Compare and Contrast Yakuza and the Triads

Crime in Japan also involves the Yakuza and the Triads. There are similarities between the Yakuza and the Triads. On the other hand, there are differences between the Yakuza and the Triads. the following paragraphs explain in detail the similarities and differences between the two organized crime groups. BODY: Similarities between the Yakuza and the Triads Both the Yakuza and the Triad were formed under a â€Å"family† styled program. The Yakuza was organized under a family relationship. The Yakuza is sometimes described as the Japanese mafia. The Mafia had a Godfather at the top and the other members of Yakuza are called brothers or children. The Yakuza goes even deeper with the implementation of the unique Japanese relationship described as â€Å"father role and a child role†. In the Yakuza, the ‘father' gives advice to the members in terms of protection and help. In answer, the members of the Yakuza group pledge unswerving loyalty to the Yakuza leader. The Yakuza member is called a Kobun. The Yakuza environment is filled with trust, loyalty and obedience to the Yakuza organization. The new members are expected to act as shields for their leaders by staying at the front in case of battles, conflicts with the law or otherwise. It is customary for the new members to take the blame and even go to jail for the oyabun's (leader's) crime. Likewise, the Triad members must support each other in times of good and in times of bad. This is how the real family works. Clearly, Both the Yakuza and the Triad were formed under a â€Å"family† styled program. Further, both the triads and Yakuza implement formal ceremonies to accept a new member. The Yakuza members drink a cup of sake to formalize entering into the blood connection between the ‘godfather' and the other members of the group. This is known as the oyabun -kobun or leader – follower relationship. The Yakuza ceremony is done in front of the Japanese god Shinto. The Triads also accept their new recruits in a ceremony characterized by the killing of a rooster, drawing blood from the new recruit's fingers and the new recruit's skin to symbolize a new blood relationship among its leaders and members . Evidently, both the triads and Yakuza implement formal ceremonies to accept a new member. Furthermore, both groups are characterized by a fraternal brotherhood. Each member of both groups support their leaders with their lives. Some people join the Yakuza or the triad because there is power in numbers. Both groups are engaged in illegal activities like guns, drugs as well as women trafficking . Surely, both groups are characterized by a fraternal brotherhood. Differences between the Yakuza and the Triads on the Other Hand. The Chinese Triad members in Hong Kong help each other in times of need in a less serious way than the Yakuza brotherhood. The Triad members are less strict in terms of organizational discipline than the Yakuza society. Not all Triad members are gangsters. Likewise, not all gangsters are triad members. Small Triad groups give undying loyalty to their leader. The members of the triad do favors for one another and engage in criminal activities together in a less formal relationship. On the other hand, the Yakuza members are bound by their pledge to protect the leader and implement the Yakuza laws to the letter. Undoubtedly, the Chinese triad members in Hong Kong help each other in times of need in a less serious way than the Yakuza brotherhood. In addition, the Yakuza is larger than the Triads. Today, there are more than eighty thousand Yakuza members around the world. Some Politicians in Japan hire Yakuza members to keep their political opponents at bay. The Yakuza owned nightclubs in China to real estate properties in New York. The Yakuza developed companies by rigging the juicy bidding processes to win many construction projects. Later, the Yakuza diversified its activities during the unprofitable economic bubble burst in the 1990s. The Yakuza racked up billions of U. S. dollars from loans that the banks could not recover during the bubble. The Yakuza has the money to hire the best lawyers and as many lawyers as it wants in order to pile up their winning streak many of their cases filed in the Japanese courts. The Yakuza has been spread its choke hold into many other countries including the United States. Over seven hundred forty offices were controlled by the Yakuza in the busy Tokyo scene . The Triad only operated in Hong Kong with its outstretched arms influencing its neighbors. Unquestionably, the Yakuza is larger than the Triads. Plus, the Yakuza originally operated in Japan whereas the Triad has been operating for more than one hundred fifty years in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong triad (now a province of China) is known as the Chinese Mafia. Today, the Triad is highly organized and has spread under a centralized underworld organization where it holds excessive criminal influence over Hong Kong and other other countries. Definitely, the Yakuza originally operated in Japan whereas the Triad has been operating for more than one hundred fifty years in Hong Kong. The Yakuza started out as a criminal organization whereas the Triad was founded one hundred fifty years ago as a legal organization. The Triad was established originally as a mutual aid association with the end in mind of resolving peacefully conflicts the migratory differences among the different groups in the southern regions of Fujian province in China during the eighteenth century. The Chinese triad are bound by their paramount