The Host Chapter 54: Forgotten

â€Å"Elizabeth?† I asked. â€Å"Anne? Karen? What's your name? C'mon. I know you know it.† The Healer's body was still limp on the cot. It had been a long time-how long, I wasn't sure. Hours and hours. I hadn't slept yet, though the sun was far up in the sky. Doc had climbed out onto the mountain to pull the tarps away, and the sun beamed brightly through the holes in the ceiling, hot on my skin. I'd moved the nameless woman so that her face would be out of the glare. I touched her face now lightly, patting the soft brown hair, woven through with white strands, away from her face. â€Å"Julie? Brittany? Angela? Patricia? Am I getting close? Talk to me. Please?† Everyone but Doc-snoring quietly on a cot in the darkest corner of the hospital-had gone away hours ago. Some to bury the host body we'd lost. I cringed, thinking of his bewildered question, and the sudden way his face had gone slack. Why? he'd asked me. I so much wished that the soul had waited for an answer, so I could have tried to explain it to him. He might even have understood. After all, what was more important, in the end, than love? To a soul, wasn't that the heart of everything? And love would have been my answer. Maybe, if he'd waited, he would have seen the truth of that. If he'd really understood, I was sure he would have let the human body live. The request would probably have made little sense to him, though. The body was his body, not a separate entity. His suicide was simply that to him, not a murder, too. Only one life had ended. And perhaps he was right. At least the souls had survived. The light on his tank glowed dull red beside hers; I couldn't ask for a greater evidence of commitment from my humans than this, the sparing of his life. â€Å"Mary? Margaret? Susan? Jill?† Though Doc slept and I was otherwise alone, I could feel the echo of the tension the others had left behind; it still hung in the air. The tension lingered because the woman had not woken up when the chloroform wore off. She had not moved. She was still breathing, her heart was still beating, but she had not responded to any of Doc's efforts to revive her. Was it too late? Was she lost? Was she already gone? Just as dead as the male body? Were all of them? Were there only a very few, like the Seeker's host, Lacey, and Melanie-the shouters, the resisters-who could be brought back? Was everyone else gone? Was Lacey an anomaly? Would Melanie come back the way she had†¦ or was even that in question? I'm not lost. I'm here. But Mel's mental voice was defensive. She worried, too. Yes, you are here. And you will stay here, I promised. With a sigh, I returned to my efforts. My doomed efforts? â€Å"I know you have a name,† I told the woman. â€Å"Is it Rebecca? Alexandra? Olivia? Something simpler, maybe†¦ Jane? Jean? Joan?† It was better than nothing, I thought glumly. At least I'd given them a way to help themselves if they were ever taken. I could help the resisters, if no one else. It didn't seem like enough. â€Å"You're not giving me much to work with,† I murmured. I took her hand in both of mine, chafed it softly. â€Å"It would really be nice if you would make an effort. My friends are going to be depressed enough. They could use some good news. Besides, with Kyle still gone†¦ It will be hard to evacuate everyone without having to carry you around, too. I know you want to help. This is your family here, you know. These are your kind. They're very nice. Most of them. You'll like them.† The gently lined face was vacant with unconsciousness. She was quite pretty in an inconspicuous way-her features very symmetrical on her oval face. Forty-five, maybe a little younger, maybe a little older. It was hard to tell with no animation in the face. â€Å"They need you,† I went on, pleading now. â€Å"You can help them. You know so much that I never knew. Doc tries so hard. He deserves some help. He's a good man. You've been a Healer for a while now; some of that care for the well-being of others must have rubbed off on you. You'll like Doc, I think. â€Å"Is your name Sarah? Emily? Kristin?† I stroked her soft cheek, but there was no response, so I took her limp hand in mine again. I gazed at the blue sky through the holes in the high ceiling. My mind wandered. â€Å"I wonder what they'll do if Kyle never comes back. How long will they hide? Will they have to find a new home somewhere else? There are so many of them†¦ It won't be easy. I wish I could help them, but even if I could stay, I don't have any answers. â€Å"Maybe they'll get to stay here†¦ somehow. Maybe Kyle won't mess up.† I laughed humorlessly, thinking of the odds. Kyle wasn't a careful man. However, until that situation was resolved, I was needed. Maybe, if there were Seekers looking, they would need my infallible eyes. It might take a long time, and that made me feel warmer than the sun on my skin. Made me feel grateful that Kyle was impetuous and selfish. How long until we were sure we were safe? â€Å"I wonder what it's like here when it gets cold. I can barely re-member feeling cold. And what if it rains? It has to rain here sometime, doesn't it? With all these holes in the roof, it must get really wet. Where does everyone sleep then, I wonder.† I sighed. â€Å"Maybe I'll get to find out. Probably shouldn't bet on that, though. Aren't you curious at all? If you would wake up, you could get the answers. I'm curious. Maybe I'll ask Ian about it. It's funny to imagine things changing here†¦ I guess summer can't last forever.† Her fingers fluttered for one second in my hand. It took me by surprise because my mind had wandered away from the woman on the cot, beginning to sink into the melancholy that was always conveniently near these days. I stared down at her; there was no change-the hand in mine was limp, her face still vacant. Maybe I'd imagined the movement. â€Å"Did I say something you were interested in? What was I talking about?† I thought quickly, watching her face. â€Å"Was it the rain? Or was it the idea of change? Change? You've got a lot of that ahead of you, don't you? You have to wake up first, though.† Her face was empty, her hand motionless. â€Å"So you don't care for change. Can't say that I blame you. I don't want change to come, either. Are you like me? Do you wish the summer could last?† If I hadn't been watching her face so closely, I wouldn't have seen the tiny flicker of her lids. â€Å"You like summertime, do you?† I asked hopefully. Her lips twitched. â€Å"Summer?† Her hand trembled. â€Å"Is that your name-Summer? Summer? That's a pretty name.† Her hand tightened into a fist, and her lips parted. â€Å"Come back, Summer. I know you can do it. Summer? Listen to me, Summer. Open your eyes, Summer.† Her eyes blinked rapidly. â€Å"Doc!† I called over my shoulder. â€Å"Doc, wake up!† â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"I think she's coming around!† I turned back to the woman. â€Å"Keep it up, Summer. You can do this. I know it's hard. Summer, Summer, Summer. Open your eyes.† Her face grimaced-was she in pain? â€Å"Bring the No Pain, Doc. Hurry.† The woman squeezed my hand, and her eyes opened. They didn't focus at first, just whirled around the bright cave. What a strange, unexpected sight this place must have been for her. â€Å"You're going to be all right, Summer. You're going to be fine. Can you hear me, Summer?† Her eyes wheeled back to me, the pupils constricting. She stared, absorbing my face. Then she cringed away from me, twisting on the cot to escape. A low, hoarse cry of panic broke through her lips. â€Å"No, no, no,† she cried. â€Å"No more.† â€Å"Doc!† He was there, on the other side of the cot, like before, when we were operating. â€Å"It's okay, ma'am,† he assured her. â€Å"No one is going to hurt you here.† The woman had her eyes squeezed shut, and she recoiled into the thin mattress. â€Å"I think her name is Summer.† He flashed a look at me and then made a face. â€Å"Eyes, Wanda,† he breathed. I blinked and realized that the sun was on my face. â€Å"Oh.† I let the woman pull her hand free. â€Å"Don't, please,† the woman begged. â€Å"Not again.† â€Å"Shh,† Doc murmured. â€Å"Summer? People call me Doc. No one's going to do anything to you. You're going to be fine.† I eased away from them, into the shadows. â€Å"Don't call me that!† the woman sobbed. â€Å"That's not my name! It's hers, it's hers! Don't say it again!† I'd gotten the wrong name. Mel objected to the guilt that washed through me. It's not your fault. Summer is a human name, too. â€Å"Of course not,† Doc promised. â€Å"What is your name?† â€Å"I-I-I don't know!† she wailed. â€Å"What happened? Who was I? Don't make me be someone else again.† She tossed and thrashed on the cot. â€Å"Calm down; it's going to be okay, I promise. No one's going to make you be anyone but you, and you'll remember your name. It's going to come back.† â€Å"Who are you?† she demanded. â€Å"Who's she? She's like†¦ like I was. I saw her eyes!† â€Å"I'm Doc. And I'm human, just like you. See?† He moved his face into the light and blinked at her. â€Å"We're both just ourselves. There are lots of humans here. They'll be so happy to meet you.† She cringed again. â€Å"Humans! I'm afraid of humans.† â€Å"No, you're not. The†¦ person who used to be in your body was afraid of humans. She was a soul, remember that? And then remember before that, before she was there? You were human then, and you are again.† â€Å"I can't remember my name,† she told him in a panicked voice. â€Å"I know. It'll come back.† â€Å"Are you a doctor?† â€Å"I am.† â€Å"I was†¦ she was, too. A†¦ Healer. Like a doctor. She was Summer Song. Who am I?† â€Å"We'll find out. I promise you that.† I edged toward the exit. Trudy would be a good person to help Doc, or maybe Heidi. Someone with a calming face. â€Å"She's not human!† the woman whispered urgently to Doc, her eye caught by my movement. â€Å"She's a friend; don't be afraid. She helped me bring you back.† â€Å"Where is Summer Song? She was scared. There were humans†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I ducked out the door while she was distracted. I heard Doc answer the question behind me. â€Å"She's going to a new planet. Do you remember where she was before she came here?† I could guess what her answer would be from the name. â€Å"She was†¦ a Bat? She could fly†¦ She could sing†¦ I remember†¦ but it was†¦ not here. Where am I?† I hurried down the hall to find help for Doc. I was surprised when I saw the light of the great cavern ahead-surprised because it was so quiet. Usually you could hear voices before you saw the light. It was the middle of the day. There should have been someone in the big garden room, if only crossing through. I walked out into the bright noon light, and the giant space was empty. The fresh tendrils of the cantaloupe vines were dark green, darker than the dry earth they sprang from. The earth was too dry-the irrigating barrel stood ready to fix that, the hoses laid out along the furrows. But no one manned the crude machine. It sat abandoned on the side of the field. I stood very still, trying to hear something. The huge cavern was silent, and the silence was ominous. Where was everyone? Had they evacuated without me? A pang of fear and hurt shot through me. But they wouldn't have left without Doc, of course. They would never leave Doc. I wanted to dart back through the long tunnel to make sure Doc had not disappeared, too. They wouldn't go without us, either, silly. Jared and Jamie and Ian wouldn't leave us behind. You're right. You're right. Let's†¦ check the kitchen? I jogged down the silent corridor, getting more anxious as the silence continued. Maybe it was my imagination, and the loud thumping of my pulse in my ears. Of course there must be something to hear. If I could calm down and slow my breathing, I'd be able to hear voices. But I reached the kitchen and it was empty, too. Empty of people. On the tables, half-eaten lunches had been abandoned. Peanut butter on the last of the soft bread. Apples and warm cans of soda. My stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten at all today, but I barely noted the twist of hunger. The panic was so much stronger. What if†¦ what if we didn't evacuate soon enough? No! Mel gasped. No, we would have heard something! Someone would have†¦ or there would be†¦ They'd still be here, looking for us. They wouldn't give up until they'd checked everywhere. So that can't be it. Unless they're looking for us now. I spun back toward the door, my eyes darting through the shadows. I had to go warn Doc. We had to get out of here if we were the last two. No! They can't be gone! Jamie, Jared†¦ Their faces were so clear, as if they were etched onto the insides of my eyelids. And Ian's face, as I added my own pictures to hers. Jeb, Trudy, Lily, Heath, Geoffrey. We'll get them back, I vowed. We'll hunt them down one by one and steal them back! I won't let them take my family! If I'd had any doubts where I stood, this moment would have erased them. I'd never felt so fierce in all my lives. My teeth clenched tight, snapping together audibly. And then the noise, the babble of voices I'd been so anxiously straining to hear, echoed down the hall to us and made my breath catch. I slid silently to the wall and pressed myself into the shadow there, listening. The big garden. You can hear it in the echoes. Sounds like a large group. Yes. But yours or mine? Ours or theirs, she corrected. I crept down the hall, keeping to the darkest shadows. We could hear the voices more clearly now, and some of them were familiar. Did that mean anything? How long would it take trained Seekers to perform an insertion? And then, as I reached the very mouth of the great cave, the sounds became even clearer, and relief washed through me-because the babble of voices was just the same as it had been my very first day here. Murderously angry. They had to be human voices. Kyle must be back. Relief warred with pain as I hurried into the bright sunlight to see what was going on. Relief because my humans were safe. And pain because if Kyle was already safely back, then†¦ You're still needed, Wanda. So much more than I am. I'm sure I could find excuses forever, Mel. There will always be some reason. Then stay. With you as my prisoner? We stopped arguing as we assessed the commotion in the cavern. Kyle was back-the easiest one to spot, the tallest in the crowd, the only one facing me. He was pinned against the far wall by the mob. Though he was the cause of the angry noise, he was not the source of it. His face was conciliatory, pleading. He held his arms out to the sides, palms back, as if there was something behind him he was trying to protect. â€Å"Just calm down, okay?† His deep voice carried over the cacophony. â€Å"Back off, Jared, you're scaring her!† A flash of black hair behind his elbow-an unfamiliar face, with wide, terrified black eyes, peeked around at the crowd. Jared was closest to Kyle. I could see that the back of his neck was bright red. Jamie clung to one of his arms, holding him back. Ian was on his other side, his arms crossed in front of him, the muscles in his shoulders tight with strain. Behind them, every other human but Doc and Jeb was massed in an angry throng. They surged behind Jared and Ian, asking loud, angry questions. â€Å"What were you thinking?† â€Å"How dare you?† â€Å"Why'd you come back at all?† Jeb was in the back corner, just watching. Sharon ‘s brilliant hair caught my eye. I was surprised to see her, with Maggie, right in the center of the crowd. They'd both been so little a part of life here ever since Doc and I had healed Jamie. Never in the middle of things. It's the fight, Mel guessed. They weren't comfortable with happiness, but they're at home with fury. I thought she was probably right. How†¦ disturbing. I heard a shrill voice throwing out some of the angry questions and realized that Lacey was part of the crowd, too. â€Å"Wanda?† Kyle's voice carried across the noise again, and I looked up to see his deep blue eyes locked on me. â€Å"There you are! Could you please come and give me a little help here?†

