Riot Grrrl: Empowering Women and Changing the World Essay -- Feminism

Take a moment and envision yourself accompanying your significant other at a highly anticipated punk rock concert. Upon arrival, he immediately insists that you play the role of a â€Å"good girlfriend† by holding his jacket while he and the rest of the male audience move up towards the mosh pit. You soon find yourself pushed and shoved to the back of the room, the farthest distance away from the stage as possible, along with hundreds of other â€Å"good girlfriends† as personified coat hangers. This was an issue faced by many women in the early 90’s who were interested in the punk rock scene, yet were unable to have their voices be heard, until now. Riot grrrl, a radical feminist movement that thrived in the underground punk scene has challenged the media to take a step back and recognize the women involved to be able to portray and express themselves without the need of society’s written standards of how or what the ideal woman should be. In Kevin Dunn a nd May Farnsworth’s article, â€Å"We ARE The Revolution†: Riot Grrrl Press, Girl Empowerment, and DIY Self-Publishing, the authors mention how riot grrrl members took matters into their own hands by establishing their own interpersonal sources of positive and influential media through utilization of radio shows, fanzines, television programs, and creative outlets to promote self expression and awareness. They had every good intention to carry these opportunities out since the media has long been known for deliberately distorting every ounce of truth they are given. Misconceptions of feminism have especially emerged through the deceitful tactics of the media and have managed to successfully establish a negative connotation with the movement of feminism. When questioned on the topic of feminism,... ... permanent mark on today’s world. It may be considered a man’s world for now, but with the efforts of millions who support the same values that riot grrrl enforces, it will soon it will be a world of equality where both men and women have equal opportunities to have their voices be heard. Works Cited Downes, Julia. Women Make Noise: Girl Bands from Motown to the Modern. Twickenham: Supernova, 2012. Print. Dunn, Kevin, and May Summer Farnsworth. "â€Å"We ARE The Revolution†: Riot Grrrl Press, Girl Empowerment, And DIY Self-Publishing." Women's Studies 41.2 (2012): 136-157. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Dec. 2015. Leonard, Marion. Gender in the Music Industry: Rock, Discourse, and Girl Power. Aldershot, Hampshire, England: Ashgate, 2007. Print. Meltzer, Marisa. Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music. New York: Faber and Faber, 2010. Print.

Presence of Exim Bank in Saarc Region

History of SAARC The concept of setting up a regional co-operational in the South Asian Region was first mooted by the late President of Bangladesh, Ziaur-Rahman on May 2, 1980. Before this, the idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was discussed in conferences of Asian Regional conference, New Delhi in April 1947, the Baguio Conference in Philippines in May 1950, and the Colombo Power Conference in April 1954. urther in the late 70s, SAARC nations agreed to create a trade bloc consisting of South Asian countries. The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was again mooted in May 1980as a result, the foreign secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. The Committee of the Whole, which met in Colombo in August 1985, identified five broad areas for regional cooperation.New areas of cooperation were added in the following years. Hence the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was created in 1985 with eight member countri es in SAARC namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It also has nine observers, namely China, EU, Iran, Republic of Korea, Australia, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar and USA.The objectives of the Association as defined in the Charter are: * to promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life; * to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential; * to promote and strengthen selective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia; * to contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's problems; * to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields; * to strengthen cooperation with other developing countries; * to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interest; and * to cooperate with international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes. The principles of SAARC are: * Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political equality and independence of all members states * Non-interference in the internal matters is one of its objectives * Cooperation for mutual benefit * All decisions to be taken unanimously and need a quorum of all eight members * All bilateral issues to be kept aside and only multilateral(involving many countries) issues to be discussed without being prejudiced by bilateral issues Economic Agenda of SAARC The main economic agenda of SAARC include: ) SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA) The Agreement on SAPTA was signed on 11 April 1993 and entered into force on 7 December 1995. The Agreement envisaged promoting and sustaining mutual trade and economic cooperation within the SAARC region through exchange of concessions. b) South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) The Ag reement on SAFTA was signed on 6 January 2004 during the Twelfth SAARC Summit in Islamabad. The Agreement entered into force on 1 January 2006. c) South Asian Economic Union The Eleventh Summit (Kathmandu, 4-6 January 2002) provided further impetus to the regional economic cooperation to give effect to the shared aspirations for a more prosperous South Asia.At the Summit, the leaders agreed to accelerate cooperation in the core areas of trade, finance and investment to realise the goal of an integrated South Asian economy in a step-by-step manner. They also agreed to the vision of a phased and planned process eventually leading to a South Asian Economic Union. Economic Profile of the SAARC Member Countries In Afghanistan, real domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have reached 13. 9% in FY2007, owing to a strong recovery in agricultural production. Industry and services recorded dynamic growth of 13. 3% and 12. 4%, respectively. Construction was the main driver of industrial growth . In Bangladesh, GDP growth in FY2007 (ended June 2007) stood at 6. % underpinned by steady expansion in manufacturing and continued buoyancy in services, on the base of rising domestic and external demand. Secretariat of SAARC The Secretariat of SAARC is located in Kathmandu has been established on 16 January 1987 inaugurated by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal headed by a Secretary General. The Secretary General is appointed by the Council of Ministers from Member Countries in alphabetical order for a term of three-years assisted by the Professional and the General Services Staff, and also an appropriate number of functional units called Divisions assigned to Directors on deputation from Member States.The Secretariat has been entrusted with the function of coordination and monitoring the implementation of activities, arranging for meetings, and serveing as a channel of communication between the Association and its Member States as well as other regional organizations. T he setting up of SAARC Secretariat involved inking a Memorandum of Understanding between the Foreign Ministers of member countries on 17 November 1986 at Bangalore, India which contained various clauses concerning the role, structure and administration of the SAARC Secretariat as well as the powers of the Secretary-General. Regional Centres of SAARC There are various regional centres established by SAARC Secretariat in member states so as to ensure smooth working of the SAARC functions.The regional Centres covering Agriculture, Tuberculosis, Documentation, Meteorological research, and Human Resource Development have been established in different SAARC capitals: SAIC (Dhaka, 1998) STC (Kathmandu, 1992) SDC (New Delhi, 1994) SMRC (Dhaka, 1995) SHRDC (Islamabad, 1999) SCC (Kandy, 2004) SCZMC (Male, 2004) and SIC (Kathmandu, 2004). In addition, three new regional centres covering Culture, Coastal Zones Management, and Information are being established. India- SAARC Relationship The coun tries of South Asia were compelled to forge a regional grouping due to universal realization among the third world countries. – india with her experience of initial efforts to organize the Asian community ; the conflicts in the region welcomed the initiative of Bangladesh in 1980. for an association of south Asian namely India, Pakistan, Sri lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives. SAARC provides a platform for the peoples of south asia to work together in a spirit of friendship , trust ; understanding . – it aims to accelerated the process of economic ; social development in member states. – the initial years of SAARC were marked by significant political developments in the world culminating in the demise of cold war ; the disremberment of the soviet union. – therefore, when the proposal for the regional co-operation was made by bangladesh india could not reject the proposal. – as this regional cooperation could play a useful role in india's ow n regional policy. – india is the biggest with sharing the borders with all 6 countries of the region. – from politicla to economic level, india & its neighbors have many disputes. inida is also having the stable democracy, has a strong military machine, a large scientific & technical manpower & a vast industries infrastructure makes it different from other countries. – the end of cold war has provided greater leeway to india to promote her perception of south Africa regionalism through SAARC. – india has become the heart of saarc & in fact constitutes the major source of both GDP, trade & capital flows within saarc/region. – the reluctance of india & other south asian countries to turn saarc into forum for resolving major regional disputes hampers saarc ability to deal with many of the south asia's economic ; political problems. Mekong-Ganga Cooperation : it was established on nov 10 2000 at vientiane in the 1st MGC ministerial-meeting. – i t comprises of 6 members countries namely, thailand, myanmar,cambodia, lao PDR, vietnam ; india. – they emphses on 4 areas of cooperation , which are : tourism, culture, education , transportation linkages in order to be solid foundation for future trade ; investment cooperation in the region. Cooperation Mechanisms : – the working mechanism for MGC consists of the annual ministrial meeting, the senior official's meeting, 5 working group namely : * working group on tourism (thailand) * working group on education , HRD (india) * working group on culture (cambodia) working group on communication & transportation (lao PDR) * working group on paln of actions (vietnam). – with his cooperation india has extended its footprints in asean region under the geostartegic back drop. – india has added powerful cultural dimension to its economic diplomacy by encouraging business contacts between the people residing on the banks Summits Summits which are the highest auth ority in SAARC, are supposed to be held annually. The country hosting the Summit also holds the Chair of the Association. Bangladesh hosted the Thirteenth Summit in November 2005 at Dhaka as the Chairperson of the Association. India will host the Fourteenth SAARC Summit in 2007 as its Chairman.South Asia’s regional cooperation, international political and economic environment, poverty alleviation, advancing economic cooperation, funding mechanisms, security of small states, combating, terrorism, social, natural disasters and environmental challenges as an agenda for third decade of SAARC was also discussed in the Thirteenth Summit. Enhancing people-to-people contact and cultural cooperation, political cooperation and external linkages of SAARC was also discussed. SAARC member states welcomed the request by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for membership and invited Afghanistan as a member, subject to the completion of formalities.SAARC member states also agreed in principl e with the desire of the People’s Republic of China and Japan to be associated as observers. The Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters Establishment of SAARC Arbitration Council, and the Limited 136 Pakistan Journal of History & Culture, Vol. XXVII/2 (2006) Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters were signed during the thirteenth SAARC Summit The Council of Ministers comprising Foreign Ministers, meets at least twice a year. Its functions include formulating policy, reviewing progress of regional cooperation, identifying new areas of cooperation and establishing additional mechanisms that may be necessary.The Standing Committee comprising Foreign Secretaries, monitors and coordinates SAARC programmes of cooperation, approves projects including their financing and mobilizes regional and external resources. It meets as often as necessary and reports to the Council of Ministers. The Association also convenes meetings at Ministerial Level on specialized themes. The Committee on Economic Cooperation consisting of Secretaries of Commerce oversees regional cooperation in the economic field. During the Twelfth Summit in Islamabad, the SAARC Social Charter was signed in order to address social issues such as population stabilization, empowerment of women, youth mobilization, human resource development, promotion of health and nutrition, and protection of children, which are keys to the welfare and well-being of all South Asians.South Asian States have adopted Conventions on the Suppression of Terrorism (including Additional Protocol signed in January 2004 in Islamabad), Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Trafficking in Women and Children, and Child Welfare in South Asia. An Agreement on Food Security Reserve is also in place. During the 12th SAARC summit held in Islamabad the leaders of South Asia reiterated their commitment to form South Asian Economic Union (SAEU). If for med, it will pave the way for more ambitious — but entirely achievable — goals such as a Free Trade Area, an Economic Union, open borders, and a common currency for the region. As President Pervez Musharraf said, â€Å"we must expand SAARC charter to discuss bilateral issues at the regional level. There can be no development in the absence of peace.There can be no peace, so long as political issues and disputes continue to fester. †The Twelfth Summit renewed the urgency to deal with poverty in the region. For this purpose, the Summit directed the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA) to submit to the next Summit a comprehensive and realistic blueprint setting out SAARC 14 President Pervez Musharraf’s statement reported by M. Aftab, â€Å"Can Safta lead to South Asian Economic Union? † The News, 19 January, 2004. SAARC: Origin, Growth, Potential and Achievements 137 Development Goals for the next five years in the areas of poverty alleviation, education, health and environment.The Governors of the Central Banks of member states under the auspices of SAARCFINANCE meet regularly to consider cooperation in financial matters. For strengthening cooperation in information and media related activities of the Association, the Heads of National Television and Radio Organizations of member countries meet annually. Similarly, the SAARC Audio-Visual Exchange (SAVE) Committee disseminates information both on SAARC and its Member States through regular Radio and TV Programmes. In the field of education, the Member States cooperate through the forums of SACODiL (SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning) and Heads of Universities Grants Commission/Equivalent Bodies.Memoranda of Understanding have been signed to promotecollaboration with UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), UNESCAP (United Nati ons Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific), UNDCP (United Nations Drug Control Programme), ITU (International Telecommunications Union), APT (Asia Pacific Telecommunity), WHO (World Health Organization), UNIFEM (Untied Nations Fund for Women), CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency), EC (European Commission), PTB (German Metrology Institute), WB (World Bank), ADB (Asian Development Bank), UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and SACEP (South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme). Regular dialogues with other Regional Organizations such as ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) and PIFS (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat) are held with a view to promoting cooperation among sub-regional organizations.The Association promotes interaction on multilateral issues of common concern to its members and has identified areas in which collective positions could be projected at international forums. These i nclude trade, finance, environment, agriculture, women and children, information and telecommunications. Beyond official linkages, SAARC also encourages and facilitates cooperation in private sector through the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), which is a SAARC Apex Body. Other such bodies are SAARCLAW and South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA). In addition, the status of SAARC Recognized Bodies has been accorded to professional groups in South Asia including Architects, Management 138 http://www. nihcr. edu. pk