subculture that involves powerful patriotism and unquestionable righteousness. Later, these subcultures were rooted out so that the new subculture of loyalty to the triad group and brotherhood would be wedged into the hearts of the triad members. currently, patriotism has been set to the burner because the triad had dropped down to its current criminal gang activities . On the other hand, the Yakuza started as a crime -engaging organization. The Yakuza continues to be a crime -engaging organization. Obviously, the Yakuza started out as a criminal organization whereas the Triad was founded one hundred fifty years ago as a legal organization. CONCLUSION: Crime in Japan also involves the Yakuza and the Triads. There are similarities between the Yakuza and the Triads. Both the Yakuza and the Triad were formed under a â€Å"family† styled program. Further, both the triads and Yakuza implement formal ceremonies to accept a new member. Furthermore, both groups are characterized by a fraternal brotherhood of lawlessness. On the other hand, there are differences between the Yakuza and the Triads. The Chinese triad of Hong Kong help each other in times of need in a less serious way than the Yakuza brotherhood. In addition, the Yakuza is larger than the Triads. Plus, the Yakuza originally operated in Japan whereas the Triad has been operating for more than one hundred fifty years in Hong Kong. The Yakuza started out as a criminal organization whereas the Triad was founded one hundred fifty years ago as a legal organization. Conclusively, there are similarities and differences between the Yakuza and the Triad. Works Cited Chu, Yiu Kong. The Triads as Business. London: Routledge, 2000. Gilmer, Lillian Roe. â€Å"Japan's Communications Interception Act: Unconstitutional Invasion of Privacy or Necessary Tool?.† Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law 35.3 (2002): 893+ Hill, Peter B. E. The Japanese Mafia: Yakuza, Law, and the State. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. Kaplan, David E., and Alec Dubro. Yakuza: Japan's Criminal Underworld. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2003.

Imperial presidency Essay

In the age of the imperial presidency, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that, in the totality of American history, a powerful chief executive has been the exception rather than the rule. Indeed, until the mid-twentieth century, the most powerful person in peacetime American governments was the Speaker of the House of Representatives rather than the president. Prior to World War II, presidential power was ascendant only during wartime. It is no mistake that the three men commonly cited as our greatest presidents also led the nation through its three most important wars. The image of George Washington as president is inseparable from his role in the American Revolution. Abraham Lincoln is remembered for his role in preserving the Union through the Civil War; other aspects of his presidency are largely ignored. Although Franklin Roosevelt accumulated considerable personal power during the 1930’s, he will be remembered for guiding the United States through World War II in the 1940’s. George W. Bush often refers to himself as the â€Å"Commander in Chief† rather than simply the â€Å"President† or the â€Å"Chief Executive†. This reflects President Bush’s acknowledgement of the fact that â€Å"Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces† is the most concentrated and unchecked power that a president is granted under the constitution. Any student of history is aware that a president is far more powerful when he is perceived to be not just a chief executive but a commander in chief. In other words, for a president to be historically powerful, there must be a war on. The watershed moment for the imperial American presidency was the aftermath of World War II. After every prior American war, the nation had demobilized, the president had assumed his traditional, more limited portfolio, and the Congress had reestablished its position as the pivotal branch of the federal government. After World War II, however, and especially after the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, there was no demobilization. Instead, the executive branch of the federal government underwent an overhaul and reorganization that irreversibly changed the nature of the presidency and of the United States itself. President Truman would mold a policy that was without precedent in American history; this policy would call for large standing armies in peacetime, a radically strengthened and centralized executive, and a willingness to project American force around the world, at times without direct congressional approval. The underlying logic to this revolution in American government was the need to contain the expansionist designs of the Soviet Union. In 1947, the National Security Act created the CIA, the Department of Defense, and the National Security Council. This creation of a spy agency, a permanent standing army, and a radically strengthened executive changed forever the nature of American government. After the National Security Act of 1947, a permanent war footing, or at least a war psychology, settled over Washington, D. C. Although the United States was technically at peace more often than not for the rest of the century, the president’s identity as â€Å"commander in chief† maintained a gravity that simply would have been impossible in prior periods. One mitigating factor in this shift was the logistical realities of modern warfare, embodied most purely and terribly by nuclear