American red cross

The American Red Cross, otherwise known as ARS, was founded by visionary leader Clara Barton in 1881. She was inspired by the work of the international Red Cross while she was in Europe during the Franco- Prussian War of 1870-1871. She was so inspired that she brought the model back to the United Stated and led the organization through its first domestic and international relief missions, including assisting the U. S. military during the Spanish-American War in 1898.The Red Cross was chartered by the United States Congress to â€Å"carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same. † The Charter is unique to the Red Cross because it assigns duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster survivors, and to the people who generously support their work through donations. Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency needs caused by disaster. When disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and health and emotional health service to address basic human needs and assist individuals and families in resuming their normal daily activities independently. The Red Cross also feeds emergency workers like fire fighters and police, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and helps them access other vailable resources.Each year, the American Red Cross immediately responds to about 70,000 natural and man-made disasters in the U. S. , ranging from fires to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents and explosions. People count on the Red Cross to help them in their darkest hour. In turn, the support of donors makes it possible for the Red Cross to fulfill its humanitari an mission. They are deeply grateful for the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations who invest in the Red Cross. American red cross The American Red Cross, otherwise known as ARS, was founded by visionary leader Clara Barton in 1881. She was inspired by the work of the international Red Cross while she was in Europe during the Franco- Prussian War of 1870-1871. She was so inspired that she brought the model back to the United Stated and led the organization through its first domestic and international relief missions, including assisting the U. S. military during the Spanish-American War in 1898.The Red Cross was chartered by the United States Congress to â€Å"carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same. † The Charter is unique to the Red Cross because it assigns duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster survivors, and to the people who generously support their work through donations. Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency needs caused by disaster. When disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and health and emotional health service to address basic human needs and assist individuals and families in resuming their normal daily activities independently. The Red Cross also feeds emergency workers like fire fighters and police, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and helps them access other vailable resources.Each year, the American Red Cross immediately responds to about 70,000 natural and man-made disasters in the U. S. , ranging from fires to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents and explosions. People count on the Red Cross to help them in their darkest hour. In turn, the support of donors makes it possible for the Red Cross to fulfill its humanitari an mission. They are deeply grateful for the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations who invest in the Red Cross.

Good and Evil King Lear Essay

Shakespeare’s tragedy â€Å"King Lear† discusses many notions the most important being the relationship between good and evil and the constant battle of the opposites; their dependency and the origin of wickedness, as well as the fact that something good can never â€Å"destroy† anything all play a key role in the question of if it is evil that destroys itself. The following essay will deliberate these ideas and compare good and evil throughout the play to show the self-destruction evil caused for itself. Throughout the entire play of â€Å"King Lear† there are many acts of goodness as well as acts of wickedness that represent the two ideas of virtue versus deviltry that depend on each other. Without the good there could not be any evil and the same goes for evil because without the opposite they could not be compared and therefore not be identified as being either good or bad. King Lear would never have realized the horrible mistake he made when he claimed that â€Å"nothing will come of nothing† (Act 1, Scene 1), would it not have been for Cordelia’s vicious sisters that drove evil too far and made their father go mad. Their evil behavior towards their father can be seen in Act 1 Scene 3 where Goneril instructs a servant to be rude and less courteous to Lear. â€Å"Put on what weary negligence you please, you and your fellows: I’d have it come to question† she says, ordering the servant to show Lear no respect which highlights her evil intentions. Only Lear’s craziness makes him see his truthful daughter and also who deceived him. If Regan and Goneril were not evil, Lear would have never noticed his neglect and he could not have seen the truth and his daughter’s real intentions. However, if Regan and Goneril were to have been good, there would not have been a misconception at the distribution of the kingdom which would have led to Lear choosing his favorite daughter over the two others and Regan and Goneril being left with nothing which would have made the audience feel empathy towards them and give every character a new idea of good and evil. Therefore both virtue and deviltry are necessary for the play because they compliment each other’s differences and highlight the opposites even more, further changing the story that depends on both extremes. All the evil happenings in the tragedy of King Lear can be related back to goodness which makes good the cause of evil, adding to another relationship and connection the two opposites share. The virtuous side created wickedness which you can see clearly through Edmond’s treachery against his father and brother. This can be seen in Act 1, Scene 2 where Edmond’s soliloquy clearly underlines his evil plot of replacing his brother as his father’s heir. â€Å"[†¦] Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Our father’s love is to the bastard, Edmond, as to th’legitimate [†¦] if this letter speed and my invention thrive, Edmond the base shall to th’legitimate. I grow; I prosper; now gods, stand up for bastards! † he exclaims. This is the first time the audience sees how evil and vicious Edmond is and what his plans are. If Gloucester had not treated his â€Å"bastard son† so badly, he might not have turned so evil. However, because his father continuously showed Edmond that he preferred Edgar over him, Edmond grew up with such a bad attitude towards him which led to his evil plot and his vicious actions. Thereupon, goodness is responsible for the creation of evil and without the good wickedness could not exist. Furthermore, the destruction of evil could not have been through goodness because if goodness were to destroy anything it could no longer be identified as â€Å"good†. This states that the word â€Å"destruction† already implies a negative and evil idea where as good would be determined as the opposite. Cordelia is a purely good character which shows even when she had the chance to fight evil, she did not reach for brutality or destruction of bad but rather tried to help the good and fix the terrible situation. Accordingly, if good were to destroy evil it could no longer be called â€Å"good† because it would be on the same level as evil and could not be differentiated anymore. It is therefore impossible for good to destroy evil, since it is basically incapable of wicked actions. Edmond’s death, however, could indicate the vanquishing of evil through good. The brothers Edmond and Edgar that represent evil and good, fight until Edgar finally kills his brother. On one hand, one could possibly see this as good overcoming evil since the â€Å"good† brother killed the â€Å"evil† brother; yet this certain feeling of hope is quickly crushed by the tragic ending and the deaths of most of the main characters representing goodness in the play. On the other hand, it is evil that caused its own destruction all along due to the fact that it took on more than it could handle, striving for too much power which ultimately led to its own downfall. Edmond started off with a plan of taking over his brother’s and then his father’s position but he got carried away by the idea of power that he competed for a position that was too high for him which eventually made him fail. If Edmond had only aimed for ranks that were within his reach, he would have successfully accomplished his goal. Edmund’s deviltry can be seen until the very end, where he confesses to have ordered for Cordelia and Lear to be hanged, just before he dies. â€Å"I pant for life. Some good I mean to do, despite of my own nature† he reveals, wanting to at least do one good deed before his life is over. Yet because he tried to scheme for even more power, he is responsible for his own elimination and the cause of his failure. Another example of evil’s own vanquishing is the battle between the sisters Goneril and Regan. At the beginning they fight on the same side against their father yet towards the end of the play they both become to obsessed with the idea of power that they turn against each other to strive for everything. They both fight over Edmond and are too greedy to want to share the kingdom. This can certainly be seen in Act 4, Scene 2 when Goneril says â€Å"One way I like this well; but being widow, and my Gloucester with her, may all the building in my fancy pluck upon my hateful life† which indicates that Goneril is scared that her sister will take Edmond away from her. Their betrayal upon each other can also be recognized through Regan’s poisoning by Goneril in Act 5, Scene 3. When Regan falls to the ground ill, Goneril says â€Å"If not, I’ll ne’er trust medicine† foreshadowing Regan’s soon death. The sisters greed for power grew so strong that the betrayed each other just to reach a goal. This shows that the two variants of deviltry destroyed themselves through selfishness and greed. Throughout the tragedy of King Lear the fight between good and evil brings forward many connections and highlights the relationship of the two opposites. Not only are they dependent upon each other, wickedness was created by purity and without one the other could not exist. Virtue is also incapable of destruction leaving all these notions to prove that good did not vanquish evil, but that it was evil that destroyed itself.

