Could Gambling Save Science Encouraging An Honest Consensus Essays

Could Gambling Save Science: Encouraging an Honest Consensus To appear in Social Epistemology, 1992. (version appeared: in Proc. Eighth Intl. Conf. on Risk and Gambling, London, 7/90.) C O U L D G A M B L I N G S A V E S C I E N C E? Encouraging an Honest Consensus by Robin Hanson Visiting Researcher, The Foresight Institute P.O. Box 61058, Palo Alto, CA 94306 USA [emailprotected] 510-651-7483 The pace of scientific progress may be hindered by the tendency of our academic institutions to reward being popular, rather than being right. A market-based alternative, where scientists can more formally "stake their reputation", is presented here. It offers clear incentives to be careful and honest while contributing to a visible, self-consistent consensus on controversial (or routine) scientific questions. In addition, it allows patrons to choose questions to be researched without choosing people or methods. The bulk of this paper is spent examining potential problems with the proposed approach. After this examination, the idea still seems plausible and worth further study. INTRODUCTION After reviewing the discrepancy between what we want from academic institutions and what we get from current institutions, a market-based alternative called "idea futures" is suggested. It is described through both a set of specific scenarios and a set of detailed procedures. Over thirty possible problems and objections are examined in detail. Finally, a development strategy is outlined and the possible advantages are summarized. THE PROBLEM THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION Four centuries ago, some Europeans complained that the existing academic institutions were biased against them. Insiders, it was said, were "inflated by letters" and shunned anyone who dared "speculate on anything out of the common way" [De]. Outsiders -- astrologers, chemists, and people like Bacon and Galileo -- argued that they and their theories should be judged by how well they agreed with observations, and not by how they agreed with the authorities of the day [Gal]. This was the age of utopias [Whi], as these rebels debated possible academic reforms and imagined whole new social institutions, for both academia in particular and society in general. Within a century or so, the intellectual descendants of these outsiders became the new insiders in a process now called the "Scientific Revolution". They introduced a new respect for observations along with new social institutions, such as the Royal Society of London, inspired by those utopian ideals. Since then science has made impressive progress. Most controversial issues of four centuries ago seem long settled by now, and continued research may well settle most of today's controversies. Academia can claim some credit for this, and academic institutions have continued to evolve in response to perceived problems, formalizing publication in journals, credit in citations, and evaluation in anonymous peer review. PROBLEMS WITH ACADEMIA Yet little has really changed. Academia is still largely a medieval guild, with a few powerful elites, many slave-like apprentices, and members who hold a monopoly on the research patronage of princes and the teaching of their sons. Outsiders still complain about bias, saying their evidence is ignored, and many observers [Gh,Red,SmP,Syk,Tr,Tul] have noted some long-standing problems with the research component of academia. {footnote: Teaching reform is beyond the scope of this paper. I am content to observe that there are no obvious reasons why the changes I will propose should make teaching worse.} As currently practiced {footnote: Early peer reviewer consisted more of personally observing experiments and trying to reproduce analyses.} peer review is just another popularity contest, inducing familiar political games; savvy players criticize outsiders, praise insiders, follow the fashions insiders indicate, and avoid subjects between or outside the familiar subjects. It can take surprisingly long for outright lying by insiders to be exposed [Red]. There are too few incentives to correct for cognitive [Kah] and social [My] biases, such as wishful thinking, overconfidence, anchoring [He], and preferring people with a background similar to your own. Publication quantity is often the major measure of success, encouraging redundant publication of "smallest publishable units" by many co-authors. The need to have one's research appear original gives too little incentive to see if it has already been done elsewhere, as is often the case, and neglects efforts to integrate previous research. A preoccupation with "genius" and ideological wars over "true" scientific method [Gh] needlessly detract from just trying to be useful. Perhaps the core problem is that academics are rewarded mainly for telling a good story, rather than for being right. (By "right" I include not only being literally correct, but also being on the right track, or enabling work on the right track.)

Earthsong vs The Makers-Book Comparison essays

Earthsong vs The Makers-Book Comparison essays Good Morning ladies and gentlemen, the nominees for Book Award in Literature are The Makers by Victor Kelleher and the Earthsong also by Victor Kelleher. Without further adieu, the winner of this prestigious award for this year is The Makers. Let me tell you how the panel of judges including myself came to the conclusion that The Makers is a more compelling read over Earthsong. Firstly, The Makers has the setting of The Keep; a huge stone fortress in the middle of the desert and the old city, the ruins of a city that is deserted and that only contains vermin. These settings are interesting and seem to have an element of evil that is exciting. While Earthsong has many settings, the snow, the desert, the jungle, and it goes on. We found that these settings were boring and too normal. Even though the animals had evolved it was just too familiar for science fiction. The next thing we compared were characters. Jeth and Rae in The Makers were adventurous, always fighting for their freedom and their cause. On the other hand, Anna and Joe in Earthsong were not thinking for themselves, Walter, the spaceship, made all their decisions, which is bad. Language in both books was taken into account. The Makers used advanced language and sometimes were too descriptive, but it helped describe the settings and gave the reader a better visualization of the book. Earthsong is an easier read but is overly descriptive in some areas. We found Walters garbled speech annoying and it slowed the book down. Lastly we looked at each of the books plots. The Makers was exciting, powerful and adventurous. While the Earthsong was just too predictable, the characters just came along for the ride with Walter. Therefore, it was clear to us that The Makers is the winner. ...