weapons. The incomparable damage that such weapons could exact, and the relative speed with which they could be delivered, precluded consultations between the President and the Congress under many feasible scenarios. This inevitably strengthened the latitude and increased the responsibility of the chief executive, who could become the commander in chief, responsible for the physical survival of the United States, at any given moment. The psychological shift was just as important as the revolution in weaponry. For the first time the United States, or at least its leadership, perceived itself to be under siege even in the absence of a hot war. The idea of a global and aggressive Soviet menace led to a willingness in American leaders to interpret local and isolated conflicts as part of a broader communist conspiracy that must be contained by a massive American military machine. Human nature being what it is, the unprecedented size and power of the Pentagon made it far easier for American presidents to order the use of force, which in turn consolidated their power as active â€Å"commanders in chief†. From 1947 through 1991, the United States fought two major wars in Korea and Vietnam, but the overarching Cold War solidified the idea that the president’s primary and permanent role was to serve as commander in chief. This notion would have known no place in America prior to World War II. The nation was founded on a well-reasoned fear of centralized executives and the nation had spent most of its early history avoiding such pitfalls. During the Cold War, it embraced this pitfall as an unfortunate necessity, if not a virtue. At the end of the Cold War, there was talk of a â€Å"peace dividend† which would allow for radically reduced defense spending and, by implication, a more restrained presidency. The Gulf War of 1991 arrived just in time to forestall any radical lurch in that direction. During the Clinton administration, the presidency remained powerful, and the United States carried out several military operations from Haiti to Kosovo. The strength of the presidency was only magnified by the fact that the United States was now the only global superpower. The 9/11 attacks, of course, put America on an indefinite war footing analogous to the Cold War. George W. Bush declared with what looked to some as great excitement that he was a â€Å"war president†. Since the United States has been at war in Afghanistan and Iraq for six years, Bush’s personal power has been established by stressing his identity as commander in chief, identifying the defense of the United States as his most important task. Another issue that has risen out of Bush’s embrace of the imperial presidency is how such power is exercised domestically as opposed to internationally. President Bush and his attorneys have argued that the United States is involved in a war in which all of the Earth, including the United States, is the â€Å"battlefield†. This means, according to their arguments, that the president’s power as commander in chief applies just as much in the United States as anywhere else. This dubious and dangerous idea has led to unwarranted surveillance of American citizens in the United States, indefinite detention without charge or legal representation for anyone identified by the commander in chief as an â€Å"enemy combatant†, and the use of â€Å"enhanced interrogation† on detainees, which any honest person would call torture. These draconian measures are best embodied in the Military Commission Act of 2006, which effectively suspends Habeas Corpus and all subsequent legal rights to any individual declared an enemy on the sole authority of the commander in chief. The domestic and international conditions which prevailed when the founding fathers wrote the constitution are obviously no longer valid. It is a testament to the genius of these men that the American system has lasted as long as it has. While certain changes are necessary and inevitable over the decades and the centuries, I am personally very uncomfortable with the level of power that is concentrated in the modern presidency, especially as manifested by the Bush administration. The current administration is the embodiment of the danger inherent in so much power being vested in a single person. After World War II, new global realities called for a more robust presidency, but the balance that was struck with varying degrees of success throughout the Cold War is absent from the current situation. The Military Commission Act of 2006 allows the President to kidnap an American citizen, hold him in prison without charging him with a crime, letting him see a lawyer or a judge, or telling his family where he is, torture him, and never release him. This is not hyperbole; it is now allowable under American law. Most people with respect for human dignity and for the American constitution can agree that this is not the America we want to live in. â€Å"A democracy cannot wage war. When you go to war, you pass a law giving extraordinary powers to the President. The people of the country assume when the emergency is over, the rights and powers that were temporarily delegated to the Chief Executive will be returned to the states, counties and to the people. † –General Walter Bedell Smith (Weiner 189). Works Cited Lowi, Theodore J. , Benjamin Ginsberg, and Kenneth A. Shepsle. American Government: Power and Purpose. W. W. Norton, 2005. Shafritz, Jay M. and Lee S. Weinberg. Classics in American Government. Wadsworth Publishing, 2005. Weiner, Tim. Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA. Doubleday, 2007.

