Cold War pattern of conflicts and its influence on international Dissertation

Cold War pattern of conflicts and its influence on international relations in the context of Vietnam War - Dissertation Example ‘Domino Effect’ was stated in viewing Russia’s increasing influence over the South East Asian regions, which was taken by America as a major threat against it (Kane, 2006, pp. 101-102). The Cold War was the most significant diplomatic concern in the post war era. The beginning of the cold war made the European countries from a dispute between them in supporting the capitalist and communist regimes. This dispute between the European nations culminated into the division of the European continent into two ideological factions. Marshall Plan, which was developed by John Marshall during 1947, signified America’s economic cooperation to develop the European continent and form a reunion. The plan signified America’s continuous interests in political, strategic and economic interests over Western Europe (Northrup, 2003, p.177). President Truman during 1947 passed his doctrine which proclaimed Cold War with the Communist regions of the world along with Soviet Russia. This anti-communist program of President Truman observed as a global policy for maintaining security targeted the communist nations as plausible threat towards obstructing America’s dominion over the East Asian countries (Murrin, Johnson, McPherson, & Gerstle, 2007, pp.1012-1013). The tension and competition between the two countries United States and Russia gained ground along their nuclear and space programs. America and Russia focused on enhancing their space technology programs to further strengthen their security dynamism and gaining political and strategic advantage. Both the countries started specializing on the development of rockets and spaceships to gain supremacy in outer space (Sagdeev & Eisenhower, 2008). In the field of nuclear technology the two countries also contested heavily with the discovery of atomic materials. America was found opposing the Soviet stands in gaining supremacy over entering into new atomic areas and discoveries (Crockatt, 1996, p. 57). The Cold War conflicts between the superpower nations belonging to the Communist and Western powers accumulated to the spreading of war in the Korean and Vietnamese territory. Russian attacks on South Korea were heavily counteracted by the American troops through the sending of required resources to the newly independent colonies, which were under French rule. United States government in their move to restrict the ascension of Russian troops to gain control over South Korea strongly conducted the opposition, which resulted in heavy combat. United States also took a firm stand of restricting Communist factions from gaining their stand in the Vietnamese regions. The government of America took control of the Southern region of Vietnam and defended further Communist aggression (Wouri, 2000). Further the region of South East Asia reflected conflicts between countries like Russia, United States and China. The end of the Cold War period led to the downfall of Russia and the rise of Un ited States to gain supremacy over the East Asian region. The period of Cold War also led to the emergence of China as a regional power through the increased collaboration of United States. Both countries United States and China however helped each other in removing Russia and gaining dominance over South East Asia (Ross, 2009, p.47). The paper attempts to find out how

The Third Man Analysis

The Third Man Analysis According to the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com), 1949s The Third Man is the only non-American film to have made the American Film Institutes top 100 films of all time, and ranks number one in the British Film Institutes BFI 100, a similar list compiled in 1999. The Third Man was not only well-regarded decades after its release, but was a commercial and critical success in its own era. What is so special about this film? The creative talent involved with The Third Man was considerable, as was the creative tension between them. The co-producer was legendarily difficult mogul David O. Selznick, a micromanager extraordinaire whose other film triumphs included back-to-back Academy Award winning films Gone with the Wind (1939) and Rebecca (1940). The other producer, and the director, was Carol Reed (a man), equally as stubborn as Selznick, and a talent cited by no less than director Steven Spielberg as an influence. The screenwriter was Graham Greene, a former spy and acclaimed novelist who had nearly all of his books made into films. The Third Man was developed by Reed and Greene from a single sentence scribbled down by Greene: I had paid my last farewell to Harry a week ago, when his coffin was lowered into the frozen February ground, so that it was with incredulity that I saw