Employment Benefits in the Fast Food Industry Essay example -- Essays o

Employment Benefits in the Fast Food Industry The fast food industry has been expanding rapidly over the past years. It has become a part of our culture. In the book Labour Relations in the Global Fast-Food Industry, Robin Leidner quotes from Eric Schlosser who wrote the popular Fast Food Nation , â€Å"According to one estimate, there are approximately 2.5 million fast-food workers in the United States, making them the country’s largest group of low-paid workers (Leidner 11). Those 2.5 million fast-food workers are now working at Subway, McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, KFC, etc. The American fast food industry was built on the promise of low prices and fast services. Therefore, the corporations have to keep the labor and other operating costs down. Employees who work in fast food restaurants receive low wages and minimal benefits. In the past, many fast food workers tried to unionize themselves for guaranteed wages and benefits; yet, they have failed as many times as they ha ve tried. I argue that fast food employees should get basic benefits such as health insurance, personal days and sick days, and perhaps a 401K plan because these hard workers are worth the benefits they should receive based on their commitments and contributions to the company. I feel it is unfair for them to receive low wages and no to minimum benefits while the company earns great profits. Some argue that the burger flippers and cashiers at fast food chains do not deserve high wages and full benefits because most of them are unskilled and uneducated. Some of these workers are grateful to the franchises for giving them opportunities for jobs based on their lack of skills and education. Most of these employees are teenage... ..., they should be qualified for greater benefits. From the commitments that employees put into their jobs, the company should appreciate their efforts by offering something more in return to the hard workers. Although the business goal is to make more profits, and fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s achieve this goal by reducing employment wages and benefits, the fast food corporations should recognize the effects of negative publicity. McDonald’s seem to have more negative publicity compared to Starbucks because Starbucks offers more benefits to their employees but less dangerous and easier jobs. Although they are both growing rapidly, Starbucks may be extending longer than McDonald’s based on their quality products and employee’s loyalty. The fast food industry should work harder to compete and maintain good workers as the labor market is getting tighter.

Saladin and Jerusalem

Saladin and the Capture of Jerusalem Saladin stands out in Western accounts of the Middle Ages because his beliefs and actions reflected supposedly Christian characteristics: honesty, piety, magnanimity, and chivalry. Unlike many Muslim rulers, he was not cruel to his subordinates; Saladin believed deeply in the Koranic standard that all men are equal before the law. He set a high moral tone; for example, he distributed war proceeds carefully to help maintain discipline in the ranks. As an administrator, Saladin showed great vision. He altered the tax structure in Egypt and elsewhere to conform to Koranic instructions, and he supported higher education. It was his vision—together with luck and military skill—that enabled him to begin a quest for Muslim unification that would bear fruit many years later. Saladin was born in 1138 in Tikrit, Mesopotamia (now modern-day Iraq). His formal name was Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub. Salah al-Din was an honorary title that translates as â€Å"Righteousness of Faith. † His father, Ayyub, and his uncle, Shirkuh, were both generals in the army of Zengi, the Muslim leader who captured the County of Edessa from the crusaders in 1144. When Zengi died in 1146, Saladin moved with his father and uncle to Damascus in Syria, the main city of Zengi’s empire. Zengi’s son, Nur-ad-din, had taken over Damascus after his father’s death, and Saladin began work for Nur-ad-din, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle. The Muslim world was rent by religious differences. The Seljuk caliphate, ruled by Nur al-Din, was of the more liberal Sunni sect and had its seat of power in Baghdad. The Fatimid caliphate of Egypt, which had embraced the more orthodox Shict, was a volatile agglomeration with weak rulers. Like a splinter between them was the Latin Kingdom, a Christian stronghold along the eastern Mediterranean coast, ruled by a Frank, Amalric I. Nur al-Din believed that if Amalric were able to join forces with the Byzantine emperor to conquer Egypt, the whole Islamic world would be threatened. The stakes were great: Rich trade routes to the Orient, religious and educational centers, and plentiful agricultural lands could be lost. Saladin, as one of Nur al-Din’s primary advisers, helped plan three Syrian invasions of Egypt between 1164 and 1169 to conquer the Fatimid caliphate. During part of this period, Amalric had a treaty to defend Cairo against Syrian invaders. Saladin’s first command came at Alexandria, where he was in charge of one thousand men under difficult conditions. After a short time back in Damascus, Saladin returned on Nur al-Din’s orders to Egypt after the Fatimid alliance with Amalric broke down. Saladin had solemn uncertainties about returning to Egypt, in part because he distrusted the motives of his powerful uncle Shirkuh, who was leading the return. The political situation there was dangerous and unstable. When Shirkuh suddenly died, however, Saladin was well placed to assume Shirkuh’s place as vizier of Egypt commanding Nur al-Din’s forces there; in this case, he was the compromise candidate among many factions. At the age of 30, Saladin drew strength from Koranic exhortations to fulfill God’s purpose. Saladin, like Nur al-Din, was pious. He kept little money, acting instead as caretaker for the whole Muslim community; the proper function of wealth, he believed, was to further the aims of Islam. Both men saw stable leadership in Egypt as a key to preserving Muslim unity. Still, Nur al-Din was suspicious when Saladin insisted on independence to do this—including lessened payments of tribute. Not only did Saladin have military bases on the Egyptian front, but he also had to fight political battles at his rear. Saladin consolidated power in Egypt by getting rid of Fatimid commanders and substituting loyalists; uprisings continued in the provinces for some years, but finally Fatimid rule was abolished. Now Saladin built up the military and raided nearby areas. His strength was growing just when Ayyub, Nur al-Din, and Amalric died in quick succession. Both Nur al-Din’s and Amalric’s successors were young boys; thus, both kingdoms were weakened. Saladin quickly moved to consolidate the empire under his own rule, citing the need for a unified Islam. He struck quickly at the Frankish Kingdom, taking a string of small towns, but the important town of Aleppo did not fall and remained a refuge for al-Salih. Mosul, too, was a holdout, but with other victories Saladin became Sultan of Syria, succeeding Nur al-Din. The Damascus-Cairo axis was