Body Modification †Deviance in Society Essay

The last decade has seen a dramatic rise in spectacular forms of body modification, including the tattoo renaissance and the phenomena of body piercing, the emergence of neo-tribal practices like scarification and the invention of new, high-tech forms of body art like sub-dermal implants. Therefore, body modification practices have proven to be an interesting field of study for sociologists interested in deviance, social control, and the social construction of problematic behaviour. Much of the sociological research and literature into these practices fits within the symbolic interaction tradition, focusing specifically on the ways that people define body modification, and whether or not they perceive it as being scary or beautiful, dangerous or alluring, rebellious or inclusive. This essay explores the connections between body modification and deviance and seeks to identify whether physical alterations of the body are a rite of passage, a group identifier, or a mechanism of negative sanctioning and social control, believed to be key elements in the social construction of deviant self-identities. The origins of the cultural trend of body modification, unlike those of nearly all other fads, are thousands of years old. Ever since our Neolithic ancestors invented art tens of thousands of years ago, humans have been decorating the human body, as it is the most intimate of canvas (Siebers 2000, p. 212). Most sociological theory about body modification is framed in discussions of labelling and differential association orientations which explain social definitions and the processes through which body modifiers learn how to be successful in changing the ways their bodies look to themselves, and to those with whom they come in contact. The cause of controversy surrounding the issues of tattooing and piercings is directly rooted in the message that these forms of body modification present. The one essential feature all of these deviants share is visibility; they are all, by definition, overt deviants whose rule breaking is immediately apparent. Their deviance is rooted, not in what they have done, or even who they are, but in how they appear (Heitzeg 1996, p.358), therefore, this type of deviance is highly diverse with regard to the how  and why of rule breaking. In modern contexts, body modification practices can be seen as symbolic as they represent the death of conventional beauty standards and the rebirth of new ideals of attractiveness by challenging the classical ideal of the skin as ‘a pristine smooth closed envelope for the self’ (Pitts 2003, p.92). Hence, when a person submits the body to the modification process, it damages the skins basic structure and its integrity, which contradicts the western notion of the body as fixed and unchanging. The fact that Western society is not overtly tribal or strictly racially segregated (Atkinson 2003, p. 99) is perhaps one of the reasons why the importance of bodily appearance in constructing social identity is regarded so suspiciously. Western civilisation has no history of group body modification (Miller 2004, p. 61), and where we have encountered it in others, it has often been regarded as evidence of primitivism and savagery, with efforts made to eradicate it as part of the ‘civilisation’ process. In western culture, body modification practices have been shunned and outcast as the marks of Satan (Miller 2004, p.37) and traditionally, the Christian body was only marked as a sign of shame. In the last few centuries however, these fallacies have subsided to thoughts of mere loathing of any permanent defacing of a person’s body and it has been argued that body modification is ‘no more than just attention seeking self-mutilation, in which only heathens and criminals engage’ (Jones 1998, p. 89). The debates concerning body modification and self-mutilation often suggest that individuals who choose to decorate their bodies through tattooing and piercing are driven by harmful impulses that they cannot understand and do not control. Though many view these forms of body modification as sin and are loath to initiate any permanent modifications beyond those dictated by nature and necessity, others feel that it is a historical footnote about the cultural identity of this era. Though the desire to mark the body does emanate from the inner sense of self, it does not necessarily read as an intentional act of harm to the individual  self (Miller 2004, p. 102). Body modification, despite its interest in intervening with the physical flesh and creating blood, scars, holes and scars, actually is not a violent practice. Individuals partaking in such body modifications such as piercing and tattooing can be seen to be taking a kind of libertarian attitude towards their bodies as these acts of personal choice that demonstrate social independence. Vale & Juno (1999, p.8) believe that amidst an almost universal feeling of powerlessness to ‘change the world’, individuals are changing what they do have power over, their own bodies. Through various forms of body decoration, individuals attempt to resolve ‘ontological insecurities of modernism by deliberate self-identification’ (Pitts 2003, p.113). These are acts of personal choice that demonstrate social independence. The wilful act of modifying one’s body is not a passive, but a deliberate and successful attempt to direct the gaze of society where the individual chooses. In essence, tattooing and piercing puts control into the hands of the individual; control over their body and control over the objectified body, liberating it with alternative forms of power. Within the realms of body modification, you can take control of what you otherwise could not (Vale & Juno 1999, p. 82). Individuals engage in body modification through piercing and tattooing to challenge personal and social invisibility while also adding cultural capital to the body’s surface (Hewitt 1997, p. 112). In part people are using their bodies to reject homogenisation of popular capitalist culture. In an era in which large multi-national corporations dominate the socio-economic landscape, tattoos and piercings cannot be mass produced. They are a personal expression of one’s self. Body modification, through ink and flesh, as well as piercing is an act of self-creation. It is a protest of transient socially constructed features of desirability, inferiority or power. It constitutes a statement of control and ownership over the body in a cultural context characterised by accelerating social control and alienation. The human body is a canvas for the expression of cultural ideas of men and women throughout time and around the world. Therefore, arguments of the positive or negative connotations of tattooing and piercing do not often justify or debase body modifications but seemingly ‘indicate a breakdown between morality and aesthetics’ (Sanders 1989, p.35). The demographic and imagery of tattoos has undergone profound change and reflects the economic, political and social upheaval that has taken place in the 21st century (Turner 1994, p. 70). Tattoos and other forms of body modification have become more pervasive in the last couple of decade with a rise in mainstream clientele (Jones 1998, p. 65). New techniques, artists, technical innovation, professionalism and media attention have helped catapult the frequency and acceptance of body modification in conventional society. Whilst there is a rich history in regards to the ancient practice of permanent body art, a large majority of Western society view it as disruptive, crude, and a form of self-mutilation, seeing tattoos and piercings as marks of disgrace and social deviance (Miller 2004, p.75) whilst often showing little interest in what motivates people to decorate their body in such a way. However, Maffasoli (1995, p.51) suggests in his research that there is a strong fascination from ‘outsiders’ in regards to the art of body modification, although fear of negative sanctioning and lack of understanding regarding the process and the motivational factors of body modification mean people often shy away. This ‘popular interest’ manifests itself in numerous articles in popular magazines, current affairs television, documentaries, music videos, advertising and film. All of these mediums help to disseminate a basic knowledge and awareness of these modification practices to a larger mainstream population. This extended knowledge and interest has seen body modification practices shifted out of the backrooms of adult bookstores and into