him pass by, without a sign of recognition, amongst a host of strangers in the Strand. (Newley, 2004) Reed and Selznick fought every step of the way, and Orson Welles, whom Reed insisted to play Harry Lime, the central mystery figure to the film, was his usual temperamental yet brilliant self. Though selfishly refusing to complete some of the sewer scenes which appear at the films end, Welles also was responsible for writing what is arguably the films best speech and perhaps one of the best speeches in movie history in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love they had 500 years of demo cracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. Greene himself both conceded Welles authorship of this dialogue and its brilliance, no small gesture for an author of unparalleled brilliance himself. Beyond the remarkable power generated by the creative tension between the films key players was the content of the narrative itself. Far from being a simple-minded portrayal of good vs. evil and good people vs. evil people, like so many films of the World War II era, The Third Man was fearlessly ambiguous and complex in its morality. Harry Lime, who summons his best friend (a mediocre Western novelist) Holly Martins to Vienna ostensibly for a writing job is revered by both Martins and Limes girlfriend Anna Schmidt. Lime turns out to have been a completely selfish cretin, who cared little for Anna and who intended to use Martins in his racketeering scheme to sell watered-down penicillin on the Austrian black market. (The one exception is the fact that Lime obtains for Anna a forged passport to prevent her repatriation to Communist Czechoslovakia by the Russians.) Nonetheless, Anna is unable to stop loving Harry Lime, and Holly Martins only turns on Lime after a British major takes M artins to a pediatric ward and shows him children who are dead or suffering because of Limes racket. Even Martins redemption is flawed, as by films end he has fallen in love with and made a play for his best friends girl.However, Anna coldly rejects him in a stunning sequence at films end that went completely counter to the conventional wisdom of the time that demanded a happy ending. As witty, stylized, and cool as the narrative and dialogue are reminiscent of Casablanca the narrative itself reflects a rather bleak and paranoid sense of post World War II psychology. Just as the main characters themselves are morally complex or flawed, the narrative itself including the setting of Vienna paints a picture of a universe where the locus points of good and evil are difficult to find and loyalties are blurred and conflicting. The Third Man is a window into the future of the Cold War, where global conflicts between good and evil were to be played out on local stages by players who have little practical use themselves for the notions of good and evil. Director Carol Reed emphasized the lurking sense of paranoia and betrayal possibly waiting around any corner by the remarkable use of lighting most notably, stark shadows and a plethora of odd, oblique camera angles. One of the most famous entrances in movie history in Orson Welles first appearance as Harry Lime in the fi lm two-thirds of the way through the story, though he is referenced in virtually every scene up to this point. Lime is hiding in the shadows across the street from Martins. All that is initially visible are Limes shoes and Annas cat, which she mentioned in passing was fond of Lime. A neighbor across the way hears Martins yelling after the elusive Lime, and turns on her bedroom light. In a flash, it illuminates Limes face perfectly, and Welles delivers a telltale smirk/grin before disappearing into the night again. (Anton Karas zither music, which Reed insisted upon using over Selznicks wishes for an upbeat score, help round out the stylized grimness that permeates the film.) In a way, Harry Lime embodies the idealistic faith human beings place in institutions, in loved ones, in friendships, in straightforward black-and-white paradigms of morality. The unraveling of his mystique and the heartbreaking reveal of his amoral spiritual core reflected the stark truths of the World War which had just ended, and the Cold War which was to come both great struggles between great competing ideologies who promised much in exchange for allegiances, but failed to deliver. The Anna Schmidts and Holly Martins of the world were left only with each other, and even those tenuous bonds were often of little use. Even the title of this film, The Third Man, suggests a way of thinking that rejects the notion of binary oppositions, i.e., only one of two choices, and demanded that the audience accept a world far more morally complex than they were used to living. Beyond being a film that succeeds in the realms of pure entertainment, The Third Man succeeds in this deeper thematic manner as well.