Memorandum

This memorandum is written to assist the decision making about to raise capital for further growth and recapitalize the ownership structure of TRX thorough Initial Public Offering. The analysis is examined from two scenarios. One is that TRX keep on IPO at lower price of $9 per share; another is that it postpones the IPO in 2006. I would project the IPO price of 2005 and 2006, respectively based on the management plan. According to the TRX’s balance sheet and financial data, TRX was a very young technology-integration company which founded in 1999. By 2004, TRX generated $113. m in total revenues and the ensuing half year it generated about $62m which was already ahead of the last year’s pace. Not only had the top-line revenue growth in industry, the company created the surprised high mean margin growth of EBITDA which was 188. 8% from 2002 to 2005 as well. (Figures show in Appendix 1) Although TRX still represented the negative net income right now, the company must have tremendous profit potential to be expected, because TRX will completely remove low-margin business in 2008 in order to generate strong cash-flow and the more of higher-margin business would stems from TRX’s four top clients. Thus, in order to fuel the rapid growth of the business, TRX should be considered as a good candidate for going public. Nevertheless, TRX first failed to go public in 2000 attributed to the overall stock market conditions were awful since the dot-com bubble burst in the late 1990s. From travel industry condition performance, TRX encounter the recession of travel industry, which affected its fortunes since the company closely related with the overall health of the industry. From the overall stock market conditions, the performance of NASDAQ was volatility throughout 2004, even dropped a low in August 2004 and thereby the pricing of IPO was poor when the company prepare to IPO. Even though the rebounded of stock market in the first half of 2005, the market conditions still acted unstable with weak performance of IPO. Once again, TRX experienced the bad news of industry during its road show. These broader market climates were seemed like unfavorable for the company’s IPO. In reposed to the first filed IPO, TRX turned to raise capital from outside strategic investor Sabre with issuing 15m convertible note and another 5m was from its original investors BCD and Hogg Robinson in order to support company’s growth until it attempted the second time to IPO. Actually, Going public gives these investors the opportunity to exit, proving an attractive harvest strategy especially when the TRX’s stock price closed at a higher price in the post-IPO. However, the final price range of IPO offered by CSFB was $9 per share which was lower than the price Sabre paid for its share. Here, I use comparable analysis to estimate the IPO price based on the management plan in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Since a perfectly comparable company can’t be found, I chose primary sectors’ multiples which most close to TRX with online travel and payment processing. Moreover, the average median multiples are calculated the reason I used median multiples over mean is that more accuracy projections will estimated without outliners involved in mean. Also, I chose the next years’ EBITDA and net income, respectively due the stock prices reflect the present value of future earnings. He company could offer the lender partial ownership in the venture in exchange for loan principal by swapping their debt for equity. The improves the profitability of the venture by lowering debt service payments while lowering debt liability on the balance sheet and replacing it with equity. Also, the lender is trading fixed-rate debt for equity with a potentially higher total return. If the firm is doing very well , and lenders fell that the return on investment will likely be better with equity position, this becomes an attractive option for debt holders. Memorandum My background and interests are fairly diverse and require a more in depth explanation and presentation and this is the rational behind my presentation of this exploratory memo. Hopefully, this memo will clearly address all issues in a manner that will shed light on my background. My primary academic focus is economics and international trade and I approach these avenues in a manner that is significantly different from the way many other people may approach said disciplines. I am a foreign national who was born in Korea and I believe this gives me a different perspective on international trade and economics as I have a great deal of experience seeing the actual â€Å"international† aspect of trade and economics while many people who have limited experience with foreign economies may have a limited understanding in regards to how it works abroad. More than just interested in things that involve politics and the economy, I have also invested a great deal of my time in charitable pursuits. I served as vice President of my church and from this position I was able to invest a great deal of time in charitable pursuits. These pursuits included helping out with individuals who were infirmed and in need of assistance. This experience proved very rewarding on levels that were professional, personal and spiritual. I also place a significant emphasis on my