Pakistan Journal of History & Culture, Vol.XXVII/2 (2006) Development Institutions, University Women, Town Planners, Cardiologists, Dermatologists, Teachers, Writers, Insurance Organizations, Diploma Engineers, Radiological and Surgical Care Societies. The Association of Speakers and Parliamentarians enjoy special recognition by the Heads of State or Government. Achievements Several factors such as political, economic, security and potentiality of mutual e conomic benefit through regionalism seem to have influenced President Ziaur Rahman’s thinking about establishing a regional organization in South Asia. 15 SAARC’s existence, however, has enabled South Asian political leaders to meet regularly and carry on informal discussions to address their mutual problems.This is no mean achievement given South Asia’s past history and low level of interaction among South Asian countries since their independence. Informal talks among the leaders at regularly held SAARC meetings have led to inter-elite reconciliation on many sensitive issues, producing some noteworthy results in South Asia. The informal talks between the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers at the second SAARC Summit meeting at Bangalore in November 1986 led to the diffusion of tension between the two countries on the issue of India’s military exercise, Operation Brasstacks, on the Indo-Pakistan border, and the India-Sri Lanka talks at the 1987 SAARC for eign ministers’ meeting led to their accord on the Tamil problem.As a result of an informal meeting and discussion between Prime Minister of India and Pakistan, Narasimha Rao and Nawaz Sharif, at Davos (Switzerland), in 1992, the Pakistani government took action to prevent the move of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to cross the ceasefire line in Kashmir later that year. The Davos meeting was possible because of an earlier informal agreement between the two leaders at the sixth SAARC Summit meeting at Colombo in December 1991. Given this utility of SAARC, can the organization grow or expand its role in the coming decades? The Heads of State or Government during the Ninth SAARC Summit agreed for the first time that a process of informal political consultations would prove useful in promoting peace, stability, amity and accelerated socio-economic cooperation in the region. The leaders reiterated this intent during their Tenth and Eleventh Summits in Colombo and Ka thmandu respectively also.The Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) was signed in 1993 and four rounds of trade negotiations have been concluded. With the objective of moving towards a South Asian Economic Union (SAEU), the Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) was signed during the Twelfth Summit in Islamabad in January 2004. SAFTA may enter into force by the end of the year 2006. The Association has carried out Regional Studies on trade, manufactures and services, environment and poverty alleviation, SAFTA and Customs matters. Since its inception in 1984 there have also been serious differences among member countries over the aims and functioning of SAARC. 6 Such differences have been pronounced in verbal bickerings in several SAARC meetings. This is in the face of the fact that closer social, economic and cultural ties (the espoused ideals of SAARC) are considered the one and only hope for building regional cooperation efforts in South Asia in the coming years. Indeed, increasing rationalization of world trade and the fluidity of the emerging global system has increased trade within each trade bloc and those countries that do not belong to any trade blocs are likely to be the losers. 17 This also provides a strong rationale for sustaining the SAARC vis-a-vis future trade prospects of South Asia.The assumption that peace can be achieved through SAARC without addressing the political problems of the region has neither een able to cultivate peace nor to invigorate the SAARC process successfully. Though since its very inception it has been regularly able to hold Summit meetings yet there have been interruptions in 16 The main point of debate hinges on the Charter of SAARC which does not allow bilateral issues to be discussed at the regional level summit diplomacy. 17 B. S. Shreekantaradhya, â€Å"Globalisation of Indian Economy: Strategies and Constraints,† S. Murty, The Changing Indian Economic Order (New Delhi: Indus Ec onomic Profile of the SAARC Member Countries In Afghanistan, real domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have reached 13. % in FY2007, owing to a strong recovery in agricultural production. Industry and services recorded dynamic growth of 13. 3% and 12. 4%, respectively. Construction was the main driver of industrial growth. In Bangladesh, GDP growth in FY2007 (ended June 2007) stood at 6. 5% underpinned by steady expansion in manufacturing and continued buoyancy in services, on the base of rising domestic and external demand (Figure 1). Figure 1: Economic Growth in SAARC Region – 2007 (percent) Source: Asian Development Outlook 2008, ADB Source: Direction of Trade Statistics Year Book 2007, IMF. Bhutan’s real GDP in FY2007 (ended June 2007) is estimated to have grown by 17. %. This was driven by growth in power sector (with a GDP share of 11. 3% in FY2006) resulting from the commissioning of the 1,020 megawatt (MW) Tala hydropower station, which has been phased in sin ce July 2006. In India, the impressive economic performance of the past few years continued with real GDP growth at 9. 0% in 2007-08, as compared to 9. 6% in the previous year. The real GDP of Maldives grew by 6. 6% in 2007, reverting to its historical growth path after the post-tsunami contraction in 2005. Tourism, the leading sector with around one-third share of GDP, grew by 10. 0%. Real GDP growth of Nepal moderated to 2. 3% in FY2007 (endedmidJuly 2007) from 3. 1% in FY2006, resulting from subdued performances of agriculture and industry. Real GDP growth of Pakistan continued to remain strong for the fourth consecutive year registering a growth of 7. 0% in FY2007 (ended June 2007). During 2007, Sri Lanka continued to register strong real GDP growth of 6. 7%, as compared to 7. 7% in 2006. Trend in Foreign Trade and Trade Policies SAARC’s Global Trade During the year 2000 to 2006, the total exports of SAARC countries have increased from US$ 63. 5 billion to US$ 161. 4 bill ion. The total imports of SAARC countries also have increased from US$ 79. 5 billion in 2000 to US$ 255. 3 billion in 2006.Among the SAARC countries, India led both in terms of exports and imports, followed by Pakistan and Bangladesh. Intra-SAARC Trade Total intra-SAARC exports have increased from US$ 2. 8 billion in 2000 to US$ 10. 8 billion in 2006, registering nearly a four-fold rise during the period. As a result, intra-SAARC exports, as a proportion of SAARC global exports, have risen from 4. 5% in 2000 to 6. 7% in 2006. Intra-exports of the SAARC countries were dominated by India, followed by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The total intra-SAARC imports have also increased more than three-fold from US$ 3. 0 billion in 2000 to US$ 9. 6 billion in 2006. Intra-SAARC imports ere dominated by Sri Lanka, followed by India. Figure 2 depicts the trend in intra-SAARC trade (exports plus imports) vis-a-vis trend in SAARC’s global trade. A comparison of the trends would highlight the buoy ancy in intra- SAARC trade especially after 2003, as compared to SAARC’s global trade. Trade Policies Trade liberalisation in South Asia started with a series of sweeping reforms in Sri Lanka in 1977/78. For the rest of South Asia, the 1980s and 1990s saw substantial reductions of tariffs and phasing out of quantitative restrictions (QRs), along with liberalisation of the exchange regimes. Developments in SAARC Trade Integration SAARC Preferential Trade Agreement SAPTA) was signed at the seventh SAARC summit in 1993, in Dhaka. The agreement provides a framework and institutional base for trade liberalisation and economic cooperation between the seven SAARC member countries. The agreement provides for the exchange of concessions between SAPTA members on tariffs, para-tariff and non-tariff barriers. It envisages four basic approaches to the exchange of trade preferences: (1) product-by-product; (2) across- the-board; (3) sectoral; and (4) â€Å"direct trade† measures. So uth Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) extends the scope of SAPTA to include trade facilitation elements and switches the tariff liberalisation rocess from a positive to a negative list approach. Foreign Direct Investment in the SAARC Region Private capital flows to South Asia was largely driven by India, which received the majority of capital flows to the region. The total FDI inflows into the SAARC region have increased from US$ 5. 6 billion in 2000 to US$ 22. 