Serial Killers in Modern America Free Essays

In today’s society, America is a dangerous place for people to walk alone. We have definitely had our share of serial killers over the years. We have had the Harpes brothers in the 1800’s to the more modern day Jeffrey Dahmer. We will write a custom essay sample on Serial Killers in Modern America or any similar topic only for you Order Now A serial killer in the United States is defined by Congress as â€Å"someone who murders a minimum of three or more people. † (Harris) Three-quarters of the world’s total serial killers have done their killing in the United States. True crime writers often claim that America’s first serial killer was H. H. Homes, but there were actually several before him. The first documented serial killers were two brothers named Micajah and Wiley Harpe. These two killed people for two reasons and they were for fun and profit. These two were notorious for their cut-throat ways, and the other outlaws were scared of them. (Ramsland) They terrorized the Natchez Trace which is known today as the Natchez Trace Parkway. Not much is known about the early history of the Harpes’, but they terrified everyone they came across. The Harpes even slaughtered two of their own children each. Ramsland) For a brief period of time the Harpes traveled with a group of river pirates who were merely concerned with enriching themselves. As you can imagine they did quite well at that. However, these pirates never intended for any physical harm to come to their victims, but the Harpes had other intentions. The incident that caused the Harpes to be kicked out of the group was when they tied a naked flatboat passenger to a blindfolded horse and sent it over a cliff. (Ramsland) From this point on that group of pirates referred to the two as â€Å"men turned into wolves. † Micajah Harpe admitted to a number of murders, but he said that there was only one that he was remorseful for, and that was the murder of his own child. His reason behind killing his own child was because the baby’s crying annoyed him. (Ramsland) Micajah would end up being killed by a pack of wolves, and Wiley was hung on February 8, 1804. The first documented serial killer was H. H. Holmes which made his mark on the 19th century by committing over 27 murders. (Kade)He was born, Herman Webster Mudgett in 1861. He started off as a very unruly child who enjoyed being cruel to animals. He would do most of his killing his hotel that was icknamed Murder Castle. The actual name of this hotel was never recorded. He used an advertisement to lure people that were going to attend Chicago’s World Columbian Exposition in 1893. Back in those day lodging was a hard thing to come by, so this allowed Holmes all the victims he wanted. His preference was blond females that he put through torture rituals. He would brutalize them and then incinerate them. He even sold some of the skeletons of his victims. No one ever suspected anything from him, because he had charm and good looks. It was until after Holmes’ execution that investigators would learn more about what he had done. Some of the victims were locked up in soundproof rooms that had gas lines that would allow him to asphyxiate any victim at any time. (Kade) There were also some locked in a large soundproof bank vault and suffocated to death. Holmes was even quoted saying, â€Å"I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing. I was born with the â€Å"Evil One† standing as my sponsor beside the bed where I was ushered into the world, and he has been with me since. † Now we fast forward to 1974 when women were vanishing from college campuses around the Washington and Oregon area. There was a 21 year old radio announcer named Lynda Ann Healy that was among the ones that went missing. Then in July of 1974 two women were seen wondering off with Ted towards his sailboat and were never seen again. Around this same time there was a grave yard of bones discovered in a Washington forest that would later be identified as some of the women that had went missing in the Washington and Utah areas. It was then that investigators from both areas were able to come up with a profile and a sketch of the man named Ted. (Montaldo) In August of 1975, Bundy was stopped for a driving violation, and when the officers searched his car they found a number of items such as, handcuffs, crowbar, and pantyhose with eye holes cut in them. He was then arrested on suspicion of burglary. Upon further examination of the things found in Bundy’s car the police realized that they matched items that one of the girls he attacked described seeing. This same girl identified the handcuffs as the ones that were fastened around one of her wrists and she picked him out of a line-up. Bundy then went to trial for the attempted kidnapping of Carol DaRonch in February of 1976 and was found guilty. For this case he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and in October of 1976 he was charged with the murder of Carolyn Campbell. Bundy was extradited from Utah to Colorado for the trial. He would then be his own lawyer, which gave him a little freedom to move around the courtroom and the law library that was inside of the courthouse. In June of 1977 during his pre-trial hearing Bundy escaped by jumping out a window in the law library, only to be captured a week later. This would not be the end of Bundy’s escapes either. He did it again on December 30 and made it to Tallahassee, Florida. He got himself and apartment near the university using the name Chris Hagen. (Montaldo) He paid his way at a local college bars with stolen credit cards and when he got bored he would sneak into the lecture halls just to listen. On January 14 Ted Bundy would break into a Chi Omega sorority house