enrolled at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, a predominantly white university, to study journalism, but became equally attracted to the visual arts while she was there. She also attended the University of Wisconsin and the Art Institute of Chicago and studied in Guadalajara, Mexico, from 1948 to 1950. She became more politically active after moving to New York City and writing for freedom magazine. While participating in a demonstration at New York University, she met Robert Barron Nemiroff, the son of progressive Russian Jewish immigrants, and after a short intimate relationship, she married him on June 20, 1953. After having earned his masters degree four months earlier at New York University, he had begun writing a book on Theodore Dreiser, The young couple moved to Greenwich Village and Hansberry began to write massively about the people and lifestyles that she observed around her. She was already an experienced writer and editor, having published articles, essays, and poetry in Freedom, New Challenge Magazine and other political magazines.(Shmoop, A raisin in the Sun). After leaving Freedom in 1953 to concentrate on her writing, Hansberry worked various odd jobs including tagger in the garment industry, typist, program director at Camp Unity (an interracial summer camp), recreation leader for the physically disabled, and teacher at the Marxist-oriented Jefferson School for Social Science. When her husband co-wrote Cindy Oh Cindy (1956), a ballad that became an instant hit, the profits freed Hansberry to devote her full energies to a play about a struggling, working-class black family, like the families who rented her fathers properties on Chicagos South Side A Raisin In the Sun . A Raisin In the Sun reflects the frustrations of a black family whose dreams of economic progress have been let down in 1961, it was produced as a film with most of the original cast and won a special award at the Cannes Film Festival. During this period, Hansberry was much in demand as a public speaker. She expressed her belief that art is social and that black writers m ust address all issues of humankind. As the civil rights movement climaxed, she helped to organize fund-raising activities in support of organizations such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), called for the abolition of the House Un-American Activities Committee, and declared that President John E. Kennedy had endangered world peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis.(Answers.com, A raisin in the Sun). During the last four years of her life, Hansberry worked hard on several plays. The Sign in Sidney Brusteins Window was produced on Broadway in 1964, but critics were less open to this play that challenged the Greenwich Village intellectuals. During its short run, Hansberry battled pancreatic cancer, diagnosed in 1963. She died on 12 January 1965, the same night that her play closed.(Grade Saver, Sherrod, Cheryl.Berkow, Jordan). Lorraine Hansberry left behind several plays some are listed below: (Answers.com, A raisin in the Sun). Nonfiction the Movement: Documentary of a Struggle for Equality, Simon Schuster, 1964. To Be Young, Gifted and Black: Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words, introduction by James Baldwin, Prentice-Hall, 1969. Plays A Raisin in the Sun, opened in New Haven and Philadelphia, moved to Chicago, then produced on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theater, March 11, 1959; published by New American Library, 1961. Les Blancs, single scene staged at Actors Studio Workshop, New York, 1963; two-act play produced at Long acre Theater, New York City, 1970. The Sign in Sidney Brusteins Window produced on Broadway, 1964; published by Random House, 1965. Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun and The Sign in Sidney Brusteins Window, New American Library, 1966. To Be Young, Gifted and Black, adapted for the stage by Robert Nemiroff, first produced at the Cherry Lane Theater, January 2, 1969; acting edition published by Samuel French, 1971. Les Blancs: The Collected Last Plays of Lorraine Hansberry, edited by Robert Nemiroff, introduction by Julius Lester, Random House, 1972, reprinted, New American Library, 1983. Lorraine Hansberry: The Collected Last Plays (Les Blancs, The Drinking Gourd, What Use Are Flowers?), edited by Robert Nemiroff, New American Library, 1983. Other (Answers.com, A raisin in the Sun). A Raisin in the Sun: The Unfilmed Original Screenplay, edited by Robert Nemiroff, Plume, 1992. All the Dark and Beautiful Warriors, an unfinished novel. Author of about two dozen articles for Freedom, 1951-55, and over 25 essays for other publications, including the Village Voice, New York Times, New York Times Magazine, Freedom ways, Mademoiselle, Ebony, Playbill, Show, Theatre Arts, Black Scholar, Monthly Review, and Annals of Psychotherapy. Books (Answers.com, A raisin in the Sun). Abramson, Doris E., Negro Playwrights in the American Theatre, 1925-1959, Columbia University Press, 1969, pp. 165-266. Black Literature Criticism, Gale, 1992. Carter, Steven R., Hansberrys Drama: Commitment amid Complexity, University of Illinois