3 billion in 2006. FDI outflows from the SAARC region have increased from US$ 350 mn in 2000 to US$ 9. 8 billion in 2006. India’s Trade and Investment Relations with SAARC Trade Relations India’s exports to the SAARC region increased from US$ 2. 8 billion in 2002-03 to US$ 6. 5 billion in 2006-07 (Figure 3). Amongst the SAARC members, Sri Lanka is the largest arket, accounting for 35% of India’s Blue Magenta Black Blue Magenta Black Brief on New Publications SAARC: An Emerging Trade Bloc Exim Bank : Rese arch Brief No. 38, June 2008 3 Figure 3: Trend in India’s Trade in SAARC Region (US$ mn) Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GOI total exports in the SAARC region during 2006-07, followed by Bangladesh (25%), Pakistan (21%) and Nepal (14%). An analysis of the trend in India’s exports to the SAARC region during the period 2002-03 to 2006-07 reveals that, while exports to all the SAARC members have registered a rise, India’s exports to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal have exhibited distinct buoyancy. While India’s exports toPakistan registered a six-fold rise during the five-year period, exports to Afghanistan and to Nepal also rose three-fold and two and half-fold, respectively, during the period. India’s imports from the SAARC region have also risen from US$ 531. 5 mn in 2002-03 to US$ 1. 5 billion in 2006-07, depicting almost a three-fold rise during the period. Sri Lanka is again the leading partner, accounting for 31% of India’s to tal imports from the region during 2006-07, followed by Pakistan (21%), Nepal (20%), Bangladesh (15%) and Bhutan (9%). The robust rise in India’s total imports from the SAARC during the period 2002-03 to 2006-07 has been underpinned by the sharp ncrease in imports from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh. India generally maintains a positive trade balance with the other SAARC member countries, and the trade surplus have risen from US$ 2. 3 billion in 2002-03 to US$ 5. 0 billion in 2006-07. Investment Relations The total foreign direct investments (approved) from India to other SAARC countries amounted to US$ 312. 8 mn during April 1996 to December 2007. Among the SAARC countries, Sri Lanka (US$ 153. 1 mn) was the major destination of Indian investment followed by Nepal (US$ 87. 2 mn). During January 2005 to December 2007, 33 joint ventures (JVs) and 42 wholly owned subsidiaries (WOSs) have been pproved in the SAARC countries. Out of this, 1 JV was approved in Afghanist an, 7 JVs and 8 WOSs were approved in Bangladesh, 2 JVs in Maldives, 2 JVs and 6 WOSs in Nepal, 1 JV in Bhutan, and 20 JVs and 28 WOSs in Sri Lanka. Areas of investment approved include engineering goods, electrical equipments, pesticides, readymade garments, cables and wires, plastic & plastic products, rubber products and textiles. Total investments of SAARC countries to India have amounted to US$ 11. 7 mn during April 2000 to February 2008. Among all the SAARC countries, Sri Lanka was the largest source of FDI with US$ 8. 5 mn during the period, followed by Maldives (US$ 3. 1 mn).The investment flows between India and Sri Lanka have increased mainly after the implementation of India Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA). Exim Bank in the SAARC Region Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) operates a comprehensive range of financing, advisory and support programmes to promote and facilitate India’s trade and investment relations with the SAARC region. In the SAARC region , the Bank has supported several Indian project exporters to execute contracts in countries such as: _ Hydroelectric project (Tala project), tunnel house, and dam construction in Bhutan; _ Road improvement projects, railway construction and maintenance, gas turbine power plant project, lectrical substations, cement plant project, transmission line project, and conveyor belt project in Bangladesh; _ Steel, local telephone network, transmission lines, sub-stations, out door LED video system for cricket matches, and diesel fired power project in Sri Lanka; _ Transmission lines and substations, optic fibre cable project, hydro electric projects, and irrigation projects in Nepal, and _ Air-conditioning & electro mechanical work at Male Airport in Maldives. The Bank, in order to help Indian companies in their internationalisation efforts, provides term loans to them, both for equity investment in their ventures overseas. Besides, Exim Bank lso undertakes direct equity stake in Indian vent ures abroad, to enable Indian companies to supplement their equity with Exim Bank’s contribution. To facilitate Indian presence in the SAARC region, the Bank has supported joint ventures by Indian companies in several sectors, including: _ Pharmaceuticals, steel and glass sectors in Sri Lanka; _ Electrical sector in Bangladesh, and _ Engineering goods and textile sectors in Nepal. Exim Bank extends Lines of Credit (LOCs) to overseas financial institutions, foreign governments and their agencies, enabling them to finance EXIM BANK ORGANISES SEMINAR ON REGIONAL ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL COOPERATION IN ASIAExim Bank of India organised a Seminar on ‘Regional Economic and Financial Cooperation in Asia' on October 5, 2005 as a curtain raiser for the 11th Annual Meeting of Asian Exim Banks being held from October 5-7, 2005 in Goa. The Forum of Asian Exim Banks comprises 9 Asian countries, viz. India, Japan, China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Australia with Asian Development Bank, Manila, the multilateral financing institution as a permanent invitee. The Forum has an Annual Meeting hosted by a member country by rotation. The Forum was conceived and initiated by Exim Bank of India in 1996. After a decade, Exim Banks of India is again hosting the Annual Meeting. Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Pratapsingh Raoji Rane was the Chief Guest and inaugurated the Seminar. Other dignitaries who spoke at the Seminar included Mr. T. C.Venkat Subramanian, Chairman ; Managing Director, Exim Bank of India, Dr. Ashok Lahiri, Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director General, Research and Information System, New Delhi, Mr. Werner Liepach, Principal Director, Asian Development Bank, Manila and Mr. Lamon Rutten, Chief, Commodity Finance ; Risk Management, UNCTAD Geneva. The seminar was attended by the members of the Asian Exim Banks Forum at the highest level, special invitees, a cross-section of the industry and the academia. In his welcome address, Mr. Subramanian highlighted the growing importance of the Asian region in global trade and investment with Asia accounting for 27% of world trade.He, observed that intra-Asian trade at US$ 625 bn (42% of total exports of Asian countries) was not commensurate with the potential that exists for trade flows among the Asian economies and is much lower than intra-EU and intra-NAFTA trade. Mr. Subramanian also highlighted the sharp rise in Indo-China trade in the past few years catapulting China to become India's largest source of imports and 3rd largest export destination. Giving the theme address, Dr. Nagesh Kumar underscored the significance of regional cooperation among the economies of Asia, particularly considering that the region is home to the fastest emerging economies of the world. Besides sub-regional initiatives in the framework of ASEAN, SAARC and others, broader economic integration initiatives are under way.He argued that there is a strong case for ASEAN, Japan, China, India and Korea working together to realise the Asian dream. Congratulating Exim Bank of India for initiating a decade back, a Forum of Asian Exim Banks to forge stronger regional economic cooperation among the Asian countries, Dr. Ashok Lahiri in his keynote address noted with interest the wide range of issues to be covered at the 11th Annual Asian Exim Banks meeting. While underlining the importance of regional cooperation, Dr. Lahiri cited the example of ADB's initiative of the Greater Mekong Subregion in which six countries entered into a programme of subregional economic cooperation to enhance economic relations among themselves. Dr.Lahiri also explained the Government of India's initiatives, particularly the ‘Look East' policy, to forge stronger ties with the Asian economies for promoting trade and investment. Commending the Asian Exim Banks community for creating a forum for economic cooperation and sharing of knowledge, S hri Pratapsingh Rane, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa hoped that the Forum would suggest policies that would provide fillip to states/regional level, economic growth in the larger context of intra-Asian economic cooperation. Highlighting the investor-friendly economic environment of Goa, Mr. Rane emphasised the emergence of the state as a major destination for foreign investment and outlined the various measures taken by his Government.