and kill two women, and brutally raped one of them. He even beat two other women that managed to survive. The reason that they survived was because their fellow roommate came home. At around 3 a. m. Nita Neary came home and saw that the door was open, and as she entered the house she heard footsteps upstairs. Montaldo) She then went upstairs to find two of her roommates dead and the other two were severely beaten. Later that night another woman would be attacked, but the police would find a mask on her floor that would match the one found in Bundy’s car later. In February of 1978, Bundy kidnapped and mutilated a 12 year old girl named Kimberly Leach. Bundy was arrested again within a w eek of her disappearance for driving a stolen vehicle. Witnesses were able to place him at the dorm and at Leach’s school. There was also physical evidence that would link him with the murders. Among this evidence was a mold that was made from the bite marks found on one of the victims. Bundy went on trial in 1979 for the murders that happened at the sorority house and was found guilty. He received two sentences for death by electric chair. Then in January of 1980 he would go to trial for the murder of Kimberly Leach. He actually had lawyers for this case and they tried going for an insanity plea. Bundy called Carol Boone as a character witness and even married her while she was on the witness stand. He called her as a witness because she believed in his innocence, and would later give birth to a little girl that Bundy adored. They were later divorced after she realized that he had actually done all the crimes he was accused of. Ted Bundy died on January 24, 1989 at 7:13 a. m. So why did all these people do what they did? Obviously that all had some reason for doing it and Ted Bundy said that his reason for doing it was because of all the pornography that he was subject to at such a young age. Other serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer blamed it on being born with a part of him missing. John Wayne Gacy claimed that his victims deserved to die. One would have to think that they were insane for doing what they did, but most of them are rational and calculating predators. (Scott)I think that Denis Nilsen, the British version of Jeffrey Dhamer, put it best when he said, â€Å"a mind can be evil without being abnormal. † References Bibliography Harris, William R. Serial Killer Psychology. 2011. Web. 26 October 2012. http://investigation. discovery. com/criminals/serial-killers/serial-killers-psychology. html. Intentional Homicide, number and rate per 100,000 population. 2012. Web. 26 October 2012. Kade, Asher. Murder Castle: The Maze-Like Lair of the World’s First Serial Killer. 011. Web. 26 October 2012. ;http://www. environmentalgraffiti. com/bizarre/news-hh-holmes-inside-castle-first-true-serial-killer? image=1;. Montaldo, Charles. Serial Killer Ted Bundy. n. d. Web. 26 October 2012. ;http://crime. about. com/od/serial/p/tedbundy2. htm;. Ramsland, Kahterine. America’s First Serial Killers. 2011. Web. 26 October 2012. http://www. trutv. com/library/crime/serial_killers/history/harpe_brothers/2. html. Scott, Shirley Lynn. What Makes Serial Killers Tick. n. d. Web. 26 October 2012. http://www. trutv. com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/tick/victims_1. html. How to cite Serial Killers in Modern America, Essay examples

Business and Corporation Law and Economics

Question: Discuss about the Business and Corporation Law and Economics. Answer: Introduction: In this matter this case needs determination of the actuality if an officially enforceable agreement is there in among Richard and his father. In this matter, it desires to decide that it has to show if the parties to the contract had the purpose of inflowing into a lawful relationship. In this case study a promised has been made by Richards father that he will give to his son $ 200 in each week if he mowed field and normally took care of the assets. His father has paid the gardener contractor as the sum of $ 200, before this contract. His father did not pay to his son because before the payment he was spent the money for the gardener. So he did not able to pay the extra money to his son. At the same time, his refused to pay the amount $200, because he is the member of his family and he has been provided free boarding and lodging by his father. This case, that has so the help of the essential fundamentals. This case study is very vital if the case could not solve then it will be jeop ardized. Which are follows below. Fundamental The rules and regulation is very essential. Without essential rules mechanism each and every aspects of business law is very essential. Requirements are very crucial so know the requirements will be main issue. The regulation of agreement gives an order to observe if an agreement is current in among the parties; few vital fundamentals have to be there. Each and every case has the vital fundamental to solve. These fundamentals include consideration, offer as well as acceptance. On the other hand its need to require for the both parties that should have the target that the contract will enforceable by act. The necessity connected with the goal of the particular parties to build a lawful relationships have been introduced to create a peculiarity among the cases of domestic and cultural contract as well as the contracts in which an activity by the courtyard is suitable (Harland Lindgren, 1996). The outcome of this introduction of this necessity is that whole contracts made among the par ties that are not enforceable by court. Such an example that two friend had decided to go for movie in the evening, there must be a contract like a promise which is not enforceable by the law. However in very few