all-important to Saladin as he set out on a jihad to drive the Franks from the region. After 1176, he undertook major public works, religious, and educational projects in Egypt, but at the same time he needed military action to convince his critics that the jihad was not a fraud merely intended to further his personal power. After a serious reverse at the strategic outpost of Ascalon, he quickly returned to the attack. Angered by the Franks’ breaking of a truce, Saladin was successful against them in southern Lebanon, and he consolidated troops from Syria and Egypt in order to destroy the fort at Jacob’s Mill. In capturing Frankish defenses, Saladin often destroyed them so they could not be recaptured. He hoped to win strategic territory in Mesopotamia as a base from which to move against Christian-held Jerusalem, his ultimate target. Saladin was keen to get the war with the Christians underway, but there was one main stumbling block. In 1183, Saladin had signed a treaty with the leader of the Christians, Guy of Lusignan. Saladin being an honorable man, felt bound by the truce, disregarding his desire to start the war. Fortunately for him, and unfortunate for the crusaders, the truce was broken in 1187 by a crusader called Reynald of Chatillon. Reynald attacked a group of Muslims and held them as prisoners of war. Despite being angry at this break in the truce, Saladin felt that he should negotiate with Reynald and keep his side of the truce, instead of attacking the crusader. Foolishly, Reynald refused to meet with Saladin and furthermore refused to release the prisoners after receiving orders from his leader Guy Lusignan. Saladin now had a reason he needed to go to war. On July 1, 1187, Saladin marched his troops to a mountain, the Horn of Hattin. The weather at the current time was extremely hot, and the crusader army that had been sent to defend Jerusalem was hot, exhausted, and dehydrated. Recognizing the crusaders’ distress, Saladin devised a plan to make the crusaders situation worse. He set fire to some nearby dry brush, whose smoke quickly mad it’s was into the crusader camp. On July 4, Saladin attacked and the crusaders were quickly defeated. Christian Jerusalem had suffered an enormous loss at the Battle of Hattin. The army had almost been destroyed and the city’s leader, Guy of Lusignan, was a prisoner of Saladin. Unfortunately, the city’s troubles did not end there. There were shortages of food in the city, since the Battle of Hattin occurred during the harvest. With the area in the enemy’s hands, all crops were lost. All of the refugees who flocked to the city to seek shelter from Saladin’s army made the shortage of food worse. Jerusalem was able to house thirty thousand people, but after the Battle of Hattin, the population doubled to sixty thousand. Most of these people were women and children who had no intentions of fighting against the invading Muslim army. By September 20, 1187, Jerusalem was under siege. Saladin first chose the western side of the city for his beginning attack. The western wall of Jerusalem was heavily fortified by the crusaders, who had built the strong citadel there around the Tower of David. Most of the crusader soldiers that were left in Jerusalem went to this tower to defend the city. While the fighting continued, Saladin looked for a superior position from which to attack the crusaders. He eventually settled outside the northeastern section of the city, between St. Mary’s Postern and Jehoshaphat Gate. Saladin used large wooden catapults to bombard the walls and towers of Jerusalem, weakening the city’s defenses and driving the crusaders away from their positions. Saladin then sent 10,000 archers to shoot at the wall’s defenders, followed by 10,000 horsemen armed with lances and bows in the north to prevent a crusader counterattack. The crusaders tried in vain to drive away the invading army, but once the wall had collapsed the end was in sight. Realizing their cause was hopeless, the city eventually surrendered on October 2, 1187. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was at an end. Two knights and ten soldiers were placed in every street in Jerusalem to keep order during the takeover. When Saladin’s victorious army had secured the city, they understood what the first act was to be completed. The most sacred Islamic monument in Jerusalem was a massive building called Quabbat as-Sakhrah, or Dome of the Rock. As soon as the Muslims entered Jerusalem, they climbed up to the top of the dome and removed the cross, immediately showing that it was the Muslims who were now in charge, not the Christians. Saladin’s troops were tired now and not easily disciplined; the European forces were regrouping for a Third Crusade, led by the dashing Richard I (the Lionhearted) of England. Muslim-held Acre, after a long siege, was finally given up in 1191. Yet the cost was high for the Crusaders, and Richard did not want to be gone too long from England. The final confrontation between Saladin and Richard came in July 1192. After a day of prayer, Saladin and his troops were ready to face the Crusaders as they poised for an attack on Jerusalem. Suddenly, the Crusaders withdrew. Saladin attributed the retreat to divine intervention, but military historians say that Richard had decided to attack Egypt instead. Such an attack, however, was not undertaken. The Third Crusade was over. Saladin retired to Damascus to spend time with his wives and children. In the winter of 1193, he rode out in bad weather to meet a group of pilgrims returning from Mecca. He became ill and died a short while later at age fifty-five, penniless by choice. Saladin’s title, al-Malik al-Nasir, or â€Å"Strong to Save the Faith,† was appropriate in his lifetime. Within a hundred years of his death, however, the many tensions beneath the Muslims’ surface unity split apart what Saladin had accomplished. Today, Saladin is remembered a great war leader who conquered an empire and drove invaders out of his homeland. He is honored as a Muslim hero, a fighter of his faith, who led jihad to recapture the city of Jerusalem and restore Muslim worship there. He is admired for his skills at organizing a vast army, planning battles and ambushes, and inspiring loyalty among his men. He is respected for his love of learning, generous gifts to charity, and personal devotion to religious beliefs. Works Cited Ehrenkreuz, Andrew S. Saladin. Albany: State University of New York, 1972. Print. Geyer, Flora. World History Biographies: Saladin The Warrior Who Defended His People (NG World History Biographies). New York: National Geographic Children's Books, 2006. Print. Gibb, H. A. The Life of Saladin. London: Oxford UP, 1973. Print. Hancock, Lee. Saladin and the Kingdom of Jerusalem The Muslims Recapture the Holy Land in Ad 1187 (The Library of the Middle Ages). New York: Rosen Group, 2003. Print. Hindley, Geoffrey. Saladin. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1976. Print. Hodgson, Marshall G. The Venture of Islam. Vol. 2. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1975. Print. The Expansion of Islam in the Middle Period. Lane-Poole, Stanley. Saladin and the Fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1898. Print. Newby, P. H. Saladin in His Time. London: Faber and Faber, 1983. Print.