How Did the Indsutrial Development Unite or Divide the North and the South Essay

During the Civil War, the advances of the Industrial Revolution introduced great changes in the industrial and technological development. Both the North and the South created many advances in railroad and water transportation. The Union, however, was far more advanced technologically than the Confederate states . Consequently, the North made greater and more effective use of progress in weapons, communication, transportation and medicine than South . Although the industrial development made the nation very widely known, both the south and the north were divided because their differences. The Civil War was the first modern war that helped strengthen the technology and industrial system. But their industry and technology distinguished the two sides, which represented different economic conditions. The North had developed a strong economy that was becoming day-by-day more industrialized. By the nineteenth century, large factories and organizations sprang up throughout the north. Also, the population of the country was increasing and immigrants from all over Europe came along. The North was becoming a huge success but the South was falling behind. The North was rising in a higher success rate than the South. The Union flourished more factories and more transportation. Canals were being handmade, there was an increase of labor force and there it was becoming more adequate to transport product through trains . Inventions were also becoming to life. For example, the Telegraph was becoming a extremely useful. Invented by Samuel F. B. Morse, the Telegraph was inexpensive to make and was ideal for long distance communication. The north had more advantages in growing the economy because it had twice as big as the population from the south. It had much greater man power and it had a better work force. Many factories from the north built war material to supply to the Union. However, slavery was decreasing around the 1860’s and factories were pouring in by the immigrants from Europe. In fact, seven out of every eight immigrants that traveled to the U. S. settled in the North rather than the South. The economy in the North was also increasing therefore immigrants settled there to establish their own business. Northerners were far more likely to have careers in business, medicine, or education . Also, children were slightly more prone to attend school than Southern children. As for the South, the warm climate and the fertile soil made it ideal for farmers to grow significant amounts of crops. There were more abundant natural resources in the south and because agriculture was so profitable few Southerners saw a need for industrial development . There were no large cities aside from a few known places. Most of the known cities existed near shipping ports to send agricultural produce to Northern destinations. However, the South had difficulty with transportation and most products were sent by water. Only a few train tracks were located in the South. In the other hand, Southern children tended to spend less time in school and most Southern families based their teachings in gravitating toward military careers as well as agriculture . The first half of the nineteenth century was a time of expansion and improvement of transportation systems. States in the North and the Midwest chartered and built overland roads and turnpikes. The Turnpike Era† (1790-1820) consisted of Americans relying on roads for internal transportation. Canals, such as the Erie Canal, tied New York City to the Great Lakes. Steamboats and railroads improved the movement of goods and people, forging ties that served both sides well during the Civil War. The first federal charter corporation that created the dream of the transcontinental railroad was the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Central Pacific Company . Both of these companies gathered many immigrants, at low pay, to work massive hours to construct the railroad. However, better transportation fostered an upgrade on trade within the country and dispersed new civilization to the west. The industrial revolution created many social problems. Poverty became a growing concern, especially the fact that factory wages were scarcely adequate for family survival . Most residents experienced hunger and destitution. Among the poor, child labor was very common. Most parents forced their children to look for jobs instead of going to school for survival. Southerners often cited these factors as crimes whenever the North challenged its institution of slavery. The Industrial Revolution brought Southern landowners an invention that they adopted and embraced: The Cotton Gin. Invented by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin made slavery profitable and made cotton the nation’s number one export . The South also adopted the steam engine, mainly to aid the cotton gin and to use on steamships to transport cotton. Ironically, the success of the cotton gin, by fostering slavery, helped to separate the two sides of the country and bring about the Civil War. The pace of immigration also stimulated economic growth while increasing differences between North nd South. Immigrants, mostly from Europe at this time, were supplied with low-cost labor. Most immigrants lived in the North where jobs were constantly available but had no respect to the workers. The use of standard, interchangeable parts, especially the manufacturing of guns, clocks, and sewing machines , allowed the nation to advance technologically by using unskilled workers. During the Civil War, with Southern representatives of Congress gone and the Republican Party controlling the house of Congress and the presidency, â€Å"the government set about to aid business and technology†. In 1862, the Department of Agriculture was founded. It provided a national center to coordinate agricultural development and promote scientific farming. â€Å"A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. † This quotation was from Abraham Lincoln in 1858. Abraham Lincoln did not want the North and South to separate but for the Industry to grow bigger . In the first part of the quotation, â€Å"A house divided against itself cannot stand†, portrays that the United States needs to be UNITED not divided. A house needs to stand tall and not let anything else break it down. It is true that the â€Å"government cannot endue permanently half-slave and half-free† because this needs to be a united country not a haft this haft that country. Lincoln convinced others that the United States could not be this way. It had to bet glued together again and it had to abolish anything that was not right. However, throughout time, The Divided States of America was soon becoming the United States of America. After Lincoln’s death, three amendments were ratified that help America put back to place. The 13th amendment concluded that slavery was officially abolished . The 14th amendment granted â€Å"all persons born or naturalized in the United States, â€Å"to be citizens which included former slaves that were freed . The 15th amendment granted African Americans the right to vote . These three amendment helped bit by bit to repair the United States. Even though today there is still a difference in the North and South, our nation will always be together. The United States grew tremendously during the Industrial Revolution. Inventions were made, transportation was spread out, new jobs were increasing and more knowledge was diffusing. Throughout time, our population was growing and our nation got to spread out to the west to expand our land and culture. Even though our presidents may have made mistakes, we get to learn what we have done wrong and use that in our future. Our nation may have been divided for awhile but we can always retain it back. Back where it always was, united.