cases, the law has abided by the requirements of the parties in this kind of circumstance. At the same time, in direction to decide if the contract among the parties may enforced by courts, also the parties had vital intention of making a lawful relationship, the act maintains dissimilarity between the domestic and cultural contract and the contract that has been made in this situation of business (Fleming, 1996). Court order Court is the higher authority to solve any cases and another side it can be said that the court, where any kind of social or domestic issues can be solved by the judge. Similarly, the following case solved by the court. The conclusion which has been provided by the court, the following rules led with aim of parties were applied by court. The court depicted that even if the social or domestic contract made among other party is very compound in scenery, at a halt there will be a guess which was not the aim of parties to build lawful relation except the other parties build an apparent target to the opposite. The brief morality of this case study that Mrs. Jones said to give her daughter Mrs. Padavatton a stipend of $200 in every month if she left her occupation and come back London from Washington. Mrs. Jones did not want that her daughter not to stay in Washington that is why she told to her beloved daughter to come back to London and she will get the stipend in every month. But the da ughter was not agreed in the very beginning. In the starting she was not agreed with his mother proposal, but after some time she agreed with her mother proposal and as a result she come back to London from Washington. Mrs. Jones desires that after completion of her daughters study she should join as a legal representative in Trinidad. However the contract did not run easily because the doctor was beneath intuition that her mother went to give US dollars the mother targeted to give Trinidad dollars which worth was half of US dollars. As the outcome of this, her daughter had managed to lease a single room and stayed with her son. Thus her mother desires to buy a big room that doctor may survive happily as well as she may lease several rooms. The coming money which is coming from rent that is used by the physician as her took after. After few days long, the daughter got wedded and as the result she did not complete her study. In this situation Mrs. Jones desires to come back the owner ship of the home. During this scheduled, the matter previous to the court was if this was a family contract or parties desired the contract to be lawfully enforceable (Merrett Ville, 2004). The court has arrived at the end that the contract among the parties was a household arrangement. Thus the presupposition was current which not the aim of the parties was to make lawful relation. In this concern, the court clarify the morality that no prove has presented by other parties. The case should be most clear to solve. In this case study, the father and sons contract has taken a place. Thus the presupposition is present that was household arrangement, which was not the target of parties that the contract may enforce by law. In this circumstance, Richards did not claim the worth of $ 200 every week from his father in a court of act. Issue The matter which desires to decide in the case study relating with remedies that may avail to Frere Bros for break of agreement dedicated by Joe. Very few cases, in accordance with the contract law when a party to the agreement fails to execute its commitment beneath the agreement which have imposed on the party by the agreement, it has also depicted that very few parties has broken the agreement. There has a break of a agreement by a party to the agreement, the act gives other party with convinced remedies. The major remedies, which have given to the honest party when a break of agreement has arrived, include injunction, risks and the preparation of specific performance. Contract law is very important to solve any kind of commercial issues or trade issues. Agreement terms Normally the compensation had awarded when there is a break of agreement. The law of contract gives cost may award by court in the basis of the cost incurred by other parties due to the fault of agreement. Hence, it can be depicted that the damages cost has to give beneath the common act for break of contract. The main cause of giving a remedy to the honest party in case of break agreement is that the fiscal compensation may be provided to party because a loss has suffered by another party due to break of agreement by other party. Therefore, in the case of break of agreement the guiltless party has to face a loss (Hovell Williams, 2003). The agreement risks did not given by court as a penalty to the party for the cause which is not capable to execute the obligations forced on it by agreement. In the similar path, while awarding agreement risks, courts did not allow the paying ability of the defendant. Because of this, the worth of reparation awarded by courts is based on the various which are current between the charge under the agreement as well as the price that desires to be incurred by other party for the performance of the agreement. Another therapy that is vacant in case of break of agreement is that of precise performance. Performance is also very essential and also it will define more successful thing. There are very few assured cases where the therapy of precise performance acts a vital role. When awarding of therapy of precise performance, the courts create a regulation in accordance with the supporter should be performed the role, concerning which the supporter had found to execute under agreement. Basically courts award therapy of precise presentation in legal array according to which the particular