Health risks of Aspartame Essays

Health risks of Aspartame Essays Health risks of Aspartame Paper Health risks of Aspartame Paper Aspartame is a sweetening agent (that is utilized in several food products) and contains very low amount of calories.   It has been utilized in a variety of foods, beverages and products available in the market.   It could also be utilized in the market as an agent during cooking, baking and on the table. Aspartame is commercially available for more than 25 years (ADA, 2006).   The degree of sweetness provided by aspartame is 180 to 220 times greater than that provided by sugar (MgGee, 2005) Rather than being composed of carbohydrates, aspartame is composed of two amino acids, namely, aspartic acid and phenylalanine (which form the building blocks of proteins). These amino acids are present in several proteineous foods such as meats, dairy products.   When an individual consumes aspartame, it is broken down into aspartic acid, phenylalanine and small amounts of methanol (which is a hazardous form of alcohol).   These components rather than accumulating in the body are absorbed into the blood and are utilized during metabolism to maintain several functions of the body. They may be utilized by the body for several reasons including those for which aspartic acid and phenylalanine is naturally obtained from the diet (such as meats, fruits, milk, etc).   Some food may produce larger amounts of aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol compared to aspartame.   For example, low-fat milk will produce greater amount of phenylalanine and aspartic acid compared to aspartame.   Methanol on the other hand is 6 times higher when tomato juice is consumed, compared to aspartame (AIC, 2006). Some of the food in which aspartame is utilized routinely include sodas, gelatins, puddings, desserts, cocoa drinks, breath fresheners, gum, etc.   Most of the products that contain aspartame have it mentioned on the ingredient label (ADA, 2006). Nowadays, the use of aspartame in food products has become a trend due to the fact that people are becoming more health conscious.   The increased incidence of diabetes mellitus in the population has also prompted for a rise in the usage of aspartame.   Many consumers are utilizing aspartame to replace sugars and carbohydrates in normal diet.   Health professionals are also advising aspartame in pregnant women to help them eat their favorite food without putting on extra weight. However, this may not be right, because babies present in the womb require the right quantity of calories and other nutrients for proper growth and development.   Even during breastfeeding, the nursing mother should ensure that she receives the exact amount of calories and other nutrients by consuming natural sweeteners, rather than the artificial ones (ADA, 2006). Some people may have a rare genetic disorder known as ‘phenylketonuria’ in which they are unable to breakdown and utilize phenylalanine present in the diet.   Such individuals may have to modify the diet by consuming lower amounts of products containing phenylalanine.   Such individuals should also avoid aspartame, as it may be injurious to their health (ADA, 2006). These individuals do not have an enzyme that transform phenylalanine into tyrosine.   Hence, in such individuals, the levels of phenylalanine would accumulate in the CNS, causing a variety of neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Usually, the parents of phenylketonurics are carriers of the disease (may not actually suffer from the disease, but can genetically carry the defective gene which could express the disease in their offsprings).   The number of carriers of phyenylketouric is about 4 to 20 million.   These individuals are also at a high risk of suffering from the toxic effects of the sweetener (Schachter, 1996). Recent and earlier studies have demonstrated that aspartame may be very harmful to certain patients as they may induce seizures.   Studies that had been performed in 1987 have demonstrated that certain individuals after consuming aspartame developed seizures (especially the grand-mal type).   The seizures tend to reduce once the individual stopped consumption of the sweetening agents.   However, only some individuals may be at a risk of developing seizures following aspartame consumption. Another incident regarding aspartame occurred when a nursing mother who consumed an aspartame containing gum, had her baby develop grand mal seizures (Veracity, 2005).   Researchers feel that a link between aspartame and the development of seizures has been identified.   Once aspartame is consumed by the body, it is broken down into phenylalanine and aspartic acid. These amino acids would then cross the blood-brain barrier and would directly affects the functioning of the CNS (Brain).   Although, phenylalanine is present in a natural diet, it may not be present in combination with aspartic acid.   Researchers feel that the combination of both these amino acids can potentially cause a lot of health hazards.   The exact mechanism of how the component/s of aspartame induce seizures is not identified. Some scientists feel that phenylalanine works by reducing the threshold for convulsions to develop, whereas others feel that the combination of phenylalanine and aspartic acid works by inducing seizures (Veracity, 2005).   Many people feel that aspartame works like a neurotoxin in the brain, by over-stimulating the cells present in the brain (Veracity, 2005).   In naturally occurring foods, phenylalanine and aspartic acid are present as amino acids in long-chains, associated with other amino acids. These chains may take long time to be broken down by the body and be utilized for several metabolic processes.   Hence, they do not readily enter the CNS (compared to when aspartame is consumed).   They may take longer than 12 hours to be digested (321 Recipes, 1996).