International Business Environment Coursework Essay

International Business Environment Coursework - Essay Example While international business has been there for a long time, it has never been as intense as it is today. Yet, it has not reached its peak. In the future, conditions are going to make it easier, an also necessary for businesses to look at global opportunities. International business is therefore going to be more intensified as time goes on. Although more and more opportunities continue to increase, there are also some challenges that continue to show up in the international business environment. In this appear both challenges and the opportunities that will grace the international business environment have been identified. Of course, globalization is the biggest factor that has to be considered with regard to international business. Globalization is the unification of the global community made of nations, countries and regions, as they share various aspects of culture such as goods and services, language, ideas, education and even world views. Globalization has been made possible by the introduction of better communication and transport infrastructure which makes these things to be easily moved from one region to the other. Other factors also make globalization a necessity in the long run. With globalization, the world continues to be flatter with every technology that that comes up. The flatness of the world refers to the fact that things can be done around the globe in much more efficient and flexible way than they were done in the past. As the world gets flatter, it will mean that the market will respond equally to all types, sizes and even sources of competition. In a fact, world, all competitors have the same opportunity and some traditional factors that used to be the factors determining who dominates the market will cease to be important. Although this has been achieved in a number of ways, it is going to be even more so in the next decade. The

Abortions Should Remain Legal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Abortions Should Remain Legal - Essay Example However, before the Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973 which legalized abortion in the U.S., this practice was common. Prior to abortion being legal, many untold thousands of young women were injured and died while trying to end a pregnancy while the wealthy women were able to have illegal abortions performed safely usually outside the country. The rich were able to travel overseas or pay inflated high prices to a local physician who was willing to perform the operation but poor woman had to resort to more dangerous options. Criminalizing abortions never has and never will stop them from happening; it just harms women. Those persons opposed to legal abortions are the same ones who oppose programs that aid the poor and abused kids who resulted from unwanted pregnancies. They point to ‘family values’ and ‘Christian morals’ as the rationalization for discrimination of the impoverished, the loss of liberty, and the increased numbers of injured women. There will always b e ideological differences between factions but the dispute as to whether abortion should be legal is a matter for the justice system, courts and judges, as are all legal matters. This paper considers the legal arguments of the abortion issue. The emotional arguments for and against are important from a social context yet but peoples ‘feelings’ about abortion will not decide whether or not the procedure remain lawful and safe. The 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court case decided that women have the constitutional right to have an abortion performed up to a point when the fetus is viable, meaning when it can live on its own outside the woman’s body. The decision nullified any state law that disallowed a woman to have or a doctor to perform an abortion during the first trimester (three months) of a pregnancy. The ruling also restricted abortions during the second-trimester with the exception being if a woman’s health is in danger (â€Å"Roe v. Wade†, 1 997: 312). Though the decision was controversial then and remains so today, the Court’s decision was right from a constitutional perspective. Detractors of the decision have commonly made arguments based on personal ethical beliefs which are immaterial when the language of the Constitution is scrutinized. Their moral objections regarding the Roe decision can be rapidly invalidate by evaluating the precedents of constitutional decisions by the Supreme Court and reading the specific wordage of the Constitution. There are, however, legitimate questions concerning the Constitutional issues of the Roe decision that merit answering. When most people speak disparagingly of the Court’s decision, they base their disapproval purely on moral justifications but lawyers, scholars and especially judges who criticize the decision should only do so based for constitutional reasoning in addition to expressing their moral objections. Opposition to the decision should speak to the 9th Am endment which states, â€Å"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people† (â€Å"Bill of Rights†, 2006). Opponents say that the ninth, and all other amendments, do not explicitly mention abortion consequently the Constitution does not apply when trying to establish the legality of abortion rights. This view, however, clearly contradicts the short and succinct statement that is the Ninth Amendment which undoubtedly encourages the right to an abortion and all other rights whether or not explicitly stated in the Constitution. Just because a specific word or phrase does not appear, the Constitution remains the source for legal precedence for this subject as it is for