The Environment And Effect On Human Health Environmental Sciences Essay

Polychlorinated Biphenyls are a group of manmade chemicals. They make up a group of two hundred and nine person chlorinated biphenyl rings, known as congeners. In the concentrated signifier, PCBs are oily liquids, oily solids, and clear to yellow in colour. ( EPA, 2012 ) . They have no odor or gustatory sensation. ( EPA, 2012 ) . They are really stable mixtures that are immune to extreme temperature and force per unit area. They have a low grade of responsiveness. PCBs are non flammable, have high electrical opposition, and are good dielectrics. ( Barbalace, 2002 ) PCBs were seen as an industrial discovery, because of its chemical belongingss. Before their prohibition in 1979, Polychlorinated biphenyls entered the environment during their industry and us in the United States. The organic chemicals were foremost manufactured by Monsanto in 1929. Prior to their prohibition, PCBs were used in 100s of industrial and commercial applications, as electrical dielectrics. Uses for PCBS included transformers, electrical equipment, hydraulic fluids, oil based pigment, carbonless C paper, compressors, heat transportation systems, pigments, adhesives, liquid cooled electric motors, fluorescent bulbs, overseas telegram insularity, plastic, and the list goes on. ( EPA, 2012 ) . Domestic utilizations included cereal boxes and bread negligees. Because of its function in prevent fires and an detonation, the chemical was required by fire codification. PCBs were seen as the ideal dielectric for companies and consumers. The qualities that make PCBs wanted by consumers and companies are besides the 1s that make it risky to the environment and human wellness. PCBs ‘ high thermal and chemical opposition means they do non interrupt down easy when exposed to heat or chemical interventions doing it to be difficult to acquire out of the environment. Since they do non interrupt down they remain in the environment and go on to construct up. Today, the chemicals can still be released in the environment through spills, leaks, and improper disposal and storage. More than half of the PCBs produced during 1929-1979 have been released into the environment. ( Barbalace, 2012 ) . Although PCBs are no longer commercially manufactured or widely used, there are still ways people can be exposed to concentrated Polychlorinated Biphenyls. The most common exposures include through nutrient, surface dirts, imbibing and land H2O, indoor air, and in the workplace. PCBs are an organic pollutant. Companies that used the substance contaminated the environment through its utilizations and disposals. In 1935, the Monsanto Company purchased the Theodore Swann chemical company and began fabricating PCBs in the United States. Monsanto continued to bring forth PCBs at its Anniston works until 1971. ( Lyons, 2004 ) . During its 40 old ages of fabricating PCBs as an electrical dielectric, the Monsanto Company flushed 10s of 1000s of lbs of PCBs into nearby brook and buried 1000000s more lbs in a hillside landfill. ( Lyons, 2004 ) . The Monsanto Company was sued by 1000s of current and former occupants of Anniston, who claim the company was cognizant of the dangers posed by PCBs and actively schemed to conceal this information from the nearby populace. ( Firestone, 2002 ) . In 1966, Monsanto directors discovered fish near the waste sites turned belly side up spirting blood and tear uping tegument, within 10 seconds of the PCBs disposal. ( Firestone, 2002 ) . The company hid their findings. In 1969, fish were found with 7500 times the legal PCB degree. ( Grunwald, 2002 ) . Company records reveal the company ‘s determination that â€Å" there was no ground to travel to expensive extremes in restricting discharge organize the works † . ( Grunwald, 2002 ) . The company was ordered to pay $ 53 million in killing cost and agreed to a planetary colony affecting current and future instances in Alabama. ( Lyons, 2004 ) . There are legion known contaminated sites around the U.S. Among the most unsafe of these, A is the Hudson River Valley. In 1947-1977, General Electric ( GE ) began dumping PCB in the river. By the prohibition in 1979, an estimated 1.3 million lbs of the man-made chemical had entered the Hudson river. The Hudson River was contaminated with PCB pollution. Twenty old ages subsequently, functionaries still have to cover with the environmental consequence of PCBs in the bedrocks of the Hudson River. ( Mele, 1998 ) . PCBs are now found throughout the Hudson River ecosystem, in in deposit, H2O, and wildlife. ( Mele, 1998 ) . The spread of PCBs throughout the Hudson River and the nutrient concatenation has created one of the most widespread, risky waste jobs in the nation.A The EPA ordered the General Electric Company to pay 460 million dollars to dredge the PCBs it had dumped into the Hudson River. ( Grunwald, 2002 ) . The Environmental Protection Agency Prevention regulates PCBs through the Toxic Substances Control Act ( TSCA ) . The Act bans the usage, distribution, industry, and processing of PCBs. TSCA gives EPA the authorization to develop and implement ordinances refering the industry, usage, killing, and proper disposal of PCBs. ( EPA, 2012 ) . Through the environment, worlds came into contact with the chemical. Polychlorinated Biphenyls are linked to legion wellness jeopardy. It has an acute toxic affect. Skin annoyances can happen in people exposed to high degrees of PCBs. Studies in the workplace suggest that exposure to PCBs may besides do annoyance of the nose and lungs. PCBs are a likely human carcinogen. EPAA?s ordinances on cancer-causing chemicals use the term `probableA? when a chemical is known to do malignant neoplastic disease in animate beings and where there is grounds that suggests that it causes malignant neoplastic disease in worlds but which is non conclusive. Surveies of PCBs in worlds have found increased rates of malignant neoplastic disease patients that may be connected to the man-made chemical. PCBs are known to do a assortment of types of malignant neoplastic disease in rats, mice, and other survey animate beings. ( EPA, 2012 ) Polychlorinated Biphenyls are linked to developmental effects. Proper development of the nervous system is critical for early acquisition and can hold potentially important deductions for the wellness of persons throughout their life-times. ( EPA, 2012 ) . Womans exposed to PCBs before or during gestation can give birth to kids with important neurological and motor control jobs. These jobs include lowered IQ and hapless short-run memory. ( EPA, 2012 ) . PCBs disrupt endocrine map. PCBs with merely a few Cl atoms can mime the bodyA?s natural endocrines. PCBs are besides thought to play a function in decreased sperm figure, reformed sex variety meats, pubescence, and altered sex ratios of kids. PCBs with more Cl atoms act like dioxins in changing the metamorphosis of sex steroids in the organic structure, which change the normal degrees of estrogens and testosterone. PCBs besides upset the balance of thyroid endocrines, which may impact the growing, rational, and behavioural development. ( EPA, 2012 ) . PCBs are found throughout the environment, and it may be impossible to avoid coming into contact with Polychlorinated Biphenyls. Peoples can seek avoiding contact with contaminated dirts and deposits. ( Wisconsin, 2012 ) . Practice good hygiene wonts. Restrict their ingestion of sport-caught fish. Wash fruits and veggies before eating them. Besides, if any member of the family works with old electrical equipment be certain the equipment is decently maintained and the country is good ventilated. ( Wisconsin, 2012 ) . Polychlorinated Biphenyls are a chemical that will non travel off. The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking their best to free the environment of its effects. The features of the man-made drug cause it to be transported easy and difficult to interrupt down. The drug has caused damaged to the environment, and the people around the environment. Polychlorinated Biphenyls will hold a lifetime consequence on the environment and people. Beginnings Barbalace, Roberta C. â€Å" The Chemistry of Polychlorinated Biphenyls. â€Å" A : PCB, The Manmade Chemicals That Wo n't Travel Away ( EnvironmentalChemistry.com ) . N.p. , n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2012. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/chemistry/pcb.html & gt ; . Environmental Protection Agency. â€Å" Polychlorinated Biphenyls. â€Å" A EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/index.htm & gt ; . Firestone, David. â€Å" Alabama Jury Says Monsanto Polluted Town. â€Å" A The New York Times. N.p. , 23 Feb. 2002. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. & lt ; Alabama Jury Says Monsanto Polluted Town & gt ; . Grunwald, Michael. â€Å" Monsanto Held Liable For PCB Dumping. â€Å" A The Washington Post. Raw Food Info, 23 Feb. 2002. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. & lt ; Monsanto Held Liable For PCB Dumping & gt ; . Lyon, Steve. â€Å" PCB Pollution in Anniston, Alabama. † Reading.A Commonweal. Professor Raquel Pinderhughes. San Francisco State Unversity. Urban Studies and Environmental Programs, 2004. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.commonweal.org/programs/brc/ppt-presentations/Anniston_AL_PCB.pdf & gt ; . â€Å" Human Health Hazards – PCBs and Your Health. â€Å" A Human Health Hazards – PCBs and Your Health. N.p. , n.d. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/hlthhaz/fs/pcblink.htm & gt ; . The Hudson River PCB Story – A Toxic Heritage. Dir. Andy Mele. W. Alton Jones Foundation, 1998. Short Film.A The Hudson River PCB Story – A Toxic Heritage. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.clearwater.org/pcb.html & gt ; . â€Å" What Are The Human Health Effects Of PCBs? â€Å" A What Are The Human Health Effects Of PCBs? A N.p. , n.d. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.clearwater.org/news/pcbhealth.html & gt ; .