heavily patronised, high-technology shop-front studios. With middle-class customers increasingly entering the body modification arena (Sanders 1989, p.27) these practices are becoming less taboo and are no longer just the domain of bikers, sailors and social misfits. Tattoos and piercings not only give power and a sense of control to the individual but permits them to record one’s own history and developmental milestones on the body, therefore for some, body modification has a deeper meaning, serving the function of indelibly marking into the flesh  significant events in their lives (Favazza 1996, p. 92). A twenty-eight year old woman framed her decision to have her nostril pierced as a response to her experience of becoming a mother at eighteen, ‘the experience of being a young mother is in part why I chose to get my nose pierced. I felt trapped by others’ expectations, the piercing was a way of pushing through my own desires to deal with in myself the power of the systems that be, and my desire to refuse to conform’ (Holtham 1997). Others imbue private acts of body modification with symbolic power, capable of reclaiming previous experiences of powerlessness or an unpleasant event (Douglas 1970, p. 45). Another young woman shares, ‘I guess as my way of getting some pleasure out of the situation. I had a pair of stitched lips tattooed into the inside of my thigh six months after having been raped which symbolised my inability to speak about the event’ (Holtham 1997). Another reason for becoming a fan of modification practices are to do with enjoying the process and liking the ‘look of it’. Modification recipients speak of the ‘thrill’ and ‘rush’ of the actual moment of the piercing, as well as enjoying playing with healed piercings and adorning their bodies with jewellery (Dunbar & Lahn 1998, p.12). In support of this position, Featherstone (2000, p.55) believes that some individuals simply see their tattoos and piercings as little more than fashion accessories, on par with other forms of jewellery which enhance a certain ‘look’. Certainly, vanity can play a large part in the decision to modify one’s body, for example a tattoo strip around a man’s biceps can make them appear larger just as a tattoo or piercing will call attention to various parts of the female anatomy, especially on the lower back and around the belly button. Despite the diversified reasons for body modifications, most cultures from around the world were unified in their belief that body piercing was an art form with highly important, empowering, and positive connotations (Atkinson 2003, p.72). Whilst modern forms of body modification are seen as a self-motivated expression of personal freedom and uniqueness, ancient cultures usually marked a person to prove membership or non membership of a group, or to express religious, magical, or spiritual beliefs. These forms of body decoration have existed throughout history to mark numerous ideals within societies such as social stratification, servitude, and religious or spiritual rites. In modern times, if you modify your body, particularly in the methods discussed within this essay, you are inevitably changing your appearance whilst stating something about yourself, your lifestyle and social status. You are also making a statement about your income, wealth and class. However, body marks in pre-literate societies were permanent, collective and largely obligatory. Unlike today, they were set within a shared culture of collective meanings, where the significance of a tattoo or mark could be read unambiguously (Featherstone 2000, p.39) . The growing revival of highly visible and sometimes ‘shocking’ primitive body modification practices such as tattooing, multiple piercings and scarification is a personal choice just like cosmetic surgery and body building, which are seemingly more respectful avenues of body modification. People choose to be pierced or inked for aesthetic purposes, spiritual incentives, erotic reasons, fashion trends or a variety of other personal motives. Throughout history, society has always shown a multitude of symbols through body art and decoration, even in its simplest forms. That implicit link between past and present confers not only a sense of antiquity to body modification but also sanction and validity. Today, seeing a person with a body modification may evoke an involuntarily judgment or opinion, even though the conclusion may be wholly inaccurate and prejudicial. An altered body, as well as being a way to establish one’s own individual, unique personality, can also seen as a way to establish oneself in an alternative community (Pitts 2003, p.8). Society perhaps does not consider that the body modifiers or ‘modern primitives’ of today, just like their ancient equivalent, are not only using tribal customs to express themselves through body modification, but are also actually a form of tribe within their own social groups. There is no doubt that body modification is an interesting topic of discussion and one that can only result in examination by society. Tattoos and piercings have been around for millennia, and for the majority of that time, they have always been accepted as a form of art, not mutilation. Body modification such as tattooing and piercing is not a bizarre form of  deviance peripheral to society like many researchers signify but rather an ‘everlasting visual dialogue expressing one’s self-concept, ideas and beliefs’ (DeMello 2000, p.22). Body modification has become a vehicle for people to altar their appearance which can be of significant importance to the individual and can publicly express a rite of passage as well as break the accepted cultural code. As such these forms of body modification are primal forms of self-expression and a reflection of cultural reality. Lack of understanding surrounding participants of body modification can cause negative sanctioning such as unemployment, social ridicule or even ostracism from family and peers and social control practices are experienced to enforce or encourage conformity and deal with behaviour which violates accepted norms. As this essay has sought to explore, modified bodies invariably provoke a strong reaction among those who are not as they elicit a primeval response which touches the core of who we are as people and a society. As a new set of cultural and social meanings are being ascribed to bodies and we experience the re-definition of beauty, it is increasingly clear that society may need to become more accepting and adjust cultural norms to accommodate the novel yet historic culture of social communication through the decorated body. Reference List Atkinson, M., (2003). Tattooed: the Sociogenesis of a Body Art, University of Toronto Press, Canada. DeMello, M. (2000). Bodies of Inscription: A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community, Duke University Press, London. Douglas, M., (1970). Natural Symbols: Explorations in Cosmology, Pantheon Books, New York. Dunbar, A., & Lahn, D., (1998). Body Piercing, Wakefield Press, NSW. Favazza, A.R., (1996). Bodies Under Siege: Self-Mutilation and Body Modification in Culture and Psychiatry, 2nd ed., JHU Press, USA. Featherstone, M., (2000). Body Modification, Sage Publishing, UK. Heitzeg, N., (1996). Deviance: Rulemakers & Rulebreakers, West Publishing Company, USA. Hewitt, K., (1997). Mutilating the Body: Identifying in Blood and Ink, Bowling Green State University Press, USA. Holtham, S., (1997). Body Piercing in the West: a Sociological Inquiry, http://www.bmezine.com/pierce/bodypier.html, retrieved 27/4/09. Jones, A., (1998). Body Art: Performing the Subject, University of Minnesota Press, USA. Maffesoli, M., (1985). The Time of the Tribes: the Decline of Individualism in Mass Society, Sage Publishing, London. Miller, J.C, (2004). The Body Art Book: A Complete Illustrated Guide to Tattoos, Piercings, and other Body Modifications, Penguin Publishing Group Inc., USA. Pitts, V., (2003). In the Flesh: The Cultural Politics of Body Modification, Palgrave MacMillan, USA. Roach Anleu, S., (2006). Deviance: Conformity and Control, 4th edn., Longman, South Melbourne. Sanders, C., (1989). Customizing the Body: The Art and Culture of Tattooing, Temple University Press, USA. Siebers, T., (2000). The Body Aesthetic: From Fine Art to Body Modification, University of Michigan Press, USA. Turner, B.S., (1994). Regulating Bodies, Routledge Press, UK. Vale, V., & Juno, A., (1999). Modern Primitives: An Investigation of Contemporary Adornment & Ritual, Research Publications, San Francisco USA.