Thomas Jefferson Essays -- essays research papers

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States. His terms lasted from the year 1801 to the year 1809. Jefferson was an American revolutionary leader as well as an influential political philosopher. Jefferson was among a group of the most brilliant Americans that resulted from the Enlightenment in Europe. Possibly one of the best writers during his time, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson ¡Ã‚ ¦s status as a Virginia aristocrat gave him the two most important things to become an educated man, which was a difficult thing to become during that time. Those two things, time and the resources, allowed him to educate himself in history, literature, law, architecture, science, and philosophy. He also had a great deal of influence on his ideals that came directly from the European culture and thought because he had been a diplomat and friend of French and British intellectuals. Jefferson was born on the thirteenth day of April of the year 1743 at Shadwell in Goochland (now in Albemarle) Co., Virginia, which was at the time considered a western outpost and was to remain as Jefferson ¡Ã‚ ¦s lifelong home. He was the son of Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph Jefferson. His father, Peter, was a surveyor, a cartographer, and a plantation owner and he was also largely self-educated. His mother, Jane was from the prominent Rudolph family of colonial Virginia. Jefferson ¡Ã‚ ¦s intense interest in botany, geology, cartography, North American exploration, and love of Greek and Latin are due largely from his father and his surrounding environment out in the west where he also absorbed the democratic views of his Western countrymen. For several years, Jefferson studied at the local grammar and classical schools. After that, he entered the College of William and Mary in the year 1760. During his time at the college, he had become a close friend to three prominent residents of Williamsburg: William Small, George Wythe, and Francis Fauquier who was the lieutenant governor of the colony. Small was of the college faculty who Jefferson had studied under. Small had an in depth knowledge of the Scottish Englightenment and its approach to law, history, philosophy, and science. He had also introduced him to the natural sciences and to rational methods of inquiry. Wythe was of the Virginia bar. ... ...ge. Interest payments from the final settlement finally made the total price $27,267,622. Despite the scruples that Jefferson had about the purchase being constitutional or not, his other fears that Napoleon would change his mind because of Livingston ¡Ã‚ ¦s reports and from the overwhelming public approval of the Louisiana Purchase, except for most of New England, eventually overcame him and he approved. After the United States Senate ratified the treaty in October of that same year, the flag of the United States was raised over New Orleans on the twentieth of December. Even though the United States had purchased a great deal of land, it was still unclear. The wording of the treaty was vague and the boundaries were not clearly described. Also, the fact that the United States was to also own West Florida, which was suppose to be considered part of Louisiana was not assured. Despite that the final boundaries of the territory were not settled for many years, the boundaries roughly extended form the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to British North America. The total purchase had doubled the national domain, increasing it 2,144,500 square kilometers.

Morality in Ethan Frome Essay

In The Morality of Inertia, Lionel Trilling argues that Ethan Frome’s inability to make his own ethical decisions ultimately makes his ‘smash-up’ a tragic event caused by the inactivity of morality. The nonexistence of this moral inertia is the explanation, for Trilling, for the outcome of Frome; the lack of moral responsibility in any of the main characters from the beginning of their lives paralyzes their decision making process– they simply exist and do what is their duty. Trilling’s aspect that Frome was a morally inadequate man is a valid fact affirmed by Edith Wharton’s provided background of him; the idea that he was unable to make choices and is only capable of enduring can be proven inaccurate with his Frome’s actions throughout the story. The notion that Ethan Frome is incapable of making ethical decisions based on his background can also be countered with his background and actions. Trilling uses Frome’s â€Å"duties as a husband† and son as support for his claim that â€Å"[c]hoice is incompatible with [Ethan’s existence]† (from Morality of Inertia). However, the reader is exposed to Ethan’s ability to recognize choices, and decisions not to act on them, throughout the story. Frome acknowledges his dilemma of running away with Mattie or staying with Zeena, but is inefficient in seeing past the initial consequences of each choice and exploring other possibilities of escape besides the basic. Ethan’s central decision in the book, to commit suicide with Mattie, is made with free will; although it is Mattie’s idea, Ethan agrees and takes the reins in the front of the sled. Although Ethan Frome is a broken man perpetually frozen in a bleak Starkfield, one cannot disregard his inaction when he is presented and acknowledges choices. He constantly contemplates expressing his love for Mattie, looking for â€Å"the all-expressive word,† but fails to, even when alone with her, making â€Å"free