party should be done something or asked for not to doing something. It has been seen that basically the court create a regulation of precise presentation to establish a transaction which had created before. The therapy of precise presentation may be sta ted as most successful in very few cases where the court approved his remedy to save the probable curiosity of the nave party in the case of break of agreement. Each and every case presentation should be precise and the therapy must be top quality. However, thus the court granted the therapy of precise presentation, this is so much considerable that the courts allow if sufficient liberation will be given to the honest party if therapy of reimbursement is granted. On the other hand, where the court will reject to offer of the therapy of exact awarding in that case, the agreement did not said clearly all the conditions and terms. As the same, the therapy of particular presentation will not offer by courts if the award for such therapy will outcome in odd hardships. For an example, such a condition may be provided of the exact case where exclusive subject issue is connected with the agreement (Cooter Ulen, 1988). Court order Court order is too much important to solve any kind of issues. For the reason of offering release in some cases, the court can pick the therapy of exact performance. A command can also be provided by courts to contract with the particular case where a break of agreement has arrived. To covenant with a break of agreement, the command may be explain as an additional which is created by court. In this instruction, a significant party in the agreement is controlled as of doing something. Similarly, an instruction of injunction may needs to oblige a party to cure the having position of an exact article in future. In the way to transaction with some cases, there are few kinds of intentions which the court can grant. Such an example, this is obtainable by the court, that is compulsory command or to regulate an interlocutory ban. The court provides an important command for the reason of maintaining the topic issue of agreement when legal action is going on among the parties. At the same time , the order provided to conceding mandating order needs to oblige a party to accomplish something in according to the agreement. In the current case study, the therapy of command would be most proper that will cure you from playing in the movie of any other parties. The court order is very vital to obey. Each and every human beings should follow the rules which has approved by the court. References Cooter, R., Ulen, T. (1988). Law and economics. Carter, J. W., Harland, D. J., Lindgren, K. E. (1996).Contract law in Australia. MICHIE. Balotti, R. F., Finkelstein, J. A. (2008).Delaware Law of Corporations and Business Organizations: Statutory Deskbook 2009(Vol. 4). Aspen Publishers Online. Fleming, G., Merrett, D., Ville, S. (2004).The big end of town: Big business and corporate leadership in twentieth-century Australia. Cambridge University Press. Beale, H. (ed) 2002, Cases, Materials and Text on Contract Law HartPublishing, Oxford Benson, P. (ed)2001,The Theory of Contract Law: New Essays Cambridge UniversityPress, Cambridge Woellner, R., Barkoczy, S., Murphy, S., Evans, C., Pinto, D. (2011).Australian Taxation Law Select: legislation and commentary. CCH Australia. Lefler, R. (2001). Comparision of Comparision: Use of Foreign Case Law as Persuasive Authority by the United States Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Canada, and the High Court of Australia, A.S. Cal. Interdisc. LJ,11, 165. Charlesworth, H., Chiam, M., Hovell, D., Williams, G. (2003). Deep anxieties: Australia and the international legal order.Sydney L. Rev.,25, 423.

What Is Angina And What Is The Cure Essays - RTT,

What is Angina? And What is the Cure? QUESTION: What is Angina? And what is the cure? RESPONSE: Angina refers to the pain arising from lack of adequate blood supply to the heart muscle. Typically, it is a crushing pain behind the breastbone in the center of the chest, brought on by exertion and relieved by rest. It may at times radiate to or arise in the left arm, neck, jaw, left chest, or back. It is frequently accompanied by sweating, palpitations of the heart, and generally lasts a matter of minutes. Similar pain syndromes may be caused by other diseases, including esophagitis, gall bladder disease, ulcers, and others. Diagnosis of angina begins with the recognition of the consistent symptoms. Often an exercise test with radioactive thallium is performed if the diagnosis is in question, and sometimes even a cardiac catheterization is done if the outcome is felt necessary to make management decisions. This is a complex area which requires careful judgment by physician and patient. Angina is a manifestation of coronary artery disease, the same disease leading to heart attacks. Coronary artery diseas refers to those syndromes caused by blockage to the flow of blood in those arteries supplying the heart muscle itself, i.e., the coronary arteries. Like any other organ, the heart requires a steady flow of oxygen and nutrients to provide energy for rmovement, and to maintain the delicate balance of chemicals which allow for the careful electrical rhythm control of the heart beat. Unlike some other organs, the heart can survive only a matter of minutes without these nutrients, and the rest of the body can survive only minutes without the heart--thus the critical nature of these syndromes. Causes of blockage range from congenital tissue strands within or over the arteries to spasms of the muscular coat of the arteries themselves. By far the most common cause, however, is the deposition of plaques of cholesterol, platelets and other substances within