Women and Mothers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Women and Mothers - Essay Example his depicts mothers’ role as key advisors in their respective families, mostly comprised of instructing children on varied aspects that pertain to both moral and spiritual conduct. Therefore, it was the mandate of Carolingian women to instill both spiritual and societal morals among their children via emphasizing on the essence of God’s reverence in their lives. In Carolingian family, mother’s key role encompassed instructing children according to scriptural precepts. This was to ensure they embraced pious life while still young besides attaining other essential societal morals meant to help them succeed in their entire lives. Hence, ensure societal harmony and decency (Dhuoda 10). The entire book comprises almost of one persona, which is the mother who goes to the extent of elaborating what she says to her son. This is to ensure while William is young, understands well everything regarding earthly life besides benefits attached to being humble, respecting, obedient and Godly (Dhuoda 22). For instance, Dhuoda instructs William saying, If you love God with all your heart and study carefully the volumes of His scriptures in the Old and New Testaments, and if you do this reading with appropriate concentration, then the spirit of wisdom will come to rest upon you1. In addition, besides mothers instructing young ones to embrace piety, they emphasized the essence of children respecting their fathers (Dhuoda 22). This is via using examples from the Holy Scriptures that feature varied old patriarchs or saints who choose the same path and became successful, for instance, Isaac (Dhuoda 24). However, emphasis for mothers’ respect is not as per fathers’ in the entire book but calls for parents’ general obedience by their children. Hence, confirming the mothers’ role of instilling morals among their young children. This is also noticeable in the entire book, whereby there is no father’s intervention either in suggesting or indulging themselves with close