life towards the pursuit of athletic excellence. In particular, I enjoy skiing and snowboarding and have invested a great deal of time developing a proficiency in these sports. A healthy mind only remains healthy when the body that supports it is equally strong so I take the development of an athletic cardiovascular system very seriously. An inability to properly communicate remains one of the more damaging aspects that could undermine an individual’s ability to achieve maximum potential in the workplace. More than anything, I would prefer to develop the enhancement of my grammar, syntax and communicative language in a manner that would effectively be quite impressive to the reader. This does not mean that I would like to master the English language for the sole purpose of being able to misrepresent my knowledge on a particular subject by burying and hiding a lack of knowledge within the confines of excellent grammar and syntax. What I wish to do is to make my knowledge of a particular subject matter and my ability to communicate my knowledge, feelings and ideas within the confines of the business community in such a way that it becomes clear I have a solid and serious pragmatic ability to apply my knowledge on the subject. This is not to say, however, that I have extremely limited experience in business or professional communication. On the contrary, I have a fairly expansive degree of experience with business communication. I do, however, realize my limitations in this area and I will to expand my skills and capabilities in order to eliminate any limitations I may have. While some may assume (erroneously) that the Snowboarding Club that I served as president of would be exclusively a leisure pursuit, this is about as silly of a statement as stating the multi-million dollar snowboarding industry is nothing more than a leisure pursuit. As President of this club I would perform my duties as professionally as I would have performed the same duties for a more ‘established’ club such as an economics club, etc.   As part of my duties as President, I would routinely communicate with various entities and individuals by way of traditional business writing (I.E. pen and paper) and by way of electronic communication (email, etc) In terms of why I am taking this course, the primary reason is that the course is required. So, yes, it is a mandatory course designed to facilitate my graduation, but that is not entirely the whole case. There is much more to it than merely taking a course designed with one sole goal of graduating and receiving a degree. To do this without having developed any real or significant skill would be ludicrous and totally self defeating in terms of the way such an attitude would undermine my entire education. So, regardless of the administrative reason why I am taking this course, all courses are electives as I have elected to attend the University in order to develop my professional skills. In other words, my attendance in this course is primarily to learn the material and then take the material and develop it into functional skills that can carry into the workplace and in life in general.                                                                Memorandum This memorandum is written to assist the decision making about to raise capital for further growth and recapitalize the ownership structure of TRX thorough Initial Public Offering. The analysis is examined from two scenarios. One is that TRX keep on IPO at lower price of $9 per share; another is that it postpones the IPO in 2006. I would project the IPO price of 2005 and 2006, respectively based on the management plan. According to the TRX’s balance sheet and financial data, TRX was a very young technology-integration company which founded in 1999. By 2004, TRX generated $113. m in total revenues and the ensuing half year it generated about $62m which was already ahead of the last year’s pace. Not only had the top-line revenue growth in industry, the company created the surprised high mean margin growth of EBITDA which was 188. 8% from 2002 to 2005 as well. (Figures show in Appendix 1) Although TRX still represented the negative net income right now, the company must have tremendous profit potential to be expected, because TRX will completely remove low-margin business in 2008 in order to generate strong cash-flow and the more of higher-margin business would stems from TRX’s four top clients. Thus, in order to fuel the rapid growth of the business, TRX should be considered as a good candidate for going public. Nevertheless, TRX first failed to go public in 2000 attributed to the overall stock market conditions were awful since the dot-com bubble burst in the late 1990s. From travel industry condition performance, TRX encounter the recession of travel industry, which affected its fortunes since the company closely related with the overall health of the industry. From the overall stock market conditions, the performance of NASDAQ was volatility throughout 2004, even dropped a low in August 2004 and thereby the pricing of IPO was poor when the company prepare to IPO. Even though the rebounded of stock market in the first half of 2005, the market conditions still acted unstable with weak performance of IPO. Once again, TRX experienced the bad news of industry during its road show. These broader