the arterial walls. Sometimes the buildup is very gradual, but in other cases the buildup is suddenly increased as a chunk of matter breaks off and suddenly blocks the already narrowed opening. Certain factors seem to favor the buildup of these plaques. A strong family history of heart attacks is a definite risk factor, reflecting some metabolic derangement in either cholesterol handling or some other factor. Being male, for reasons probably related to the protective effects of some female hormones, is also a relative risk. Cigarette smoking and high blood pressure are definite risks, both reversible in most cases. Risk also increases with age. Elevated blood cholesterol levels (both total and low density types) are risks, whereas the high density cholesterol level is a risk only if it is reduced. Possible, but less well-defined factors include certain intense and hostile or time-pressured personality types (so-called type A), inactive lifestyle, and high cholesterol diets. Medications are increasingly effective for symptom control, as well as prevention of complications. The oldest and most common agents are the nitrates, derivatives of nitroglycerine. They include nitroglycerine, isosorbide, and similar agents. Newer forms include long acting oral agents, plus skin patches which release a small amount through the skin into the bloodstream over a full day. They act by reducing the burden of blood returning to the heart from the veins and also by dilating the coronary arteries themselves. Nitrates are highly effective for relief and prevention of angina, and sometimes for limiting the size of a heart attack. Used both for treatment of symptoms as well as prevention of anticipated symptoms, nitrates are considered by many to be the mainstay of medical therapy for angina. The second group of drugs are called "beta blockers" for their ability to block the activity of the beta receptors of the nervous system. These receptors cause actions such as blood pressure elevation, rapid heart rate, and forceful heart contractions. When these actions are reduced, the heart needs less blood, and thus angina may be reduced. The newest group of drugs for angina is called the calcium channel blockers. Calcium channels refer to the areas of the membranes of heart and other cells where calcium flows in and out, reacting with other chemicals to modulate the force and rate of contractions. In the heart, they can reduce the force and rate of contractions and electrical excitability, thereby having a calming effect on the heart. Although their final place in heart disease remains to be seen, they promise to play an increasingly important role. When medications are unsuccessful, or if there is concern about an impending or potential heart attack,

The Effect of Crushed Banana Peels Essays

The Effect of Crushed Banana Peels Essays The Effect of Crushed Banana Peels Essay The Effect of Crushed Banana Peels Essay The Banana is a kind of herb that is usually consumed as either food or flavoring. Its peel is often deemed as useless or without any use that It Is Just thrown away. But are banana peels as useless as people think? Banana Peels have Potassium (K) that commonly helps clean your body and is used to manufacture Today, many fleshes have been dying due to polluted waters and careless soap. Oil spills. Fishes are a food source to many and are sources of income for fishermen. Without fishes, livelihood in the country would decrease. We need to cleanse ND purify the bodies of water. However, a major problem Is that unverified water contains heavy metals such as lead and copper. Commercial water purifiers Like tablets are expensive to most and are not proven safe to bodies of waters like rivers and oceans. Another disadvantage goes for distillation, which although is a safe form of water purification, it consumes a lot of energy. The researchers would like to test this study on small fish tanks and if it is able to be proven that banana peels can become a good water purifier that the fishes will have a higher survival rate, a further duty can be made in the future so that banana peels can be made as organic filters In bodies of water to ensure a higher survival right for fishes. The researchers will do a total of two trials to prove that the banana peels are efficient in filtering water. The by setting up two fish tanks. One with crushed banana peels added, one with none. Recorded observation will be done on a table with the acidity and base levels of the eely purified water. Using banana peels as an alternative for water filters will be cheaper and might even be more effective. With this, we can collect the banana peels consumed by people all around the world and control the amount of landfill trash. With this alternative, we will not only be saving money, but we will also be saving the environment. This will make a more suitable form of water filtration due to its proposed effectiveness and cheap cost. Using banana peels does not affect your health unlike other water filters or methods. These banana peels can clean rivers, treats, and other forms of fresh water, therefore allowing the people to use it if further studies can be made if proven effective. Clean streams and rivers allow us to drink and maybe bathe from it therefore, not raising costs on our water bill. Also, fishes will remain healthy that livelihood and economy will not drop down in the country. Potassium- a chemical element with symbol K (from Neo-Latin gallium) and atomic number 19. Elemental potassium is a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidized rapidly in air and is very reactive with water. PH Level- measure of the acidity or basilica of an aqueous solution. Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline.