“A Study on the Relationship between Overpopulation and Depletion of Natural Resources that Affects the Economic Status of the Philippines” Essay

In the year 1990, there were approximately 60.70 million people living in the Philippines. Population increased from 1990 to 2000 by approximately 15.81 million people. In 2012, the Philippines total reaches 103.78 million compared to the 2000 population of 81.16 million. The size of the human population is changing at an extremely high rate in the last years which makes the state the 12th most overpopulated country in the whole world. According to U.S. Agency for International Development (2000), it is foreseen that in the year 2030, the population growth will be unstoppable and will be doubled. Population matters in country’s economy. The rapid population growth is revealed to have both affirmative and undesirable impact on economy and financial system of a country depending on how it is utilized. An overpopulated country is said to produce great number in terms of human resources. Villegas (2010) stated that large population is â€Å"both a source of manpower and as a base for a domestic market on which the economic growth of a country can be sustained, despite periodic ups and downs in the global market.† It also points positive impact on economies of scale and specialization, the possible spur to favorable motivation caused by increased dependency. However, overpopulation and rapid population growth hinders economic development. Theoretical analysis contends that high population growth creates pressures on limited natural resources. If population grows at 2% a year, supplies of housing, food and other goods must increase that much just to maintain the current standard of living. Water Resources Water is a basic economic resource which is a natural endowment to man. Nowadays, it is becoming a scarce resource with the ever-growing demand for household and industrial consumption. As an economic resource, pricing of water is largely determined by the cost of extraction from its natural water supply source and the cost of distribution. Water is likewise a basic need for the survival of individuals and family households. Many health and morbidity problems are associated with the quality and availability of water for human consumption. With the ever increasing population, the demand for potable water in urban areas has also increased, while the water sources began to decline over time. Water pollution is a major reason for the decreased availability of and access to clean potable water. This was the observation made by Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Senior Research Fellow Dr. Danilo Israel whose review imputes poor management of freshwater water resources, particularly in the area of water pollution. He says that while freshwater is abundant in the country, estimates show that only 39 percent of classified inland surface water bodies are potential water sources for domestic use. Based on further estimates, he also said that only 1,907 cubic meters (the second lowest among Southeast Asian countries) of freshwater are available to every Filipino annually. This predicament, according to Israel, is further exacerbated by water pollution. Access to clean and adequate water remains an acute seasonal problem in urban and coastal areas in the Philippines. The National Capital Region (Metro Manila), Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, and Central Visayas are the four urban critical regions in terms of water quality and quantity. If this trend continues, more Filipinos will not have enough access to safe-drinking water especially since demand for clean water constantly increases with population growth. As a consequence, the country may not attain the Millennium Development Goal that at least 86.6 percent of the population should have adequate access to potable water by 2015. Cleanfreshwater is a vital natural resource and without its ample supply, the lives and health of people could be put to risk. Specifically, there is a positive relationship between water pollution and water-borne diseases. The World Bank, for instance, has estimated that exposure to water pollution and poor sanitation accounts for one-sixth of reported disease cases, and nearly 6,000 premature deaths per year. Additionally, just over a third or 36 percent of the country’s river systems are classified as sources of public water supply. Up to 58 percent of groundwater sampled is contaminated with coli form and needs treatment. Land Resources Land resources refer to a delineable area of the earth’s terrestrial surface, encompassing all attributes of the biosphere immediately above or below this surface, including those of the near-surface, climate, the soil and terrain forms, the surface hydrology (including shallow lakes, rivers, marshes and swamps), the near-surface sedimentary layers and associated groundwater and geohydrological reserve, the plant and animal populations, the human settlement pattern and physical results of past and present human activity (terracing, water storage or drainage structures, roads, buildings, etc.) (FAO/UNEP, 1997). Arable land (suitable for growing crops) covers just three percent of the world’s surface. Based on historical data arable land decreases by 25 million acres annually – it is estimated that one hectare (one hectare equals 2.47 acres) of productive land is lost every 7.67 seconds. The greatest causes of lost productive land are desertification and urbanization. New deserts are growing at a rate of 51,800 square kilometers per year. As the dwindling forest cover, logically increases rainfall runoff, which favors the floods, soil erosion and reduces the amount that seeps into the ground to recharge aquifers. Wetlands often disappear in bits and pieces as developers fill in small ponds or parts of swamps and deltas. The cumulative effect, however, can be devastating for wildlife and people. In some states, more than 90 percent of wetlands have vanished. Wetlands not only support wildlife but also filter the drinking supply humans rely on. Half of the planet’s plant and animal species live in rainforests. Less than 2.5 billion acres of tropical forest remain from the four billion acres on Earth just a few hundred years ago. That translates to a huge loss of habitat, and the likely extinction of untold species. Most of the deforestation has occurred in the last few decades. There are many causes of habitat destruction, including logging, mining, oil drilling, and exploiting other natural resources; clearing land for agriculture and cattle ranches; development for residential areas; and roads for people to do all these activities. If the present rate of destruction continues, today’s forests will be gone by the year 2081. The total land area of the Philippines is about 30 million hectares, half of which is classified as forestlands, 47% as alienable and disposable lands, and the remaining 3% as unclassified forestlands. Logging has seriously depleted forest cover since the early 20th century. And there are more problems arising from the reduction of forest cover, as they will facilitate access to forest roads to pick up lumber, etc., They become drier and more susceptible to fires, which further reduces more wooded area and this, in turn, makes less rainwater to seep into the ground. Agricultural Resources As human population expands, the damaging effects on the environment multiply. Fast depletion of natural resources is just one of the effects of overpopulation. In our relentless effort to quench our never ending needs, we have destroyed the habitat of so many flora and fauna that this planet had nurtured to near perfection, through billions of years of evolution. The central issue for us over the next few decades is not climate change or the global financial crisis – it is whether humanity can achieve and sustain the enormous harvest we need from this planet to feed ourselves. The earth is only capable of sustaining a certain amount of life. As the population continues to rise, the supply of food will continue to dwindle. We can only produce a fixed amount of food with the resources we have. The rising number of humans also necessitates further land for them to use as habitation. Therefore, the more land used for us to live on, the fewer land is available for farming. It is a vicious circle which has no end if the population growth is not curbed. The food consumed by human is influenced by wide