market climates were seemed like unfavorable for the company’s IPO. In reposed to the first filed IPO, TRX turned to raise capital from outside strategic investor Sabre with issuing 15m convertible note and another 5m was from its original investors BCD and Hogg Robinson in order to support company’s growth until it attempted the second time to IPO. Actually, Going public gives these investors the opportunity to exit, proving an attractive harvest strategy especially when the TRX’s stock price closed at a higher price in the post-IPO. However, the final price range of IPO offered by CSFB was $9 per share which was lower than the price Sabre paid for its share. Here, I use comparable analysis to estimate the IPO price based on the management plan in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Since a perfectly comparable company can’t be found, I chose primary sectors’ multiples which most close to TRX with online travel and payment processing. Moreover, the average median multiples are calculated the reason I used median multiples over mean is that more accuracy projections will estimated without outliners involved in mean. Also, I chose the next years’ EBITDA and net income, respectively due the stock prices reflect the present value of future earnings. He company could offer the lender partial ownership in the venture in exchange for loan principal by swapping their debt for equity. The improves the profitability of the venture by lowering debt service payments while lowering debt liability on the balance sheet and replacing it with equity. Also, the lender is trading fixed-rate debt for equity with a potentially higher total return. If the firm is doing very well , and lenders fell that the return on investment will likely be better with equity position, this becomes an attractive option for debt holders.

Making a killing

In an unfortunate event Blackwater guards killed three civilians of Baghdad who were mistaken as terrorists. What is in the scenario is the strong reaction of the new Iraqi government. The next 24 hours saw the process of deportment of the troop. It was reported that there was indiscriminate shooting and this is completely an unfathomable error. According to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki this was a complete criminal act. However there are many allegations against Blackwater and it is believed that they smuggle arms into Iraq. There is enough trouble in the region and it can well be stated that further problems can be avoided to restore peace in the region. (Scahill, 1) It can be remembered that each of the wars included major and minor battles.   They had varying and distinct reasons behind them.   Allies and foes were distinctly different in each case. Each of the wars had a level of analysis.   These levels were individual state, and system.   The levels of war analysis form a hierarchy.   The responsibilities of the hierarchy rely on the scale and nature of the operation. The individual level of analysis in war includes a basic idea of how human traits cause many of the social outcomes in historical instances, including war and peace. From the perspective of sociology it can be stated that there are variations of this idea as listed in a paper written by Wade L. Huntley, Ph.D. titled Causes of War and Paths to Peace written in May of 2004. Those variations include: basic human nature, varying features of human nature and both perception and misperception. His considerations behind this would include that in factoring basic human nature, people are basically aggressive, loving, greedy and fearful and so forth. People would be of all sorts of types, some aggressive, others peaceful, greedy or generous. Perception and misperception can result as bad decisions are made, especially in times of stress, which continually exemplifies the limits of human understanding of more than just human nature. The incident in Iraq, as depicted by Scahill is basically a view that was conducted from the US point of view the views or the sociological parameters of the residents of Iraq are fundamentally overlooked in the article. (King, 145-7) It can well be stated that some analysts argue that democracy in the Middle East will elevate Islamists, including radicals, who will use democratic institutions to gain power but then implement their autocratic agenda. Democracy can also lead to instability. In short, things may get worse before they get better, which may be bad news for the US. Many however believe that in the long run increased democratic governance or the break up of static autocracies will lead to a better outcome than the status quo even if the emerging governments initially oppose U.S. policies. Some furthermore argue that any type of somewhat democratic government would find more common ground with the U.S. than the existing ones even if rapprochement was gradual and difficult. But from the point of view of an Iraqi it can be stated that independence is all that is relevant and it can be mentioned that Scahill was unable to relate himself to this consequence. Traditional security policy emphasizes military means for reducing the risks of war and for prevailing if deterrence fails. Human security’s proponents, while not eschewing the use of force, have focused to a much greater degree on non-coercive approaches. These range from preventive diplomacy, conflict management and post–conflict peace building, to addressing the root causes of conflict by building state capacity and promoting equitable economic development.   