The Most Lucrative Business Majors By Starting Salary

The Most Lucrative Business Majors By Starting Salary The average starting salaries for business majors can vary depending on the individual, the job, and the school where the degree was earned. However, there are some lucrative business majors that seem to rise to the top in the National Association of Colleges and Employers Salary Survey Report. For undergraduate business majors, its management information systems, supply chain management, and finance. For graduate business majors, its marketing, finance, and business administration. Lets take a closer look at each of these business majors to learn more about areas of focus, average starting salaries, and post-graduation career opportunities. Management Information Systems Management information systems is a business major that focuses on the use of computerized information systems to guide managerial decisions and manage business operations.  Average starting salaries for people with a bachelors degree in management information systems exceed $55,000 and increase exponentially with more work experience. At the masters level, average starting salaries are just under $65,000. According to PayScale, annual salaries for MIS grads can get as high as $150,000 or more for certain job titles (like a project manager). Common job titles include business analyst, systems administrator, project manager, and information systems manager. Supply Chain Management Business majors who focus on supply chain management study logistics and supply chains, which include any individual, organization, or operation that participates in the production process (procurement and transportation of materials), manufacturing process, distribution process, and the consumption process.  According to PayScale, average starting salaries for business majors with a bachelors degree in supply chain management exceed $50,000. At the masters level, average starting salaries are just shy of $70,000. Supply chain management grads can work as supply chain managers, logistics directors, supply chain analysts, or strategic sourcing managers. Finance Finance is a business major that focuses on economics and the management of money. This is a popular and lucrative business major for both undergraduate and graduate students. Average starting salaries for finance majors exceed $50,000 at the bachelors level and $70,000 at the masters level. According to PayScale, annual salaries for finance majors with just a bachelors degree can get as high as $115,000 for portfolio and finance managers. Common job titles for finance majors include financial analyst, credit analyst, financial planner, and finance officer.   Marketing Marketing majors learn the best ways to promote, sell, and distribute products and services to end consumers. According to PayScale, the average starting salary for marketers at the bachelors level is under $50,000, but at the masters level, that number exceeds $77,000. Both of those numbers increase with time and experience. PayScale reports a salary range for marketing majors that tops out at $150,000 at the bachelors level and goes much higher at the MBA level. Common job titles for business majors who specialize in marketing include marketing manager, marketing research analyst, and account executive.   Business Administration Students who major in business administration study business operation, particularly the performance, management, and administrative functions. According to PayScale, the average starting salary for grads with a bachelors degree in business administration/management is over $50,000. At the masters level, grads earn an average starting salary of more than $70,000. The business administration degree is a general business degree, which means that there are many different career paths for grads. Students can go on to work in management or get jobs in marketing, finance, human resources, and related areas. Learn more about your options with this guide to high-paying management jobs.

4.Review the main features of TWO welfare reforms passed by the post Essay

4.Review the main features of TWO welfare reforms passed by the post war Labour government 1946-1951 - Essay Example There were two main reforms that are still impacting the United Kingdom are the National Health Service and the National Insurance Act, both of 1946. The National Health Service (NHS) was a major achievement not only for the Labour government but also for the nation as a whole. This program allowed free medical treatment for everyone, not just the 21 million people who were covered by the National Health Insurance, the predecessor to the NHS. (Leichter 1979, p. 158) This program which was finally rolled out in 1948 was at first vehemently opposed by the majority of doctors who believed that this form of health coverage would end up ruining medical practices. The doctors who were originally opposed soon realized that their fears were unjustified and joined the ranks of those assisting the needy. The other major reform was the National Insurance Act which came into effect soon after World War II was officially over combined three already established insurance schemes into one. These three covered unemployment insurance, national health insurance, and the contributory pension. When the Act was put into place, it became necessary for all of the adult population to carry insurance, which was subsidized by the government and employers. (Barr 1993, p. 3) This ensured that all those of working age could receive care, therefore enabling more productivity. While not without issue, these two acts really changed the focus of how the United Kingdom saw assistance, and how individuals received it. Due to the recent conflict, the nation had already established a family allowance which in combination with the National Insurance Act and the National Health Service covered close to 100% of the population which was intended by the Labour Government as well as the driving force for the National Health Services, Aneurin Bevan. (Rintala 2003, p. 3) Although many liked the care, it was