Discussion the physics of collisions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discussion the physics of collisions - Essay Example This paper will use information from the statements recorded to prove, both theoretically and scientifically, that it was not Sandy Dayton fault that the accident happened. It will also confirm that Sunday Dayton was not speeding before the crash occurred. From the Accident Investigators report, the 1988 Chevrolet cargo van had hit Sandys 1978 Ford Mustang from the rear. Secondly, both vehicles had skidded on braking before the crash, with Sandys car making a 90 feet skid mark while the Cargo van slid for 45 feet. The 1978 Ford Mustang was pushed 30 feet into the intersection after the crash. The kinetic friction coefficient was determined to be 0.59 using a drag sled. The weight of Sandys car was 2700 lbs while that of the cargo van was not reported. West Trenton speed limit is 35mph. This paper will use this data to determine the speeds of both vehicles before the drivers hit the brakes. This speed will show which of the two vehicles was speeding before the accident. Analysis of skid marks is essential in an auto accident reconstruction in estimating the speed of the car exactly before the driver hit the brakes. A simple friction model is used, provided the information on the cars tires, and the surface of the road is provided (Bohan, Damask, and Bee). In this case, the accident investigator provided us with the kinetic friction coefficient between the surface of the road and the tires, given as 0.59. Since both vehicles were initially in motion, the Kinetic Energy approach will be used to determine the work done to bring the car to a stop. The Kinetic energy K due to the motion of the car of mass m and speed v is given by; Kinetic energy was converted to heat energy in the tires, the road, and the air when the car skidded to a stop. This conversion is as a result of the work of Friction W. Work done is given by force f

Taxi of the dark side Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Taxi of the dark side - Movie Review Example The movie in this particular case is Taxi on the Dark Side. This is a movie, which points out some of the inhuman acts, which are carried out against the Afghan nationals. These acts are in most cases perpetrated by the troops who are on missions in the country. The central theme here is the torture of an Afghan vehicle driver who is tortured and beaten to an extent that he ends up dying while he is in detention. The activities that are highlighted in the movie can be explained in some theories for the purpose of pointing out the intricacies that come into play. The one theory, which is highlighted here, is the Magic Bullet Theory. Initially, it was believed that the media was an important tool, which would bring about positive changes in the society. This is one belief, which was particularly upheld before the new millennium. This theory especially had significant influence during the World Wars. There were several movies and depictions made for the purpose of elucidating people on the happenings at that time. The mode through which the information was communicated was done in such a way that people were very receptive of the message. The one thing which is of the essence to note with regards to this theory is that it is majorly reliant on assumptions as opposed to scientific facts. The assumptions in this case are that the mind of the human person is not reliant on the findings that are established from research. In relation to the theory, the media has taken significant advantage of the fact that people may not want to dig deep for the purpose of finding out the truth about a particular phenomenon. Instead, the people will be receptive of whatever is presented to them by the media instruments. However, in the recent times, the notion that the media may be a tool that brings about change in the society is something, which does not hold anymore. This is something, which is once again pointed out by the happenings on the ground in a country like Afghanistan. Th e atrocities which are carried out against the local inhabitants is within the know of the media personnel. For example, the issue of torture, which is depicted in the movie, may end up going without getting addressed. There is very little which has been done especially with regards to making follow-ups of the various cases that emanate. Also, in as much as these issues are brought to the knowledge of the relevant authorities, very little can be seen with regards to addressing the problems at hand. There have been several cases, which have been brought forth, even to the United States Government. However, it seems that the right measures are not put in place especially in alleviating the situation on the ground. The punitive action, which is also prescribed for the perpetrators, does not seem to be highlighted. If they happen to be brought to the public eye, in most cases these punitive actions seem to be things which can easily be left to slip. These happenings clearly point out th at the impact, which the media initially had, has been watered down to an extent that people can be left suffering while nothing is done. The individuals in the armed forces continue carrying out their activities on other helpless people without showing signs of changing behavior. The other theory,