Press, 1991. Cheney, Anne, Lorraine Hansberry, Twayne, 1984. Davis, Arthur P., From the Dark Tower: Afro-American Writers, 1900-1960, Howard University Press, pp. 203-07. Hansberry, Lorraine, To Be Young, Gifted and Black: Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words, introduction by James Baldwin, Penguin Books, 1969. Hansberry, Lorraine, A Raisin in the Sun: The Unfilmed Original Screenplay, edited by Robert Nemiroff, foreword by Jewell Handy Gresham-Nemiroff, commentary by Spike Lee, Penguin Books USA, 1992. Periodicals (Answers.com, A raisin in the Sun). Black American Literature Forum, spring 1983, pp. 8-13. Commentary, June 1959, pp. 527-30. Freedom ways (special issue), 19:4, 1979. New Yorker, May 9, 1959. New York Times, January 13, 1965; October 5, 1983, p. C24. New York Times Review of Books, March 31, 1991, p. 25. Theatre Journal, December 1986, pp. 441-52. Time, January 22, 1965. Village Voice, August 12, 1959, pp. 7-8. Washington Post, November 17, 1986, p. D1. Hansberry wrote that she always felt the tendency to record her experiences her sense of history and the confusing role of women in history are also shown in her work. She was named most promising playwright. Raisin in the Sun ran for 530 performances from 1959 to 1965; A Raisin in the Sun was a play that Lorraine based on her life while living n Chicago during segregation.(Sparknotes,A raisin in the Sun). It talked about the life of a family called the Youngers some other characters Include: Walter Lee Younger  Ã‚  The central character of the play. Walter is a dreamer. He wants to be rich and devises plans to acquire wealth with his friends, particularly Willy Harris. When the play opens, he wants to invest his fathers insurance money in a new liquor store venture. He spends the rest of the play endlessly preoccupied with discovering a quick solution to his familys various  problems. Beneatha Younger (Bennie)  Ã‚  Mamas daughter and Walters sister. Beneatha is an intellectual. Twenty years old, she attends college and is better educated than the rest of the Younger family. Some of her personal beliefs and views have distanced her from conservative Mama. She dreams of being a doctor and struggles to determine her identity as a well-educated black woman. Lena Younger (Mama)  Ã‚  Walter and Beneathas mother. The head of the family, Mama is religious, moral, and caring. She wants to use her husbands insurance money as a down payment on a house with a backyard to fulfill her dream for her family to move up in the  world. Ruth Younger  Ã‚  Walters wife and Traviss mother. Ruth takes care of the Youngers small apartment. Her marriage to Walter has problems, but she hopes to rekindle their love. She is about thirty, but her weariness makes her seem older. Constantly fighting poverty and domestic troubles, she continues to be an emotionally strong woman. Her almost unenthusiastic sarcasm helps her to survive. Travis Younger  Ã‚  Walter and Ruths sheltered young son. Travis earns some money by carrying grocery bags and likes to play outside with other neighborhood children, but he has no bedroom and sleeps on the living-room sofa. Joseph Asagai  Ã‚  A Nigerian student in love with Beneatha. Asagai, as he is often called, is very proud of his African heritage, and Beneatha hopes to learn about her African heritage from him. He eventually proposes marriage to Beneatha and hopes she will return to Nigeria with him. George Murchison  Ã‚  A wealthy, African-American man who courts Beneatha. The Youngers approve of George, but Beneatha dislikes his willingness to submit to white culture and forget his African heritage. He challenges the thoughts and feelings of other black people through his arrogance and flair for intellectual competition. Mr. Karl Lindner  Ã‚  The only white character in the play. Mr. Lindner arrives at the Youngers apartment from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association. He offers the Youngers a deal to reconsider moving into his (all-white) neighborhood. Bobo  Ã‚  One of Walters partners in the liquor store plan. Bobo appears to be as mentally slow as his name indicates. Willy Harris  Ã‚  A friend of Walter and coordinator of the liquor store plan. Willy never appears onstage, which helps keep the focus of the story on the dynamics of the Younger family. Mrs. Johnson  Ã‚  The Youngers neighbor. Mrs. Johnson takes advantage of the Youngers hospitality and warns them  about moving into an all white  neighborhood. A Raisin In the Sun portrays a few weeks in the life of the Youngers, an African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. When the play opens, the Youngers are about to receive an insurance check for $10,000. This money comes from the deceased Mr. Youngers life insurance policy. Each of the adult members of the family has an idea as to what he or she would like to do with this money. The head of the family, Mama, wants to buy a house to fulfill a dream she shared with her husband. Mamas son, Walter Lee, would rather use the money to invest in a liquor store with his friends. He believes that the investment will solve the familys financial problems forever. Walters