Geography of Environmental Injustice and Health Inequalities

Geography of Environmental Injustice and Health Inequalities Geography of Environmental Injustice and Health Inequalities in the Nigeria Abstract The unfair distribution of toxic wastes and other acute and chronic health hazards on vulnerable populations, which have contributed to negative health inequalities in less developing nations, such as been observed in Nigeria is term as global health inequalities. The link between environmental injustices, risks, and health inequalities has not been well established in Nigeria, in understanding its impact on futures health outcomes. The issue of environmental injustices and health inequalities is treated as a distinct issue from the problems associated with health, well-being and environmental sustainability. This research aims to understand health outcomes and its associated future health burden taken into consideration in the link between pursuing environmental injustice, and health inequalities in the oil producing region of Nigeria. Ultimately, examine the conceptual issues relating to environmental injustices, health inequalities, and non-communicable diseases that challenges the development of better future health outcomes programmes and planning for environmental justices in Nigeria. Introduction Global Environmental Injustices, is the unfair circulation of toxic wastes and other acute and chronic health hazards on vulnerable populations, which have contributed to negative health inequalities in less developing nations, such as been observed in Nigeria (Schroeder et al., 2008: 551; Roberts, 2007: 286; Adeola, 2000: 686, 2001:45) has been observed in Nigeria for over 50 years due to the exploration of crude oil. According to Roberts (1985), the industrialization of any region is greatly influenced by the presence of rich mineral deposits, resulting in the heavy industrialisation of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The Niger Delta region is the location for most of the oil exploration activities in Nigeria, resulting in many people and companies attraction to the area. The migration flow and influence of the various companies has adverse impact on health outcomes. In addition, environmental risks such as oil spillage, gas flaring, and other wastes resulting from oil production polluting the environment could affect health and well-being on the residing communities (Nabofa, 2011). Another major cause for concern is the cumulative effect of the crude oil contents on the health and wellbeing of the people over a long period of time (Khursid et al., 2008). Ajayi et al., (2009), revealed in a study carried out on natural radioactivity and trace elements in crude oils implications for health, that Niger Delta oil, although, has low metallic contents; however, the cumulative effects of the radioactivity and metallic properties on health outcomes is alarming. Therefore, communities in the oil producing areas live with a lot of externally generated factors; resulting from additional pressure to highly stressful ways of living, leading to specific risk related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), for instance skin cancer and psychological disorders (Ilo, 1998; Loewenson, 1998; Kathari and Nababasing, 1996; Fuentes et al., 1994). According to Ana et al. (2010), It is apparent that populations living in highly industrialized communities such as Port Harcourt with higher environmental risk factors may be more vulnerable to pollution-related morbidities including a higher predisposition to cancers of the lung, skin. and eye. It is thus, apparent, that the major driver of environmental injustices is the activities of Multinational/Transnational Corporation engaged in the oil business. As the major revenue generation for the country, oil production had been followed by countless environmental problems, associated with other broad inequalities in livelihood, wealth, well-being, poverty; interactions and inequalities in the distribution of burden and responsibilities of the health outcomes. Statement of Problem Literature on environmental justice have emphasised that there is growing concern about the health outcomes associated with intensive oil and gas activities in many communities (Palinkas, et al.,1993) as well as concentration of these occurrences in poor communities (Gill, et al.,2011). The link between environmental injustices, risks, and health inequalities has been established internationally but in Nigeria, this link has not been established in understanding its impact on health outcomes. The issue of environmental injustices and health inequalities is treated as a distinct issue from the problems associated with health, well-being and environmental sustainability. Are the questions of health outcomes and its associated future health burden actually taken into consideration the link between environmental injustice, and health inequalities? Can Nigeria (Government, Multinational companies, and the communities) especially the oil producing region achieve health equity without promoting environmental justice and empowerment of the vulnerable population as a result of the burden of NCDs? These questions will be examined with conceptual issues relating to environmental injustices, health inequalities, and NCDs that challenges the method of developing better future health outcomes programmes and planning for environmental justices in Nigeria. Objective of the Study According to Pearce et al., (2010), One potential driver for the increasing geographical differences in health is the disparity in exposure to key characteristics of the physical environment that are either health promoting or health damaging. Thus, the objectives of the study are: to examine linkages between environmental injustices, health inequalities and health outcome; to study and understand the reasons for the prevalence increase in health inequalities and the consequences on the future especially in the Niger Delta region; to clarify conceptual issues relating to environmental justice and inequalities as it relates to Nigeria and to evaluate what considerable impact establishing the link will have on the goal of environmental justices. Justification of study The politics of oil in the Niger Delta region have promoted the lack of transparency and accountability throughout the region. There are inadequate environmental assessments on the impact of the oil industry on the health of the people. While NCDs rates of causing respiratory ailments, and other illnesses are increasing, the government do not want to fully acknowledge their contribution to these health outcomes. It is imperative to undertake a conceptual clarification of what environmental justice and health inequalities mean in the context of the oil producing communities in Nigeria within the theoretical framework of justice theory, and health inequalities. This will lead to a more imperatively comprehensive spatial distribution studies with a multi-disciplinary approach to identify health consequences within the oilÂÂ   and non-oil producing regions (Ogri, 2001: 20; Dung et al., 2008; Ana et al., 2009) so as to properly assess environmental health disparities through the use of Geospatial techniques. The research will contribute to literatures on the global environmental injustices and health inequalities and the growing need for environmental justices. In