Personal Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Financial Management - Essay Example Retirement plan is nothing but a plan which replaces our employment income after we retire. In terms of tax, retirement plan is defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code in US. Dream of leading a secured and comfortable retired life can come true only with proper retirement planning. A plan to transfer ones estate after death is known as estate planning. Estate includes all the personal properties like cash, land, houses, jewelry, investment accounts, etc. Estate planning is done to ensure and fulfill certain objectives like transferring most of the estate to ones beneficiaries, least payment of taxes for the estate, etc. Estate planning is a continuous process and should start immediately when a person has a measurable base of assets (Gitman, Joehnk & Billingsley, 2010, p.18). Estate plans should be in accordance with ones goals and objectives in life. Loved ones can face undue financial burden due to inadequate estate planning. Four Aspects of Retirement Planning Retiremen t planning can be thought of as a framework which includes four main aspects (Prudential Financial, n.d). They are: i. Social Security: Social Security is an insurance program that provides several benefits to individuals like, retirement benefits, disability benefits, etc. ii. Employment based plans: These are retirement plans provided by employers to the employees. It includes defined contribution and benefit pension plans. iii. Personal Savings: The returns on investments made by individuals that can add up to the Social Security Benefits or Employment based plans. It includes options like IRAs, Bank Deposits, Mutual Funds, Annuities, etc. iv. Retirement Choices: For retirement security, lifestyle and financial choices play a significant role. Lifestyle choices include choice of retirement age, place of retirement, etc. Financial choices include allocation of assets in retirement, conversion of assets to income and then protecting that income. The Retirement Planning Process and Personal Retirement Plan The retirement planning process constitutes several steps. These steps are discussed one by one and how it relates with my personal retirement planning is also discussed below. The first step in a retirement planning process includes setting own personal goals and objectives in life. Next these objectives have to be arranged in descending order of priority. Also these objectives should have the time horizon included in it. These objectives can be revised and changed in due course of time. Now this step can be related to my case in the following way: My personal objectives in life arranged in decreasing order of priority with time horizon mentioned along with it are: 1. Maintain the standard of living on retirement at the age of 50 after 20 years. 2. Buying an expensive motor car within 2 years. 3. Buying a home within 5 years. 4. To make a mortgage investment within 10 years. 5. Paying off all the mortgage bonds within 20 years. The second step is about calc ulating and determining the money required for fulfilling each of the objectives. All the household incomes and expenditures are to be calculated and the difference is also to be calculated. Present value of money should be considered while doing the calculations and the annual inflation rate should also be taken into account. This can be applied in my personal retir

America history since 1865 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

America history since 1865 - Essay Example After the Civil Rights Movement, all practices that discriminated the negro that include laws, norms (giving up a seat to a white), segregation was ended and paved the way for policies that elevated the Negro to have more place in American society such as the Affirmative Action Policy. Today, United States has now an Afro American President to the person of President Obama which would not have been possible without the Civil Rights Movement. II. Growth of government and state power   The New Deal was a government program of action by President Roosevelt to address the Great Depression when he assumed office as a President of the United States on March 4, 1933 I believe is the most important aspect of government’s growth and state power. The New Deal lifted the United States economy from the shambles of the Great Depression to become an economic superpower after the Second World War. President Roosevelt’s New Deal involved a series of economic programs focused on Relie f, Recovery and Reform of the economy not only to address the Great Depression but also to avoid the repetition of the same. Among the programs of his new deal was the obtained permission to reopen most banks and provided grants to citizens. He instituted government initiated work programs to generate employment through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs. President Roosevelt also pump primed the economy with the widespread public spending on infrastructure by constructing roads, buildings, dams and similar projects through his Public Works Administration (PWA) which provided not only jobs but income in the system. He also enlisted young men in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to work on conservation projects. President Roosevelt’s New Deal was to elevate both income and prices which dropped during the depression. When Second World War came in 1941, President Roosevelt shifted his attention to foreign policy to address the war. The war proved to be good for the US economy because the massive spending to build war machines double the country’s Gross National Product or GNP and reduced unemployment rate from 14% to less than 2%. III. United States Foreign Affairs   I would like to discuss the immigrants in the Chesapeake and New England as America’s early experience in Foreign Affairs because these migrations in 16th and 17th century helped shape the kind of country that she is today. In between 16th and 17th century, immigrants from England settled into the eastern coast of the colonized New World which was then known as America. These groups settled into two regions which were the Chesapeake and New England areas. Chesapeake included Virginia, Maryland, New Jerseys (East and West), Pennsylvania and Jamestown while New England composed of included Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Haven. While these immigrants came from the same country and spoke the same tongue, they proved to become different kind of people when they settled into these regions of America. Settlers in Chesapeake came into America mainly for economic reason while immigrants in the New England settled in America to escape the religious persecution back in England. Those who went to Chesapeake were into finding riches while those who settled in New England hoped to have religious freedom which they did not have back in England. Having different reason and motivation

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 9

Marketing - Essay Example 46). It is the responsibility of the management to identify and nature the core competence that fuels the company’s growth: the Wal-Mart stores identify this with much fulfillment of customer needs and with a broad spectrum of products and services at â€Å"everyday low prices†. The competency here is the product of the cumulative of competencies within the organizational boundaries and within personal skill sets. Wal-Mart has been a leader in inventory control, channel management, customer service and distribution. This has been arrived at through the company’s ability to distribute network and to coordinate a complex management of information and managing supplier relations in an efficient way. In order to fit within the marketing mix, the company has had the best strategies that address their pricing, promotion, advertising and competition for all tangible and non-tangible products. On observing its tangibles, I noticed that Wal-Mart has distributed cars and o ther motor products to several stores. As their selling slogan â€Å"everyday low prices†, the company has maintained low prices for the cars with great observation to the prices from other car selling industries. I saw a car care service point outside one of their stores and realized that, in order to maintain their customers, they have the car care services that they offer in every store. They have had their adverts on televisions, newspapers and magazines. Smart cars are displayed with accompanying information that all customers can access free car care at Wal-Mart stores. Wal-Mart service men include mechanics who undertake the promotion of commodities by offering repairs and spare parts for vehicles. This has rendered its competence in the automotive industry. Therefore, the Wal-Mart stores make more car sales than their core competitors in U.S.A., for example, the Callaway automakers and the Aurica. The sale of computers has been a flourishing activity with Wal-Mart Com pany. I looked at computers sold in the stores and realized that they have relatively lower prices compared to computers from other stores in Ohio. Their marketing strategy has included advertisements from the newspapers and television. The company offers computer gifts to individuals and groups on promotions. I had much interest on the computers and therefore I realized that it was much better to purchase such commodities at Wal-Mart than in companies like the Eagle Trooper which have been Wal-Mart’s competitor in the sale of computers. The provision of free computers with comprehensive warranties has brought in victory for the Wal-Mart computer stores. At the Bharti stores, I saw fridges and other household commodities being sold at a high demand by customers. The range of fridges at best price makes Wal-Mart the best place to buy fridges. Advertisements on television and other social networks show displays of beautiful fridges of different sizes. This gives their customers the desire to walk to their stores and get one for themselves. While other fridge manufactures and suppliers render much competition. The Bharti stores come out the best sellers of such commodities. I saw beautiful synthetic stones in stores and noted that they were part of family jewelry that the Wal-Mart company deals with in their market. Although the jewelry remains in stores for close to two months, the company makes adequate sales for their budget. They sell them at a relatively lower