range of cultural and individual differences, mainly due to ecological as well as personal reasons. The source of much of the food consumed by man is terrestrial agricultural, which represents the most manipulated of all the non-urban ecosystems. There are two main types of agriculture (1) Crop agriculture in which plant production is harvested for use by man and (2) Animal agricultural where a crop from highly manipulated ecosystem is fed to domesticated animals. Food consumption pattern is different in different regions. The most important feature is that rice to the staple food for most Asians. In general a strong and healthy human consumes about 1.4 kg of food every day. Such a food serves as a source of energy and replacement of uses. Statement of the Problem The study focused on the relationship between overpopulation and depletion of natural resources that affects the economic status of the Philippines. Specifically, the study sought to answer the following questions: 1. How does overpopulation affects our natural resources such as: a. Water b. Land; and c. Agriculture 2. How the environmental impacts due to overpopulation do affects the economy of the Philippines? Objectives of the Study The study intended to investigate and to improve the understanding on the relationship between overpopulation and depletion of natural resources that affects the economic status of the Philippines. More specifically, the objectives are: 1. To evaluate the effects of overpopulation on natural resources such as water, land and agriculture. 2. To determine the effects of depletion of natural resources due to overpopulation on economy of the Philippines. Significance of the Study The basic definition of economics is choice under scarcity. Economists like to study how scarcity of resources and the differences in the distribution of these resources affect decisions made by the people. This concept can be applied and is significant to a single person, a family or a country. Natural resources are not only in the Philippines, but also in the whole wide world are limited and scarce. Water, for example, a lot of people need it but there is a limited amount of it, and so they see a market develop for it. In addition there are things like land and labor. If people could all have whatever they wanted, there would be no need to ration or trade, and therefore, there will be no Economics. Another, the management of natural resources is one of the most critical challenges facing the developing countries of today. The exploitation of high-value natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals and timber has often been cited as a key factor in triggering, escalating or sustaining violent conflicts around the globe. Furthermore, increasing competition and conflict for diminishing renewable resources, such as land and water, is on the rise. This is being further aggravated by environmental degradation, population growth and climate change. The mismanagement of natural resources is contributing to new conflicts and obstructing the peaceful resolution of existing ones. This study is substantial to all the sectors of the economy, may it be the government, the private firms or the commoners and the residents of every country. This will give them the proper knowledge about how population affects the limited natural resources. Aside from being an informed citizen, this study aims and is significant to make a difference. This research is a qualitative research and not an action. There will be no particular question to be asked and no certain acts to do. But due to this paper, the readers will think and give ideas within themselves on how to preserve the natural resources and not ruining it. This is important to give standing to the issues concerning different aspects of the economy. Definition of Terms Economics – A social science that studies how individuals, governments, firms and nations make choices on allocating scarce resources to satisfy their unlimited wants Macroeconomics – concentrates on the behavior of the aggregate economy Microeconomics – focuses on individual consumers. Overpopulation – is a term that refers to a condition by which the population density enlarges to a limit that provokes the environmental deterioration, a remarkable decline in the quality of life, or a population collapse. Population density – denotes the number of inhabitants dwelling in a specific area, for example: 100 inhabitants per square Kilometer. Natural resources – is resources occurring in nature that can be used to create wealth. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – is the total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country in a given year, equal to total consumer, investment and government spending, plus the value of exports, minus the value of imports. Gross National Product (GNP) – is the total value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a particular year, plus income earned by its citizens (including income of those located abroad), minus income of non-residents located in that country. Desertification – is the conversion of grassland or an already arid land into a desert through indiscriminate human actions magnified by droughts. Resources depletion – an economic term referring to the exhaustion of raw materials within a region Chapter II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK This chapter provides a framework for understanding the relationship between overpopulation and the natural resources. Figure 1.1 The Variable and its Relationship Economics deals with the efficient allocation of limited resources to satisfy the unlimited consumption of the citizens. Governments intervene on balancing scarce resources through mechanisms such us price rationing system. They can facilitate economic activity in certain geographic regions. There is a direct relationship between population and resources. Figure 1.1 shows different variables in the study, population as the independent and natural resources such as land, agriculture and water as dependent variable. This study will provide sufficient knowledge on the effects of great population in the Philippines to the limited and scarce resources that the country is facing. Moreover, it will suggest some solutions on how it will be efficiently allocated to the citizens of the country. Philippines, as one of the developing countries, contributes on the worldly economic activities, thus, making its own economy create a great impact on the economy of the world. Chapter III RELATED STUDIES The Philippines is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea, on the south by the Sulu and Celebes seas, on the west by the South China Sea, and on the north by Luzon Strait. The Philippine Islands lie off the southeastern coast of the Asian mainland, across the South China Sea from Vietnam and China. The shortest distance to the mainland, from the northern Philippines to Hong Kong, is about 805 km (500 mi). The Philippine Islands extend about 1,850 km (1,150 mi) from north to south (between Taiwan and Borneo Island) and about 1,100 km (700 mi) from east to west. Malaysia and Indonesia, which each hold territory on Borneo, are the republic’s closest political neighbors. The Philippines covers a total area, not including its extensive coastal waters, of 300,000 sq km (116,000 sq mi). More than 7,100 islands and islets are included in the Philippine archipelago. The 11 largest islands make up more than 90 percent of the total area. Only about 460 islands are larger than 2.6 sq km (1 sq mi), and about 1,000 are populated. The Philippines has extensive mineral deposits of copper, gold, silver, nickel, lead, and chromium. Other important, but less plentiful, deposits of zinc, cobalt, and manganese also exist. Copper has been mined extensively and is the leading mineral product, but many of the country’s mineral resources remain unexploited. The Philippines has limited offshore petroleum and natural gas reserves. About 19 percent of the Philippines is forested. Logging has seriously depleted forest cover since the early 20th century. The Philippine waters are abundant with many varieties of fish, which are an important natural resource as a staple of the Philippine diet and an export commodity. Johnson (2012) stated that one thing all humans on this planet need to survive is resources. Resources like food and water are bare essentials for life. The countries that are experiencing the highest growth rates are all developing