addition, understanding these linkages would assist regulators and operators in the oil producing regions to address questions of social and environmental justice; through suitable allocation of scarce resources for rapid response, distribution of cost and benefit and promote community level participation for sustainable development and better health outcome and well beings Time scale Schedule The first year will be devoted to the review of relevant literature, proposal writing, and fulfilling additional training requirements. Included in the first year is the initial generated data period (initial generated data period for the literature review and data collection). The second year will be for the actual fieldwork and the analysis of the data; the first six months will be used for data collection and the next six months for data analysis. The third will be devoted to writing up of the thesis. Methodology Study area The Niger Delta region of Nigeria, consist of 37 million inhabitants, constituting about 22% of Nigerias population (Aaron, 2005), with a population density of 265 per square km. it is made up of nine states with more than 1500 communities hosting several oil and gas companies. The oil and gas resources of the Niger Delta accounts for over 85% of Nigerias gross domestic product (GDP), over 95% of the national budget, and over 80% of the nations wealth (Forest, and Sousa, 2006). The region is home to the oil wealth that made Nigeria the highest producer of petroleum in Africa, and the sixth in the world (Yakubu, 2008). Methods Spatial clustering methods and Quantitative risk assessment methods will be used to explain the first and second objectives of this research. Spatial clustering methods will be used to make sense of the complex geographic pattern between the environmental risk and health records in this research. Knowing whether this pattern and cluster exist and where they are located will provide important information for policy formulation and health research (Cromley and McLafferty, 2002; Croner et al., 1992). To avoid the bias of latency and migration, that can present itself in the cause of the research, only information on long term residents in the communities will be used. The spatial distribution of environmental risks will be used to provide a means for determining communities likely to become susceptible to health inequalities and NCDs. For this assessment, communities in the area were treated as substitute for human population and settlement while land, vegetation and rivers were considered the medium of land use. The thiessen polygon will be developed in ArcGIS environment to demarcate boundaries of the communities (because there are no community boundary shapefiles available) and determine the number/different environmental risk sites in each thiessen polygon that represents a community. Quantitative risk assessment will be used to characterise the effects expected from the exposure to an environmental risk, estimating the probability of occurrence of health effects, while estimating the number of occurrence in the population and recommending acceptable concentration of the risk in the air, water or food (Hallenbeck, 1993) Overlaying cluster maps with other spatial maps will provide clues about the cause of disease, while identifying variations in health outcomes linked to differences in the physical and social environment. Clarification of conceptual issues, (the 3rd objective) will be achieved by discussing the results of the analysis carried out within the study and existing studies on environmental injustice and health inequalities to provide justification for the research. Data and Source Secondary data will be collected from published government statistics from the states that make up the sample communities such as maps, etc. Data were also collected from relevant government agencies such as the health board and teaching hospitals information, and local government and chieftaincy affairs. The data will majorly focus on the use of some selected indicators of development vital for health well-being and basic amenities needed to support effective living. The local government areas will serve as aerial units of analysis while the choices of socio-economic indices will be based on the appropriateness of the variables and the availability of the data covering all the LGAs in the study region. The selected indicators that cut across health include number of NCDs, hospitals; doctors; midwives; hospital beds/ 000 populations (2014 census). In addition, GPS data of all environmental risks sites from 1985-2015, will be acquired from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Nigeria (DPR, is the regulatory agency of oil and gas activities in Nigeria). The data were used to assess the environmental risks spatiotemporal distribution and determine exposure susceptibility in the areas. The datasets will contain information on geo-coordinates of individual risk sites, date of occurrence, date of survey and quantity of discharge. Analysis Spatial Analysis description for Average Nearest Neighbour Analysis, Getis-Ord General G tests for High and Low Cluster, and Cluster and Outlier Analysis will be performedin the study (see Appendix A). These spatial analyses were undertaken to measure the spatial pattern and relationship between risk that are spread over a given geographical region (Ebdon, 1985). It helps in assessing and determining the closeness and patterns of the environmental risks sites near settlements. The methods with generate geographical distribution, cluster and pattern analysis of environmental risk and spatio-temporal nature of the incidents. To examine the degree of deprivation among the local government areas in health variables, the Gini index descriptive statistical technique of date analysis was used. The Gini index of concentration examines the extent of concentration of each of the indicators among the local government areas. The Gini Coefficient ranges from zero to one, (0-1) with zero representing perfect equality, and 1 total inequality Intellectual and User Benefits The intellectual contribution of the study will be to enhance the understanding of the effects of socio-economic and cultural characteristics upon the spatial pattern of environmental injustice and health inequalities. The benefits of this research are a direct contribution to developing policy on health management strategy and planning for equality, environmental policy and its applications especially within vulnerable populations. For the researcher, there will be the academic benefits of doctoral research and training in health geography and the development of expertise in research methodology techniques. By working closely with interested parties, the researcher will gain insights into the relationships between academic research and the needs of users. Ethical considerations Full consent will be provided to all research participants with the full research disclosure and confidentiality according to the ethnical research procedure of the University of Edinburgh. Summary and conclusions As the major revenue generation for the country, oil production had been followed by countless environmental problems, associated with other broad inequalities in livelihood, wealth, well-being, poverty; interactions and inequalities in the distribution of burden and responsibilities of the health