Fifteen Questions on Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Fifteen Questions on Nursing - Essay Example Hospitals also report that they have had to turn away patients to other health facilities because they did not have enough staff to care for these patients (Hunt, 2009, p. 4). Hospitals have also been forced to consider contract nurses to fill in nursing shortages caused by turnovers; this often costs twice as much as nurses employed by the hospitals. Nurse turnover has also been known to increase shortage in staff which has then led to increases in the workload of the remaining nurses. This has then created high levels of stress and exhaustion during work and in turn, an increase in the probability of medical errors (Hunt, 2009, p. 4). Eventually, many nurses end up quitting and choosing other careers in order to get away from these difficult work conditions. High levels of nurse turnover have also created an unstable workplace which then has negatively affected the retention of other health professionals. The cost of recruiting, hiring, and training new nurses has been increased by high turnover rates. The hospitals have also found themselves hard up in trying to recruit new nurses because of the unfavourable stories shared by other nurses regarding the work conditions of the nursing profession (Hunt, 2009, p. 3). Accidents and absenteeism have also increased in incidence in the workplace. Accidents are caused by work stress and exhaustion. Reduced work enjoyment and fulfilment have also caused frequent absences. 2) Providing privacy for patients is an important consideration for health service planners and providers. What factors should be considered in regard to privacy when providing nursing care? There are various factors which must be considered with regard to privacy of patients in the provision of nursing care. First and foremost, nurses and patients sometimes do not clearly understand the difference between privacy and confidentiality. Not knowing what privacy and confidentiality makes a health provider likely to abuse such practices. Nurses sometimes do not know that privacy refers to the right of individuals to control access to their information; on the other hand, confidentiality refers to how nurses treat private information once it has been revealed to other people, including themselves (Erikson and Millar, 2005). This privacy is now difficult to protect because of the current practices of digital and electronic technology, including electronic health records. These forms of technology are more difficult to secure and as such securing the privacy of patients is also more difficult. Nurses and other health professionals may sometimes be careless in accessing information about their patients that they allow such information open to other health professionals who are not part of the patient’s care team, and to other individuals in the hospital (Erikson and Millar, 2005). The current practice of using electronic mails and charting is also vulnerable to errors with mails and messages being sent to the wrong party or bein g read by the wrong party, thereby violating the privacy of the patient. Electronic information can also be sent easily to other care providers and this limits the privacy of the patient, limiting his ability to prevent his personal and medical information from being shared to other health professionals (Erikson and Millar, 2005). Health professionals themselves have become complacent in their duty in securing their patient’