wife, Ruth, agrees with Mama, however, and hopes that she and Walter can provide more space and opportunity for their son, Travis. Finally, Beneatha, Walters sister and Mamas daughter, wants to use the money for her medical school tuition. She also wishes that her family members were not so interest ed in joining the white world. Beneatha instead tries to find her identity by looking back to the past and to Africa. As the play progresses, the Youngers clash over their competing dreams. Ruth discovers that she is pregnant but fears that if she has the child, she will put more financial pressure on her family members. When Walter says nothing to Ruths admission that she is considering abortion, Mama puts a down payment on a house for the whole family. She believes that a bigger, house will benefit them all. The Youngers future neighbors find out that they are moving to an all white neighborhood, and they send Mr. Lindner, from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, to offer the Youngers money in return for staying away. The Youngers refuse the deal, even after Walter loses the rest of the money to his friend Willy Harris, who persuades Walter to invest in the liquor store and then runs off with his cash. In the meantime, Beneatha rejects George Murchison, who she believes to be shallow and blind to the problems of race. She receives a marriage proposal from her Nigerian boyfriend, Joseph Asagai, who wants Beneatha to get a medical degree and move to Africa with him. The Youngers eventually move out of the apartment, fulfilling the familys long-held dream. Their future seems uncertain and slightly dangerous, but they are determined to live a better life. They believe that they can succeed if they stick together as a family and resolve to defer their dreams no longer. During Act 1 Scene 1 of the play which is entitled Friday Morning it is morning at the Youngers apartment. Their small home on the South Side of Chicago has two bedrooms one for Mama and Beneatha, and one for Ruth and Walter Lee. Travis sleeps on the couch in the living room. The only window is in their small kitchen, and they share a bathroom in the hall with their neighbors. Ruth is the first one in the house to wake up so she starts to cook breakfast and this awakes Walter and Travis while Travis is getting ready Walter and Ruth talk in the kitchen they do not seem happy as they engage in some slight humor they keep mentioning a check Walter scans the front page of the newspaper and reads that another bomb was set off, and Ruth responds with anger. Travis asks them for money he is supposed to bring fifty cents to school and Ruth says that they do not have it. His constant nagging quickly irritates her. Walter, however, gives Travis an entire dollar while staring at Ruth. Travis th en leaves for school, and Walter tells Ruth that he wants to use the check to invest in a liquor store with a few of his friends. Walter and Ruth continue to argue about their unhappy lives.(Bookrags, A raisin in the Sun). Act 1 Scene 2 The Following Morning The next day, Saturday, the Youngers are cleaning their apartment and waiting for the insurance check to arrive. Walter receives a phone call from his friend Willy Harris, who is coordinating the potential liquor store investment. It appears that their plan is moving smoothly. The insurance check is all Walter needs to pursue his liquor store. He promises to bring the money to Willy when he receives it. Meanwhile, Beneatha is spraying the apartment with insecticide in an attempt to get rid of cockroaches. Beneatha and Travis start fighting, and Beneatha threatens him with the spray gun. The phone rings, and Beneatha answers. She invites the person on the phone over to the still-dirty apartment, without concerning Mama. After hanging up, Beneatha explains to Mama that the man she has spoken to on the phone is Joseph Asagai, an African intellectual whom Beneatha has met at school. She and Mama discuss Beneathas worries about her familys ignorance abo ut Africa and African people. Ruth returns from seeing a doctor, who has told her that she is two months pregnant. She reveals this information to Mama and Beneatha. Walter returns home and wants to talk about his liquor store plans. Ruth wants to discuss her pregnancy with him and becomes upset when he will not listen.(Cummings study guide, A raisin in the Sun). Act 2 Scene 1 Later that same day Later on the same Saturday, Beneatha comes out from her room dressed in the Nigerian clothes that Asagai has brought her. She dances around the apartment, claiming to be performing a tribal dance while shouting OCOMOGOSIAY and singing. Mama comes home and announces that she has put a down payment on a house with some of the insurance money. Ruth is happy to hear this news because she too dreams of moving out of their current apartment and into a more spacious home. Meanwhile, Walter is noticeably upset because he wants to put all the money into the liquor store. They all become worried when they hear that the house is in Clybourne Park, an entirely white neighborhood. Mama asks for their understanding it was the only house that they could afford. She feels she needs to buy the house to hold the family together. Ruth regains her pleasure and rejoices, but Walter feels betrayed, his dream swept under the table. Walter makes Mama feel guilty, saying tha t she has crushed his dream. He goes quickly to his bedroom, and Mama remains sitting and worrying.