outcomes. The research aims to undertake a conceptual clarification of what environmental justice and health inequalities mean in the context of the oil producing communities in Nigeria within the theoretical framework of justice theory, and health inequalities. Leading to a more imperatively comprehensive spatial distribution studies with a multi-disciplinary approach to identify health consequences from the oil industry versus non-oil producing areas. Thus, properly assess environmental health disparities through the use of Geospatial techniques. The research will contribute to literatures on the global environmental injustices and health inequalities and the growing need for environmenta l justices. About me Right from my secondary school, Geography had been an extremely interesting field of study to me because of the vast range of topics involved and how it relates to every subject in one way or another, for instance, Health Geography and Public Health. Geography is the study of the world, and geographers proudly holds the keys to the worlds problems. These problems extend to, injustice, health, eco-systems, development, globalisation and natural disasters, all of which are areas which attract me. Geography has been essential for interpreting and solving the concerns of the world, and by furthering my geographical knowledge through the PhD studentship, it will enhance my ability to tackle the imminent problems relating to environmental injustice, crime, pollution. I have a particular interest in the human side of Geography and especially the topics of: health, medical, hazards and the environment. My interest in the PhD research which will covers processes functioning in time as well as space, linking health over the life course with processes of environmental change, human migration, human relations and length of exposures to different environmental risk factors. I am keen to explore the various spatial questions of how and why human health/environmental injustices varies from one area to another at the rate of population increase. I will be interested in examining how individual health- related practices and health outcomes relate to mans varying experience of physical and social environments and injustice. Dissemination The research outcome will be communicating with colleagues and your supervisors as well as with the wider community and, the funding body supporting your research. The dissemination activities include internal seminars, publications, conference presentations and exhibitions. References Aaron, K. (2005) Perspective: Big Oil, Rural Poverty, and Environmental Degradation in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 11, 127-134. http://dx.doi.org/10.13031/2013.18178 Adeola, F. (2000). Cross-National Environmental Injustice and Human Rights Issues: A Review of Evidence in the Developing World. American Behavioral Scientist, (43), 686-705. Adeola, F. (2001). Environmental Injustices and Human Rights Abuse: The States, MNCs, and Repression of Minority Groups in the World System. Human Ecology Review, 8(1), 39-59. Ajayi, T., Torto, N., Tchokossa, P., and Akinlua, A. (2009). Natural Radioactivity and Trace Elements in Crude Oils: Implication for health. Environ. Geochem. Health 31(1):61-69. Ana, G., Sridhar, M., and Asuzu, M. (2010) Environmental risk factors and hospital-based cancers in two Nigerian cities. Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Vol. 2(8), pp. 216-223. Ana, G., Sridhar, M., and Bamgboye, E. (2009). Environmental risk factors and health outcomes in selected communities of the Niger Delta area, Nigeria. Perspectives in Public Health, 129(4), 183-191. Cromley, E and McLafferty, S (2002). GIS and Public Health, Guilford Press. Croner, C., Pickle, L., wolf, D., and White, A. 1992. A GIS approach to hypothesis generation in epidemiology. In A. W Voss (Ed.), ASPRS/ACSM techinal papers, Vol 3. GIS and cartography (pp. 275-283). Washington, DC: ASPRS/ACSM DOI: 10.5897/JTEHS12.056 Dung, E., Bombom, L.; Agusomu, T. (2008). The effects of gas flaring on crops in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. GeoJournal, 73, 297-305. Ebdon, D. (1985) Statistics in Geography. 2nd Edition, Blackwell Publishing, Hoboken. Forest, J., and Sousa, M. (2006) Oil and Terrorism in the New Gulf: Framing U.S. Energy and Security Policies for the Gulf of Guinea. Lexington Books. Fuentes, A., Ehenreich, B., and Boston, M. (1994). Women in the Global Factory. Philadelphia: South End Press. Gill, D., Picou, J., and Ritchie, L. (2011) The Exxon Valdez and BP Oil Spills: A Comparison of Initial Social and Psychological Impacts. American Behavioral Scientist, 56, 3-23. Hallenbeck, W (1993). Quantitative risk assessment for environmental and occupational health (2nd ed.). Boca Raton. FL: Lewis. http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/ajp.150.10.1517 Ikporukpo, C. (2004). Petroleum, Fiscal Federalism and Environmental Justice in Nigeria. Space and Polity, 8(3), 321-354. International Labour Organization ILO (1998). Economic and Social Effects of Multinational Enterprises in Export Processing Zones. Geneva: ILO Kathari. U., Nababsing, V. (1996). Gender and Industrialization. Port Louis, Mauritius: Editous de I Ocean Indeen. Khursid, R., Sheikk, M., and Igbal, S. (2008). Health of People Working/Living in the Viccinity of an Oil-polluted beach, near Karachi, Pakistan. East Mediterr. Health J. 14(1):179-82. Loewenson R 1998. Assessment of the health impact on occupational risk in Africa. Current situation and methodological Issues. Epidemiology, 10(5): 632-639. Nabofa, O., and Suoke Onohwosafe, P. (2011) The Need for Environmental Epidemiological Studies in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria, Ethno Med, 5(3): 201-204 Odigie, O. (2012) Environmental Justice and Poverty Alleviation: Roadmap to Sustainable Development in Nigeria NIALS Journal of Law and Public Policy Vol. 1 NJLPP, pp. 152-180. Ogri, O.O. (2001). A review of the Nigerian petroleum industry and the associated environmental problems. The Environmentalist, 21, 11-21. Palinkas, L., Petterson, J., Russell, J. and Downs, M. (1993) Community Patterns of Psychiatric Disorders after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 1517-1523. Pearce, J., Richardson, E., Mitchell, R., and Shortt, N. (2010). Environmental justice and health: the implications of the socio-spatial distribution of multiple environmental deprivation for health inequalities in the United Kingdom. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 35(4), 522-539. Roberts (1985). Biology: A Functional Approach. London: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd. Roberts, T. (2007). Globalizing Environmental Justice. Environmental Justice and Environmentalism: The Social Justice Challenge to the Environmental Movement, 285-321. Salako, A., Sholeye, O and Ayankoya, S. (2012) Oil spills and community health: Implications for resource limited settings. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences Vol. 4(9), pp. 145-150. Schroeder, R., St. Martin, K., Wilson, B., and Sen, D. (2008). Third World Environmental Justice. Society for Natural Resources, 21, 547-555. Yakubu, L. (2008) Nigeria Loses N5.8b Daily to Gas Flaring. The Guardian, 5th August Appendix A Average Nearest Neighbour: Getis-Ord Genral G Test: Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis (Global Morans I): Outlier Analysis:

physiotherapeutic management of stroke :: essays research papers

Introduction Cerebrovascular disease or the term stroke is used to describe the effects of an interruption of the blood supply to a localised area of the brain. It is characterized by rapid focal or global impairment of cerebral function lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death (Hatano, 1976). As such it is a clinically defined syndrome and should not be regarded as a single disease. Stroke affects 174-216 people per 10,000 population in the UK per year and accounts for 11% of all deaths in England and Wales (Mant et al, 2004). The risk of recurrent stroke within 5 years is between 30-43%. One problem is that the incidence of stroke rises steeply with age and the number of elderly people in the UK is on the increase. To date people who experience a stroke occupy around 20 per cent of all acute hospital beds and 25 per cent of long term beds (Stroke Association, 2004). The British Government now identifies stroke as a major economic burden on the National Health Service (DoH, 2002). Fifty percent of stroke survivors will experience some residual impairment (physical and cognitive), which is devastating to the individual and their families (Rudd et al, 2002). It is therefore vital for patients and resources that maximum functional recovery is achieved as fast as possible. The physiotherapist has a key role to play in the management of stroke patients, through assessment, prevention strategies, acute management and recovery. This essay aims to critically discuss physiotherapeutic management and examine how it has and may be influenced by a number of factors (e.g. type of organized system for the delivery of post stroke care, setting of therapy, evidence based practice from which National Guidelines are produced etc). The first stage is to outline stroke pathology, of which forms the basis of appropriate management. Pathology There are two major stroke sub groups, those resulting from infarction (ischemic stroke) and those resulting from haemorrhage (intracerebral and subarachnoid). Each of the types can produce clinical symptoms that fulfil the definition of stroke. The types often differ with respect to survival and long-term disability, from recovery in a day to incomplete recovery, severe disability and death (Warlow et al, 2001). Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, which accounts for approximately 85% of all cases (Rudd et al, 2002). It affects 35 people per 100,000 of the population per year (Coull et al, 2004).

If I were the Finance Minister of India Essay

In the economy of a developing county like India, the role of the Finance Minister is a crucial one. This is more so in the case of the country which has chosen the path of planned development, as Indian has done. If ever I become the Finance Minister of the country, my first effort would be to root out the demon of back money. It is black money which leads to inflation and to the rise in prices, and this makes financial control almost impossible. Since black money is the money on which tax has not been paid, I will see to it that that evasion is reduced to a minimum. With this end in view, tax structure will be rationalized. The taxation rate will be brought down so as to provide relief to the salaried people as well as to the business community. With a more reasonable tax – structure, the temptation to evade taxes, would no longer be there. Those who still avoid payment of direct taxes, plugged, so that tax-evaders are not able to escape the clutches clutches of the law. Black-markets hoarders, ect, who run a kind of parallel economy, would also be severely dealt with Laws in this respect would also be made more stringent, and the concerned Government officials would be given more power to deal with such offenders. In this way, the inflation rate would be brought down, and relief provided to the people, groaning under the burden of rising prices and increasing taxation. I will also see to it that credit facilities are liberalized. Banking services will be extended to the rural areas. With this end in view, Banks will be encouraged to open their braches even in remote villages. Indian farmer is proverbially poor, and owning to his poverty and illiteracy he has always been exploited by the local money lenders. Instructions will be used to the banks (through the Reserve Bank of India) that the needy farmers be given loans on easy and liberal terms. This will enable them to purchase good quality seeds, fertilizers, tractors, etc. Agriculture would thus be modernized and this would lead to increase production. Construction of tube-wells would also be encouraged and villages would be rapidly electrified, so that agriculture production is no longer at the mercy of rains. While I will continue to encourage large scale industries, the growth of small industries would also be encouraged. They would also be provided with soft loans by the nationalized banks, and if need be more banks would be nationalized. Technicians, live T.V and Radio mechanics, Internet, professional people like Doctors and other self-employed people, would also be given financial help by the banks. Non-plan Government expenditure would be brought down whenever possible. Wastage would be reduced to a minimum by appropriate measures. I will see to it that, while the just demands of the employees are met with, they also work honestly and sincerely for the good of the nation. All these measures, I hope, would be brought down whenever possible. Wastage would be reduced to a minimum by appropriate measures. I will see to it that, while the just demands of the employees are met with, they also work honestly and sincerely for the good of the nation. All these measures, I hope, would go a long way toward revamping the Indian economy. Still, if considered necessary, I will not hesitate to accept foreign aid or to take loans from International Financial Institutions like the I.M.F Funds would also be raised through borrowings from the public. However, I am hopeful that such measures would not be necessary. Public sector undertakings are already showing large profits which are likely to be larger still in the next years. These earnings should be sufficient to fill any budgetary gaps. Those which are running in a loss will be wound up and replaced by private industrial concerns. In the interest of rapid, increased production even multinational concerns will be invited to set up industries in the country. The employees of the sick public sector undertakings would be absorbed in these private industries. Thus a massive programme of privatization would be undertaken to encourage competition and promote production. In short, as the Financial Minister of India, it would be my earnest endeavour to see that there is an overall increase in production, that the hardship of the people are reduced to a minimum, and through proper fiscal control Indian Economy becomes more and more self-reliant.

Just War essays

Just War essays The Holy See juggles with its policies of what a just war consist of in this article. St. Augustine states that a just war consists of just cause, legitimate authority, and right intention. The Holy See adds to the saints list with last resort in an attempt to curb preemptive military strike or war. Just war theorists back up the United States preemptive war on grounds that Saddam would use weapons of mass destruction against us if he had the chance. Pope John Paul II says that war is not a good means of settling conflicts and that there are other ways other than a preemptive strike. The Holy See speaks on the matter that the United States war on Iraq was not a last resort but an act on the presumption that Saddam was making weapons to attack the US or assisting terrorists. I think that the Holy Sees policy on the war on Iraq has good backing and shows the behind the scenes conflicts that riddle the president every day. I believe that the war on Iraq was a preemptive strike but needed to be done. It seems the US tends to be the world police by assisting countries with corrupt government and keeping dictators in check. I believe this is a bad position but one the US is stuck with. The Holy See seems to merge with most of Europe on global positions so their take on the war in Iraq doesnt seem too peculiar. The approval of the Holy See doesnt seem to bother the president at all and comes across as a one man job for the ambassador to the Holy See. ...