Global studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Global studies - Essay Example on the quality of life in American society reveal that African Americans are the most disadvantaged and continue to lag behind the whites in every aspect in the society. For instance, African Americans tend to have low quality education, have difficulty getting employed and also accessing quality health care among others and this clearly indicates the depth of racial inequality in American society. This paper discusses how different individuals understand the issues of civil tights and racism in American society today and it covers the liberal ideals that assisted in promoting civil rights movement. The civil rights movement was a struggle by the African Americans to achieve equal civil rights as the whites including equal employment opportunities, good housing, quality education, voting rights, equal access to public facilities and most importantly the right to be free of racial discrimination. Therefore, this movement was particularly â€Å"organized to protest the unfair treatment of black Americans† (Wright 4). Basically, this movement aimed at ensuring that African Americans enjoyed the citizenship rights assured by the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments of the U.S Constitution. These amendments were very important to the civil rights movement as they guaranteed every American citizen equal citizenship (Hasday 8). Generally, the civil rights movement prompted gains for African Americans, women as well as persons with disabilities among others. African Americans’ rights of citizenship had been worn by the segregationist Jim Crow laws in the South because unde r these laws, African Americans were denied the right to vote; they were subjected to segregation; and disadvantaged when it comes to access to education, employment and healthcare among others (Ferrante 190). However, the Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1866 which highlighted numerous civil liberties including the right to make contracts, own and sell property and receive equal treatment under

Mary Shellys Frankenstein Essay Example for Free

Mary Shellys Frankenstein Essay In Chapter 5, Frankenstein brings the monster to life. Shelly uses a typical gothic method of mimicking Frankensteins disgust for the creature with weather, the dreary night of November. Frankenstein is appalled at his creation despite that the monsters limbs were in proportion and he had selected his features as beautiful. Frankenstein then describes the creature in such a way that the reader learns that although Frankenstein attempted to create beauty but is faced with the disgusting looks of the creature. his hair was of lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips. Shelly uses an ironic contrast of life and death in describing the monster, using elements like yellow skin which is relevant to a new born baby with jaundice and straight black lips, which is relevant to a dead body. She also uses descriptions like shrivelled complexion which is relevant to both a baby and a corpse. The creature also reacts to life as a new born baby does. It breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs. This contrast is effective in showing the reader the irony in the fact that new life is given to parts of the dead. Shelly effectively describes the creature with enough detail to allow the reader to interpret the creatures appearance individually and also empathise with Frankenstein. Frankenstein has been disillusioned whilst creating the monster, but when it becomes alive, he is faced with its ugliness and abandons him. This is not an example of unconditional love and links in with Elizabeths arrival into the Frankenstein family. Oh! No mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be more hideous as that wretch. The memory of the shock of the monsters looks is very powerful to Frankenstein and Shelly portrays this by using words like Oh! when Frankenstein is telling Walton his story. Frankenstein has a dream after creating his monster in which, as he kisses Elizabeth, she turns into the corpse of his dead mother. I embraced her, but as I imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they became livid with the hue of death. I thought I held the corpse of my dead mother. This dream shows that Frankenstein has subconscious fears of harm coming to his family, which does actually happen later on in the novel. The dream is an effective example of foreshadowing, another typical gothic technique effectively used by Shelly. The reader could also interpret that the dream foreshadows Frankensteins fears of creating the monster a wife. It presents the idea that although Frankenstein first thinks that building a companion for the monster will keep his family safe, the consequences could be much worse if he does as it is possible that the creatures will breed. The monster is not reunited with its creator until several months later, where he tells Frankenstein of the hardships of life he has endured as an abandoned and disfigured child. Father and son meet in the mountains; this location could be interpreted as an effort by Shelley to use the mountains symbolically, showing Frankensteins guilt for abandoning his child or as the towering glaciers threatening Frankenstein; telling him that nature is not to be toyed with by man. The creature learns that humans should have families by reading a book that he finds whilst living near the French family he grows to love. He meets a blind man from the family who treats him with kindness, but when the rest of the family see him, they drive him from their cottage with stones. This teaches the monster that people hate him for his ugliness and therefore develops a hatred for his creator for making him so ugly. Upon meeting Frankenstein, the creature makes a direct relationship between the bad parenting and upbringing he endures with his own desire to harm others when he claims misery made me a fiend. Shelley uses this line as a blatant point that bad parenting will result in evil.