choice† a moot point (Ethan Frome; from Morality of Inertia). Morality is not caused by inertia in Ethan’s case but personal authorization– Ethan’s decision to commit suicide proves this point; the act proves that he was capable of confessing his love to Mattie, but failed to up to that moment. Although Frome can be held responsible for his moral inactivity, he can be considered a morally inadequate man in his present state. His inadequacy, however, was not a constant in life or a sudden occurrence– it snowballed from his youth and finally solidified through the ‘smash-up’. His earlier experiences in a university and the joy it brought him was quickly interrupted after a year by his sickly parents. The unfortunate circumstance forces Ethan Frome to move back to the depressing Starkfield he had just escaped. His parents’ illnesses bring along Zenobia, who would be another future, unseen oppression along with Starkfield. For years, Ethan lives in depressing conditions that decline as time goes on. The chance to finally leave them behind, however, comes in Mattie, Zenobia’s cousin and maid. Ethan’s inability to act on this chance of escape finally seals his fate when Mattie is paralyzed and he is critically injured. Although jinxed with unfortunate circumstances, Ethan Frome’s life could have been bettered if one small step or action was taken by him for himself with the intention to create personal joy or pleasure. The importance of taking steps in life betterment can be seen in Ethan Frome. Although one may lack a history of â€Å"making moral decisions,† the human instinct to do so is always there (from Morality of Inertia). Ethan Frome was able to rationalize and recognize choices inside of his head; it was his inability to act on any one until his attempted suicide that created his depressing circumstances. The irony of his only decision with Mattie being one of the most deciding ones in his life underscores the fact that if he had taken this initiative before this instance, his life might have taken a different track. This was not a forced or accidental occurrence; Ethan Frome was in fact an unfortunate individual in undesirable circumstances, but with a free will and mind developed enough to make

European Commission´s actions against The Coca Cola Company Essay

* 1 Introduction The Coca Cola Company (TCCC) is an American corporation and manufacturer especially known for its soft drinks like Coca Cola or Fanta. It sells over 3500 products, is available in over 200 countries and has revenues of nearly 50 billion us-dollars (Coca Cola Company, 2011). After Coca Cola was accused by the European commission (EC) to have abused its market power, Coca Cola gave in and set up commitments to prove that it does not abuse its power. They promised no exclusivity arrangements, no target or growth rebates, no  use of its stronger brands to sell other less strong brands and finally a 20 percent free space in their coolers for other products and brands. These commitments were accepted by the EC. This essay explains why the EC is concerned about the abuse of market power and analyzes the commitments stated by the coca cola company in its economic terms and how they affect the market competition. Finally it will evaluate if the EC was correct in accepting these commitments. Background to the Case The EC tries to establish a free competitive market and a fair competition between businesses in setting up competition policies like state aid, merger control rules and antitrust also known as the European competition law (Report European Comission, 2010). It does so to ensure the maximization of social welfare which will be further explained in section 2. In September 2004, the EC started to proceed against the Coca Cola Company relying on their antitrust regulation. In October, 2004 Coca Cola was sent a â€Å"preliminary assessment† which stated the EC ´s concerns about their abuse of market power. One month later Coca Cola submitted commitments in response to these Claims (European Comission, 2006). The four commitments are as followed: 1. Coca cola promised that at all time their customers are free to buy or sell carbonated soft drinks from any supplier of their choice and therefore no more exclusivity arrangements; 2. No target or growth rates are allowed. Coca Cola no longer offers rebates that reward in purely purchasing the same amount or more of Coca Cola products than in the past. Hence it is easier for customers to purchase from other suppliers; 3. Coca Cola is not allowed to use its strong brand to push other products which are not that popular goods; 4. If Coca Cola provides free coolers to retailers, the retailers are allowed to use 20 per cent of its space for other brands and goods. If Coca Cola should break these commitments the EC could demand a fine of ten per cent of Coca Cola ´s total worldwide turnover (European Comission, 2006). Loss of Welfare due to Market Power But why is the EC actually concerned about the abuse of market power, the ability of a firm to charge a price above marginal cost and earn a positive profit (Perloff, 2012), of big firms like TCCC? The main answer to this question is that the EC tries to ensure social welfare and to maximize it. But before answering this question social welfare needs to be elucidated. Social welfare itself is difficult to measure. One way to measure it is to define it as the sum of the consumer and producer surplus. Perloff describes the consumer surplus as: â€Å"The monetary difference between what a