United Nations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

United Nations - Essay Example After the end of the World war one, the League of Nations was formed by the great and victorious powers who participated in the war. The goal was simple, not to allow another war in the future. Due to the failure of the Versailles treaty, all were looking for another organization which could bring stability to the world.The organization had success in solving conflicts between different countries namely The Aaland island issue between Sweden and Finland, Upper Silesia problem between Germany and Poland, The Memel problem of 1923 in Lithuania, humanitarian crisis in Turkey, conflict Between Greece and Bulgaria etc. however the organization faced failures also they were the crisis in Italy in 1919, Teschen problem between Poland and Czechoslovakia, the Vilna conflict between Russia and Lithuania, the war between Russia and Poland in 1921, the invasion of the Ruhr, conflict between Italy and Albania etc are few of them (League of Nations, n.d)The year 1970 was an important year in the h istory of the world as far as relations between countries were concerned. Many important changes occurred in Europe as well as in Asia. The concept of Third World got prominence during this period. The erstwhile Soviet Union, which was a great super power during that period, took initiatives for setting up an international jurisdiction with the cooperation of other countries. G.I. Tunkin a renowned soviet jurist was credited for formulating the first volume of international law in 1970. the law was made by him based on the events took placed internationally since 1917. The main highlights of the law were the nature of legal relationships among socialist countries, principal factors at work in international politics, legal nature of international organizations, international law, foreign policy, diplomacy etc (Tunkin, G.I. n.d) After the failure of the league of nations, a new organization was formed by the world powers after the second world war ,which came to be known as the United Nations established in the year oct24,1945 (Charter of the United Nations, n.d). The general assembly of the United Nations was established in the year 1945, the main objective of the assembly was to become a major policy making establishment of the UN. The general assembly consists of 192 member countries. Normally meeting sessions are generally conducted in between September and December every year (Functions and Powers of the General Assembly. (n.d). The International Security Council, another r prominent arm of the UN comprises of five permanent members. They are US, China, Russia, France, and the UK. It also has ten non permanent members having a term of one year. There is a president of the Security Council who is selected among the member countries holding the office for one calendar month (About the Council. (n.d)). The international court of justice established in 1946 is another important establishment of the UN. The main aim of the ICJ is to look after the judicial matters globally. It is situated in The Hague, Netherlands. The main activity of the court is to settle dispute submitted by member countries as well as to provide advices (International Court of Justice, n.d) East Timor was a small country neighbouring Indonesia under Portuguese occupancy in the year 1975 Indonesian forces attacked the region and annexed it. The conflict forced the Portuguese to withdraw from East Timor on the condition that East Timor should remain a self governing region. In 1991, the Portuguese authorities went to the court against Australia on the reason that Australia and Indonesia had a treaty between them for the exploitation of "Timor gap". The complainant claimed that the actions of Australia for exploration were against the self governing rights as well as other rights of the people of East Timor. The Portuguese authorities also claimed that the treaty between Australia and Indonesia was against the administering rights of Portugal in the area. The ICJ did not entertain jurisdiction in this matter because of the reason that a

God the Communicator Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

God the Communicator - Essay Example He also presents in the article that through Jesus’ deeds in His earthly living, healing, feeding, comforting and restoring life, He communicates to His people in action as well (Fjeldstad, 2010). God as the Holy Spirit is also a Communicator, as He guides us in our daily lives, and reveals God’s message to us. In the article God is manifested as a Communicator in His totality. The apostle Paul as cited in the article is a wonderful example of a Christian communicating to God and for God. There is a need for every Christian to understand that he is a communicator, tasked to share the gospel to other people (Fjeldstad, 2010). As God is a Communicator in action, so must Christians convey God’s message, not merely through speaking the good news to others, but to be testimonies of Him, keeping in mind what Kraft states that â€Å"the messenger himself/herself is the major component of the total message,† thus â€Å"we are a major part of the message that we seek to communicate† (as cited in Fjeldstad, 2010). Indeed, communication, which is the ability to express oneself, is God’s gift to humanity (Fjeldstad, 2010). Individuals, particularly Christians should see the vitality of communication in their living. By giving importance to this gift, Christians are able to convey the truth, share the gospel, and save souls unto the Lord. Also through the use of this gift, God Himself can unveil His timely revelation to His people. By communication Christians understand the purpose of their existence, not merely as beings to enjoy the gift of life God has bestowed, but to fulfill the duty to be stewards over His creation, to be His testimony, and to be instruments for the acceptance of souls to receive Him as the

Grand Alliance after World War II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Grand Alliance after World War II - Essay Example The seeds of suspicion sown on both sides and the anxieties of a cooperative post-war worldview resulted in the exaggerated misinterpretation of the motivations of the adversarial ideologies. At the foundation of the split in the Grand Alliance was the mutual fear that each adversary had expansionist policies as its driving force behind their foreign policy. While the Soviets professed a desire for coexistence and cooperation, the West discounted these attitudes and instead focused on Soviet demands for influence in the Near East, Middle East, and Far East (Roberts 21). The United States held the position that the Soviets had a program designed and driven by their goal of world domination. With the post-war Soviet encroachment into Eastern Europe, Kennan's policy of containment had realigned British and American thinking to accept a more aggressive policy of rollback. By the end of 1946, Truman and Attlee were both in agreement that the Soviet Union " posed a direct threat to Western interests and were agreed on the pressing need to modify Soviet behaviour" (White 35). The United States and Britain discounted the ability to negotiate with the Soviets. Soviet statements a nd activities promoting themselves as an equal partner were interpreted as expansionist and aggressive. Stalin was Stalin was also suspicious of the West's motivations and interpreted their foreign policy as being designed to dominate the world stage and the Soviet Union. At the foundation of this mistrust was the atomic bomb and the West's refusal to share nuclear technology. Stalin understood the implications of possessing the atomic bomb, and the fact that the Americans and British had kept it a secret prompted the Soviets to embark on an intense program to develop their own nuclear technology triggering the beginnings of a nuclear standoff (Zubok and Pleshakov 44-45). Stalin would not accept being anything less than an equal partner in the Grand Alliance and was willing to postpone any premature confrontations before getting the bomb. This put the Soviets into the position of retuning to the old Leninist model of igniting revolutions in Iran, Greece, and elsewhere aimed at increasing communist influence and providing the USSR with greater national security (Zubok and Pleshakov 45). Stalin's a ctivities were a response to the unrealistic perception of the threat that the West posed to the Soviets. The mutual suspicions and reactionary fears on both sides began during the war and were a product of wartime necessity. At the heart of the situation was the division of Europe and the Soviet influence in the Eastern satellite countries. The political landscape in Europe was born out of the realities of providing security in Europe during the war. Wartime agreements among the Grand Alliance had given political control of Eastern Europe to the Red Army as a means of providing security for the region during the war and had been bolstered by the growing impact of the communist party in these countries during the post-war period (Roberts 18). By March, 1946 former Prime Minister Churchill was denouncing the growing Soviet influence and gave a speech in Fulton Missouri which coined the phrase 'iron curtain' (Roberts 14). While there was still a spirit of cooperation among the Alliance, the policy of mistrust was