Economic Overview Of The Maldives Economics Essay

Economic Overview Of The Maldives Economics Essay There are many factors in the macro analysis environment that will effect the decision of the managers of any organization. The macro change includes such as tax change, new laws, trade barriers, demographic changes and government policy changes. To identify and analyze distinguish between these factors executives be able to categorize the factors that impact such as: Political factors- which refer to government policy such as degree of intervention in the economy and what goods and service does a government wants to provide. Economic factors- which includes interest rates, taxation changes economic growth, inflation and exchange rate. Economic change can have major impact to the country. For example: A strong currency may make importing goods more difficult as it may raise the price in terms of foreign currency Inflation may incite higher wage demands from employees and raise cost Social factors- change in social trends can impact on the demand for a firms products and ease of use and motivation of individuals to work. Technological factors- new technologies create new products and new process. Example: when organization advances in technological, the staffs skills and knowledge have to improve quality and guide to innovation. These developments can benefit government as well as the organization. Environmental factors- include the weather and climate change. Change in temperatures can impact on many industries including tourism, fishing and import and export of goods to and from country. Legal factors- these are related to the legal environment in which organization function. Introduction of new system and procedures such as staff development policy that affect organization action and change will have some costs to the government and the organization. This chapter is based on government economic policies, fiscal policy and moreover it talks about the Maldives Customs Service (MCS) role and relation to government policies and mission, goals and objectives of the MCS and the SWOT analysis of the organization. Furthermore this chapter mentions the key issues which related to the policy implementation. Government economic policies The Maldives has exclusive economic rights over some 859,000 km ² of surrounding the islands, which contains vast fishery resources. The islands are an attractive tourist destination due to their sandy white beaches and clear lagoons. Land mass is limited to 300 km ² and dispersed over an 850 km ² North-South fairly narrow stretch. This peculiarity of land mass and its distribution is a server constraint to the development of local markets, increasing transport costs with implication for the competitiveness of the economy. Direct Foreign Investment The government has adopted a reasonable foreign climate the result, the result has been not enough in the sense of that most foreign direct investment (FDI) is tied to the tourism sector. In regard of this only very little FDI is seen in other sectors. For example the domestic market opportunities, given the restrictions of a population of 300,000 approximately. Therefore FDI has been drive in the direction of sectors reaching international market. Tourism is one of the best examples in the country. The investment establishment consent to free currency exchange rate and repatriation of profits and capital assets. The financial sector 30% profit tax is collected and there is no corporate tax. At present the government there is improper practice of integration of investment promotion and regulation as both roles are hand over to the Foreign Investment Services Bureau (FISB) of the Ministry of Economic and Development and Trade (MEDT). Therefore the existing legal frame work of Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) is inadequate to provide self motivated investment environment to the investors. Other than tourism investments all other sectors all the responsibility takes FISB and tourism investments Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MTC). Hence it is vital to revise and modernize current DFI guide line policy to more conducive to large scale investment. The financial sector of Maldives is still in its immaturity. There are five international bank operators in the capital city Male but all this banks are branch offices of their parent organization and take on only financing of commerce. At the present time there is no investment bank in Maldives, but a private firm, the Maldives Finance Leasing Company (MFLC) that provides capital financing for only small and medium scale operators. At present the Bank of the Maldives has locate more than 12 branches in different islands in the country. Export promotion In the existing regime Maldivian exporters invite in accessing world markets comparative to competitors in other countries. The rules of origin governing preference, when defined as a value-added obligation for the most part difficult to satisfy country like Maldives facing extremely far above the ground priced imported inputs and with limited relative advantages on labour cost. As mainly Maldives depend on imports for consumption, the lack of import substituting industries and industrial capability for export outcomes in existing account deficit of the country. The deficit for 2008 made known at US$651.3 million and 2005 it was US$273.0 million, which means compare to deficit in 2005 it has increased 139 percent. The present account deficit averaged in the order of 40 percent of GDP between 2004 and 2008. In 2008 more than 98 percent of Maldives commodity export well thought-out of fish and its related products amounting US$125.9 million, when compare to 2005 it has increased 29 percent The total export of Maldives rise in 2008 by MRF 384 million to MRF 617 million a growth of 16.8% over the year 2007. The past years average growth rate is 18.8% and marine products are the main exports with 98 percent. On the other hand due to tsunami disaster there was a minor downturn in the exports in year 2005. But starting from in the year 2006 there is rise and fall trend until 2008, with an approximate of 16.8% increased. In the existing situation of Maldives it is vital to have regional integration initiatives that value to the country through the help of key issues that affect trade, including the cost of transport and customs clearance issues. Regional institutions provide a vital support in the development of a system of standardization in Maldives, with the cooperation along with official recognition bodies on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and agreement on the application of sanitary and phyto sanitary measures (SPS) agreement issues. Social protection At present Maldivian social protection is very much favoritism in the direction of government employees who constitute around a quarter of the working population of the country. The government has priorities to achieve universal primary education and develop a national health care system. The health expenditure has accounted for 10-12 percent of GDP over the last ten years. The government is aware of the social protection issues and is keen to develop an effective social protection system consistent with the level of income and implementation capacity. The government intention for restructuring civil service is not only to grow macroeconomic stability but also is vital to sustaining the countries impressive progress in human development. Poverty rates, as measured by the headcount ratio, have fallen steeply, from 40 percent in 1997 to 16 percent in 2005. To maintain this trend in poverty reduction, improvements in existing social protection programmes and development of new programmes will go together with the fiscal hardship measures Cultural heritage The Maldives is prosperous in heritage sites, although in the earlier period of few decades the significance of safeguard Maldivian cultural heritage has been completely understood by Maldivians. On the other hand research and documentation of Maldivian cultural heritage and history is still developing in the country. At present the country also lacks the legal framework to regulate problems coupled with heritage management in the country. The heritage Act is vital for a better protection of the Maldivian cultural heritage. A book providing a tentative list of heritage sites in the Maldives has been recently published. There is an ever-increasing propensity to promote heritage values surrounded by Maldivians as a value of a heritage site forms the central core of its management. Thinking globally, Maldives is gearing to step into the world heritage arena and almost immediately will have a tentative list submitted to the world heritage committee. Trade Facilitation In the Maldives today, there has been a change from the Profitable protection function of customs to an extended protection of community. That is, trade facilitation effects more than just customs facilitation; it includes all the contributing factors of the international supply chain. As a result, stakeholders usually comprise those government and business entities that are entailing in the administration or guide of international trade. In other words, in the style of early 20th centuries role of customs as the gatekeepers has now been becoming different by the new and more demanding role that is based on three decisive concepts: trade facilitation, border protection, and revenue collection. The MCS is keeping up a conscious of international issues and their ability of strong effects on the nation, and it must be well-informed about national constrain power of a law to trade and transport treating and conventions. In many ways, customs organizations are connected with their counterparts in other countries that they do with agencies in their own government. They often look to customs administrations internationally and in neighboring countries for assistance and for ideas on how to improve operations trade facilitation, border protection, and revenue collection. Revenue Collection The Maldives experience move backward and forward in economic activity that are wider than those of the region overall. When economic times are good, economy outperforms the average of the region and when economic times are bad, economy legs behind. Although countries revenue collection are not only the means of comparing economic activity, that provide snapshot of the health of economy in a particular atoll or island. Generally stronger economies with greater economic activity produce increase in the rate of the growth of revenue collection at the country level. An examination of the subsequent time series of revenue change make known that, in terms of revenue collection of the country go one better than the region overall in times of economic growth and retained strength revenue collection of the country began to experience downturns between 2007 and 2009. Hence the government aims to reduce the reliance on import revenue as an income source for