consumer is willing to pay for the quantity of the good purchased and what the good actually costs† (Perloff, 2012). In other words the consumer surplus is used to measure and compare consumer welfare, the benefit of a certain product a person gets consuming that product less the money he or she paid for the good. In contrast the producer surplus is described by Perloff as followed: â€Å"The d ifference between the amount for which a good sells and the minimum amount necessary for the seller to be willing to produce the good† (Perloff, 2012). It is the gain of trade and thus equal to the profit from trade minus the profit from not trading. The EC tries to maximize the social welfare. This is only possible in a competitive market because in such a market environment the price equals the marginal costs (Perloff, 2012) which results in an equilibrium price, an economic term for a balance between the wants of producers and consumers and no loss of welfare. However, the converse argument is that in a non-competitive market social welfare is not maximized. The biggest counterpart to a free competitive market is a monopolistic market. Although TCCC is not a real monopoly it has big market power and can therefore be compared to a monopoly. The loss of social welfare, the deadweight loss, which occurs if a monopoly (or a company with a big market power) arises, is shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 Deadweight Loss of Monopoly 1 (Barnett, 2007) Figure 1 shows that at the competitive equilibrium the price (Pc) is lower than the monopoly price (Pm) and the quantity (Qc) is bigger than the quantity (Qm) which the monopoly supplies. Hence a deadweight loss arises. This deadweight loss develops only due to missing competition. This scenario could appear due to an abuse of market power. By definition, market power is  the ability to charge a price above marginal cost and therefore earn a positive profit (Perloff, 2012). Compared to a competitive market the demand curve is not horizontal but downwards sloping. This means that although the quantity decreases if a monopoly raises its price there are still buyers for the product. In a competitive market this is not true because the demand curve is horizontal and only the slightest increase in price will result in zero demand. As we can see in Figure 1: The monopoly is able to set its price not at the equilibrium (the intersection of marginal cost and the market price) but at a poin t at which it maximizes its own profit (a point where the price is higher than marginal costs). This results in a welfare loss for the consumers which the EC tries to prevent. Furthermore the market power is related to the shape of the demand curve and tells a monopoly how much it can raise its price above the competitive equilibrium (the interception with the marginal cost) at the profit maximizing quantity. The more elastic the demand curve becomes, graphically this would means a nearly flat curve, the more sales are lost even if the price is only slightly increased. Conversely, if the demand curve is a steep curve (not very elastic) it would lose fewer sales by the same increase of price (Perloff, 2012). However a firm with a big market power or a monopoly benefit from large economies of scale. They can produce their products cheaper than any number of other firms together and for this reason not challengeable (Perloff, 2012). Economic Effect of the Commitments on Market Competition Concerned of the big market power TCCC had, the EC decided to intervene and requested Coca Cola to come up with solutions to allow the free competition to grow. Coca Cola then set up four commitments which were accepted by the EC. Although all four head to the same economic effect of lowering entry barriers for competitors and accordingly make consumers more aware of substitutes for Coca Cola products, all four are described separately. The first commitment assured that TCCC would not accept any exclusivity arrangements. It allows customers of Coca Cola to sell any soft drinks from any supplier next to Coca Cola. This means more suppliers which results in more products similar to Coca Cola ´s products, substitutes. Although these  substitutes existed also before the commitment it is now much easier for consumers to be aware of these and accordingly buy these. The economic effect of more substitutes was already explained in section 2: The market power is related to the demand curv e. The flatter the demand curve is the more elastic it is and therefore a small increase in price leads to a big loss in sales. If we now take the substitutes into account the demand curve of TCCC becomes more elastic because consumers can choose between products of different suppliers. Hence Coca Cola cannot set its price per unit as high as before. In other words the demand curve gets closer to a competitive demand curve and if TCCC sets its prices too high consumers will buy a substitute. In addition as prices of Coca Cola ´s products gets lower it becomes easier for other firms to enter the market. The second commitment prevented Coca Cola to set up target or growth rates. Hence Coca Cola was not able to reward customers for purchasing the same amount or more of Coca Cola products than in the past. Again this makes it easier for customers to buy from other soft drink suppliers or a less amount of Coca Cola products plus different products. Economically this has the same effect as the first commitment and concentrates the overall effect: The demand curve becomes