(enotes, Marie Rose Naiper Kowski). Act 2 Scene 2 Friday Night a few weeks later On a Friday night a few weeks later, Beneatha and George return from a date. The Youngers apartment is full of moving boxes. George wants to kiss Beneatha, but she does not want to kiss. She wants to engage George in a conversation about the life of African-Americans. It seems that George wants to marry a nice, simple, sophisticated girl. Mama comes in as Beneatha kicks him out Mrs. Johnson the Youngers neighbor visits. Mama and Ruth offer her food and drink, and she gladly accepts. She has come to visit to tell them about a black family who has been bombed out of their home in a white neighborhood. Walters boss calls, telling Ruth that Walter has not been to work in three days. Walter explains that he has been wandering all day (often way into the country) and drinking all night (at a bar with a jazz duo that he loves). He says that he feels depressed, and useless as the man of the family(Sparknotes,A raisin in the Sun). Act 2 Scene 3 Saturday moving day, one week later On Saturday, a week later, it is moving day. Ruth shows Beneatha the curtains she has bought for the new house and tells her that the first thing she is going to do in their new house is take a long bath in their very own bathroom. Ruth comments on the changed mood around the household, noting that she and Walter even went out to the movies and held hands the previous evening. Walter comes in and dances with Ruth. Beneatha teases them about acting in a stereotypical fashion but does not really mean any harm. A middle-aged white man named Karl Lindner appears at the door. He is a representative from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, and he tells the Youngers that problems arise when different kinds of people do not sit down and talk to each other. The Youngers agree, until he reveals that he and the neighborhood coalition believe that the Youngers presence in Clybourne Park would destroy the community there. When Mama comes h ome, Walter, Ruth, and Beneatha tell her about Mr. Lindners visit. It shocks and worries her, but she supports their decision to refuse the buyout offer. Then, as she is making sure that her plant is well packed for the trip, the rest of the family surprises her with gifts of gardening tools and a huge gardening hat. Mama has never received presents other than at Christmas, and she is touched by her familys generosity. Just as the whole family begins to celebrate, Bobo, one of Walters friends, arrives. After some stumbling, he announces that Willy Harris has run off with all of the money that Walter invested in the liquor store deal. It turns out that Walter had invested not only his $3,500 but also the $3,000 intended for Beneathas education. Mama is angry and begins to beat Walter in the face. Beneatha breaks them up. Weakness overcomes Mama, and she thinks about the hard labor her husband endured in order to earn the money for them. She prays heavily for strength.(123 help me, A raisin in the Sun). Act 3 An hour later One hour later on moving day, everyone is still unhappy. Walter sits alone and thinks. Asagai comes to help them pack and finds Beneatha questioning her choice of becoming a doctor. She no longer believes that she can help people. Mama enters and announces that they are not going to move. Ruth protests. Walter returns, having called Mr. Lindner and invited him back to the apartment he intends to take his offer of money in exchange for not moving to Clybourne Park. Everyone objects to this plan, arguing that they have too much pride to accept not being able to live somewhere because of their race. Walter, very agitated, puts on an act, imitating the stereotype of a black male servant. When he finally exits, Mama declares that he has died inside. Beneatha decides that he is no longer her brother, but Mama reminds her to love him, especially when he feels hopeless.(Pink Monkey, Sauder,Dianne). The movers and Mr. Lindner arrive. Mama tells Walter to deal with Mr. Lindner, who is laying out contracts for Walter to sign. Walter starts hesitantly, but soon we see that he has changed his mind about taking Mr. Lindners money. His speech builds in power. He tells Mr. Lindner that the Youngers are proud and hardworking and intend to move into their new house. Mr. Lindner appeals to Mama, who defers to Walters statement. Ultimately, Mr. Lindner leaves with his papers unsigned. Everyone finishes packing up as the movers come to take the furniture. Mama tells Ruth that she thinks Walter has finally become a man by standing up to Mr. Lindner. Ruth agrees and is noticeably proud of her husband. Mama, who is the last to leave, looks for a moment at the empty apartment. Then she leaves, bringing her plant with her.