Evidence for the non-genomic actions of steroid hormones Essay Example

Evidence for the non Evidence for the non-genomic actions of steroid hormones Essay Evidence for the non-genomic actions of steroid hormones Essay The actions of steroid endocrines can be distinguished into two distinguishable ways ; genomic and non-genomic actions. The genomic actions are slow and affect binding of the steroids to atomic receptors within the karyon to arouse a transcriptional response of a mark cistron, whilst non-genomic actions are rapid and affect membrane-associated receptors which activate intracellular signalling Cascadess to bring forth a cellular response. Steroid endocrines are lipohilic ( non H2O soluble ) molecules, therefore they travel in the blood attached to protein bearers. The steroid-protein bearer complex dissociates when the steroid reaches its mark cell, after which it migrates through the plasma membrane of the cell. Some steroid endocrines besides bind to specific intracellular receptors in the cytosol and in the karyon. The binding of the steroid endocrine to its receptor brings about a conformational alteration in the receptor molecule. ( Sharma R. 1999 ) . Having bound its steroid, legion steroid receptors dimerize, which converts the non-DNA binding signifier of the receptors into a functional DNA-binding unit. This activation of the receptor enables the endocrine receptor composite to adhere to specific parts of DNA called endocrine response elements and the degree of written text at that peculiar site is straight affected by this binding. This induction of written text thereby shows the classical genomic actions of steroid endocrines which suggests that the non-genomic mechanisms of steroid endocrines can either be via secondary couriers which initiate signal composites located at the membrane or via the binding of the endocrine to intracellular receptors. There are two major groups that the receptors can be divided into ; cell surface receptors and intracellular receptors. The cell surface receptors are transmembrane proteins integrated into the membrane which enables them to recognize assorted signalling molecules. Within the cell surface receptor group, there is a subdivision for the two chief categories of cell surface receptors. These are that of G-protein conjugate receptors ( GPCRs ) and receptors with a individual transmembrane sphere. GPCRs are a household of built-in membrane proteins which have seven membrane-spanning spheres and are linked to an inactive G protein. Generally, GPCRs are the type of cell surface receptor concerned when discoursing non-genomic steroid endocrine action. The binding of a steroid endocrine to a GPCR causes the conformation of the receptor to alter which finally activates G protein. The inactive G protein consists of three fractional monetary units: G? , G? and G? . When the endocrine binds the GPCR, the G? subunits binds one molecule of GTP and dissociates from the other fractional monetary units. This activates the G protein as it leaves sites on the protein exposed so that other molecules can readily interact with it. The activated G protein so initiates signalling from effecter proteins such as adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C. Second couriers such as cyclic-AMP ( camp ) , inositol triphosphate ( IP3 ) , diacylglycerol ( DAG ) and Calcium ( 2+ ) ions are so released. The cardinal tract affecting camp plants chiefly by triping protein kinase A ( PKA ) which uses ATP as a substrate to phosphorylate serine or threonine residues of assorted proteins that go on to trip or deactivate enzymes built-in to metabolic tracts, whilst the tract affecting IP3 and DAG plants by a more complex series of reactions. ( Brook C. and Marshall N. 1996 ) . Phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphophate ( PIP2 ) is cleaved to green goodss DAG and IP3 by phospholipase C. The DAG on the cell membrane-associated protein kinase C has similar effects to those of increased degrees of camp where phosphorylation of other proteins causes cellular activity. IP3 nevertheless mobilizes and increases the cytosolic concentration of Ca within the cell which is of import for the activity of assorted cells. There are many utilizations of Ca ions in the signifier of a 2nd courier in non genomic steroid actions. These include cell proliferation, cell migration, secernment, and cistron look. As opposed to approximately 60 old ages ago, where elaborate surveies of the mechanisms of non-genomic actions were hard to separate from genomic action, there is now a huge sum of information and grounds on the non genomic actions of the assorted steroid endocrines that exist. ( Wehling M. et Al. 2006 ) . I am hence traveling to concentrate on the non genomic actions of the endocrines ; oestrogen and Lipo-Lutin in this essay. One of the most good known non-genomic actions of oestrogen is that of the rapid activation of endothelial NO synthase ( eNOS ) which causes a cellular response in the signifier of vasodilation and prevents cardiac hypertrophy. Oestrogen has been shown to do rapid production of azotic oxide due to activated oestrogen receptors associated with the plasma membrane being coupled to eNOS via the inhibitory alpha fractional monetary unit of G protein ( G?i ) . 17-?-estradiol ( E2 ) in the presence of NO was found to trip several signalling tracts such as the phospatidylinositol 3-kinase ( PI3K ) and Akt pathway. The ERK tract is besides activated which may excite eNOS activity. This suggests that eNOS stimulation at the cell surface by E2 requires the yoke of the oestrogen ? receptor to the G?i protein fractional monetary unit to modulate downstream signalling events, thereby demoing a non-genomic action of oestrogen. ( Falcone S. et Al. 2002 ) . Another grounds for a non-genomic action of oestrogen involves breast malignant neoplastic disease cells responses to oestrogens. The stimulation of chest malignant neoplastic disease proliferations is mediated by signalling tracts such as the Scr/p21ras/MAPK tract which is finally initiated by the steroid endocrine E2. However it has besides been found that E2 acts to advance malignant neoplastic disease growing by suppressing programmed cell death inducement tracts. A survey in which human chest malignant neoplastic disease cells were exposed to a proapoptotic agent along with or without different concentrations of E2 showed that E2 does in fact modulate programmed cell death at both the cell surface and inside the cell with signalling tracts modulating the E2 consequence. ( Tesarik J. 1999 ) . A similar survey carried out on rat anterior pituitary cells besides found that both a man-made oestrogen called estren, and conjugated estradiol are able to exercise rapid apoptotic effects on anterior pituitary cells by a mechanism triggered by membrane-localised ERs and besides established in old surveies that the rate of anterior pituitary cell programmed cell death extremums when the degrees of oestrogens are at their highest. ( Zarate S. et Al. 2009 ) This farther suggests that there are non-transcriptional actions that oestrogens are capable of transporting out. Leading on from the grounds of oestrogen playing a portion in cell proliferation, oestrogens have besides been implicated in the publicity of emancipating bound growing factors. ( Wehling M. et Al. 2006 ) . This involves sustained energizing of MAPK/ERK and PI3K tracts which upregulate ER? and hence causes increased oestrogen induced cell growing. This was shown in a survey which found that oestradiol utilizations growing factor signalling tracts by advancing the direct binding of the ER to a SHC adapter protein and an insulin-like growing factor receptor ( EGFR ) . This in bend activated the ERK cascade which went on to originate a subsequent PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. Growth and anti-apoptotic effects were the consequences of the series of events, which yet once more foreground the usage of an oestrogen in a non genomic manner to illicit a cellular response. ( Watson C. S. and Lange C. A. 2005 ) . Oestrogen has besides been shown to forestall beta amyloid induced cell decease. In the starchlike beta cells, it was found that increased oxidative emphasis stimulated the activation of MAP kinase, which accordingly induced cell decease. Oestradiol nevertheless rescues nerve cells from starchlike beta induced decease by forestalling oxidative emphasis, thereby suppressing MAP kinase activation. ( VallN?s S. L. et Al 2008 ) . Hence nerve cells are protected from cell decease by the non-genomic actions of oestrogenic compounds as no transcriptional mechanisms are involved. In add-on to all of the grounds for non-genomic actions of steroid endocrines utilizing oestrogen as an illustration, here is besides a great trade of grounds for the non-genomic action of the steroid endocrine Lipo-Lutin. One of the most good known non-genomic actions of Lipo-Lutin is that of the effects of endocrine on human sperm cell. Progesterone acts to excite Ca flux, activate tyrosine kinase to phosphorylase sperm proteins, and increase camp which finally consequences in hyperactivated motility and induces capacitation and the acrosome reaction. This has been proven in a survey which found that the addition in intracellular Ca and the acrosome reaction were well reduced in work forces with decreased birthrate. The same research lab besides used biochemical surveies to bespeak that Lipo-Lutin is capable of exciting several transduction tracts which shows that Lipo-Lutin has non-genomic actions. ( Baldi E. et Al 1995 ) . The fact that sperm DNA is extremely jammed and hence unaccessible for written text and that sperm do non hold ribosomes or other setup required for interlingual rendition makes spermatozoa a really good theoretical account for demoing and further back uping the thought of Lipo-L utin holding non-genomic actions. ( Luconi M. et Al 2004 ) . Another non-genomic action that Lipo-Lutin carries out is the suppression of the immune system via the suppression of K ( K+ ) channels and Ca signalling which accordingly inhibits cistron look of T lymphocytes. It has been shown that Lipo-Lutin concentrations in the placenta are sufficient to quickly and reversibly barricade voltage-gated and Ca activated K+ channels in T cells. This consequences in the depolarization of the membrane potency which thereby inhibits cistron look that is mediated by Ca signalling and a cytoplasmatic written text factor. It was besides found that Lipo-Lutin straight inhibited K+ channels in T cells which contribute to immunosuppression. This is highly important in the womb as the high concentrations of Lipo-Lutin in placenta inhibit the maternal immune response from assailing the fetus. ( Ehring G. R. et Al 1998 ) Progesterone has besides been shown to work non-genomically in the encephalon. Oestrogen, Lipo-Lutin and its metabolite allopregnanolone are besides neuroactive steroids which are synthesised in the cardinal and peripheral nervous tissues, and are capable of modulating several neural activities, such as neurotransmitter release, temper and memory. Oestrogen has been shown to promote temper by impacting the 5-hydroxytryptamine neurotransmitter system either by its applications entirely or in concurrence with antidepressant drugs. Progesterone on the other manus has the opposing consequence on both temper and memory. However the bulk of the effects of Lipo-Lutin are mediated by allopregnanolone which changes the look and sensitiveness of the GABAA receptor, which is a cardinal constituent f the GABA neurotransmitter system. These alterations in the GABA receptor can ensue in premenstrual temper alterations, cognitive shortages and spacial acquisition damage. ( Birzniece V. et Al 2006 ) . Overall, Lipo-Lutin has been implicated in the release of several neurotransmitters such as, 5-hydroxytryptamine, Dopastat, glutamate and noradrenaline, all of which have important effects on encephalon maps and diseases ( Zheng P. 2009 )