countries, with the exception of the United States. This countries lack the technology that other developed countries have and therefore things we consider basic they have never used. We watch our televisions everyday while they may have never seen a TV before. They also lack the basics that we take for granted like indoor plumbing. Some countries water supply is the same as their sewage. India has one of the fastest growing populations in the world and the Ganges River shows their lack of resources available to the people of India. The Ganges is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. It supports over 400 million people with a population density of 1,000 people per square mile. India is an example of developing country that has a rise in its population growth rate. It cannot support its population now; many of the people in India are forced to bathe in the Ganges because they have no access to any other water source. If this population continues to grow the river will continue to get more and more polluted making it unsafe for the millions of people that rely on it. This is not the only place in the world that the larger populations are supported by limited resources. Along with the people in India relying on the Ganges over three fifths of people in developing countries lack basic sanitation, one third have no access to clean water, and a quarter lack adequate housing. More often than not the places where the population growth rates are the highest are the places least able to support the rise in population. Only the United States can continue to support one of the world’s largest populations because we are a developed country and the increase comes mostly from immigration. These countries that continue to grow, despite being limited in resources, are the biggest areas of deforestation and depletion of natural resources. These areas lack strong government and are unable to enforce the depletion of resources. The United Nations predict that currently 1 billion people lack the basic needs that we take for granted every day. With a lack of technology developing countries will continue to destroy resources at an alarming rate while many struggle to survive every day. Freshwater is the most fundamental of finite resources. It has no substitutes for most uses and is expensive to transport. But freshwater sources are dwindling or becoming contaminated throughout the world. Chronic or acute water shortage is increasingly common in many countries with fast-growing populations, becoming a potential source of conflict. However, existing technologies offer great potential for improving on the efficiency of its use. Based from the study of Walden Bello, the state of the economy, even some of the administration’s friends have pointed out, is a thin reed on which to rest. In a recent article, Peter Wallace, an influential consultant, deconstructed the 7.3 per cent growth rate recorded for the Philippines in 2007, showing that the figure is actually a statistical fluke that stems from the way the measure Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is computed. The figure actually masks something negative: the fall of imports by 5.4 per cent. â€Å"So because we had less imports, GDP looked good,† Wallace says. â€Å"From where I sit, that does not indicate a strong, growing economy, the best in 31 years.† With no less irony, the World Bank agrees: â€Å"Remarkably, weaker import growth made the largest 1arithmetical contribution to the growth acceleration in 2000-07 compared to 1990-99.† It added that this was not â€Å"consistent with sustained fast growth in the longer term.† The reality, Wallace points out, is indicated by the same brutal numbers: more poor people in 2007 than in 2000, more people without jobs, a real decline in average family income, the shrinking of the middle class as more people jump ship and swim to other shores. â€Å"Notwithstanding higher growth,† the World Bank chimes in, â€Å"the latest official poverty estimates show that between 2003 and 2006, when GDP growth averaged 5.4 per cent, poverty incidence increased from 30.0 to 32.9 per cent. This level of poverty incidence is almost as high as it was in 2000 (33 per cent). Indeed the magnitude of poor Filipinos rose to its highest level in 2006: of a population of 84 million in 2006, 27.6 million Filipinos fell below the national poverty threshold of P15, 057.† If you pop the famous â€Å"Ronald Reagan† question to most Filipinos—â€Å"Do you feel better off now than four years ago†Ã¢â‚¬â€there is no doubt about how they would answer. For many people, the main problem confronting the economy is spelled G-MA. But for those who have spent time studying the Philippine economy, Arroyo is not the problem, but part of a bigger problem that extends far into the recent past. The collective responsibility of the last five administrations for our economic malfunctioning becomes stark when viewed in a comparative context. According to the latest Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with the growth in GDP per capita averaging 1.6 per cent per annum in the period 1990 to 2005, the Philippines’ economic growth record was the worst in Southeast Asia, with even all the so-called lower-tier ASEAN countries significantly to outstripping it. Chapter IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The world’s population reached over 6.60 billion in July 2007 and will reach 6.68 billion by July this year and 7.00 billion by July 2012 (according to CIA estimates). Countries with large populations and few food resources or poor food distribution programs could end up becoming desperate refugees moving to their neighboring countries. One out of every seven people alive, go to bed hungry. Every day, 25,000 people die because of malnutrition and hunger-related diseases. Almost 18,000 of them are children under 5 years old. Figure 4.1 Population in the Philippines The figure above shows the increasing population of the Philippines. From approximately 80 million, the population increases up to 100 million. As population increases, natural resources also get used up faster than they can be replaced. This can result on economic pressure and interrelated web of global environmental problems such as resources depletion. Problem no. 1 How does overpopulation affects our natural resources such as water, land and agriculture. Population and Water Resources Population influences the freshwater resources, its quality and supply, in both rural and urban areas through demands for water and human activities such as irrigation. One major consequence of overpopulation has been the outstanding usage of freshwater, thus leading to a major freshwater crisis that will definitely affect the future of our planet. It is also domineering to see the whole issue in perspective and how the increasing number of people in the surface of the Earth is relative to the amount of waste being produced. Hence, the constant pollution of the environment, along with bodies of water has exponentially decreased the quantity of usable water for the future of our generations. This has critically been an issue because the oceans are mistaken for available water, but in actuality, the Earth has a finite supply of fresh water which in order to be converted from saline water to potable water, the amount of energy needed is prohibited. Thus water has become quite a scare commodity that few countries and civilizations seem to take into consideration. The National Water Resources Board under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Philippines is responsible for ensuring the optimum exploitation, utilization, development, conservation and protection of the country’s water resource, consistent with the principles of Integrated Water Resource Management. The country is endowed with rich natural resources – including water – which are essential for the country’s economic development and in meeting its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Water resources of the Philippines include inland freshwater (rivers, lakes, and groundwater), and marine (bay, coastal, and oceanic waters). Overall, there is sufficient water but not enough in highly populated areas, especially during dry season. Citing the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Israel explains that the number of monitored freshwater bodies which failed the standard in terms of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) has been increasing significantly at average