Needs and Critical Aspects of Small and Medium Enterprises Essay

Needs and Critical Aspects of Small and Medium Enterprises - Essay Example On the other hand, marketing is also a key element. Although it is easy to market an innovative idea, it doesn't usually happen. Many novel ideas are only found practicable when someone faces problem years later, only to find that the solution had been there years ago. Other inputs that are crucial is the entrepreneur's ability to take measured risks, how adaptable he is, ability to identify a need in the market as well as find a niche or a universal selling proposition in order to make this product appealing to the consumer in the marketplace. We as humanity have come a long way, progressed from the stone ages into the new millennia via information superhighway. But time doesn't end here and nor will the need of mankind to prosper, thrive and flourish! Discuss the relationships among entrepreneurship, innovation, and marketing in the SME new venture context. It is important to use both academic theory and research to support your arguments. You should include up-to-date research from journals; however, you must not just quote the research, as you are expected at a university to show that you can also analyze and comment on the implications of the research. Include in your assignment good examples from business (and personal experience if possible) of this relationship, remembering to give examples of notable successes as well as failures, and the lessons that can be learned from them both academically and entrepreneurially. Since ages, man has always wanted to engage in new endeavors and look for innovative ways to prosper. This is how; he usually tries to maximize profit by investing his intellectual capital. This urge has always brought novel accomplishments for themselves as well as their countries. However, this has not always been a successful activity. And this is the point that brings us to our discussion regarding 'Relationship among entrepreneurship, innovation, and marketing in SME new venture context.' SMEs are an essential driving force that keeps economies operating; they play a crucial role in the generation of employment. However, in order to secure such a position a minimum level of innovativeness within these companies needs to be maintained. A research on factors for winning innovations can give a much efficient strategy from these organizations as well as the public sector in developing motivating surroundings. Since the fall of Rome to the eighteenth century, there was 'no' escalation in per capita wealth creation in the west. However, with the start of entrepreneurship, per capita, wealth generation and earnings in the West rose interestingly by 20 percent in the 1700s and kept on increasing to 740 percent in the1900s (Drayton, 2004). This was some exemplary growth. All through this time, entrepreneurial thinking has evolved by random twist and turns and reflective developments offering new conceptualizations of what it means for something to be entrepreneurial. It is now widely accepted by both Academy and in business schools globally that the management field has changed its vision and perspective on entrepreneurship. In past 5 years, the Academy of Management's Entrepreneurship Division has "dramatically outpaced the growth of every other division" by 77 percent (Shaver, 2004).

Virtual Organizations and Simulation Exercises Needs Document Assignment

Virtual Organizations and Simulation Exercises Needs Document - Assignment Example Those can be divided into three separate categories, based on their content and purpose: The ordering process functions, the website functions and the decision making functions. The ordering functions of the system must provide the full flow of a customer order from the time it is requested by the customer to the sales person, until the final bill issuance. The sales person must be able to register the order of the customer, and pass it via the shop’s wireless network to the order preparation room. Order preparation personnel will receive the order and start preparing all items included in it. At the same time items will inform an items inventory database which has to be maintained. Sales person in charge of the order must be informed with a message when the order is ready in order to fetch it and deliver it to the customer. In that way no time will be missed at all as the sales person can be busy with many orders in parallel. At the time when the customer asks for the bill, s ales person sends a message to the central computer system. The receipt is automatically printed and is delivered to the customer, so that the waiting time for bill issuance is minimal. The items inventory database will keep statistics about the item preferences of the customers per area and/or customer group and help in decision making. In that way, important conclusions will be possible to be drawn by the analysis of the items data by the firm managers, that will help in the decision making process. For instance, the items information can be aggregated by shop location, by season, by customer target group and age, leading to very important marketing decisions. In addition, inventory database will be used for on-time replenishment of the items from the external wholesale vendors of the firm. (Inventory control). In that way, the continuous replenishment of all the items at the shop will be guaranteed, and the possibility of items shortage that could cause customer complaints will b e minimized. The website application of the restaurant (www.krudlerfinefoods.com) must display information such as shops location, chef and staff profile, and items menu. A dynamic update of the content must be possible to be made at any time by shop manager (to add the menu of the day, special offers etc). The customer must be able to pre-order specific items so that they are ready when he arrives at the shop. In addition the system must provide to the customer an estimation of the time that will take from the moment that he enters the shop until he is served, based on the day and time of the order, and on statistical data that will be maintained by shop manager. (e.g. time to serve could vary from 5 minutes on a regular day to 20 minutes on weekends). Customers should be able to contact the shop for leaving suggestions, feedback or any complaints. Application must support automatic and custom message sending to customers (Happy birthday, season’s greetings, promotions, even ts etc). Use Cases The Use cases of the above functional requirements are presented below. Use case: Submit order Customer orders, sales person inserts the order in system, order is sent to preparation room, preparation room employee receives and prepares order, order items inventory is reduced. Use case: Order delivery and payment Preparation room employee sends message that order is ready, sales person receives message, sales

Critical Response Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Critical Response - Research Paper Example The film clearly indicates how classical modernism, ‘the thing of the past’ has been replaced by post modernism (Jameson 114). Cultural and social transition The film shows a positive transition in every respect. The opening scene depicts the deserted Madrid side street and the darkest night of Franco’s regime. At the end, the dark empty streets are replaced with bright light and traffic jams. It shows a positive change from dictatorship to democracy. Besides, at the end of the film, David becomes more accommodative after going through the ups and downs in his life. Same is the case with Victor, who feels that life has com full circle for him. His relationship with Elena and his incipient fatherhood transform him into a better person socially more acceptable. The fears of the 70’s no longer exist in their minds- a welcome change that represents the new cultural ethos that has given rise to democracy and freedom. Victor’s birth is contrasted with that of the unborn baby caught in the traffic jam. This well depicts the cultural change that Spain has undergone over a period of more than 25 years. Fatalistic entrapment The film tells the story of several characters involved in each other's fates in ways that are beyond their control. According to Morgan-Tamosunas of Anglia Polytechnic University, all the five central characters are bound together by ‘a circular relationship of interdependency’ (188). ... Things happen to him. Therefore, like the other characters, he too can be seen as a victim of chance and circumstance. The raw feelings of the characters act as catalysts that speed up the actions and reactions. They are cyclic in mature and so there is no escape for them from the ‘entrapment. The camera always focuses on circular objects which are symbolically suggestive of the circular entrapment. The main characters are stuck in this circular entrapment of fatalism. Characterisation and Masculinity Carne tremula has three well-developed male protagonists in Victor, David and, to a lesser extent, Sancho. Their masculinity is articulated through certain physical, emotional and behavioural codes. The pursuit of physical power by both Victor and David shows this point well. The bathroom sequence and David’s performance on the basket ball court focuses on masculinity. In the case of Victor, masculinity has been challenged by Elena and therefore he is obsessed with masculin e prowess and physical strength. The rivalry between David and Victor and the consequent muscle-flexing are considered as a test of masculinity highlighted by camera-angle and framing. Sancho is aggressive and masculine in a perverted and destructive way, resorting to physical violence and emotional manipulation. Clara and Elena are both self-sacrificing characters. Elena suffers repression and guilt complex where as Clara is a victim of self negation. Performance, use of colours and music In Carne Tremula, the ensemble is well-chosen. Liverto Rabal’s (Victor) boyish charm and wit is electrifying. Magnified by the star persona, Javier Bardem’s performance as paraplegic David asserting himself both physically and

JP Morgan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

JP Morgan - Essay Example JP Morgan has exhibited social corporate responsibility in the following areas; (Jerry) I. It takes part in honoring the military, veterants and there families. The company has committed $45M to military and veteran programs and other initiatives. II. The company has also committed $600000 to fight to fight Ebola in the West Africa. This is part of its CSR.The fight for the dreaded disease has enabled the company to be part of the process because it is a disaster. III. JP Morgan has also launched Nature Vest to create mainstream market for investment and conservation. (Jerry) REPORT JP MORGAN CHASE AND CO CHAPTER: MARKETING Marketing is essential for a company to enable the enhancement of the general sale. This involves putting the right product in the right place, in the right time and at the right place.JP Morgan uses effective marketing strategies that enable it to penetrate over its competitors. Topic: The marketing mix This involves the 4 Ps i.e. Products, price, place ad promotion. Price. This is the amount the consumer must exchange to receive the offering. Firms target to reduce to reduce costs through improving manufacturing and efficiency and increase the perceived value of its products and services to the buyer or consumer. (Friesner) Place. This involves the firm’s activities that make the product available to the target consumers. This includes the channel, distribution and intermediary.