The Creolization of Old Calabar Essay Example for Free

The Creolization of Old Calabar Essay The business and social interactions of the African and English slave traders created a very different Old Calabar. As the slave trade grew the society quickly started to reflect not only the traditions and values of the Africans but of the English as well. Old Calabar became a New Creolized Calabar†. Was this the direct result of the slave trading? The evidence says yes? The creolization of the African Society of Calabar can clearly be associated with the slave trade by analyzing their language changes, life style changes and political changes as the slave trading became more competitive and economically beneficial. Creolization usually brings to mind the decedents in Louisiana born to the Spanish, French and Haitians before the Civil War. Randy Sparks introduces the idea of creolization as being a way to explain what happened in Old Calabar, but interestingly, he poses the thought that it had little to do with the origin or birth of those involved. Sparks instead introduces historian Ira Berlins idea of the Robin Johns being a kind of Atlantic Creole not because of blood lines but by experiences. Ira Berlins quote is as follows: Familiar with the commerce of the Atlantic, fluent in its new languages, and intimate with its trade and cultures, they were cosmopolitan in the fullest sense. (pg. 4) The Robin Johns were not only fluent in the English language but also in trade language alluded to by Ira Berlin. These various languages developed in areas from Gambia to Cameron and developed as a result of the constant exposure of slave traders to each others languages. The variations spread around the Atlantic Ocean to areas where slave trade was popular from Africa to the Americas to Europe. Sparks describes the languages as a combination of mostly English words having African Grammatical structures. The African leaders in Old Calabar were responsible for the cosmopolitan† like essence of the Robin Robins. The leaders knew that by being more European understanding the European customs and practicing the lifestyle. It gave them the competitive edge over the other African competitors who did not. Joining with the Europeans in the lucrative slave business was an economic gold mine. So, the smart African transformed himself into an image of what they believed made them more appealing to the Europeans. An example of this would be that they ordered and used extravagant products such as English razors, pewter piss pots and mirrors six feet tall. The degree of their creolization is very apparent on pages 11 and 12 of the first chapter. Sparks description of Grandy King George, who was originally known as Ephraim, is filled with the pageantry of both Royal English and African fused together. Sparks describes Grandy King George as he boards the Royal Canoe the day before The Massacre of 1767. Sparks indicates that Grandy King George wore a multicolored robe and red coat trimmed in gold lace, a silk sash thrown over his shoulders. He carried a gold skull headed cane in one hand and a fine ceremonial sword in the other. Under one arm he carried a gold trimmed cocked hat and the ensigns that, as Sparks describes them, blew in the wind, engraved with Grandy King Georges name written in English letters. The Kings name being written in English letters emphasizes the point that the African Slave traders not only spoke the English language, but also had the ability to read and write it. The unique combination of The Kings attire and accessories powerfully displayed his desire to indicate his appreciation for both cultures. The red coat trimmed in gold clearly reflected his admiration of the English Royals, while the skull headed cane, on the other hand, indicated his pride in his African heritage. Sparks seems to save his last description of the King and his surroundings that day as the most obvious fusion of the two cultures. He describes that behind the King, in the center of the canoe, there was a small house painted in bright colors, and on top of the house there were two men loudly playing the drums. There was a canon in the bow of the canoe, and in front of the canon was a man who shook a large bundle of reeds to symbolically ward off obstacles. Again, one could say that the mixing of cultures is self-evident. The canon would have been something purchased from the English, while the spirit man and the men beating the drums would have reflected his African faith. African Politics in the area of Efiks experienced significant change after the slave trade with the English escalated. The economy had been predominantly based on agricultural trade and there was no strong centralized government. Small groups of population approximately 1200 were divided up into Wards and Houses lead by town council Elders and House Elders. As the economy grew, the criteria for qualification as head of house changed from lineage to wealth. Houses became larger, Wards and Towns as well. A stronger governing system was created. The â€Å"Grand Council† was introduced to govern the â€Å"Council of Elders†. The â€Å"Ekpe Society† was created to set standards and create laws for the entire system. Entry into the system was open to all men even slaves as long as the entry fees were paid. The Society had many levels of membership determined by the wealth of the man. The Ekpe Society controlled all trading regulations both slave and agricultural. In addition they controlled the economy. They set prices for goods, enforced debt collection, payment submissions and kept track of inventory. The Ekpe Society even controlled who was responsible for sweeping the streets. The crealization is seen in the change of the African Society governing style from a lineage system to a system influenced more by wealth and requiring strong central government. In conclusion it is clear that the relationship with the English and the huge amounts of capital to be made created a creolized African Society. It changed how they thought about status. They wanted English clothes, razors, mirrors and pewter piss pots. The government became more about money than lineage and last but not least their language changed. An entire language was created around the slave trade.

SWM Searching for Perfect Woman :: Personal Narrative Essay Example

SWM Searching for Perfect Woman Ninety-percent. Now that's a large percentage. I don't care what you're doing. If you are taking a test, that's an "A". If you are playing basketball, that's an unheard of free throw percentage. It's just a large percentage of anything. From what I hear, it's also the amount of time guys spend thinking about women. Up until now, however, I wasn't quite sure I agreed with that number. I mean, I have church, ministry, school, and sports on my mind. I was what you would call a "content single man." I was free to go wherever I wanted, be with whomever I chose, and do whatever I wanted. There were no boundaries to my craziness, and no woman could take up more of my thinking time that the three aforementioned activities. Man, how quickly things change. Now, don't go jumping to conclusions. By no means has some woman snatched me up and forced me to occupy myself with thoughts of what to buy her and where to take her to dinner. On the contrary, I am still technically as single man; but, there's one huge difference. I'm now what you would call, to put it delicately -- a desperate single man. Now it's no easy talk to get a man to say that and still keep his pride intact. I mean, ti puts us men at the risk of sounding, well ... desperate, when in fact, we want the general population to believe that we can have any girl we want. The macho image, the right clothes, working out; all this to get a girl so we won't be "alone". Therein lies my problem. My desperation is not a normal case of loneliness. No, it's not even sex hunger (even though most cases fall under this category). Ninety-percent of my time isn't spent thinking about random sex acts with that girl I sit next to in class, or the one I saw at the bar. My problem is, I don't want just "any girl". I'm desperate for "THE girl". Ninety-percent. I think I have reached that point. When that much time is devoted to thinking about one woman (especially when I have no idea who she is), then it's safe to say that I've reached one of the worst times of a man's life. The point at which every female they meet is a possible spouse.