To what extent is US policy in the Gulf region driven primarily by Dissertation

To what extent is US policy in the Gulf region driven primarily by energy needs - Dissertation Example Retrieved from, http://schirachreport.com/index.php/2011/01/21/old-lobbies-prevent-new-energy-policies/ Teixeira, R, 2010. Public Opinion Snapshot: Public turns against offshore drilling. Centre for American progress, retrieved from, http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/06/snapshot062810.html The Progress Report, 2010. Big giveaways to big Oil. Retrieved from, http://www.barbrastreisand.com/us/article/big-giveaways-big-oil Weiss, D. September 2010. GOP â€Å"Pledge to America† is an oath to Big Oil- written by a former EXXon lobbysist. ClimateProgress. Retrieved from, http://climateprogress.org/2010/09/23/gop-pledge-to-america-big-oil-exxon-lobbyist-brian-wild/ Literature review summary: With approximately 70 % of the global oil reserves located in the Middle Eastern regions, which includes Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq, these group of countries have formed the group of leading exporters of oil, especially in the post WWII era. Sampson, (1975) and Tanzer (1974), into their books gives us detailed insight into the pre WWII era when the oilfields were in the hands of the colonels British empire, and how slowly US took over after emerging as the chief power during the WWII. Tanzer in his book especially traces the rise of US as the main global power, the rise of strong oil companies and the formation of the famous US oil lobby, and it’s taking control over the European oil trade market. Kinzer, (2008) in his book traces the interference of US oil lobby in Iran internal politics during the 1950s to bring in the Shah of Iran (pro-US) as the head of the country, so that the oil fields would be effectively under the control of the US oil firms. Klare 2001, in his book traces the rise in strength of the US oil firms and the beginning of USA’s relentless drive to gain global energy supremacy. Cordesman (1999) gives us detailed insight into US’s ever-increasing oil consumption rate, and the governmentâ⠂¬â„¢s unceasing drive to gain energy security, which drove the US oil companies and the government to attempt to bring all the oil rich countries under their control. These books show us how US created Saudi Arabia and established its control over the oilfields, while Iraq managed to give the western countries the slip by nationalising their oil fields, which finally led to the 2003 war with Iraq. Bennett, et al. (2007), Sepehri (2002), Kay (2001) in their articles give us an insight into the true nature of the 1991 and 2003 Iraq war and the actual reason behind this war. They show very clearly, as what were conditions that ultimately led to the 2003 war, and established clear links oil firms and the Bush regime. Phillip, 2003, very categorically shows in his paper the actual nature of the war and how the oil lobbyists stood to gain from the2003 war, while various news articles in BBC, Times, and CNN also shows strong link between US oil firms, US government, US foreign polices and the US-Iraq war in 2003. Articles by Lee (2005); Weiss (2010) and Paolo Schirach (2011) show the strong link that exists between US’s ineffective energy saving policies and the connection between government officials. These articles put up figures that reveal the huge donations made by the oil firms to the Republican party, and consequent failure on the part of the US government to draw up strong energy saving policies in the last 5 decades, after the end of the WWII, when the consumption of oil suddenly became high owing to the arrival of automobiles in the US

Recruitment and Selection Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Recruitment and Selection - Research Paper Example Hence, without the recruitment process, the link between employers and potential employees would not exist. Selection is all about how to make accurate assessments on the weaknesses and strengths of applicants when identifying the person who is highly likely to perform a task more effectively. An excellent description of what selection is all about is provided by Gatewood, Field and Barrick (2010) on page 307. An applicant’s pool may serve as a limiting factor during the selection process because if there are applicants who are not appropriate for the position, the probability that the human resource management team will identify the appropriate applicants is low (Gatewood, Field and Barrick, 2010). The illustration shows the selection process is all about organizations choosing between job candidates. a. The selection process extremely critical in a company is because of its cost efficiency. The selection process makes it easier for companies to operate. When a company hires an unqualified employee, the person may increase the losses incurred because of low productivity from such an employee. The cost of operating with qualified employees tends is more economical than the costs incurred when operating or training unqualified employees. b. Most organizations today are now under the strict observation of the 21st century litigious society. As a result, it has led to many firms protecting themselves against discriminatory lawsuits more critical particularly when the hiring process is ongoing. Hence, the selection process is important because of the legal concerns involved. There are laws such as the Americans with Disability Act which ensure that there are equal opportunities for all candidates during the recruitment process regardless of their race, age, disability, sexual orientation among other differences (Gatewood, Field and Barrick, 2010). c. Lastly, the selection process is important because it promotes screening tools development. The key goal