(Cliffnotes, James Rosetta). While reading a raisin in the sun I came to a conclusion that it is essentially about dreams, as the main characters struggle to deal with the depressive circumstances that rule their lives. The title of the play refers to a line that Langston Hughes famously said in a poem he wrote about dreams that were forgotten or put off. He wonders whether those dreams shrivel up like A raisin in the Sun. Every member of the Younger family has a separate, individual dream Beneatha wants to become a doctor, for example, and Walter wants to have money so that he can afford things for his family. The Youngers struggle to attain these dreams throughout the play, and much of their happiness and depression is directly related to their achievement of, or failure to attain, these dreams. As the play progressed The Youngers eventually move out of the apartment, fulfilling the familys long-held dream. Their future seems uncertain and slightly dangerous, but they are determined to live a better life. They believe that they can succeed if they stick together as a family. By the end of the play, they learn that the dream of a house is the most important dream because it unites the family, And so did I.

The struggle against Mexicos drug cartels

The struggle against Mexicos drug cartels A vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico followed the New Year of 2009. I had spent time with locals, purchased their handcrafted souvenirs, and visited monumental tourist attractions. My travel led me to believe that Mexico is a country of warm weather and beautiful sightseeing; at the time of my vacation I had been ignorant to the reality of Mexicos stance on the global spectrum of corruption. Unbeknownst 783 miles northwest to Tijuana from Cabo, numerous drug cartels were organizing the importation of narcotics from the South and exported to countries North of Mexico. Tijuana is a city controlled by organized crime and more specifically, infiltrated by The Tijuana Cartel (Witkin and Robinson 1997:38). The Tijuana Cartel is responsible for the transportation, importation, and distribution of massive quantities of cocaine and marijuana, as well as large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine (Guzman 1993:40). Yet, the issue of Mexicos drug trade is not specific to the notorious city, there are over seven cartels that clandestinely function throughout the state. The power of drug cartels have proven to be well connected, trained, armed, and manipulative toward the masses. Mass drug trafficking in Mexico is threatening to turn itself into a Narco state, notably, a Narco state is considered to be an area that has been taken over and is controlled and corrupted by drug cartels (ibid). The rising count of gruesome drug-related murders seems as though the government is being passively effective. This is where the supremacy of drug lords that lead the drug cartels serve as highly influential bodies; whom can often overthrow the power of authorities and government officials through bribery. This is evident over the last three decades when the Mexican Drug War originally commenced. However, the Drug War was re-initiated between the government and drug cartels when Felipe Calderon took presidency in 2006 (Campos 2010). The nation of Mexico is facing a difficult state of affairs to meet drug trade demands that has dishonored the justice system. Countless lives have been taken since the commencement of the Mexican Drug War on either side of its borders and will only continue to overthrow the power of the government officials. This essay will analyze how the Mexican drug trade has infiltrated northern borders to the United States and Canada-while domestically placing vulnerable civilians at risk of sex trafficking in an impoverished state, resulting in violence. The drug trade is a global black market, where the insufficiency of borders has proven to be the prime target of drug transportation. According to the Toronto Star (2009), Tijuana is home to the worlds busiest border crossing with about 300,000 people crossing the border everyday. These perimeters separate two distinct worlds divided by a militarized border in the North and a more advantageous smuggle from the South, however the movement of people and narcotics illicitly make their way past northern border patrol. The North American Free Trade agreement addresses concerns regarding insufficient borders where there is an unrestricted movement of people, goods and services between Mexico, the United States and Canada (Cottam and Otwin 2005). The inadequacy of border security, has led to the expansion of Mexican drug cartels and their control over the drug supply chain surpassing the United States to Canada. This is where the transportation, importation, and distribution of massive quan tities of cocaine, 3 marijuana, as well as large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine have primarily washed up on Canadas West coast (Falco 1999:8). Furthermore, the growth of Mexicos drug cartels is a question of security, where the illegal importation of illicit drugs into fast, developing westernized nations will only lead to unsafe corruption. This mass production of drugs infiltrated by Mexico into the United States and Canada is a