Problem Caused by Anti-Smoking Legislation in Hong Kong

Title: Analyse the problems caused by the implementation of anti-smoking legislation in Hong Kong. Identify some solutions to these problems. Paragraph 1 In recent years many countries have enacted anti-smoking legislation. For example, on 1 January 2007 Hong Kong extended no smoking areas to cover the inside of restaurants, as well as offices and some public outdoor areas (Tobacco control, 2007).While these laws have been largely welcomed by both health advocates and the general population, they have had some unintended consequences including an increase in cigarette litter and congestion in areas where smokers congregate, and a decrease in working efficiency in workplaces with significant numbers of smokers. This essay will examine these effects in more detail before considering some possible solutions. Paragraph 2 One of the outcomes of preventing office and shop workers from smoking in offices and shopping centres is that smokers are more likely to gather on pavements in the area near the entrance to the office building or mall.The assembly of these smokers has produced an increase in litter, with waste such as cigarette butts and packaging often discarded on the street. Novotny and Zhao (1999) argue that this litter is plainly observable, may remain in the environment for a long time and might be hazardous to young children and animals if ingested. Given the densely packed office environment in the central business district of Hong Kong, it is apparent that the litter problem from smokers who smoke outside can be quite serious. Paragraph 3As well as the littering problem, groups smoking on pavements can pose a physical danger to young children. Nakahara (2005) mentions that children are often at a height where they can be easily struck by smokers holding lit cigarettes. As the head of the child is often only at leg level to the adult smoker, the burning cigarette could easily harm the eye or other facial features of the child. It is suggested by Nakahara ( ibid) that street smoking has become more widespread after stricter smoking legislation began to be enforced.In the crowded urban parts of Hong Kong, such as in Mongkok and Causeway Bay, even if there are only a small proportion of pedestrians smoking, this would still generate a hazard to young children. Paragraph 4 Besides the outdoor effects of smoking legislation, those companies operating in Hong Kong who employ smokers have also probably suffered. Considering the USA,  Halpern, Shikiar, Rentz and Khan  (2001) find that smokers have appreciably more absences from work than those who have never smoked.The reason for this is believed to be due to increased rates of sickness among smokers. It could also be speculated that as smokers are more likely to take extended breaks than non-smokers, this would precipitate further reductions in working efficiency in offices with many smokers. As business is very important in the Hong Kong economy, maintaining a high working efficiency is vital to Hong Kong competitiveness. Paragraph 5 Regarding the first problem of increased littering, there are four possible methods to counter this issue.According to Bitgood, Carnes and Thompson (1988), these are environmental education, prompting, environmental design and punishment. Environmental education would include TV campaigns against littering, while prompting would mean signage outside offices reminding smokers not to litter. Environmental design would mean improved design of cigarette bins, and punishment means fines. A combination of these methods, together with increased frequency of visits by cleaners, would plausibly be the most effective solution to littering, and this already happens in Hong Kong (Clean Hong Kong, 2012).Paragraph 6 The physical risk caused by smokers in public areas to young children can perhaps be solved by the establishment of smoking zones. While in Hong Kong, universities are supposedly smoke free, in the United States there are moves by some universities to have areas where smoking is allowed (Ryman, 2010). Although the presence of these smoking zones is common in airports, the proposal by universities in America would be for outdoor zones so this could lead to opposition by some non smokers.As  Kennedy et al. (2012) observe, in countries where restrictions have been placed on indoor smoking, thereby prompting greater outdoor smoking, a majority of interviewees now support outdoor smoking limits in certain settings. Paragraph 7 Finally, the issue of working efficiency has also begun to be addressed in the United States, with certain employers, for the most part health care facilities, now actively not employing those applicants who state that they smoke on the application form.Koch (2012) points out that while a tobacco-free recruiting procedure is intended to endorse health and decrease insurance costs, these polices of discrimination against smokers might have unintended repercussions with smokers feeling punished r ather than encouraged to quit smoking. As a result, some States in America have started passing laws forbidding the discrimination in the workplace of smokers (Summary of District of Columbia Laws, 2010), although in Hong Kong this is not currently proscribed under the labour ordinance (Labour Department, 2012).Paragraph 8 This essay has examined the problems created by the ban on smoking in offices and many indoor public venues in recent years. These problems include a deteriorating litter problem, a danger to young children from lit cigarettes and decreased working efficiency among smokers. Solutions that were considered include intensifying and varying litter prevention schemes, establishing smoke free zones and implementing legislation to prevent smokers from being employed. Paragraph 9It is the belief of this writer that while the anti-smoking legislation was welcome, there was not enough thought regarding the consequences of this legalisation before it was implemented. While r emedial measures can be introduced to partially solve some of these problems, the only certain way to eliminate these problems is to further reduce the number of smokers. For this to happen, it is likely that further legalisation which further restricts the advertising, sale, and consumption of tobacco is needed by the Hong Kong Government.