The Impacts Of Invasive Alien Plants

The Impacts Of Invasive Alien Plants Chapter 1 Research on the impacts of invasive alien plants (IAP) on biodiversity, ecosystem services and processes have been well documented in the literature. Furthermore, the primary focus of this research was the negative impacts associated with IAPs when there are some benefits associated with these plants. Limited research has also addressed the issue of IAP impact on the livelihoods and well-being of local land-users. Seeing that limited resources are available to address the issue of IAP at large, quantification of stakeholder perception is needed to maximise IAP management. Through this thesis, an investigation into the spread and impacts of IAPs in the rural parts of the Agulhas Plain as well as the perceptions, uses, costs and benefits associated with IAPs and the importance of these plants to the livelihoods of the local communities was carried out. The purpose of this research is to provide a better understanding of the possible impacts of invasive plant species on the livelihoods of people. This local knowledge can aid researchers by providing context specific information about impacts, which can then be used for future conservation actions. Motivation The detrimental effects of IAPs on ecosystems and biodiversity, ecosystem goods and services the economy of human enterprises and human health have been well documented in the literature (e.g. Geesing et al. 2004, Nel et al. 2004, Shackleton et al. 2007). Invasion by alien species have been reported as a major threat to the biodiversity and functioning of sensitive ecosystems (Turpie et al. 2003, Richardson and Van Wilgen 2004, Van Wilgen et al. 2008). It has been shown that invasive species are very successful in competing for resources with native species and can modify fuel loads by changing the amount of litter fall (Behenna et al. 2008). Invasive alien plants are also capable of altering the natural nutrient fluxs by shifting the nitrogen content due to changes in the litter fall (Behenna et al. 2008). Dense stands of acacias along the rivers in the Western Cape replace and exclude native fynbos species (Blanchard and Holmes 2008). Invasive alien plants also pose one of the grea test immediate threats to floral diversity in the fynbos and have the ability capture vast amounts of water (Turpie et al. 2003). In contrast, research exploring the effects of IAPs on the livelihoods of local, rural communities has received little attention (McGarry et al. 2005, Shackleton et al. 2007). Not all of the impacts exerted by IAPs are negative as these plant species is a source of both costs and benefits (Bardsley and Edward-Jones 2006). Various plants have been introduced to South Africa for a variety of purposes (Van Wilgen et al. 2001). These include species intrudes for crop production, timber and firewood, garden ornamentals, for dune stabilisation and hedge plants (Van Wilgen et al. 2001). Several of these have become naturalized and some of the naturalized species are now invasive (Van Wilgen et al. 2001). Costs are experienced when these invasive species impede the functioning of social and ecological systems (Bardsley and Edward-Jones 2006). Benefits, on the other hand, are experienced when the same traits (such as hardiness and high fecundity) that lead to these species becoming invasives, contribute to their usefulness (Bardsley and Edward-Jones 2006). Rural communities are exposed to IAPs in different ways (Shackleton et al. 2007). The outcome is that that these communities have to weigh up the trade-offs between the possible positive benefits of IAPs as a natural resource and the negative impacts exercised by these species on ecosystem goods and services and in turn on human livelihood (Shackleton et al. 2007). It is generally accepted that the negative effects of IAPs on ecosystem goods and services are transferred directly to human well-being (Shackleton et al. 2007). This has been proven otherwise by researchers such as de Neergaard and others (2005), Shackleton and others (2007) and Kull and others (2011) who illustrated that IAPs can be integrated significantly by local communities in their lifestyles as either a source of tannins and timber, for firewood, building material, as well as for medicinal extractions and financial income by selling of firewood. Working for Water (WfW), an IAP eradication programme, was launced in 1995 with the aim of restoring natural capital by controlling invading species and enhance water security (Van Wilgen et al. 1998). Simultaneously, the programme aims to alleviate poverty by providing employment to underprivileged communities (Van Wilgen et al. 1998). To date, the WfW programme has developed into one of the biggest conservation projects in Africa with regard to manpower, costs and impact (Ndhlovu 2011). Immense sponsorships have contributed towards extensive areas being cleared and a large numbers of individuals being employed (Binns et al. 2001, Turpie et al. 2008). Conversely, the socio-economic benefits of the WfW programme have not been wholly assessed regardless of the programmes extensive activities and substantial sponsorships associated with it (Turpie et al. 2008). Additionally, the use of these plants by rural communities is not well understood and seldom integrated into eradication programmes as stated below: The lack of information on the socio-economic impacts of IAS has been singled out as a major barrier to the implementation of comprehensive national IAS management programmes and as one of the main reasons for the failure of IAS issues to feature prominently