detriment to the globalization efforts set out by capitalist nations. These northern nations have made initiatives to expand the integration of countries in the global network of communication, transportation and trade. However, the global networking strategies of these bordering nations have negotiated an illegal trade that has created a steady flow of trafficked narcotics. The trafficking of drugs is highly motivated by the demands that exist in consumer countries such as the United States and Canadas West Coast of British Colombia. In 2001, Mexico was the point of transit where 55 percent of cocaine entered the United States (Chabat 2002:142). Illicit drugs cultivated in drug trade are majorly supplied by strong Colombian drug trafficking ties and become Canada and US-bound through Mexico. The narcotics used to fuel the Mexican Drug War are primary extracted from countries in South America, specifically Colombia. This is where the primary trafficked narcotic includes cocaine, in exchange for the steady drug flow heading north from South America guns, cash and prostitutes serve as collateral (Bagely 1988:72). However, the United States has created a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid to reduce the illegal drug trade, this campaign is called the War on Drugs. The approaches of The War on Drugs have undertaken tasks such as The Merida Initiative. This initiative is a security cooperation 4 between the United States and the government of Mexico and the countries of Central America with the aim of combating the threats of drug trafficking and transnational crime (Cottam and Marenin 2005:32). Such strategies are aimed to also eliminate illegal immigrants into Canada and the United States as means to transport and distribute drugs. Other contributions to The War on Drugs involve the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), identifying the need to increase financial and migration investigations relating to the movement of illegal drugs to Mexico. The DEA states that attacking the financial infrastructure of drug cartels has to play a key role in any viable drug enforcement strategy (Toro 1999: 633). The effects of contraband being imported past the Northern borders serves for inadequacy of borders as well as harm toward their political and economical statuses. Restricted substances that enter northern borders are consequential toward the political stance of the laws, rules and regulations set forth by government officials. The enigmatic transportation of these illegal narcotics is especially subversive and become difficult for officials to track en route. The money laundering exchange from Mexico into the United States and Canada annually generates millions of dollars as a significant contributor to their economies. In the United States, wholesale illicit drug sale earnings estimates range from $13.6 to $48.4 billion annually (ibid). The longstanding issue of poverty in many areas of Mexico is also a contributing factor involving the illegal drug trade. Kellner and Piptones article Inside Mexicos Drug war (2010:32) states that due to high levels of poverty within the Mexican nation 5 and easy access across the northern borders, individuals with minimal opportunities and are economically unstable, resort to drug exchange. Poverty provides minimal opportunities for those in need of providing for their families, and as a result of Mexicos escalating rates of poverty, people often look for the fastest alternative, often resorting to money laundering of illegal drugs. The participation of Mexican civilians in the drug war often proposes the sacrifices of their lives as well as leaving their families behind. The willingness of many residences to partake in the drug trade is also contributing to Mexicos generation of fraudulent currency, where according to Chabat (2002: 137) as of 2009, sat between $6-$15 billion annually representing 3 percent of Mexicos Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As the growth of these numbers amplifies due to organized drug crime, the public continues to pursue the implementation of justice and change by government officials. Within Mexicos impoverished state, the vulnerability of Mexican women and children are at risk with the pursuit of innocence set forth by drug lords. The involvement of women in drug trafficking in recent years has expanded dramatically. Campbell (2008:251) explains that women within Mexican society that are often associated with the drug cartels are typically led to incarceration at various ages; this also leads to high extortion, torture and rape. Sex trafficking has become more common as a part of the drug war where most often women and girls are pimped by leaders of drug cartels and sent to brothels throughout Mexico (Castillo, Gomez and Delgado 1999: 394). The demands within the brothels instill fear within these trafficked women, without compliance they jeopardize seeing their families again or even their lives. Specifically in 6 Tijuana, Mexico where the infiltration of black market drugs originates within Central America, women are used as drug smugglers and prostitutes to generate another source of monetary