Country analysis of The Democratic Republic of Congo Essay

This location allows grief from neighboring countries on the other hand it is in an ideal location by way of trade routes to other countries and access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Congo River. The Democratic Republic of Congo is also dense with valuable minerals making it regarded as one of the richest countries as ar as natural recourses go. However, it is one of the poorest countries in the world In 1998, the second Congo war began, this war was also known as â€Å"The African world war†. It directly involved nine other African nations: Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and a few others. The war started because neighboring countries as well as citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo wanted to gain some of the minerals and natural resources from the nation originally creating a civil war which spread to other nations, sucking them in and starting a full out war between the countries. The war officially ended in 2003 however; battles and bitterness still resound and cause mass conflict between the African nations today. This war is said to be the worst conflict since World War II. Around five and a half million people have been killed so far due to this conflict. About 90% of the victims were not killed in battle. They passed on due to ravaging diseases such as malaria. They also died from pneumonia and malnutrition. These reasons for death were brought up by displaced populations living in unsanitary, heavily over populated conditions and were denied access to food, water, medicine, and shelter. This ongoing war has devastated a nation that in theory could be a rich, well off nation. The Democratic Republic of Congo has mass amounts of untapped raw mineral deposits. These deposits are worth 24 trillion dollars. This nation contains 30% of the world’s diamond reserves and 70% of the world’s coltan. There are also enormous reserves of gold, copper, and cobalt. The mineral extraction is done in a process known as â€Å"artisanal and small scale mining†. Mining has created severe problems in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There were many illegal organizations profiting off the mines. Because of this, the government shut down the eastern part of the country to mining. During the war, many of the commanders were making illegal trades with foreign countries with their minerals and natural resources. This trading was labeled as â€Å"mass scale looting†. When the mass scale looting died down soldiers were then encouraged to take part in small scale looting. This brought forth the â€Å"active and extraction phase†. Because of all this looting, there were large amounts of inflation. The Congolese government lost much of their profits from Uganda and Rwanda to transport their resources. They often exported diamonds and coltan out of the country. They would then repackage the diamonds and â€Å"legally’ sell them as it they were from their own country. Rwandan soldiers made around 20 million dollars a month from smuggling resources out of the Democratic Republic of Congo. These large mining operations attract migrant workers. Many people migrate to The Democratic Republic of Congo as well to escape the violence in the Great Lakes region. The number of immigrants has been rapidly decreasing over the years. The mass amounts of immigrants have taken over the work force there. In recent years immigrants are starting to migrate to the European nations rather than other nations in Africa. Due to the dense population and poor living conditions, poverty runs rampant through this nation. This also means there are large amounts of crime even though there is a police force, the Congolese national police force. One of the most prevalent crimes in this area is of rape and sexual slavery. The Democratic Republic of Congo is known as â€Å"the rape capital of the world†. With the recent war, the numbers of rape victims have drastically increased. Although the Congolese law rohibits rape these laws are almost never enforced. Rape was a main weapon used in the Second Congo war, which started this ongoing epidemic of sexual violence. Prostitution and human trafficking are prohibited and have a penalty of twenty years in Jail according to the law. However, there will be years where there is not a single investigation of either of these. Proving that the laws are not as heavily enforced in these areas, as they should be. There are also no laws against spousal abuse. This lack of law enforcement is brought up by the lack of a stable and secure government rom the ongoing war. Left with an insecure government the nation is slowly starting to repair itself. The Lusaka Peace Accords set up a government system in 1999. A president was finally elected in 2006. The economy is starting to take a turn for the bright side but it is still wrought with poverty and a failing economy due to the war and mining conflicts. Due to the violence and unstable government, there are few markets and public services. This does not allow farmers to be able to sell their own goods. It forces civilians to fend for themselves. Due to the lack of public services, here are very few hospitals and medicals centers. Disease runs rampant through this nation. Since this nation is so heavily populates diseases spread easily through the communities. There are vast amounts of major health problems in this region including; HIV, aids, malaria, polio outbreaks, cholera, typhoid, yellow fever, the Ebola virus, hemorrhagic fever, and tuberculosis. Many of the illnesses are from poor living conditions, living in filth and with bugs. Diseases are spread through bug bites. Diseases like HIV and Aids are easily spread through a multitude of ways. Diseases re spread through the movement of soldiers and refugees, few HIV testing sites, mass amounts of untreated sexual diseases, human trafficking, sexual abuse, prostitution, and diseased blood transfusions. Due to the ongoing wars and conflicts, it has made it difficult to set up an organization for stopping the spread of these diseases. Because of how poor the civilians are, they have no money for medical help, which is expensive and required to be paid in advance in full cash. The Democratic Republic of Congo is not only rich with minerals but is also a great agricultural location. The general temperature ranges between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a region covered with rainforest and savanna areas. The farming is done mainly in the open savanna areas. Some of the major cash crops include peanuts, beans, bananas, plantains, rice, yams, and sugarcane. Cottee is also a major crop grown here. It is one of the most exported natural resource. Most of the farming is done through the Feronia Arable Farming division. Smaller farmers often use the slash and burn method of farming nearer the rainforest. This method however, is destroying the environment and the rainforest. Using the slash and burn method it takes around fifteen years before the burned field can recover and be used again making the farmers cut down more and more of the rainforest to sustain products and and income. The Democratic Republic of Congo is an up and coming nation it requires vast amounts of revision with the nation’s government system, the conflicts with other countries need to be amended, and laws should be more strictly enforced to create a working nation. The DRC has the potential to be one of the richest nations in Africa by way of its large mineral reserves and demand on the natural resources cultivated here. Major reforms need to be made before this country thrives.