in the mainstream agenda of most countries (Peter, 2009). Quantification of stakeholder perception on the impacts of IAPs is essential in order authorize an argument for the control and management of invasive plant species (Peter, 2009). Though it is vital to understand anthropogenic impacts on landscapes and ecosystems through ecological knowledge of invasive species, an improved understanding of the social processes is also required to inform both species management and conservation policy (Peter 2009). There is a shortage of information regarding the socio-economic impact of alien species presently found in South Africa. Even in well studied areas such as the Cape Floristic Region, the range of the impact of invasive plants is poorly understood. Additionally, limited research has also been done with regard to the socio-economic impacts of alien eradication programmes in the Western Cape. Consequently, there is a need for comprehensive research that investigates the holistic impacts (both negative and positive) of IAPs on the livelihoods and well-being of local communities. Goals and Objectives Considering the above, the objective of this study was to assess the effects and impacts of IAP infestation on human well-being, with the focus on the effects of IAPs on the livelihoods of rural land users in the Western Cape, South Africa. The main research question that directs the study is as follow: What are the impacts of invasive alien plants on the livelihoods of rural land users? This research question was broken down into seven key questions. These key questions were adapted from the literature (see McGarry et al. 2005). Key Questions What is the significance of the natural environment to the community? What are peoples attitudes towards and perceptions of IAPs ? How important are IAPs for human well-being and livelihoods? Are the IAPs used for sustenance, for domestic requirements, etc.? Are IAPs sold to provide an income? Does the local community perceive IAPs as having a positive or negative impact on spirituality, culture and/or aesthetics? How do IAPs in the area affect the supply of (other) ecosystem goods and services which are important to peoples livelihoods? What are peoples attitudes towards IAP management? What are the impacts of IAP eradication programmes on livelihoods? What is the impact of IAP distribution on land-use practices? What are the long-term and short-term gains and losses for human well-being and livelihood as a result of IAP impact? The study site is highly dependent on areas where rural communities are still highly reliant on generating an income from the land. Additionally, the study site must also comply with the use of IAPs by the local community and in the same light IAPs must be potentially regarded as a problem by the local community. The Agulhas Plain, situated within the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), has been selected as the focus area for this study as it meets the above mentioned criteria. Study area The Agulhas Plain (AP) is located within the CFR which is internationally known as a global biodiversity hotspot (Turpie et al. 2003). The CFR, known for its Mediterranean type climate, is the most floristically rich of the seven diverse biomes allocated in South Africa with an estimated 9600 plant species of which 70% are endemic (Richardson and Sekhran 2009). The AP, comprising an area of 270 000 ha, is located at the southern-most tip of South Africa and is a species-rich area known for its fire-prone coastal lowland fynbos and infertile soils (Richardson and Sekhran 2009, Treurnicht 2010). It is internationally recognised as a centre for endemism (Treurnicht 2010). This area is however increasingly threatened by habitat transformation and alien plant invasion (Turpie et al. 2003), the latter being the focal point of this study. Fynbos wildflower farming and harvesting, particularly from natural vegetation, forms an integral part of this areas economic activity and contributes immensely to this regions agricultural sector (Treurnicht 2010). This has been shown Turpie and others (2003) who stated that natural fynbos vegetation are estimated to be accountable for 57.6% of the CFRs turnover, which were equal to R90.5 million in the year 2000. The Agulhas Plain is practically responsible for the largest part of this turnover (Turpie et al. 2003). Study limitations It was not possible to do a systematic and exhaustive research in all the areas on the Agulhas Plain were IAP infestation occurs due to the time limitation of this study. It was thus decided to do a detailed and comprehensive micro focus i.e. case study on the socio-economic impacts of invasive alien plants and to gather as much consistent information as possible by means of interviews. Elim and the surrounding farming communities were accordingly selected as the study group. Study site selection Elim and the surrounding farming communities were chosen as the best suitable study site according to the following reasons: It was established during the visits prior and during the pilot study that this rural settlement and its neighbouring farms still relies on woody IAPs as either a primary or a supplementary source of energy. It was noted during field visits that the areas surround the settlement as well as the neighbouring farms are invaded to a substantial degree. There has been active alien eradication programmes in the area since 1998 i.e. Working for Water as well as LandCare under the departments of Water Affairs and Agriculture respectively. Thesis outline Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Literature Review Chapter 3 Methods, Results and Discussion Chapter 4 Implications for management and policies