annual rates of 22.90 percent and 22.30 percent, respectively, from 2000 to 2007. Likewise, he explains that many freshwater bodies, especially those in urban areas, have been contaminated with suspended solids, heavy metals and other harmful chemicals. Population and Land Resources According to Higgins (1982), carrying capacity presumes that there are critical levels of population that any given land area can support. This level is determined by soil and climatic conditions. The carrying capacity and population has a direct relationship. When population increases in a given area, the increased demand on production can induce stress and consequent degradation of the land resource. As population grows continuously, the space in a given place remains constant, thus, making it limited. Land resources can also be limited because of land problems and imbalance. In the past 100 years the world has lost almost half its forest area. And, as indicated by reports of the FAO (Food and Agriculture) the Earth is losing on net every year 11.2 million hectares of virgin forest. This is reportedly the World Wildlife Fund, mainly due to its use as an energy source (about 2000 million people worldwide depend on wood as fuel) of agricultural and livestock expansion and mining and logging companies activities, often beyond control. Population and Agriculture Some theories propose that population growth would outrun the ability to produce food, thus, leading this to famine, disease, and other disasters. The use of land, specifically in agriculture, is an essential part of humanity. We depend on agriculture to supply us with food, fiber and biofuels. Without a highly efficient, progressive, and productive agricultural system, our society would collapse and cease to function. As the population grows and grows continuously, we are demanding more and more from the agricultural systems, pushing them to their limits. At this rate, we would have to double, or triple the agricultural production in our economy. The rapid increase in population, urbanization, and industrialization has also adversely affected the quality of water, especially in densely populated areas and regions of industrial and agricultural activities. The discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater and agricultural runoff has caused extensive pollution of the receiving water-bodies. Problem no. 2 How the environmental impacts due to overpopulation do affects the economy of the Philippines? As the population grows, it pushes the GDP per capita of a nation down. While the government tries to meet the needs of its people, with increase in population, the demand for resources keeps growing. With not enough food to take care of its men, such countries can’t even think of producing surplus to export and with this starts the vicious cycle of relying on foreign debt. With more people and less resources, there is unemployment that leads to poverty and increased crime rate. Shrinking habitat is giving rise to increased conflict between man and animals. As the borders between forests and human settlements gets blurred by the day, human beings are being exposed to viruses that are carried by wild animals who have the immunity that we lack. This is precipitating in newer and more virulent strains of microorganisms causing serious diseases in human beings. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION The human population has been increasing at an extremely high rate in the last century and unfortunately, not much has been done to slow down this process. Undoubtedly, overpopulation is a global issue. It is global because it pertains to all of humanity, but global also means that it affects the whole world, i.e. the environment. Almost all human activities impact negatively the environment in one form or another, and as human population expands, the damaging effects on the environment multiply. As the population grows, it pushes the GDP per capita of a nation down. While the government tries to meet the needs of its people, with increase in population, the demand for resources keeps growing. With not enough food to take care of its men, such countries can’t even think of producing surplus to export and with this starts the vicious cycle of relying on foreign debt. This puts the country in debt at stretches the government’s already meager resources. Furthermore, when a country is overpopulated, there is a high rate of unemployment because there just aren’t enough jobs to support the population. This results in a high level of crime because the people will need to steal things in order to survive. As natural resources become scarce, the production is bound to decrease. However, in a crowded society, demand remains strong. This causes the prices of goods increase, in order to balance supply and demand. However, a price change cannot suddenly reduce the need for a large population of. Therefore, prices remain high and continue to grow even as people consume expensive products. The depletion of natural resources is one of the most critical problems of the global community is facing, especially after the sharp increase in world population over the last century. Each person has a number of vital (food, drink, clothing) and non-life (education, employment, recreation) needs, which all require the consumption of Earth’s resources. When the number of people applying to these needs becomes extremely high, the shortage becomes a critical problem in extreme cases can cause a â€Å"Malthusian catastrophe† According to the theory of overpopulation advanced by Enlightenment demographer Thomas Robert Malthus, Malthusian catastrophe is an event which results from a period of unchecked population growth. Many determining factors build the success or demise of a country. Our forefathers have created that successful nation with blood and sweat, through trials and tribulations. It is up to this generation to ensure the advantageous outlook of this country for our future offspring. This population difficulty casts an impending downfall for our country and must be stopped. Research and analysis need to be performed, consequently summarizing the most favorable actions to be taken. These actions then need to be embraced by state and federal governments, who in turn need to be aggressive in enacting firm and dynamic policies to thwart this crisis. Food shortage will be prevented or lessened if we quickly stabilize population and find some as-yet-discovered agricultural advancement. Overpopulation causes rural farming people to outgrow their lands, so the grown children move to cities. Urbanization eats up farmland, reducing crop production. Also growing seasons are becoming hotter, so many crops fail due to heat and drought. Overuse of the soils caused by overpopulation leads poor nourishment for crops and eventually desertification. Overpopulation draws on available water to the point that there is not enough to water crops. REFERENCES Herrin, A. Population and Development Research in the Philippines: A Survey. Retrieved from: http://www.pids.gov.ph/index2.php?pr=81 Trade Chakra.(2008).Water Resources in Philippines. Retrieved from:http://www.tradechakra.com/economy/philippines/water-resources-in-philippines-267.php Candelaria,A.P.(1996). Assessing the Potable Water Consumption in the Urban Barangays of Sto. Domingo, Albay Province, Philippines. Retrieved from: http://www.arsa1996.org/pictures/pdf/ARSA_IV_PRCDGS_VOL1/SOCIAL%20CHANGE%20AND%20TRANSFORMATION/13_Candelaria_429-443.pdf Food and Agriculture Organization.(1997). Land Resources, Management, Planning and Use. Retrieved from: http://www.fao.org/nr/land/lr-home/en/ Countries Quest. Land and Resources, Natural Resources. Retrieved from: http://www.countriesquest.com/asia/philippines/land_and_resources/natural_resources.htm Wills,R.(October 2012). Resource Scarcity and Population Growth. Retrieved from: http://www.financialsense.com/contributors/richard-mills/resource-scarcity-and-population-growth Environmental and Global Health. (2011). Depletion and Destruction of Natural Resources (III). Retrieved from: http://www.environmedia.com/depletion-and-destruction-of-natural-resources-iii.htm Macnevin,S.(2008).Climate Change, Food Shortages and Overpopulation. Retrieved from: http://environmental.lilithezine.com/Climate-Change-Food-Shortages.html Institute for Population Studies.(2009-2010) . Overpopulation: Environmental and Social problems. Retrieved from: http://howmany.org/environmental_and_social_ills.php Johnson, B. (2012). Overpopulation Problems; Lack of Resources. Retrieved from http://blogs.longwood.edu/johnsonba/2012/02/24/overpopulation-problems-lack-of-resources/ Countries Quest. Land and Resources. Retrieved from: http://www.countriesquest.com/asia/philippines/land_and_resources.htm Bello,W. In the Shadow of Debt. Retrieved from: View as multi-pages