Alcoholism and its Effects essays

Alcoholism and its Effects essays Alcoholism is when there is a progressive, excessive inappropriate drinking of alcohol. Alcoholism is thought to come from a combination of a huge range of psychological, social, and genetic factors. Alcoholism comes from emotional and sometimes physical dependence, but the alcohol normally leads to brain damage or early death. Ten percent of adult of adult drinkers in the U.S. are considered alcoholics or they experience drinking problems to some extent. There are more male alcoholics than females here in the U.S. and some other North and South American Countries, but drinking among the young and women is growing more and more by the years. Alcohol has a toxic as well as strong effects on the body, and not being able to take care of nutritional and other physical needs during prolonged periods of excessive drinking may complicate the drinker, and in some cases hospitalization. The alcohol effects many major organs and include a wide range of digestive-system disorders such as ulcers, inflammation from the pancreas, and cirrhosis from the liver, and damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems can be permanently damaged. Delirium Tremens which are series of illnesses such as loss of appetite, mental confusion, hallucinations, extreme perspiration, tremors, heart failure, pneumonia, and respiratory infections; all of these illnesses usually result in death. Recent evidence shows that heavy and even moderate drinking during pregnancy can cause serious damage to the unborn child (fetus) such as physical or mental retardation or both. FAS, is a mild to severe mental and physical damage to the fetus is caused by the mother's use of alcohol during pregnancy. FAS affects about 1 to 3 in every 1000 births worldwide, and its the leading cause of mental retardation in the Western World. Kids with this horrible syndrome are sma ...