the government expenditure and in recent times projected to a great extent and large tax reform proposal. In this regard, in June 2009 government proposed modifications to the export-import law to eradicate import duties on food items and lower it for other commodities. This plan is an element of much wider amendments government resolve brings to the export-import law in the next two to three years. This proposal is part of a much wider amendments government will bring to the export-import law in the next two-three years, where government intends to bring down all applied rates to a level which have a positive impact on the economic development needs of the country and in accordance with international obligations including World Trade Organization (WTO). Border Protection Tariffs are the major instrument of border protection in the Maldives. With the exception of in the case of cigarette, on which has precise duty of MRF.0.30 per stick and all the other duties are ad valorem tariff levied on CIF (cost, insurance and freight) import value. In the current structure of applied ad valorem tariff have ten bands such as duty free, 5 percent, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, 50, 100, and 200 percent. The three main staple foods such as flour, rice and sugar and all other imports intended for commercial re-export come in the country free of duty. Maldives has increased its maximum tariff on all goods (excluding alcohol and tobacco) from 112 to 142 percent. In 2006 this maximum tariff was applied to plastic packaging materials. The trade policy space, as measured by wedge between bound and applied tariffs has decreased slightly since 2000, now standing at a relatively low 16.8 percent, compared with 54.8 percent on average for its regional neighbors and 29.5 percent for lower-middle-income countries. Regarding the extent of its trade liberalization in services, the Maldives ranked 142nd out of 148 countries according to the GATS Commitment Index. The discussion on the upcoming direction of tariff restructuring is much in line with expected view. It simply call attention to the need for enlargement the internal tax base to diminish the government weighty dependence on border taxes which would facilitate further tariff reduction, without examining revenue effects of tariff reduction. Enlarging the internal tax base to diminish the governments weighty dependence on border taxes would, obviously facilitate further tariff reduction. Fiscal policy The Maldives has neither a corporate tax not either a broad based sales tax arrangement in the country. The bank profits are subject to profit tax of 25 percent. In the highest degree recent year largely tax revenue as a percentage of GDP was 20.5 percent. Revenues are collected from customs duties. Conversely, the worsening fiscal signs are worrying as huge budgeted deficit stems not only from renovation, however more over from long standing structural issues such as growth of the civil service, large pay rises and subsidized social services. Therefore, if not the government attend to these subjects earlier than its debt get to unsustainable levels, far above the ground economic growth cannot be sustain. Broadening the tax base The government is planning to increase revenue by broadening the tax base. Government revenue is expected to increase 33 percent of GDP in 2010, 37 percent of GDP in 2011 and 36 percent of GDP in 2012. Currently the government revenue generation bases are mainly import duties, tourism tax, dividends from state-owned enterprise and resort lease rentals. The government has argument of implementation of the business profit tax and goods and service tax is look forward to bring in early 2011. The government expects to increase the revenue with reference to the impact of new taxes; it would be 15 percent of GDP. Rationalization of import duties In the Maldives government revenue connotations are a main alarm over and over again voiced as an argument further rationalized of import duties. It is argued that import duties are a vital source of government revenue and the speed with which customs duties are reduced needs to be resolved in harmony with the speed and effective of domestic tax reforms at thoroughly examined the condition of the revenue structure to compensate lost revenue. If not the look forward to economic gains from reform could well be erased by adverse budgetary arising from revenue shortfall. Over view of the Maldives Customs Service (MCS) The MCS plays vital role in protecting and enhancing Maldives economic prosperity, security and unique way of life. The border management has an effect on economic performance and the well-being of community and MCS is committed to ensuring that Maldives entry points actively supports government priorities. In order to achieve MCS vision of achieving excellence in contributing to the social and economic well-being of the nation by providing professional, quality assured customs service. MCS has to be ready for the future and to be able to respond quickly and effectively to unexpected situations and conditions, and have to ensure the effective ongoing stipulation of service. In order to support the social and economic well-being of Maldives, MCS continue to work in coordination with other agencies, and maintain relationship with customs administration, international organization and industry stake holder. It is important to continue deepen understanding of MCS partners priorities and to ensure that how MCS objectives and those of partners in the public and private sector can best aligned. Mission and Vision TO ENSURE that persons, goods and conveyances enter and exit the Republic of Maldives in accordance with national laws, and that such function is carried out while protecting the state revenue and the rights of the members of the society and in a manner that safeguards the integrity, esteem, dignity and honour of our Maldivian Nation. ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE in contributing to the social and economic well-being of the nation by providing professional, quality assured Customs service towards the protection of the society and revenue collection, through optimal Information Technology mobilization Goals and objectives To achieve the national goals MCS has to provide staff with relevant academic competency and skills training so as to create conducive work environment for generating inspiration and motivation amongst them; by inculcating and promoting required ethical standards in order for them to become professional Customs officers. To facilitate and provide trade-related customs services in a customer-friendly environment, in accordance with the laws and regulation of Maldives To protect State revenue through extensive participation in implementation of export/ import policies, strengthening customs control mechanism, and post clearance audit procedures. To be a world-class customs service that complies with all pertinent international conventions, articles thorough cooperation and coordination between Customs of other countries, customs- related international organizations and other international NGOs Objective Protect and collect revenue on dutiable goods. Detect and deter narcotics. Detect and deter smuggling of goods, pornography, and banned articles. Protect and facilitate legitimate trade and industry to uphold Republic of Maldives trading integrity. SWOT Analysis Strengths Weakness Opportunities Threat Maldives customs service (MCS) is longest serving organization in the Maldives. Therefore customs has good reputation of among all other organization and the customs has brought a valid changes Government gives full support to the MCS to maintain its service. Example if customs submit a project for increase revenue the government approves easily Provide professional training for the officers for their daily work environment which has huge advantages to perform best of their knowledge and experience Lack of Act the most weakness of the organization as there are many improvements which need to bring with the help of act Action and words are not align which causes a huge weakness of the organization as the supervisory level action which makes different ways in same situation MCS gets many opportunities from the government to improve trade facilitation and control illegal activities which enter the country MCS is the WCO member and many other international authorities such RILO and WTO and other countries provide international training and equipments Political Influences is one of the difficult things MSC faced today, as the political influence is taking part in some decision making and many political posts in top level Traders do not keep their business records, so it hides the way for their negotiations, transactions and other records that need for their business background Key issues related policy implementation Corruption and low integrity Corrupted environment Unethical behaviour Revenue leakage Compliance not measure Ineffective decentralization Decentralized areas staff not empowered Partially decentralized without uniformity Lack of border control Incompetent staffs and stakeholders Policies for rotation Competency level of staffs Lack of technical skills Poor communication with the stake holders Absence of Carrier path No succession plan Human resource plan De-motivation Knowledgeable staff turnover Performance appraisal not based on objectives Inappropriate recruitment and selection Chapter summery The Maldives still face a range of development limitations distinctive to small island nation. These take in a small export market, narrow resource base, and shortage of skilled work force, difficult transportation, high unit cost of social, health and economic infrastructure condition and high propensity to external and natural disasters. To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the revenue collection and trade facilitation it is vital to implement modern techniques to minimize the illegal offences which are carried out through in the Customs control area and prevent the importation and exportation of restricted and prohibited goods and conveyances into and from the country, while providing an excellent service. In addition there are special require developing the quality of the limited human resources. It is apparent that legislation, systems and procedures need to be enforced and implemented by experienced, professional and dedicated people. The commitment, loyalty and integrity of staff are particularly important to an organization in tackling challenges, making changes and introducing reforms. Human resources require to be developed on a continuous and long-term basis with an analysis to promoting and enhancing staffs qualification, professional ability, management techniques, morale and integrity. In this respect, well planned programmes with an eye on the future for staff training, career development and integrity promotion are essential to the well being of any administration and to serve and protect countries economy