Attacks essays

Attacks essays Franklin Delano Roosevelt and George W. Bush are presidents who faced markedly different times, economic issues and social concerns. However, they have one tragic fact in common: they were both sitting presidents when the United States experienced surprise attacks from countries or entities outside the United States. Roosevelt was President during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Bush was president on September 11, 2001, when the terrorist organization al-Queda attacked New York City and Both incidents resulted in the United States going to war with wide support from the American public, and allegations have since arisen that both presidents knew about the likelihood of the attacks before they There's no doubt that both attacks came as a complete surprise to most people. Roosevelt called the attack on Pearl Harbor a day that would live in infamy, and the immediate circumstances surrounding the attack certainly supported that view. The attack made it impossible to not declare war on Japan, and since Japan had signed an agreement with the Axis Powers, this meant we were also at war with Germany and Italy. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the great majority of American realized we had experienced a terrorist attack, which made it unclear at first just whom we should declare war on. In some ways the 2001 attack was even more outrageous to Americans than the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. In 1941, Japan had chosen military targets. In 2001, al-Queda hit only one military target which resulted in a small minority of the casualties compared to the thousands of people who died in New York City when they attacked civilian targets. By September 15th, formal opinion in the government had formed that the terrorist group al-Queda was behind the attacks as they had claimed. President Bush's administration had already made it clear that we...

International Defense Profile Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Defense Profile - Essay Example Topics of defence policies, weapons superiority, and military paradigms are currently being addressed while the traditional models are set aside (Markert & Backer, 2003). Essentially, the United States is forecasting a situation where it will be forced to battle for power with emerging Third World Powers through the design of weapons and use of contemporary military technologies. In the Contemporary global society, developing nations are armed with the state of the art armaments. These include increased use of proliferated Chemical Weapons, availability of ballistic and cruise missiles, nuclear weapons capacity, high-performance aircrafts and submarines. It, therefore, shows that more nations are becoming  fatal in the battlefields. It is, therefore, critical to ponder the implication of the coming Gulf War, current terrorism war and Russian military resurgence (Markert & Backer, 2003). Recently, national security has been used as a justification for enormous government expenditures; therefore, the government has procured and developed weapons systems and armaments. There are various rationales for the establishment and massive investment in new weapons and military forces. First, military forces are used for the defense, therefore, need to direct investment to reduce damages and prevent attacks by the opponents (Markert & Backer, 2003). In addition, modern nuclear weapons have become highly sophisticated that it can cause massive damages to the enemy. These defensive mechanisms may also involve the employment of counterforce targeting which means aiming at opponent’s military forces specifically at strategic nuclear forces. It may also involve counter-value targeting that uses a particular program to point at weapons placed at softer targets for instance in industrial facilities, economic enterprises and populated urban centers (Markert & Backer, 2003).

IAS 18 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

IAS 18 - Assignment Example According to IAS 18, revenue is simply the gross inflow of financial benefits (receivables, cash, and other assets) emanating from the normal operating activities of a business (like sales of services, sales of goods, royalties, dividends and interest) (Elliott & Elliott 2013 ). Accordingly, an exchange for services or goods of a comparable value and nature is not considered as a transaction that yields revenue. Though, exchanges for dissimilar goods and services are considered as revenue generation. Question Two IAS 18 outlines the underpinning principles for the recognition criteria for Revenue in three different parts. Identify each of the three parts and discuss the recognition criteria for each part. Basing on the above statement, there is a dissimilar approach taken to the realization or recognition of revenue particularly from the services that have been provided ( Holt, Tweedie, & Richard 2013). In short, instead of realizing the revenue at one point such as the sale of goods, it should be realized gradually. According to IAS 18, in order to estimate the outcome of a transaction reliably the following conditions are met: IAS 18 indicates the need to measure revenue at the fair value of the consideration received (Greuning 2001). However, in the case where the consideration or payment is deferred, the arrangement will constitute the substance of the transaction and a financing transaction. In such situations, the amount receivable is classified into: The key challenges associated with the implementing of IAS 18 Revenue is that its principles for revenue recognition are quite broad. In addition, under IAS 18, there is clarity on how to recognize revenue. Professional bodies have introduced the principle of IFRS 15 ( Bragg 2011). With this principle, a business recognizes revenue to show the transfer of services or goods to clients. In addition, it reflects the payment to