even more elastic and the market becomes more competitive. The third commitment states that TCCC is not allowed to use the strongest brands to sell less popular brands. Again consumer can choose more easily between different suppliers and the competition in the market is further increased. Next to this economic effect it is now harder for Coca Cola to sell its less popular products and weakens its market power and brings TCCC even closer to sell at the competitive equilibrium. Secondary to the economic effect of the more elastic demand curve the decrease of entry barriers and the gain of substitutes increase the supply of the market. As more suppliers enter the market, supply increases which lowers the price of products in the market. The last commitment allows retailers to use 20 percent of the space in the Coca Cola coolers although they were provided by TCCC for free. Therefore Retailers who want to benefit of a free cooler are not forced to use it only for Coca Cola products anymore. This makes it easy for consumers to be aware of substitutes of Coca Cola ´s products as well as comparing prices. All in all the four commitments are heading to decrease TCCC ´s market power and to increase the competition in the market. They do so allowing substitutes gain  more attention by customers which results in a more elastic demand curve for Coca Cola. The more elastic it becomes the more competition increases in the market. Moreover the market ´s supply increases and prices decrease. Conclusion Finally it can be said that firms with too much market power can reduce the social welfare. In order to protect this social welfare the EC accepted the four commitments. The closer analysis of the four commitments and their economic effect on the market shows that due to lower entry barriers the market ´s supply is increased and more substitutes are easier available for consumers. In addition, Coca Cola ´s demand decreases and it cannot benefit from its economies of scales as it could before. Furthermore, it cannot set its price as high as it could before. Although Coca Cola does not lose all of its market power and is still one of the biggest companies and soft drink suppliers worldwide its market power is reduced by the EC ´s actions and this results in an increase of market competition and a reduction of Coca Cola ´s market power. If it was actually maximized to its fullest cannot be said because the information of actual demand or marginal cost curves is always limited, nor are the theoretical assumptions of a market environment given in real life. Nevertheless, the social welfare was definitely increased by the EC and therefore it was right to accept the four commitments. References Barnett, T. (31. October 2007). Maximizing Welfare through technological Innovation. From www.justice.gov: http://www.justice.gov/atr/public/speeches/227291.htm Coca Cola Company, C. C. (31. December 2011). Anuual Report of Exchange. Von www.sec.gov: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/21344/000002134412000007/a2011123110-k.htm Comission, E. (2006). Competition in Practice – Coca Cola. European Comission, E. (2006). Coca Cola. Perloff. (2012). Microeconomics. England: Pearson. Report European Comission, C. (2010). Report on competition policy . Brussels.

Economics Theory Essay Example

Economics Theory Essay Example Economics Theory Essay Economics Theory Essay Economics Theory Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date: Economics Theory The cost of $6 per person in the community is a negative externality. This is an external costs caused by the building of the water park. This is a negative externality because it involves added costs to the community. Additionally, the people within the community where this park will be built are third parties and do not incur costs or benefits directly (Keppler, 2007). These costs are not compensated by the city council. Negative Externality S= MC Equilibrium P S1= MC-X D= MB Q1 Q* Q The per-unit amount of the externality is the amount of the positive or negative externality realized for every unit of good produced by the council. In this case, the product is the water park that will increase the traffic. The negative per-unit amount of externality is $2. When businesses realize increased security at night as well as the surrounding, this will be a benefit from the water park. Additionally, with a benefit of $3 for every person attending the water park, the positive externality is realized (Mankiw, 2011). Therefore, this is a positive externality since the city council will not be refunded the money, and neither will the neighboring surrounding and businesses have to pay for the extra benefits realized from increased traffic and security at night. The per-unit amount for both externalities is $2. One way of solving the negative externality for this project is having the city council compensate for the added costs to the community by reducing some of the services it renders to people. Alternatively, it should also be required the community the same amount of money. Therefore, this can be added back to its marginal costs. For the positive externality, people or community should seek to increase it through means such as pushing for subsidies to have the goods at a cheaper price. This would increase the benefits for the whole community. References Keppler, J. H. (2007). Theory and Measurement of Externalities. University Paris-Dauphine. Mankiw, N.G. (2011). Principles of economics. New York, N.Y: Cengage Learning.