Analyzing The Origin Of The Taliban, A Political Outfit Of The Sunni Islamic Extremists

Analyzing The Origin Of The Taliban, A Political Outfit Of The Sunni Islamic Extremists Terrorism is an incredibly hard word to define. Due to its largely elusive nature, the definition of terrorism is constantly evolving and changing over time, as are the forms and methods it manifests itself in. The dictionary definition of terrorism is â€Å"the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. This definition is by no means inaccurate, and encompasses the intrinsic characteristics of terrorism. I believe, however, that this definition excludes important facets of terrorism as we know it today, such as the use of fear and terror as a mechanism to achieve its goals. In addition to this, I think that the dictionary definition neglects to mention that terrorism often focuses on the pursuit of radical religious and social reforms, not solely political aims. I would define terrorism as: The use of violence and coercion by a unified group in order to instill fear and terror amongst its victims so that they are forced into submission, allowing the group in question to achieve its radical, political, religious, and/or social aims. Today I am choosing to write about The Taliban, an organization of great notoriety and infamy. An extremist offshoot of the Mujahedeen, guerilla warriors that primarily opposed the Soviets during the Soviet- Afghan war, The Taliban is an Islamic fundamentalist. The Taliban were founded on October 10th 1995 in Afghanistan. Due to the extreme political and social turmoil the country was experiencing at the time, the Taliban were able to rise to power quickly and efficiently. Afghanistan had never been able to establish more than a puppet government after the Soviets withdrew from their country, aiding the Taliban further in their near effortless rise to power. Afghanistan had once been ruled by a constitutional monarchy, and under this government the country had been stable and prosperous. Afghanistan had been making great strides towards modernization since its founding in 1926, and economic prosperity within the country allowed many to thrive. In 1973, however, Afghanistan’s king, Zahir Khan, was overthrown in a coup d’etat by his cousin Daoud Khan. The coup was performed in retaliation to the King’s new agenda which prevented relatives of the King from holding cabinet positions, and former King Zahir Khan, who had been in Italy receiving surgery at the time of the coup, was exiled there. Afghani citizens assumed that Daoud Khan would name himself the new king of Afghanistan, but instead he appointed himself as president of the republic he was to establish. Daoud ruled until 1978 as a centrist, moderate president, but was overthrown by a left-wing, communist militant group. The democracy was destroyed and the power was then spilt into 2 communist parties that ruled over the tumultuous country. The new government was wildly unpopular amongst Afghan citizens, but forged close ties with the Soviet Union, at that time the largest communist power in the world. The communist parties, with the support of the USSR, implemented extensive social reforms, and prevented all efforts of domestic opposition through violence. 27,000 political prisoners were executed during this reign. The communist rule was bitterly resented by the devoutly Muslim and largely anticommunist population. Despite government efforts to suppress any form of retaliation, a group of guerilla warriors colloquially known as â€Å"holy warriors† or â€Å"freedom fighters† began opposing the communist regime. Formally known as The Mujahedeen, this militant group gained the support and funding of the United States due to their ardent opposition to the communist regime that had taken over the country. Largely due to American support, the USSR soon recognized the Mujahedeen as a forceful threat to the communist presence in Afghanistan. Subsequently, Afghanistan was invaded in December 1979 by the Soviet 40th Army to support the communists and oppose the Mujahedeen. The Afghan communist faction was appointed a Soviet leader to oversee their actions, and the faction quickly grew to over 100,000 soldiers. Soviet forces tried to quell efforts of the Mujahedeen through bombings, executions and the torture of prisoners, but these methods only angered the population and fueled the resista nce. In a world torn by the Red Scare, The Mujahedeen gained the support of many anti-communist world powers in their fight against the communist superpower that was the USSR. Their guerilla tactics ultimately forced the Soviets out of Afghanistan, and the soviets withdrew after 9 years in Afghanistan. The Mujahedeen, however, was never successful in establishing a functional government, and 7 years later in 1996, the Taliban took over. The Taliban acted as the official government of Afghanistan from 1996-2001, when the American military in conjunction with Afghan opposition forces ousted them as a governmental force, and the Taliban became an insurgent force within the region. The Taliban formed their ideology as a radical and fundamentalist combination of Islamic law and Pashtun tribal codes. Under this extremist interpretation, the Taliban outlawed many practiced and activities formerly considered lawful and routine to Islam life, such pork, almost all forms of consumer technology, female sport, alcohol, kite-flying, television, music, internet, and art forms such as paintings or photography. In addition to these parameters, men were also forbidden from shaving facial hair and required to wear a head covering, and were subjected to beatings if they did not abide by this requirement. Afghan sports stadiums became routine venues for public executions and punishments. Girls were forbidden from going to school and women were forbidden from working outside of their houses. In addition to this, women ran the risk of being beaten or killed if they left their house without being accompanied by a male relative, or having their finger cut off if it’s nail w as decorated with nail polish. Because of their combined Islam and Pashtun ideologies, many practices of the Qu’ran were violated under Taliban rule, resulting in widespread religious disapproval. The Taliban have been extremely successful in achieving their goals in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Their presence and influence have dominated civilian lifestyle and national government to an extreme extent. So extreme, that they have faced large opposition and intervention from western forces such as the United States military. Following the Taliban’s attacks on US soil on September 11th, 2001, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates cut diplomatic ties with the Taliban, which had formerly been recognized as a legitimate government in these countries. The Taliban also offered asylum and support to the even more extremist offshoot group, al-Qaeda, and their leader Osama bin Laden, who had fought in the Mujahedeen and provided financial support to the Taliban. The Security Council of the United Nations intervened in this relationship in 1999, when they demanded that the Taliban hand over bin Laden for trial and cease their support for terrorism. The Taliban, however, did not re spond to this international cry for justice, but instead continued terrorist activities, primarily in Afghanistan, and refused to hand over Bin Laden. Today, the Taliban is ruled by Mullah Akhtar Mansour, and is a largely Pashtun (as opposed to Hazara, the other ethnic group of Afghanistan) movement. They operate prominently in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but their influence and presence is widespread across the Middle East. The Taliban still exist as a magnum force in many Middle Eastern countries. Although Bin Laden was assassinated by US forces, the organization is still in action. Currently, however, the Taliban is facing not only opposition from the vast majority of the western world, but also from the relatively new terrorist group, ISIS, which has risen to great prominence in recent years.