The new dimensions of human security are well outlined by the United Nations Development Program in their Human Development Report of 1994. (Lamb, 288-9) Human Security has always been at issue in some format or another. You see it in the methods employed during peacetime and during war time. The methodology utilized might in fact be different from generation to generation, but the concept itself has hardly managed to evolve into something other than what its basics stem from. The pursuits of life and liberty, happiness and peace have been a part of the psyche of humanity since the beginnings of human existence and it would have been much better if the article had developed on these principals. Keeping in mind the developments in Iraq the only solution the USA is left with is one that most people connected to the White House consider absolute anathema. But the truth remains that a military ‘solution’ to the issue is no solution at all but rather a spiralling tunnel leading to a thousand other issues, all of which are far too dangerous to be contemplated. So what can USA do? Well, for starters it can seriously rethink some of its recent policies and shift its focus from military attack to some old fashioned diplomacy instead. But while that sounds simple enough for Washington it is a job unparalleled in its difficulty and, if present indications are anything to go by then, something that is hardly likely to happen and Scahill as a journalist must keep his position as humane and compassionate as possible in this context. Works Cited: Scahill, Jeremy; Making a Killing; The Nation; October 15, 2007 issue; September 27, 2007; retrieved on 24.11.2007 King, Herbert. Middle East Today Vol. IV Plymouth: HBT & Brooks Ltd. 2005 Lamb, Davis. Cult to Culture: The Development of Civilization on the Strategic Strata. Wellington

Strategies set in place do not solve the drug problem around the world Research Paper

Strategies set in place do not solve the drug problem around the world - Research Paper Example There are several social and environmental factors why people start using drugs. Types of drugs consumed depend upon the price and accessibility of particular drugs. There are many other reasons that push the young people towards drug abuse like family tensions, peer pressure, poor school performance, low self-esteem, inadequate social skills, depression and so on. There are various drug policies all over the world to fight against this grave social problem. Most of the policies strive towards creating awareness of the evils of drug abuse. With the rapid change of lifestyle, growing competition among peers in educational and professional arenas, drug abuse is an ever increasing social malady. The governments’ efforts of creating strategies to cope with drug abuse have so far been essentially unsuccessful. This paper focuses on drug policies and their inadequacy among young generation. Drug policies To fight drug use, it is imperative that effective preventive strategies be imp lemented. Such strategies must cover all stages of life, from infancy to adulthood. Such strategies can keep the youth away from consumption of all kinds of drugs including alcohol. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) has adopted six kinds of preventive measures. The first one is Information dissemination that is designed to create awareness about drugs and alter the youth’s perspective of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The second one is Preventive education that enables the youth to acquire personal and social skills for better health, and this keeps them away from drug use. The third one includes Alternative approaches that assume that young people who get engaged in drug-free activities with be benefited by those activities rather than through activities concerned with drugs. The fourth one is Problem identification and referral involves those youth who have already been addicts of drugs and have drug-related physical or emotional problems, and suggesting t o those youth regarding appropriate treatments. The fifth one is Community-based process that enhances resources in the communities, for instance, building training agencies to promote awareness through education. The sixth one includes Environmental approaches that build policies to increase protection measures and reduce risk factors of drug use (Promising Strategies to Reduce Substance Abuse, 2000, pp.1-2). Legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco, and illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin, marijuana have many harmful affects. Alcohol consumption can lead to road accidents, domestic violence and crime. Heavy drinking can cause chronic diseases like liver cirrhosis and brain damage. If pregnant women consume alcohol, then there is possibility of birth defects. Smoking tobacco is a major cause of breathing problems and cancer. Illicit drug use can cause road accidents, violent outbursts and crime. Then there is also the risk of getting affected by HIV/AIDS through unsafe injection of illi cit drugs. The goal of National Drug Strategy 2010-2015 is to reduce the social, economic and health problems that occur due to drug use. The three approaches adopted are demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction. By demand reduction strategy, prevention measures are taken to reduce the consumption of alcohol and other drugs in the community. It also guides people to recover from the addiction and return to normal life. By supply reduction strateg