Review of Financial Statements Essay Example for Free

Review of Financial Statements Essay Financial statements are essential accounting tools which include balance sheets, cash flow statements, and income statements that provide information on a companys past and present financial history. Information on financial statements can be used by any number of public and private entities to determine if an organizations financial status is healthy. Burger King and McDonalds are two organizations that use financial statements in conducting business. Further, this paper will discuss the financial statements of each company, the firms which audit each companies financial statements, and define accounting concepts, terminologies, and transactions used in the financial statements. Additional information will provided regarding when McDonalds and Burger King were established and what product and services they provide to the public. Overview of Organizations McDonalds first opened its doors in 1940 introducing the concept of the speedee service system offering french fries, hamburgers, and shakes to satisfy the hungry customer quickly at a low price. Over the next 65 plus years the McDonalds menu has changed from just french fries and hamburgers to salads, wraps, chicken nuggets and many more items which cater to the ever changing tastes of consumers. McDonalds has been criticized over the years as being a major contributor high obesity rates, in part due to the speedee service concept. These criticism have caused McDonalds to rethink menu items and helped the company to enact numerous changes to the menu which now offers nutritional guides for each menu item and healthier choices such as salads, fruit, and milk. McDonalds has changed the oil used to fry foods to make the fries healthier and includes a choice of meal sizes and most recently started a new line of coffee drinks, which offers the desired Starbucks taste for a fraction of the cost. The fast food chain currently has 31,000 restaurants worldwide and operates in 119 countries and serves approximately 47 million customers daily. McDonalds is also highly associated with the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) that has donated money and services to families and communities for over 35 years to approximately 37 million children and families. (McDonalds, 2009). The McDonald Corporation pays for most of  RMHCs global administration cost so that all donations go directly to the community and families. The charity is in such high demand that RMHC plans to expand their programs by 37% by 2010 to better help those in need. Burger King started in 1953 first known as Insta Burger King offering hamburgers to consumers that was cooked on a small cooker called an Insta-Broiler oven; the concept proved to be successful. In 1954 the name changed to Burger King, the broiler oven first used was replaced with the flame broiler and soon became popular for offering their flame broiled hamburgers and what is now known as the Whopper burger. (Burger King, 2009). The next 60 plus years for Burger King began suffering the same criticisms as McDonalds. It seemed all fast food chains were being blamed for the increased obesity rate in the U.S. Burger King followed suit and began making changes to their menus adding chicken, salads, fruit, food nutritional guides, smaller sizes, choice of drinks such as tea, milk, and changing the oil used to fry French fries as well as additional changes. Burger King Corporation is associated with a few charity organizations such as Have It Your Way which works to alleviate hunger, disease, and promotes community education through scholarship programs; the McLamore Foundation provides scholarships and is associated with several charities for When Organizations Were Established Burger King was founded in 1954 in Miami, Florida by James McLamore and David Edgerton. McLamore and Edgerton, both of whom had extensive experience in the restaurant business before starting their joint venture, believed in the simple concept of providing the customer with reasonably priced quality food, served quickly in attractive, clean surroundings. (New York Job Source, 2009), thus, the invention of the Whopper which was an instant success. Today Burger is found in all 50 states and 74 countries and territories throughout the world with more than 11,700 restaurants. In 1967 the Pillsbury Company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota purchased the company and its employees and the company went public in May 2006 at $17 a share. Today the company remains majority-owned by an equity group comprised of Texas Pacific Group, Bain Capital Partners and the Goldman Sachs Funds. (New York Job Source, 2009). McDonalds was founded by two brothers, Dick and Mac McDonald of San  Bernardino, California. Ray Kroc, a milkshake machine distributor happened on the brothers restaurant as he was curious to discover why such a small establishment would need 10 milkshake machines. Kroc was impressed by the speed with which these two brothers were able to provide service in their busy hamburger stand and he asked the brothers for a briefing on their McDonalds Speedee System and after the briefing he requested and secured the rights to duplicate the system throughout the United States. Ray Kroc opened his first outlet in Chicago in 1955, 50 years later the number of McDonalds locations had expanded to over 31,500. (Albrecht, Stice, Stice, Swain, 2008, pg. 76). Today McDonalds averages over 100 million dollars a day and is located in 121 countries around the world. Both companies had meager beginnings and have grown into fast food superstars. Accounting Organizations Providing Audits Both McDonalds and Burger King offer burgers, fries, and creamy shakes. However, the differences between McDonalds and Burger King are far more than golden arches and golden crowns. McDonalds has both and internal and external audit committees. The internal audit committee is composed of five Directors, each of whom meets the independence and other requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (Santona, 2009). The committee abides by a charter which states all its responsibilities and is reviewed annually. Ernst Young LLP (Ernst Young), the Companys independent auditors, is responsible for performing an audit of the Companys annual consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and for issuing a report on those statements (Santona, 2009). The Burger King Corporation also has both internal and external audit committees. The internal committees perform quarterly internal audits that are published for investors, but these audits are indicated as unaudited by an external entity. KPMG LLP is the external organization the Burger King Corporation uses for its external audits. Financial Statements Used and Terminology As a publicly traded company within the United States Burger King Corporation (BKC) has taken all the necessary steps required to abide by the regulations set forth the Sarbanes-Oxley Act  of 2002. The annual report for FY2008 includes information such as business information, risk factors, physical assets, legal proceedings, stockholder matters, and finally a comprehensive financial statement. (Burger King Corp, 2009). This section of the annual report begins with management reports on internal controls which are in place regarding financial reporting which explains in detail the understanding of both the CEO and CFO and their obligation to take full responsibility for the content of the annual report. The report of the independent registered public accounting firm (KPMG) is and additional statement of responsibility from the independent accounting firm which states the firm has reviewed the information. Paged within the reportcontain the balance sheet, statement of income, statem ent of stockholders equity, and statement of cash flows for FY2008 compared to 2007, 2006, and 2005. While BKCs annual report was presented in a standard no-frills format, McDonalds Corporations 2008 annual report included graphics and photos as the driver of the information. Along with the financial statements, McDonalds annual report focused on highlights from the menu to the money along with letters of welcome from the Chairman, Andy McKenna and CEO, Jim Skinner. (McDonalds Corporation, 2009). The financial reporting still included the managements report on internal controls, the report of independent registered public accounting firm (Ernst Young, LLP), the balance sheet, statement of income, statement of stockholders equity, and the statement of cash flows. In both instances a dedicated effort was made to satisfy the requirements regulated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Basic Accounting ConceptsIn 2008, McDonalds financial report shows annual total revenue at 23,522.4 million dollars compared to Burger Kings 2,455.0 million dollars; a difference of 21,067.4 million dollars; McDonalds clearly having earned more revenue (MSN Money, 2009). However, prior to 2003, the difference between McDonalds profits and Burger Kings were even greater. From 2001 through 2003 Burger King was losing money, but has made a steady annual gross profit since. (CNN Money, 2006). Transactions In 2008, Burger Kings annual profit was 1,452.0 million dollars and in 2007 the profit was 1,317.0 million dollars, a growth of 135 million dollars. McDonalds has also encountered gross profit over the past two years, however, at a much greater scale. In 2008 the gross profit recorded was 8,639.2 million dollars and in 2007 a gross profit was recorded of 7,905.2, an increase in profit of 734 million dollars. Accounts Affected by Transactions While the two fast food restaurant chains are no where near comparable in revenue, both chains are increasing revenue year after year. Since 2006, when Burger King became a publicly traded company; like McDonalds, they both worked to maintain a profitable growth for share holders which has increased the amount of profit each year (MSN Money, 2009). Both companies have cash assets as well as land and property, rental fees, food, supplies, salary responsibilities, and advertising. Financial Statements Affected by TransactionsEach of the transactions listed for Burger King and McDonalds are provided in detail on a number of the financial statements. Specifically, the profit can be followed on the balance sheet, the statement of income, and the statement of cash flows located in each annual report. In addition these figures are compared to the previous years numbers on each of these statements. Conclusion McDonalds and Burger King have been in business for decades and each company has established its respective company in the hearts of the American people and consumers across the globe when they expanded into global market. Both companies use reputable accounting firms and the same types of financial statements in order to assess the health of their financial status. This paper has shown how important understanding the concepts, terms, and transactions listed on financial statements are in order to better gauge how a company is faring financially on a year to year basis. References Albrecht, W.S., Stice, E.K., Stice, J.D. Swain, M.R. (2008). Accounting: Concepts and applications, (10 ed). Cengage Learning Center, Mason, Ohio. Burger King Corp. (2009). Company Info. Retrieved June 20, 2009 http://www.bk.com/Companyinfo/corporation/fact.aspxCNN Money. (2006). The King Meets his Public. Retrieved June 18, 2009, from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/03/06/8370602/index.htmMcDonalds. (2009). Our company. Retrieved June 18, 2009 from http://www.aboutmcdonalds. Com/mcd/our_company.htmlMcDonalds Corporation (2009). 2008 annual report. Retrieved June 18, 2009, from http://www1.mcdonalds.com/annualreport/index.htmlMSN Money. (2009). McDonalds Corporation: Financial Statement. Retrieved June 18, 2009,from http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/results/statement.aspx?Symbol=MCD1stStatement=IncomestmntView=AnnMSN Money. (2009). Burger King Holdings Inc.: Financial Statement Retrieved June 18, 2009, from http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/results/statement.aspx?Symbol =BKC1stStatement=IncomestmntView=AnnNew York Job Source. (2009). Burger King: Worlds second largest food chain. Retrieved June 19, 2009 from http://www.nyjobsource.com/burgerking.htmlSantona, G. (2009). McDonalds: 2009 Annual Shareholders Meeting and Proxy Statement. Retrieved June 20, 2009, from http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/etc/medialib/aboutMcDonaldsinvestor_relations.Par.58.686.File.tmp/2009%20Annual%Shareholders%20Meeting%20Proxy%20Statement.pdf

Bark Extract Mediated Green Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis

Bark Extract Mediated Green Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis Bark extract mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antimicrobial efficacy: A low cost effective synthesis route Debasis Nayak, Sarbani Ashe, Pradipta Ranjan Rauta, Manisha Singh, Bismita Nayak Abstract In this current investigation we report the biosynthesis potential of the bark extracts of Ficus benghalensis and Azadirachta indica for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles without using any external reducing or capping agent. The occurrence of dark brown color indicated the complete synthesis of the silver nanoparticles which was validated by the absorbance peak in UV-Vis spectroscopy. The morphology of the synthesized particles was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns clearly illustrated the crystalline phase of the synthesized nanoparticles. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was performed to identify the role of various functional groups in the nanoparticle synthesis. The synthesized sliver nanoparticles showed promising results against gram negative and gram positive pathogens which could have a broad therapeutic role against multiple drug resistan t bacteria. Keywords: Green synthesis, silver nanoparticles, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), antimicrobial Introduction Silver, a noble metal maintains its exceptional optical and electronic properties in quantum size [1-2] which paved its curiosity towards the nano regime. The interest in silver nanoparticles gained prominence owing to its excellent plasmonic activity, bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects compared with the other metal nanoparticles and its versatile use in dentistry, clothing, catalysis, mirrors, optics, photography, electronics, and in the food industry [3].Conventional physical and chemical methods for stable nanomaterial synthesis present the problem of nanoparticle aggregation, harsh reaction conditions and the toxicity of the reagents used. So for synthesis of monodispersed and stable nanoparticles with reduced toxicity concerns new synthetic routes based on green chemistry principles have been explored [4, 5]. Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using green chemistry principles maximizes safety and efficiency, and minimises the environmental and societal impact of toxic raw ma terials. Green synthesis of nanoparticles focuses on three important aspects i.e. (i) use of green solvents, (ii) use of an eco-friendly benign reducing agent, and (iii) use of a nontoxic material as a stabilizer [6]. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using various plant extract has been reported [4, 7]. The extracts contains different enzymes/proteins, amino acids, polysaccharides, vitamins, poly phenols, etc., which act as both reducing and capping agents during the nanoparticle synthesis [8]. Ficus benghalensis commonly known as ‘banyan’ is an evergreen tree found all over India and belongs to the family Moraceae. Its various parts are used in ayurveda for the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, piles, rheumatism and as an astringent, haemostatic and antiseptic agent. The bark has been reported to contain leucopelargonidin-3-O-ÃŽ ±-L rhamnoside, leucocynidin-3-O-ÃŽ ±-D galactosyl cellobioside, glucoside, beta glucoside, pentatriacontan-5-one, beta sitostero-ÃŽ ± -D-glucose [9-13]. Azadirachta indica (family- Meliaceae) is commonly called as ‘village dispensary’ in traditional medicine as the tree has its efficacy in every disease. Different compounds have been isolated from the bark extract such as Nimbin, Nimbinin, Deacetyl nimbin, Nimbinene, 6-Deacetyl nimbinene, Nimbandiol, polysaccharides G1A, G1B, G2A, G3A, NB-2 peptidoglucan [14-17]. The neem bark has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti malarial, antioxidant and anticancer activity [18]. Various plants parts have been used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles but rarely the barks have been used. In the present study the barks of Ficus bengalensis and Azadirachta indica have been employed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The leaves of Azadirachta were used as a reference sample as much work has been already been done on the ability of A. indica leaves for synthesis of Ag-NPs [19]. Experimental Section Silver nitrate, Mueller Hinton agar and Mueller Hinton broth of analytical grade were purchased from Hi-Media laboratories and deionised water was used throughout the experiment. Preparation of bark extract The barks of F. benghalensis and A. indica were collected from the campus of NIT, Rourkela. They were washed properly with deionised water to remove any traces of dust and impurities. The bark extract of F. benghalensis and A. indica was prepared by dissolving 5g of the bark powder with 50 ml of distilled water and boiled in a water bath at 50 ºC for 1 hour. The extracts were filtered using whatman filter paper and kept at 4 ºC until used. Synthesis of silver nanoparticles 90 ml of silver nitrate solution (1M) was mixed with 10 ml of bark extract and the reaction mixture was kept in a water bath at different temperature conditions (20, 40, 60 and 80 ºC) till the occurrence of the dark reddish color of the reaction mixture. After the color change inference the nanoparticle solutions were centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 45 min (C24-BL centrifuge, REMI, India) thrice with successive washing with distilled water to remove any traces of un-utilized bark phyto-constituents. The resultant pellet was lyophilized and stored for further characterizations. Characterization To investigate the ideal temperature and time required for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles the reaction mixture was monitored periodically in a UV-visible spectrophotometer (Lambda 35 ® (PerkinElmer, Waltham, MS, USA)) operated at a resolution of 1 nm at room temperature scanned in the wavelength range of 400-600 nm. The hydrodynamic (Z-Average) size, polydispersity index (PDI) and surface zeta potential (charge) of the synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed by Zeta sizer (Zs 90, Malvern Instruments Ltd, Malvern, UK) and the results were obtained by the Malvern ZS nano software. The morphology of the synthesised silver nanoparticles was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (Jeol 6480LV jsm microscope). The nanoparticles were fixed on adequate support and coated with platinum using platinum sputter module in a higher vacuum evaporator. Observations under different magnifications were performed at 20kv. Further morphological studies were done by atomic force microscopy (AFM, Dimension D3100, Veeco) in contact mode under normal atmospheric conditions. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns of silver nanoparticles was obtained using X-ray diffractometer (PANalytical X’Pert, Almelo, The Netherlands) equipped with Ni filter and Cu KÃŽ ± (l = 1.54056 Ã…) radiation source. The diffraction angle was varied in the range of 20-80 degrees while the scanning rate was 0.05degree/s. The Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR- FTIR) spectroscopy analysis was conducted to corroborate the possible role of the various phytochemicals present in the bark extract on the surface modification of the synthesized nanoparticles. The ATR- FTIR was performed on a Bruker ALPHA spectrophotometer (Ettlinger, Germany) with a resolution of 4 cm-1. The samples were scanned in the spectral region between 4000 and 500 cm-1 by taking an average of 25 scans per sample. 1 drop of sample was kept of the sample holder and the samples were scanned and the result obtained was analyzed through OPUS software. Antimicrobial activity The antimicrobial activity of the green synthesized AgNPs against the nosocomial Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Vibrio cholerae were investigated by agar well diffusion method. Briefly, the pathogenic strains were grown on Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB) (HI-MEDIA, Mumbai) at 37 ºC for 24 hours. The colony forming unit (CFU) was adjusted to 2.5 X 10-5 CFU by adjusting it with 0.5 McFarland constant and observing the OD at 600 nm in a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer [20]. Then, the stains were swabbed onto Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) plate (in triplicates) and wells were formed by using a cork borer. 100 µl of the synthesized AgNPs were added to each well having a concentration of 1000 µg/ml and the plates were incubated at 37 ºC for 24 hours. The mean surface area of the diameter of the inhibition zone was measured in mm. Results and discussion The optimal temperature and time required for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from the bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica was monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The UV-vis spectra results are an indirect and most efficient method for detecting the formation of the nanoparticle. The reaction process was followed by observing the color change as well as the absorbance maxima peak in the range of 420-460 nm. Fig. 1 shows the time taken for the total synthesis of the nanoparticles when the reaction mixture was incubated at 80  ºC. The absorption peaks were observed at 426 nm and 420 nm for the silver nanoparticles synthesized from the bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica respectively within 30 minutes of incubation suggesting a very rapid synthesis route. The occurrence of the absorption peak is due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) property of the metallic nanoparticles which occurs due to the oscillation of free electrons on the surface of the metal lic nanoparticles when they align in resonance to the wavelength of irradiated light [21]. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies were conducted to investigate the hydrodynamic size, poly dispersity index and surface zeta potential of the synthesised silver nanoparticles in a colloidal aqueous environment. When dispersed in a medium the particles move due to the Brownian motion which is measured by the fluctuations in the intensity of scattered light from which the translational diffusion co-efficient is calculated by applying the Stokes-Einstein equation which gives the hydrodynamic size of the particle [22]. Fig. 2 (a,b) shows the size of the silver nanoparticles synthesised by bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica which were 85.95 nm and 90.13 nm respectively. The poly dispersity index (PDI) is the measure of the width of the particle size distribution calculated from a cumulants analysis of the DLS measured intensity autocorrelation function where a single particle size is assumed and a single exponential fit is applied to the autocorrelation function [23]. Th e PDI value ‘0’ represents monodisperse distribution where as value ‘1’ represents polydisperse distribution. Fig. 2 (c, d) shows the surface zeta potential of the synthesized silver nanoparticles from the respective bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica. Zeta potential is a measure of the magnitude of the electrostatic or charge repulsion or attraction between particles in a liquid suspension. It is one of the essential parameters for characterization of stability of the nanoparticles in an aqueous environment. Particles with zeta potentials more positive than +30 mV and more negative than −30 mV are normally considered stable for colloidal dispersion in the absence of steric stabilization. [24]. Table.1 shows the hydrodynamic size, PDI and zeta potential of the silver nanoparticles synthesised by bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica. Fig. 3 shows the typical image of the surface morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The roughly spherical surface morphology of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was clearly illustrated by the SEM micrographs. Fig. 4 shows the pictographs of the 3D surface morphology and size analysis graphs obtained from atomic force microscopy (AFM). The size obtained from the AFM pictographs in the contact mode from the line analysis measurement by using the SPMLab programmed Veeco diInnova software were 68 nm and 7.38 nm for silver nanoparticles synthesized from bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica respectively. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) is a non-destructive technique to identify the crystalline phase, orientation and grain size of the synthesized nanoparticles. Fig. 5 shows a typical XRD diffractogram showing Bragg peaks (angle 2ÃŽ ¸) at 32.19 º, 38.15 º, 44.28 º, 64.46 º, 77.37 º and 32.11 º, 37.96 º, 44.18 º, 64.37 º, 77.23 º for the silver nanoparticles synthesised from the bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica respectively which corresponds to (111), (200), (220), (311) and (222) miller indices thus, confirming the formation of face centred cubic (FCC) crystalline elemental silver indexed with the JCPDS data 04-0783. Many unassigned peaks were seen which might be due to the crystallization of the bioorganic phases that occur on the surface of the synthesised nanoparticles [25-26]. The average grain size of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was determined by using Scherer’s eqn [d= KÃŽ »/ÃŽ ² cos ÃŽ ¸] where, ‘d’ is the mean diamet er of the particle; ‘K’ is the shape factor (0.9); ‘Î »Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ is the X-ray radiation source (0.154 nm) ; ‘Î ²Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ is (Ï€/180)* FWHM and ‘Î ¸Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ is the Bragg angle [27] which was approx. 29 nm and 39 nm for the silver nanoparticles synthesised by bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica. The ATR-FTIR measurements were carried out to identify the chemical transformation that occurred during the interaction between the functional groups present in bark extract and formation of the nanoparticles. Fig. 6 shows a typical ATR-FTIR spectrum of the silver nanoparticles synthesized from the bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica. Nearly similar peaks were observed in both the synthesized silver nanoparticles some of which occurred at 3590 cm-1, 3340 cm-1, 2310 cm-1, 1693cm-1, 1519cm-1 and 615 cm-1 for silver nanoparticles synthesized from the bark extract of F. benghalensis and 3617cm-1, 3332cm-1, 2319cm-1, 1663 cm-1, 1523 cm-1, 1523 cm-1 and 635cm-1 absorption peaks occurred for silver nanoparticles synthesised by bark extracts of A. indica. The absorption peaks were assigned to the presence of the following functional groups: O-H stretching (presence of alcohols and phenols), N-H stretching (presence of primary and secondary amines), C ≠¡N stretching (presence of nitriles), C=C stretching (presence of aromatic rings) and C-H stretching (presence of alkynes). From fig 4 it can be clearly seen that the O-H and N-H functional group has a clear role in the fabrication of silver nanoparticles which are the main constitutional groups present in the flavonoids, terpenoids and phenols. Although the exact mechanism for the reduction of silver nanoparticles is not know Ajitha et al proposed that the flavonoids present in T. purpurea leaf extract may act as powerful reducing agent and the carboxylate group present in the proteins may act as surfactant to attach on the surface of the nanoparticles resulting in their stabilization during the synthesis reaction [28]. The results obtained from the mangrove leaf bud extract of R. mucronata [29] were quite similar to our ATR-FTIR results thus furnishing a coherent role of the bark extract as reducing and capping agents to prevent agglomeration of the synthesized silver nanoparticles. The antibacterial potential of the synthesized nanoparticles were investigated by the agar well diffusion assay. Fig. 7 shows well defined zones of inhibition (diameter in mm) against gram positive strains of Bacillus subtilis and gram negative strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio cholera when 100 µl of 1000 µg/ml of the synthesized nanoparticles were supplied to the agar wells (9mm). In this experiment the silver nanoparticles synthesized from the leaves extract of A. indica was used as a standard as its antimicrobial potential has already been demonstrated by Nazeruddin et al [19]. Our results show slightly higher zone of inhibition against gram negative strains as compared to gram positive isolates. This may be attributed to differences in structure and composition of cell wall between gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The thin peptidoglycan layer enveloped by the lipopolysaccharide layer lacks strength and rigidity, facilitating easy penetrat ion of silver nanoparticles into the cells. While a gram positive bacterium possesses a thick and rigid peptidoglycan layer in the cell wall which makes the entry of silver nanoparticles into the cell difficult [30]. Though the antimicrobial activity is very prominent by the silver nanoparticles, its mode of action is still debatable. It has been proposed that silver nanoparticles has the ability to attach with the bacterial cell membrane causing structural changes in its membrane leading to the formation of ‘pits’ where they accumulate [31]. Feng et al and Matsumura et al proposed that silver nanoparticles release silver ions which interact with the thiol groups of many enzymes thus inactivating most of the respiratory chain enzymes leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which causes the self destruction of the bacterial cell [32-33]. According to Morones et al., silver acts as soft acid which acts upon the sulphur and phosphorus bases of DNA and ina ctivates its replication and thus inactivating the nuclear machinery of the cell [34]. Conclusion The present study on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles through the bark extracts of F. benghalensis and A. indica is a novel, cost-effective, environmental friendly route of synthesis having large scale production ability where no additional reducing agents or capping agents were employed for the reduction and stabilization of the nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were highly crystalline, roughly spherical in shape having mean grain size of 29 and 39 nm each. Thus with further modifications these synthesized nanoparticles can be used as suitable candidates for biomedical applications and as therapeutics for targeted drug delivery with minimal side effects. The synthesized silver nanoparticles showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against the gram negative and the gram positive bacterial strains which could boost them as antimicrobial agents with the day to day emerging cases of multiple drug resistant pathogens. Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Archana Mallick, Dept of Metallurgical Materials Engineering for helping in AFM images and NIT, Rourkela for supporting and funding the current research work.