Report on Financial and Economic issues around the EU and affects on Essay

Report on Financial and Economic issues around the EU and affects on Arcelor Mittal - Essay Example It is critical to note that the firm reports its operational performance across the whole Europe wide region and therefore country wide segregation of the relative performance of the firm is relatively not present. What is key to understanding is the fact that firm is facing strong macroeconomic risks in these countries as fiscal expansion has been curtailed by the relative governments in these countries. The weak demand is mostly due to the austerity measures taken by the governments. Since Governments are major users of steel and related products therefore a decline in the fiscal expansion is one of the key reasons for decline in the business of the firm in PIIGS and other European countries. Details of Staff Employed Firm has reported that 37% of its employees are located in EU27 countries. (Statista.com,2000).   These countries are 27 European countries where firm have operations of different nature including mining, steel production, construction and other related activities. The production sites are located in Madrid, Averio, Ireland and other smaller locations where firm operates its so called mini-steel mills. In Spain, firm has four different production locations where firm is engaged in different activities including steel production as well as mining activities. Since firm is located in Luxemburg therefore the number of employees working in the headquarters of the firm is also included in its workforce in Europe. Difficulties in PIIGS Markets In Spain, firm is facing severe problems of high energy prices and lack of alternative energy resources. The lack of these resources therefore has increased the overall level of operational cost for the firm and resultantly has an impact on its profitability. (Mitchell,2012).  In Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Greece, one of the key difficulties is the lack of demand being generated from the government and private sector. Since these countries are still under strict austerity measures. In Spain, firm is also f acing disputes with the employees and many of the Staff members have protested against the closure of factories in Madrid.( En.tengrinews.kz 2012)   In Greece, firm is specifically facing debt related issues and the major write down by the firm in Europe is appropriated towards the Greece debt. Most of the challenges faced by the firm in the EU region come from Greece as the country as a whole hardly avoided bankruptcy after due funding support from European Union member countries. Cost of borrowing is also on the rise especially in Greece due to heavy borrowing by the government and bond issues.( Eichengreen, 2012)   Apart from this, the global demand for Steel is slowing down causing overall decline in the business operations of the firms. It is critical to note that EU27 experienced a negative growth rate of Steel consumption during 2012 suggesting that the overall demand is on the decline in these markets. Expansion or Contraction Firm is already on its way to close some of its production facilities in Spain as it has closed its Madrid facilities and is also in process of redeploying some of its staff to other locations in Spain. This indicates that firm is curtailing back on its operations in Spain and same practice may also be adapted in other countries and markets also. It is also already in process of closing down its furnaces in

Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Financial Management - Essay Example The general principles are not followed to the letter rather they are applied in spirit. The following is a brief summary of some of the most important Rules: Favorable deals are banned and will not be provided to selected shareholders. Same information must be given to all shareholders. The issuer is responsible for the contents of takeover circulars by attaching a statement taking responsibility for the contents. All forecasts relating to profit and valuations of assets must be reported on by professional level advisers and be made as per specified standards. If any unproven or incorrect statements have been made then they need to be immediately rectified by way of public announcement. If an offer has been made then it must be brought to the attention of both the staff of offeror and the offeree. All those actions which might frustrate the offer during the offer making process by the target company are generally prohibited unless shareholders approve these plans. The disclosures of dealings in relevant securities during an offer have established stringent requirements. B. Identify and examine the economic reasons for acquisitions and mergers and discuss why the expected economic benefits may not be reached. The economic reason for acquisitions and mergers is based on the idea that there are two separate companies alone they have limited potential and can offer limited profit on share holder investment hence the primary motivating force for acquiring a company is to generate greater shareholder value for the shareholders. The proponents of acquisitions and mergers are of the view that one separate company on its own has less value but when two companies are merged together they become more valuable. It can also create greater cost efficiency via economies of scale, can augment the company’s profits through gaining a greater market share and tax gains can also be generated. This logic is very appealing to companies during trying times say an economic rec ession. Those companies with a strong financial base will move to acquire rival companies to ensure a more competitive, cost-efficient company. By acquiring or merging with other companies they will hope to attain a larger market share or to attain greater efficiency say by acquiring a particular technology or production process (Sloman & Sutcliffe 2004, pp. 325-330). Due to these potential benefits, companies targeted for acquisition will often agree to be acquired when they know their going concern status is in jeopardy. The expected benefits of acquisitions and mergers may not bear fruit because if we were to look at historical trends they confirm that roughly 66.6% of big merger’s value will decline on the stock market due to its bullish trend or that both the companies who have merged have different corporate cultures. One of the reasons that an acquisition or merger fails is because of the flawed intentions of the parties involved. They might be instituting merger or ac quisition because one of their competitors has undergone a merger, which pushes top executives of other companies to imitate this move and when this happens chances are the merger may often have more to do with seeking glory instead of pursuing business strategy (Maps of

Stem Cell Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Stem Cell Research - Essay Example In order to describe the problems related to stem cell it is important to know the general features of the stem cells. Stem cells are the basic unit of life for human beings through which other cells develop in them. These cells help to form organs and tissues in the human body and can thus be called the stem of human beings. These cells are now being researched upon so that they can be used in order to cure major health related diseases (Solo & Pressberg 2007). These stem cells are characteristically divided into adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are retrieved from the embryo of a human being whereas the adult stem cells can be found in the organs or skin of an adult. The issue arises in the process of retrieval of stem cells from the human embryo. It is here that the opponents of stem cell research put forward that the life of an innocent is being taken through this embryo whereas the proponents put forward that the life of the child has yet not begun in an embryo (Newton 2007; Stem Cell 2011). In my view stem cell research should be recognized and encouraged because it can lead to many breakthroughs in the world of science. According to scientists stem cell research can prove to bring about new medical therapies in the treatment of certain diseases which were previously considered to be incurable. Previously it was thought that the genetic and nervous disorders were incurable but nowadays with the help of stem cell research some of these disorders can be cured. These stem cells can replace the neurons in the body and can even repair the nervous system if they can be put to use. The stem cells can be integrated into the system of one’s body after which they have the capability to regenerate. This regeneration of stem cells can cause the neurons to form (Newton 2007; Solo & Pressberg 2007). However it is here that the question of morality arises regarding the stem cell research. In order to retrieve the stem cells it is nec essary that the outer covering of the stem cells known as trophoblast is removed. In this process the embryo dies and this creates a controversy in the ethical world. According to the opponents of stem cell research the killing of embryo is just like the killing of an innocent individual. Thus the innocent individual is being denied the right to live which every constitution allows him to (George & Gomez-Lobo 2002, 258). A five day embryo according to the opponents has a right to live and is innocent. The opponents of stem cell research also put forward that embryos which are being used in the research are at times donated and they can be used by infertile couples rather than being used for research purposes. If these infertile couples use these embryos they can bring a life to the world whereas if these embryos are used for research purposes they would definitely be killed. On the other hand the proponents of stem cell research have opposing views regarding the topic. According to them the stem cell research is done on a five day embryo which does not have any moral right because the embryo cannot even breathe. They put forward the fact that an embryo starts with the process of coordination when it is 16 days old whereas a five day old embryo does not even enter the process of coordination (Smith & Brogaard 2003). They also put forward that a five day embryo does not have the mental capability to think or manage which means that they are not yet recognized as individuals of the society. Regarding the infertile couples the proponent state that the embryos donated are not being used by these couples and are rather being killed in one way or the other. Abortion is a way through which these embryos are being killed in some cases. Hence it can be said that killing an embryo for a cause is