Comparison of Hollywood and Bollywood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Comparison of Hollywood and Bollywood - Essay Example In the case of Bollywood movies, plots commonly presented in a melodramatic manner and centered on romantic themes are often commercialized. Thus, the plots adopted are limited since films utilize formulaic ingredients such as ill-fated lovers caught between disapproving parents, love triangles, and dramatic reversals of fortunes among others. This is evidenced even by recently shown nationally-acclaimed Bollywood films such as Kal Ho Naa Ho, which focuses on love triangle and tragedy experienced by main characters. Hollywood films do not always conform to wholesome plot variant. Due to the more tolerant censorship, they are better able to take on varied plots that may be intriguing or controversial in nature. As the Bollywood industry sticks to making movies with plots that would appeal to the masses, Hollywood generally considers the profitability as well as the depth of plot, content and entertainment value of films for the targeted movie-going market. This means that films produc ed in Bollywood focus on a particular market-tested genre, while those created in Hollywood are more flexible such that film-makers are able to work with a wider variety of genres. Acting Style Another observation that fortifies the dominance of Hollywood movies is the acting skills of the film stars. Based on the movies, which I have recently seen, featuring Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and other prominent Hollywood stars, I noticed the remarkable versatility of these actors and actresses.... On the contrary, Hollywood films do not always conform to wholesome plot variant. Due to the more tolerant censorship, they are better able to take on varied plots that may be intriguing or controversial in nature. As the Bollywood industry sticks to making movies with plots that would appeal to the masses, Hollywood generally considers the profitability as well as the depth of plot, content and entertainment value of films for the targeted movie-going market. This means that films produced in Bollywood focus on a particular market-tested genre, while those created in Hollywood are more flexible such that film-makers are able to work with a wider variety of genres. Acting Style Another observation that fortifies the dominance of Hollywood movies is the acting kills of the film stars. Based on the movies, which I have recently seen, featuring Harrison Ford, Robert de Niro, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and other prominent Hollywood stars, I noticed the remarkable versatility of these actors and actresses. In contrast to Bollywood stars, who are often typecasted in romance and drama, most Hollywood stars could do action, drama or comedy and manage to take on roles convincingly. Like chameleons, they are able to quickly fit in a given movie role. Set Design and Special Effects The aspect of set design and special effects is probably the biggest advantage that Hollywood movies have over Bollywood films. As evidenced by movies such as The Matrix Trilogy, movies by Steven Spielberg and animated films by Walt Disney, it is apparent how the Hollywood film industry has mastered set designing and utilizing breathtaking special effects that hold audience in

Current Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Current Issues - Essay Example In addition, the state has joined half of other states in the U.S. and gone ahead signing the Medicaid expansion program, which is going to be fund by the Federal government, for a period of 3 years. The Governor and the lawmakers have done this by extending the program to adult persons earning up to 138% of the level of Federal poverty (MPRnews, n.d.). Other crucial issues that are being discussed by the legislatures and the governor include the budget, which is the focus; taxes, which, Gov. Dayton is saying that, he wants making Minnesota’s tax system simpler and fairer, by unveiling a tax reform plan. New plans for a health insurance exchange required by the Affordable Care Act unveiled by President Obama are underway (Governing, n.d.). In addition to the aforementioned issues, other issues underway include the same-sex marriage, which is illegal in Minnesota, public safety issues, which were triggered by the recent shootings of high profile, election issues, triggered by the Republican-backed amendment to the constitution, requiring voters to produce photo identification (Liz, 2014). Finally, the sand mining issues, which the governor says will be huge in the current season, and transportation. Therefore, it is evident that there are a couple of issues that the governor and lawmakers be pushing for in the current year, w hich form our current issues in Minnesota. Liz, F., Chris, K., Wogan, J.B., Mike, M., and Ryan, H. (2014). The Top ten Legislative Issues to Watch in 2014. Retrieved from