The Truth about Global Warming

The Truth about Global Warming Free Online Research Papers Over the past half century our world has become more modernized than we ever thought possible. We have innovative things to make our lives quicker and more efficient including DVDs, the IPod, and the Internet. This technology has become integrated into our society and even in a way part of our lives. It has also led to increased manufacturing and production and in turn increased the CO2 output by man kind. However, is this increase substantial enough to cause a change in the Earths climate? Scientists have been debating this for years and have yet to come up with an answer to this question even with overwhelming evidence supporting the idea that humans are not the cause of global warming. There is too much evidence to deny that the Earths warming is due to a natural change in the Earths climate, not mankind. Past and future fluctuations in the Earths climate, the sun, and the energy it emits, and North and South Pole activities all prove that man made global warming is a myth that ha s gotten out of hand. The newspapers and television have helped push this man made global warming into what it is today. Throughout history the Earth goes through climate stages both warming and cooling. During the Holocene, there have been about seven major warming and cooling trends, some lasting as long as 3000 years, others as short as 650. They have been able to see this through the layers in the ice. Recently Russian scientist drilled 3.5 km of ice to acquire a specimen with information about the last 400,000 years, before mankind was emitting harmful CO2 gasses. They found that during the last 400,000 years the earth has scene four two-phase climate cycles; a gradual warming followed by a quick cooling. This proves through scientific study that the earth undergoes climate stages and that the globe is in reality experiencing a gradual warming but it is not caused by man. You can also see these climate changes through the rings in trees. Tree growth is slowed during cold times and is greater during warmth. By looking a specimens of trees scientist can see the different periods of warming and cool ing. According to some the Earth is going to continue to warm as long as we as humans continue to abuse the planet we live on. This couldnt be further from the truth. In fact, the warming is in fact soon to be replaced by the second stage of the climate stages. Both satellite and ground based temperature readings have show a decrease in temperature in the last few years. These readings contradict the idea of man-made global warming, by bringing the climate cycle to attention. Scientist have started to predict that by 2012 a fairly cold spell will set in and a real cold will come will come in 2041. This could be the ice age that we are overdue to have. This is caused by solar activity; warm periods of temperature when it is at its peak and cold at the minimum. Scientist know about two 11 and 200 year solar activity cycles that are caused by changes in the radius and irradiating solar surface. These cycles are in direct correlation with the Earths temperature, proving the idea that the Earth heats in stages and man is not causing it. Looking at changes in the energy the sun outputs you can effectively see the relationship between it and the climate of the Earth. When the suns magnetism is strong the suns output is higher and the Earth is warmer. The suns output has a direct connection with the Earths climate. The ups and downs of temperature match almost exactly the ups and downs and changes in magnetism. For example, in the 1000-1300, the middle ages with no greenhouse gases, there was a period of warming where the sun was more active magnetically and brighter energetically than today followed by a period of time with low sun activ ity therefore lower temperatures. Another good indicator that the Earth is done warming and is soon to be in the second stage of its cycle is the behavior of the poles. Observations in Antarctica show that the temperature is not rising, in fact, some say it is even falling therefore the Antarctic Ice, the biggest freshwater supply on Earth and the main reason for the rise of the ocean level is not likely to be melting. At the beginning of the 21st century the trend of warming reversed and now observers in Antarctica have found that the average temperature has dropped. The Glaciers there are not melting quickly or retreating; however, in many places they are advancing especially in the cooler, eastern part of Antarctica. The ice isnt melting it is growing which indicates that the temperatures are indeed going down. We have no reason to panic about allegations that ice in the Arctic Ocean is thawing rapidly and will soon vanish altogether scientist say the Arctic and Antarctic shields are growing. Many scientists agree that man-made global warming is a myth, not all but more scientist then before. Over 400 prominent scientists from more that two dozen