Brave New World - Fears Of The Future :: essays research papers

Art is like a fractured mirror that reflects the society in which it was created. This reflection is a mosaic of images constructed by the artist’s own perceptions which in turn are determined by the values and attitudes, especially the fears and insecurities in his or her own contemporary society. The responder also has to acknowledge his or her own door of perception, as this would affect their interpretation of the art. This is especially evident in texts like Brave New World which are designed specifically as probes into the aspects of society that the writer desires to explore. Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World during the late ‘20s and early ‘30s; in the middle of the Great Depression and at the eve of the Second World War. World War One was still fresh in everyone’s memories and so was the Bolshevik revolution of Russia, which threatened to spread throughout Europe and the world. On the other side of the Atlantic the †New World† was unde rgoing a revitalisation of industry with Henry Ford and other leading capitalists implementing the concept of mass production and attempting to create the ideal consumer society. There was also a form of cultural renaissance in the central European countries where the avaunt-garde was embraced rigorously in art and architecture. And in science, especially in the biological field, great breakthroughs, the likes of which the world hadn’t witnessed since the days of Newton were being accomplished. In short it was a period of great social change and instability. Such instability eventually leads to fears and insecurities, most of which tend revolve around the future of society and the future of the individual. For the rich upper class the primary fear was Bolshevism. They feared it so much so that Fascists and Nazis were tolerated, even encouraged, all for the purpose of crushing Bolshevism. Although the World State from Brave New World does not resemble Lenin’s Bolshevik state, it does however have strong parallelisms with Mussolini’s fascist Italy and shares an uncanny resemblance to the future Germany under Hitler. Even more profoundly and more importantly it’s resemblance of Stalin’s totalitarian Russia is undeniable. From the characteristics of the World State in his novel, it seems that Huxley, unlike his noble compatriots, was not fearful of Bolshevism. However unlike the socialist intellectuals of his time, Huxley had a realistic, bleak vision of the future of Bolshevism.

What Is An Education? :: essays research papers

What is an Education? According to the Oxford English Dictionary one of the definitions of the word "education" is: "The systematic instruction, schooling or training given to the young in preparation for the work of life; by extension, similar instruction or training obtained in adult age. Also, the whole course of scholastic instruction which a person has received. Often with limiting words denoting the nature of the predominant subject of the instruction or kind of life it prepares, as classical, legal, medical, technical, commercial, art education." Although this is an accurate description of what an actual education may be, there is a great deal more to the process of becoming educated than the actual instruction and schooling one may receive. If you asked a person in high school or college exactly why he is in school his response would probably have something to do with "getting an education." Is that really why he is there? The next question you may ask is "what are you going to do with your education?" The response would undoubtedly include something about "getting a good job" or perhaps "to make a lot of money." Most of the people in the United States have been brainwashed to think that unless one has at least a high school diploma there is no future anywhere for him. This is completely untrue. There is no guarantee that getting a high school "education" is going to get you anywhere. A student may spend eight years between high school and college getting an "education." He can graduate from college with A's in every class, but still, this "education" means nothing. For example, suppose this "Straight A" student goes for a job interview. Obviously one of the first things to be looked at is the college diploma. Good grades, which by today's standards are an indication of an educated individual, are usually very helpful in getting a good job. But alone, good grades are a completely unfair indication of how a person will perform under the pressures of the real world. Instead of looking at a person's grades during a job interview and deciding whether that person is eligible for a particular position, why not try something realistic? To determine a particular person's "education" why not allow the individual to apply what he knows to his position in the workplace. This is the true test of what an education is. The application of knowledge acquired is a much better determinant of true education than whether or not a person got an A in Wood Shop or World History. A good percentage of people in the United States graduated from high school.

A First Look at Unity, Duality, and Complexity :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Science, as we understand it in Western culture, arose during the Golden Age of Greece. Greek mystics in the sixth century B.C. did not distinguish science from philosophy and religion, but combined them in an endeavor to discover the "essential nature" of things, which they called Physis. (Capra, 1975) Heraclitus of Ephesus proposes in Concerning Nature (ca. 500 B.C.) that all things are in a continual process of "Becoming"; (Capra, 1975) He depicts a world composed of paired opposites (hot/cold, wet/dry, etc.) which struggle eternally to dominate one another. Each pair of warring opposites simultaneously exists as a unity, which contains and transcends them. (Capra, 1975) Heraclitus uses Logos, the Greek word for reason, to describe the principle of order and intelligibility which governs the interplay of opposing forces. He compares his universal principle to fire, and uses fire to symbolize "the continuous flow and change of all things." (Capra, 1975) The dynamism which Heraclitus propounds was opposed by Parmenides of Elea, who believed "Being" to be something unique and invariable. (Capra, 1975) Whereas Heraclitus taught that whatever appears to be static is deceiving, Parmenides considered change to be impossible, and apparent changes to be illusions of the senses. (Capra, 1975) Philosophers in the Periclean Age sought to reconcile the Heraclitian and Parmenidian views. They concluded that Parmenides' "Being" implies certain indestructible and invariable substances, which would soon be termed "atoms." These indivisible units moved, but they were not responsible for their own motion; their mixture and separation was the result of forces first described as Heraclitus' "Becoming." This distinction between an object and its mover gave rise to the division between "matter", the "building blocks" of which are atoms, and "spirit", a force fundamentally different from matter. From this distinction arose the duality of mind and matter, body and soul. (Capra, 1975) Twenty-five hundred years later, we have yet to restore their unity. Aristotle's organization and codification of Greek science and culture became the basis of the Western view of the universe, and underscored the line between body and spirit indelibly. Aristotle advanced the preeminence of spiritual concerns, subjugating the bodily and material. This attitude has been propagated and exploited by the Christian church since its inception. The most extreme philosophical formulation of the mind/matter duality was developed by Descartes, in the seventeenth century. Descartes based his view of nature "on the fundamental division into two separate realms: that of the mind (res cogitans) and that of matter (res extensa).

Quaker up ad

There are eight grams of whole grains are chocolaty, pretzels-caramels mash-up the whole family craves. Its how we're fighting the human energy crisis one bar at a time (Quaker). The ad insinuates that any family that is in a rush should buy their product. It is a good healthy snack for families on the go. The ad is a good target for families that are in a rush all the time. They can Just eat a Quaker bar on their way to work. School, taking your kids somewhere, or really anywhere. It also targets young people that aren't always home o eat all the time, even people trying to eat healthy.The #Quaker is a hash tag and It targets people that keep up with social media. It shows people that Quaker Is also up to date on their social media. Everyone that puts that on their social media the hash tag #Quaker will show on their page or wall and Its pretty much free advertisement for Quaker products. The product is something fast and easy. The ad tries to persuade people by the saying MM MM and families GO GO GO. Its a fast and easy treat that the whole family will love. The ad tells us how many grams here are in a bar. It explains what the Quaker bar will Bates 2 taste like.A chocolate, caramel, and pretzel mash up. The Quaker up theme also helps the ad sell this product. Its a good saying. Pretty much saying wake up and Quaker up, by having a Quaker bar. Which also lets you know its something fast and easy for breakfast. One thing that doesn't seam to fit the ad is when it says, â€Å"It's how we're fighting the human energy crisis one bar at a time. † That means, the Quaker bar saves peoples energy and time you would have to make a meal. Also, here won't be a crawls or a hassle by trying to make something In a short period of time.This ad suggests that Quaker big chewy bars are good and helps families on the go. It repeats GO GO GO and MM MM MM. It stresses that so people will know how good Quaker bars really are. Also, it lets people know how fast and easy the bars are on the go. This ad is successful because it shows the Quaker big chewy floating in the air by a parachute, on a perfect blue sky day. The ad make life look so simple and easy. Of course, the Quaker up theme is a personal identity which intensifies all the Quaker ads.It simply says wake up world, you would have a Quaker bar and everything will be okay. Its the best saying for Quaker products. Anyone that is hungry and Is on the go go go. Go grab a snack that's fast and easy. The Quaker bar ad shows the box in the air, which also goes good with the Quaker up thyme. The Quaker bars are up up and away. This ad could easily persuade anyone. The small bar that you can take with you anywhere, and tastes great Is the Bates 3 Work Cited Quaker. Advertisement. Redbook July. 2014: Print.