Why the Department of Homeland Security Was Created

Why the Department of Homeland Security Was Created The Department of Homeland Security is the primary agency in the U.S. government whose mission is to prevent terrorist attacks on American soil. Homeland Security is a cabinet-level department  that has its  origins in the nations response to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when members of terrorist network al-Qaeda hijacked four American commercial airliners and intentionally crashed them into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania. Unified, Effective Response to Terror President George W. Bush  initially created Homeland Security as an office inside the White House  10 days after the terrorist attacks. Bush announced the creation of the office and his choice to lead it, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, on Sept. 21, 2001. He will lead, oversee and coordinate a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard our country against terrorism and respond to any attacks that may come, Bush said. Ridge reported directly to the president and was assigned the task of coordinating the 180,000 employees working in the nations  intelligence, defense and law  enforcement agencies to protect the homeland. Ridge described the daunting role of his agency in a 2004 interview with reporters. We have to be right a billion-plus times a year, meaning we have to make literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of decisions every year, or every day, and the terrorists only have to be right once, Ridge said.   One lawmaker, citing the biblical story of Noah, described Ridges  monumental task as trying to build an ark after the rain has already started falling. Creation of Cabinet Department Bushs creation of the White House office also marked the beginning of a debate in Congress to establish a Department of Homeland Security in the broader federal government. Bush initially resisted the idea of moving such an important responsibility into the Byzantine bureaucracy, but signed onto the idea in 2002. Congress approved the creation of The Department of Homeland Security in November 2002, and Bush signed the legislation into law that same month. He also nominated Ridge to be the first-ever secretary of the department. The Senate confirmed Ridge in January 2003. 22 Agencies Absorbed  By Homeland Security Bushs intention in creating the Department of Homeland Security was to bring under one roof most  of the federal governments law-enforcement, immigration and anti-terror-related agencies. The president moved 22 federal department and agencies under Homeland Security, as one official told The Washington Post, so we are not doing things in stovepipes but doing it as a department. The move was portrayed at the time as the largest reorganization of the federal governments responsibilities since World War II. The 22 federal departments and agencies absorbed by  Homeland Security are: Transportation Security AdministrationCoast Guard  Federal  Emergency Management Agency  Secret Service  Customs and Border ProtectionImmigration and Customs EnforcementCitizenship and Immigration ServicesCritical Infrastructure Assurance Office of the Department of CommerceNational Communications System of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationNational Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis CenterEnergy Assurance Office of the Department of Energy  Federal Computer Incident Response Center of the General Services AdministrationFederal Protective Service  Office of Domestic PreparednessFederal Law Enforcement Training Center  Integrated Hazard Information System of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Domestic Preparedness Office of the FBIDomestic Emergency Support Team of the Department of JusticeMetropolitan Medical Response System of the Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Disaster Medical System of the Department of Health and Human ServicesOffice of Emergency Preparedness and the Strategic National Stockpile of the Department of Health and Human Services Plum Island Animal Disease Center of Department of Agriculture Evolving Role Since 2001 The Department of Homeland Security has been called on numerous times to handle catastrophes other than those caused by terrorism. They include cyber crimes, border security and immigration, and human trafficking and natural disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The department also plans security for major public events including the Super Bowl and the presidents State of the Union Address. Controversies  and Criticism The Department of Homeland Security came under scrutiny almost from the moment it was created. It has endured stinging criticism from lawmakers, terrorism experts and the public for issuing vague and confusing alerts over the years.   Terror alerts: Its color-coded alert system, developed under Ridge, was widely ridiculed and criticized for not being more specific about how the public should respond to elevated threats. The system used five colors - green, blue, yellow, orange and red - to inform the public in real-time about the threat of terrorism.Appearing on the  Tonight Show  with Jay Leno in November 2002, Ridge was pressed by the comedian:  Im sitting at home in my underpants watching the game and, boop, were in yellow. What do I do now?  Ridges response: Change shorts. Nonetheless, the color-coded alerts were a source of frustration among Americans who were being told  to be on alert, but werent sure about what to look for.Duct tape: So, too, was the departments 2003 directive that Americans stock up on  duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal the windows and doors of their home in the event of a terrorist attack.Harold Schaitberger, general president of the  International Association of Fire Fighters, told the  Chicago Tribune: Most of the suggestions, I dont believe, are effective at all in really helping to protect anyone from many of these biological and chemical threats.  I mean, duct tape and plastic? Wheres the good air coming from? Hows it going to be recirculated? Beyond the fact that we already know, for nerve gas and other elements, the plastic is totally ineffective.Quipped Leno: This means the only people who are going to survive an attack are serial killers. Who else has duct tape and plastic sheeting in their car? Going global: Homeland Security has also caused friction between the United States and some European countries for deploying about 2,000 special agents and immigration workers to more than 70 countries, as The New York Times reported in late 2017. The United States under President Donald Trump was accused of trying to export its immigration laws, the newspaper reported.Katrina: Homeland Security came under the most intense fire, however, for its response to and handling of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the costliest natural disaster in American history. The agency was hammered for not developing a national response plan until two days after the storm hit.If our government failed so utterly in preparing for, and responding to, a disaster that had been long predicted and was imminent for days, we must wonder how much more profound the failure would be if a disaster were to take us by complete surprise, said Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who called Home land Securitys response  alarming and unacceptable.   Department of Homeland Security History Here is a timeline of key moments in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Sept. 11, 2001: Members of the terrorist network al-Qaeda, acting under the direction of Osama bin Laden, orchestrate a series of attacks on the United States after hijacking four airplanes. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people.Sept. 22, 2001: President George W. Bush creates the Office of Homeland Security in the White House, and chooses then-Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge to lead it.  Nov. 25, 2002: Bush signs the Congress-passed bill creating the Department of Homeland Security in the federal government. We are taking historic action to defend the United States and protect our citizens against the dangers of a new era, Bush said at the ceremony. He nominated Ridge to be secretary.Jan. 22, 2003:  The U.S. Senate, in a  unanimous, 94-0 vote, confirms Ridge as the first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Bush issued a prepared statement afterward that read: With todays historic vote, the Senate has demonstrated our shared commitment to doing everything we can to s ecure our homeland. The department initially has about 170,000 employees. Nov. 30, 2004: Ridge announces he plans to step down as secretary of Homeland Security, citing personal reasons. I just want to step back and pay a little more attention to personal matters,  he told reporters. Ridge served in the position through Feb. 1, 2005.Feb. 15, 2005: Michael Chertoff, a federal appeals court judge and former assistant U.S. attorney general credited with helping investigators link the terrorist attacks to al-Qaeda, takes over as the second Homeland Security secretary under Bush. He departed at the end of Bushs second term.Jan. 20, 2009: Janet Napolitano, the governor of Arizona, was tapped by incoming President Barack Obama to serve as Homeland Security secretary in his administration. She resigned in July 2013 to become the head of the University of California system after becoming embroiled in the debate over immigration; she was accused both of being too harsh in deporting those living in the United States illegally and not acting forcefully enough to sec ure the nations borders. Dec. 23, 2013: Jeh Johnson, a former general counsel to the Pentagon and the Air Force, takes over as the fourth Homeland Security secretary. He served through the remainder of Obamas tenure in the White House.Jan. 20, 2017: John F. Kelly, a retired Marine general,  and incoming President Donald Trumps pick, becomes the fifth Homeland Security secretary. He served in the position through July 2017 and became chief of staff to Trump.Dec. 5, 2017: Kirstjen Nielsen, a  cybersecurity expert  who worked in the Bush administration and as a deputy to Kelly, is confirmed as Homeland Security secretary to replace her former boss. The department has grown to 240,000 employees, according to published reports.