[WATCH] How women can advance in their careers despite failure

[WATCH] How women can advance in their careers despite failure Daily Fuel sat down with the President and CEO of one of the nation’s leading women’s business organizations; Terry Barclay of Inforum.   Terry shares the best advice she can offer to any aspiring professional, and provides some fascinating statistics involving women and their ability to advance in their careers.And while Terry is specifically speaking to women, her insights apply to everyone.   Listen as she talks about the importance of courage and how our ability to summon it at crucial moments at work can often determine whether we will lead the lives we imagine for ourselves.Source: [DailyFuel]

The Evolution of Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Evolution of Terrorism - Essay Example This is partly because of the changing historical elements of terrorism, especially the exercise of terror by perpetrators within a certain political and social setting. This essay identifies the significant historical elements of terrorism and how they have evolved since the attacks of 2001. The 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center revealed that the historical elements of terrorism had drastically transformed. Nowadays, terrorists are involved in a spate of mass murder and suicide across the globe. In the past it had been reasonable to think that there were boundaries that terrorists would not dare go beyond. After the large number of casualties on the 11th of September 2001, it was clear that there are terrorist groups that would dare break boundaries. Terrorism in the past was different from that after 9/11. The history of terrorism is not only Middle Eastern but also European, and not only religious but also nonreligious. However, there are several common elements that can be identified in the evolution of the elements of terrorism. The 9/11 attacks were a threatening new turn in an ancient tale of obsession with political violence and terror. The term ‘terrorism’ became part of the European vocabulary after the 1789 French Revolution. In the initial revolutionary period, it was mainly through violence and terror that the French governments attempted to force their revolutionary new order onto the hesitant masses. Consequently, the original definition of ‘terrorism’ was ‘rule of terror’ (Coaty 9). Such definition works as a powerful message that terror is usually at its most violent when exercised by dictatorial regimes against their own citizenry. However, in the 19th century, terrorism went through a historic evolution, becoming linked, as it remains until now, to nongovernmental organizations.

An ethical analysis of the September 11 attacks Essay

An ethical analysis of the September 11 attacks - Essay Example These attacks were however carried out by Muslim extremists whose ideals were not representative of the Muslim sentiment as a whole. Nevertheless, this attack created a significant rift between the US and the Muslim community. There are various explanations which have been suggested in order to make sense of this attack. These explanations always return to the core issues of terrorism and Muslim extremism. This analysis shall now consider two approaches (Marxism and Realism) to the incident, evaluating the ethics of the situation. The US policy in relation to the developing world soon after the 9/11 attacks shall be the main focus of this analysis, utilizing Marxist and Realist approaches to ethical assessment. The 9/11 terrorist attack and the subsequent War on Terror and the Iraqi War led to instances of western bigotry against the east (Bai). Based on the need to react to the atrocities perpetrated by the Muslim followers, the attacks might be understandable, however, such racism is often carried over to designate Marxism (MacGregor and Zarembka). Some analysts have mentioned, without any sufficient reason for religious fundamentalism in the East, they labeled such religions and practices as the source of crazy fundamentalism, labeling Marxism with the same negative connotation (MacGregor and Zarembka). The 9/11 report on the attacks also established similar connotations, and blamed all the problems on the underachievement and jealousy issues of eastern working class citizens. There are arguments which hold Marxism to task for being too western a philosophy (MacGregor and Zarembka). Edward Said (p. 153) claims that Marxism views Asia as a group entity, not as a plurality of individuals with varying and diverse identities. He does not acknowledge that Marx seems to apply the same ideals to England and India (Said, p. 154). Such criticism may also be based on Marx’s perception of the working class and the bourgeoisie of England where they are grouped to gether based on class. While Said might justifiably accuse Marx with an overall view of class struggle, Marx would likely agree to these same precepts (Said, p. 153). The Marxist theory often supports leftist ideals and has always acknowledged that states operate to protect the interest of the economic working class (Owusu, p. 3). Marxist commentators agree to the outcomes of the 9/11 attacks, most of them are not willing to agree that 9/11 in a manner which was not validated by the US officials; in effect, they discount the possibility of conspiracy of capitalists (Owusu, p. 3). Although the attack established a means for the US to undertake military action, no thought was given to the fact that the attack may have been based on state actions (Owusu, p. 3). However, in general, the Marxist connotations do not support a planned and convoluted action by the US. Marxism is based on economic and sociopolitical ideals which highlight the materialist evaluation of history, and a critique on the development of capitalism (Callinicos, p. 5). In reviewing the 9/11 attacks, terrorism was built on economic hardships, mostly exacerbated by the dominance of capitalism and Western capitalism in the developing countries (Carmody, p. 85). These terrorists believe that their economic