Economic Migration: A Threat or a Blessing to Developed Countries?

INTRODUCTION TO GLOBALISTION Individual Report To what extent is economic migration a threat or a blessing to developed countries? In general, the primary human right is life and to lead this life wherever desirable, where it is possible to live the most freely, easily and in complete security. In order to do this, people move across the world, voluntarily or forcibly, in the search for this new place. Migration is the movement of people from one place in the world to another, due to vital reasons for a better quality of life: political reasons and economic reasons. We know certainly two basic trends that are the base for migration. The first is Global Population growth and the second is the global shift in employment. The first one is referring to the global population, which has deep roots in the past and is concern with the problem of birth and death occurring each day. It is estimate that the world population is continuing to increase starting from the year 1950, when it was just 3 billion people in the world and nowadays, in 2007, when it is 6 billion citizenry- according with the statistics realised by the Census Bureau. The second trend is related to the economic reasons and we will focus on them, being the principal theme for this report. Economic migration results from economic activities that result in the movement of persons from one country to another for entrepreneurial, industrial, professional, labour market or commercial motives. In an era of globalization, economic or labour migration is on the rise. Due to lack of employment opportunities in developing countries and increased demands for low-wage workers in developed countries, youth, women and men are pursuing work in other countries in order to support themselves and their families back home. Recent statistics demonstrate that there are around 200 million persons per year who migrate throughout the world. The International Organization for Migration estimates that there are 80 million economic migrants worldwide. These migrations are most often from poor countries to rich countries rather than the reverse. The principal places attracting migrants are the petroleum producing Persian Gulf countries, the United States and the European Union. It is not confined to poor countries – inhabitants of rich countries also migrate for economic reasons to other countries. Traditionally and historically, the USA has been hotspot of economic migrants since it is seen as the ‘land of opportunity’. Thousands of people from all across the world, including Britain, try to move to the USA for a better life. For example a lecturer at an Ivy League University still earns more than someone at a top university in the UK. Many economic migrants to the USA come from Latin America and the Caribbean. About 150,000 Mexicans enter illegally each year, resulting in 3 to 4 million illegal Mexicans in the USA. They arrive in dangerous conditions such as hidden in the backs of lorries under legal produce. The chart below shows the projected U. S. population growth if immigration and fertility remain similar to today’s rates. [pic] But is economic migration a threat or a blessing to developed countries? A threat is any activity whose appearance is likely to break the social equilibrium and peace in a part of the world. Growing immigration into the rich countries whether voluntary, forced, regular or clandestine tends to be built up into a bubbling volcano that can become active at the least pressure from the lava. It can give rise to three types of threats. On the security level, the influx of migrants can be a source of recruits for a possible terrorist network, on the one hand. On the other hand, neglected immigrants, without means of subsistence, can form networks of criminals; can be contributors to urban insecurity and creators of communities favorable to possible terrorist recruitment efforts. On the economic level, immigrants can be a significant reservoir for the recruitment of cheap labour to the detriment of citizens. That can result in an increase in the unemployment rate for the latter, which becomes a concern for governments. Providing assistance for the immigrants can have an influence on public budgets and contribute to the erosion of the purchasing power of citizens. That could, in the long run, create frustrations among citizens and result in acts of violent discrimination with regrettable consequences. On the socio-cultural level, the struggle for reciprocal influence between immigrant cultures and local cultures could give rise to a national identity conflict through several mechanisms. Immigrants who are victims of discrimination, social injustices and other tension-creating acts, could use violence to demand their rights. Various illicit forms of trafficking, particularly the trafficking of human beings through migration, are also threats arising from migration. ECONOMIC MIGRATION DAMAGES the IMMIGRANT'S HOME COUNTRY To argue that Britain needs economic migrants because of their alleged energy, talent and skills, is to ignore the flip side of that coin which is that the country they came from is going to be deprived of their energy, talent and skills. Every economic migrant who comes here is depriving his or her country of their ability, and is prolonging their own country's agony. It is irresponsible and immoral to deprive countries in this way. Economic migration on these terms is a form of piracy, which should be outlawed! Morally speaking, developed countries should not encourage a brain drain from the developing world, especially not of those who have been described as hard working, educated and entrepreneurial. Immigration’s needed to explain why they advocate the economic piracy and brain draining of the developing world. They need to explain why they advocate a policy guaranteed to keep the developing world in poverty. The people who promote open borders and migration, either as an imagined â€Å"solution† to global economic injustice, or population pressure, or because they want to effect demographic change in the Western world, are in the wrong. Here are some of their frequently heard myths: â€Å"We need economic migrants to keep the Health Service going† The only reason nurses from Asia are being imported is because we do not, and won't, pay a living wage to nurses from this country. This is a new form of 21st century slavery. Britain abolished the Atlantic slave trade. Let's not start a new version. Why are we importing teachers when we have teachers on the dole? It is not because we have a shortage of labour. It is because we have a shortage of people willing to do these jobs at the low wages offered. â€Å"Many companies could not survive without immigrants† So what? If the companies are only employing immigrants then what goods are they doing for anyone other than immigrants? â€Å"Immigrants do the work we would not do† This is not necessarily true. Are we to believe that without any immigrants we would have no cafes, no waiters, and no cleaners? Off course not. The only reason immigrants are doing these jobs is because they don't pay well enough for indigenous people to accept them. Relying on immigrants to do this work is a form of slavery. Instituting a modern form of slavery is immoral. It is not a sign of a progressive society. It is certainly not something of which we should be proud. Instead, it is morally right to do our own drudgery work. â€Å"Many economic migrants are highly skilled and have a lot to offer† Again, this demonstrates the extent to which their home countries are missing out on their talent and skills. If a talented person flees his or her homeland then they become part of their home country's problem, not part of the solution. â€Å"Immigrants create jobs. Look at Marks and Spencer, for example† Simply because a tiny handful of past immigrants went on to found high street chain stores, does not mean that all immigrants are potentially able to do this, will do this, or that it is something only immigrants can do. If there is a genuine need for more shops and businesses then that need will be met, without the help of immigrants. Secondly, because something happened in the past does not mean it will happen again. And thirdly, in the past, levels of immigration were much lower and there were periods of almost zero immigration, where new immigrants had the time to settle and assimilate into society. â€Å"When economic migrants are forced to enter illegally, they become prey to criminal traffickers, and so the answer is to make it easier for them to apply for entry legally† Are we to believe that all illegal immigrants, many of whom do not even speak English, would be granted admission if they applied legally? So long as there are any kinds of border controls whatsoever, then there will always be people attempting to enter Britain illegally. That is because such people simply have no skills to offer legally. If we really wanted to cut out criminal traffickers then we would simply open the doors wide so everybody could enter in ease, and that is the inevitable logic of this kind of thinking. That would be the irresponsible and immoral act of a government, which had abdicated any concern for the political, social, cultural, environmental and quality of life consequences of its policies. There is a lot of disadvantages of economic migration to developed countries but is there any benefits of this? Yes is the simple answer and the benefits are many. Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said it was important to â€Å"strike a new balance† in immigration policy. â€Å"That means looking at the wider benefits to the developed countries economy on the one hand, but it means we have to take into account the wider impact on these countries public services and life as well. We need to weigh both things up before we take big decisions on immigration. † â€Å"It is clear that migration brings huge economic benefits to the developed countries such as United Kingdom or United States of America. † for BBC news said Dr Sriskandarajah. Low jobless rates in Ireland, Sweden, Britain, America and other developed countries with high migration suggest that, so far, foreigners are not squeezing out natives. Migrants also help to create jobs, because a good supply of labour encourages those with capital to invest more. Also, foreign workers are often more flexible than native ones, too. Having already moved from Mexico to New York, lets say, they are probably willing to take a job in Washington. Migrant labour helps to keep economies on an even keel. And they are consumers, too, renting accommodation and buying goods and services. His Polish customers, who are fond of Smirnoff vodka and east European lager, delight the owner of the off-licence for example in Holloway road. Holloway supermarkets, fast-food restaurants and other shops are flourishing too. Business benefits- price/wage growth is likely to slow or fall back, protected by the minimum wage, as a new supply of working age migrants boost the Scottish economy. This provides clear business benefits and helps explain the CBI's support for managed immigration to support business growth. A shortage of workers can stifle growth and lead to wage inflation reducing the competitiveness of Scottish made goods. There is a popular myth is that economic migrants come here and steal ‘our jobs'. There is no fixed supply of jobs, indeed more workers in the economy fuel more jobs. So attracting new labour into work will actually create jobs rather than reduce them. Indeed many sectors struggle to fill vacancies leading to skill shortages both within essential public services and in the private sector. To conclude, like in every phenomenon there are blessings and threats to others. But the 21st century phenomenon of economic migration is a reality that openly threatens peace in the world. States and the international community together should integrate this question into their political strategies in order to find ways and means likely to give rise to a better socioeconomic and security balance among people. Word count (excluding bibliography)- 1996 words BIBLIOGRAPHY Newspapers: ? The Economist print edition- ‘Migration’, May 10th 2001 ? The Economist print edition- ‘of bed sheets and bison grass vodka’, Jan 3rd, 2008 Web pages and TV: ? http://issues. takingitglobal. org ? http://www. globalfootprints. org/issues ? www. migrationwatchuk. org ? http://www. northlan. ov. uk/business+and+employment/local+economy/economic+inf ormation/ ? Colonel Kaumbu Yankole Army / Democratic Republic of the Congo- ‘is migration a threat? ’ ? Bbc news- Migration 'causes pressure in UK'. Wednesday, 17 October 2007 ? http://www. economist. com/finance/displaystory. cfm? story_id=E1_NGDRDTJ Books: ? Suman Gupta and Tope Omoniyi- The cultures of econ omic migration: international perspectives, 2007 ? Bjorn Lomborg- Solutions for the world's biggest problems: costs and benefits ? Stephen Glover- Migration: an economic and social analysis, c2001