income. Moreover, Rojas (2008:1082) argues that children have also become prime targets involving the illegal exchange of drugs. Drug lords often seek them out as a symbol of inexperience and uncontroversial tactic when crossing borders, much of the time they too have been induced by drugs to obey drug lord commands. Many children involved in the drug trade are without any family due to the violent nature of the trade or come from families below the poverty line. In 2009 alone, 10,000 children were orphaned due to the Mexican Drug War (ibid). With initiatives to keep the adolescents off of the streets, President Felipe Calderà ³n recently opened 75 new universities and 330 drug rehabilitation centers to curb the impoverishment and gang violence (Corchado 2009: 21). The violent nature of the Mexican Drug War has led to high rates of drug violence within Mexico. This is further examined by Newman (2009:23), in which he explains that the drug cartels imported and exported out of Tijuana make their way toward the U.S border city of Ciudad Juà ¡rez, which now has the distinction of being the most violent in Mexico. Due to organized crime, border violence includes 90% of drug related killings (ibid). The competition of cartels trying to out due each other in savagery is discussed in Hoars article Mexican violence, Gun Controls (2009:42) where bodies are mutilated, and heads are tossed on busy streets. 7 The struggle for human rights and progression away from drug violence is an unpredictable issue; the direction in which it is headed is at a high rate of inconsistency. Violent acts of decapitation, torture and rape are common tactics amongst drug lords. Drug lords have become so powerful that some of their leaders, even when in prison, can continue their operations from the inside. Anderson (2007:18) explains that a drug kingpin can order the murder of rival cartel members on the street, along with others perceived as standing in the way of their lucrative enterprises. Those killed have included officials, judges and journalists whose writings offended the cartels (ibid). As a terror tactic, beheadings have become a favored form of execution. The power of organized crime such as drug cartels, easily preside over the violence. According to Campos (2010: 402), more than 34,000 people have died in drug-related violence during the four years that President Felipe Calderon has been in po wer and within the last year there were 15, 273 deaths. Many civilians are too often paying the price of Mexicos drug war with their liberty and livelihood at the hands of drug cartel hit men. High rates of violence are a result of suppressed human rights with many implications facing Mexican authorities and residences. Communities often too cannot trust those in a position of power such as police, this is due to the corruption within the police force. Corruption within Mexican law enforcement institutions is a relentless struggle of organized crime growing and spreading to new territories. More specifically, numerous drug cartels propose bribes to officers for their co-operation in return. The co-operation of these officers under cartel 8 command often include violent acts against civilians as well as tourists and government officials, ultimately creating an elite group of hit men (Bailey and Paras 2006: 78). Officers enticed by this lucrative organization are often regularly paid poorly and would rather succumb to the influence of Mexicos deep-pocketed drug traffickers and gangs. This law enforcement dishonesty is becoming a significant challenge confronting democratic governability and defeating the purpose of ending the Mexican Drug War. Although violence between drug cartels had been occurring for at least three decades, the Mexican government had held a generally passive stance regarding cartel violence. Now, President Felipe Calderà ³n has continued to escalate his anti-drug campaign, there are now about 45,000 troops involved along with state and federal police forces. (Felson 2009:7) In conclusion, the Mexican drug trade is a ruthless battlefield in which many aspects reflect the hardships and corruption within Mexican society, and its effects on its neighboring countries. The efforts set out by President Felipe Calderon to end the drug war in Mexico is seeing inadequate results, inevitably progressing toward a Narco state status. Presently, the development of Mexico is at risk with plummeting death tolls of civilians, corruption of law enforcement and drug money stabilizing the countrys GDP. The Mexican Drug War is often presented publicly as a government issue that will evaporate overtime with the right prime leadership. However, the cause of the battle on drugs in the southern-most part of North America is much more than the governments 9 burden. The powers of drug cartels seem to be unstoppable and over taking the Mexicos livelihood all together and are now nothing short of entrenched in supremacy. The infiltration of northern borders to the United States and Canada by the Mexican drug trade has domestically placed vulnerable civilians at risk of sex trafficking in an impoverished state, resulting in violence. 10