IAS 16 and IAS 40(International Accounting Standards) Essay

IAS 16 and IAS 40(International Accounting Standards) - Essay Example How will Gale plc determine whether the building is an investment property or not? As per the presented information, it is hard to determine whether the building is an investment property. This is due to the fact that, according to the definition presented by IAS 40 in iasplus.com website, an investment property refers to such property that includes buildings and land or part of such that is either held by the legal owner or lessee for the purpose of earning rentals or for the reasons of achieving appreciation of capital or even both. Examples of such property are with the inclusion of land that is held for the prospected use in indefinite future or for the purposes of its appreciation in value, a building being leased under the type of lease known as operating lease or even any given property that has been developed or constructed for future utilisation as an investment property. Therefore, owner occupied property that is being held for future disposal does not really fall under inv estment properties. (iasplu.com, 2011) (b) After initial recognition, describe the accounting treatment that should be adopted for a building in accordance with IAS16, assuming it is not an investment property? IAS 16, as Holt writes, deals with (PPE) Plant, Property and Equipment. The definition put across by IAS 16 with regards to Plant, Property and Equipment is any tangible type of asset which any given entity may hold for rental purposes or for own use and which the same entity expects to utilise for more than a period. This PPE could have been either constructed or bought by the reporting entity. Any item falling under PPE has to be recognised by the reporting entity as an asset. In case the future benefits as well as losses that are expected from the asset can be reasonably quantified, then the item of PPE should be taken in the books of the entity as an asset. PPE, in accordance to IAS 16, is originally recognised in the books at the cost of the item and this is the fair val ue of the price paid to obtain the asset. The costs that have been incurred in the process of having the asset in its condition of working should be capitalised as the IAS states. These cost outlays may be with the inclusion of architects’ fee in the case of a building. If applicable directly attributable types of overhead costs as well as borrowing costs should form part of the costs. During the stage of production, all earned revenues should form part of the incomes in the income statement as opposed to capitalising the same. Following the initial recognition of such an asset that falls under PPE, like in this case- a building, the given asset should be valued at cost minus any accumulated depreciation or at the amount of revaluation, which is the fair value of the asset minus depreciation. Note that in the case of fair value, such must be reliably measured. There should be subsequent revaluations with enough regularity to allow for the carrying amount to be in the whereabo uts of the fair value. Revaluation may bring about a surplus or a deficit and this, according to IAS 16 should be included in the retained earnings. In case of depreciation, the depreciable amount is to be allocated using a systematic way over the useful life of that asset, (in this case the building). (Holt, 2010) (c) After initial recognition, describe the accounting treatment that should be adopted for an investment property in the accounts according to IAS 40? In the process of accounting for property, be it buildings, land or parts of buildings, is to classify such in accordance to IAS 40. If such assets are for capital appreciation or rental purposes as opposed to supply or production of commodities, not intended for disposal or for administration then these should be reclassified from Property, Plant and Equipment to property for investment if such is deemed essential. (Wittsiepe, 2008 p133) An investment property shall be accounted for in the accounts as an asset only under the situation that; there can a reasonable way to

Constitutional and Administrative Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Constitutional and Administrative Law - Essay Example A majority of nations have gone through an occurrence which caused them to depart with history affording them the prospect of codifying their constitutional system. However, Britain is unique in this aspect as the British constitution is a consequence of steady progression and transformation rather than a conscious attempt to devise an absolute arrangement of constitution and government (Raphael, 2004). Nonetheless, it is apparent that Britain possesses a constitution which categorizes statutes and systems involving the primary institutions of the state. However, many scholars contend that the absence of a codified constitution results to a power 'vacuum,' a vacuity seized by the legislative supremacy of the Parliament. Although the branches of the British government comprise of the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary, there is an overlap in power and functions between the branches, as a formal division of powers or system of checks and balances, is absent (Burnett, 2002). The Lord Chancellor, for instance, is a constituent of all the three branches concurrently serving as a member of the cabinet, the legislative and the judiciary. The British Parliament, composed of the monarch, the House of Lords, comprised largely of appointed members, and the House of Common whose members are elected, is the most sovereign This sovereignty of the Parliament is evident in its 'legislative enactments', binding on each and every one, although the British citizens could dispute the legality of a particular act under a specific decree in th e courts (Burnett, 2002). A. V. Dicey made this clear when he stated that, 1The principle of Parliamentary sovereignty means neither more nor less than this, namely, that Parliament thus defined has, under the English constitution, the right to make or unmake any law whatever; and, further, that no person or body is recognised by the law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of Parliament. The entire political authority resides on the prime minister and the cabinet, and the monarch must operate on their counsel. The prime minister selects the cabinet from MPs, coming from his political party and a great number of cabinet ministers head the departments of the government. The prime minister's power was augmented in the 20th century as sometimes, acting alone or with another colleague in the parliament, the prime minister has made and created decisions and pronouncements formerly made by the cabinet all together. This does not mean though, that Prime ministers have not been overruled by the cabinet on various instances. In fact, Prime Ministers must generate the support of the cabinet to exercise their authority more effectively (Maitland, 1908). This idea of the parliament was referred to as the 2 "twin pillars" of the constitution by A.V. Dicey, in his treatise An Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution (1885). Dicey asserts that the constitution is founded