countries recently voiced significant objections to the so-called consensus on man-made global warming and numerous colleges shared their views, but they will not speak out publicly for fear of retribution. There is an abundant amount of evidence saying the Earth is getting colder after a long period of warming. More and more people and scientists are becoming skeptics of the myth man-made global warming every year and this trend will most likely continue to as long as the Earth continues to cool. Research Papers on The Truth about Global WarmingRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Spring and AutumnPETSTEL analysis of IndiaMind TravelGenetic EngineeringBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XCapital PunishmentMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia The Truth About Global Warming Free Online Research Papers Global Warming is a rapidly growing issue in American society. Many scientists have proven the existence of Global Warming, but the reasons for such is still in part speculated. Al Gore expressed the issue of Global Warming in the documentary â€Å"An Inconvenient Truth† with a presentation full of maps, graphs, charts, statistics, and photos. Gore presents many facts about Global Warming, but also makes examples that do not directly relate to Global Warming. He presents Global Warming as the rising levels of greenhouse gasses, mainly carbon dioxide, causing a state of environmental emergency. Gore speculates that the devastation of hurricane Katrina in 2005 was a direct result of Global Warming; also Gore mentions that the melting ice cap of Mt. Kilimanjaro is because of Global Warming. Gore says that Global Warming is causing stronger storms, such as Katrina, and rising temperatures causing Mt. Kilimanjaro’s ice cap to melt. Mt. Kilimanjaro lies 220 miles south of the Equator on the continent of Africa. The ice fields of Kilimanjaro are known as tropical ice fields. Ohio State University Geologist Lonnie Thompson published a report saying that Tropical glaciers are more vulnerable to climate change; even small temperature changes can cause major devastation to the ice. A climatologist from The University of Massachusetts Douglass R. Hardy, who has been recording temperatures from the mountain since 2000, mentions that â€Å"forest reduction in the areas surrounding Kilimanjaro, and not global warming, might be the strongest human influence on glacial recession.† Hardy points to honey collectors smoking out bees which in turn cause forest fires, and clearing of land for agricultural purposes for melting ice caps. The loss of vegetation causes less moisture in the air directly causing less cloud cover, which in turn causes higher temperatures. Many scientists conclude there is evidence of tropical glaciers receding since 1912. However most note that dramatic drops in lake levels surrounding Kilimanjaro indicate less rainfall and cloudiness dating back to 1880. These are all major factors contributing to the rapid melting of Kilimanjaro’s ice caps. In the documentary Al Gore explains that global warming is in fact the cause of this devastation on Mt. Kilimanjaro. There is no contestation that the glaciers of Kilimanjaro are melting, but the causes are not global warming (Minarcek). In the documentary (An Inconvenient Truth) Gore presents the idea that global warming is causing greater storms. His main example is hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans in 2005. Gore presented many pictures of the devastation, flooding, and people of New Orleans. Gore has no real evidence points to global warming causing stronger storms. Instead he uses the pictures of devastation from hurricane Katrina to make his audience believe out of sympathy. There is no doubt that Katrina was a very powerful storm that caused much devastation, but how strong was it? Katrina was measured a category five hurricane, the strongest on the scale, and the first of the twenty-first century. The last category five hurricane was Camille which made landfall in Mississippi in 1969, causing much less devastation totaling only seven deaths due to proper evacuation and point of landfall. What made Katrina so much more popular was the negligence of the government and citizens of Louisiana. On average the city of New Orleans is five feet below see level. The levee system surrounding the city was only built to withstand a slow moving category two or a fast moving category three hurricane. The system was overloaded by Katrina causing it to fail. The pumps in the levees could not pump the water out because they were completely submerged. Since the pumps could not function the flood waters had nowhere to go, which is what caused the city to stay underwater for weeks. This flooding is what caused most of the physical damage to the city. The rest of the disaster was brought on by the people of New Orleans. The government did not have a proper evacuation program in place causing a great number of people stranded in the city. The Superdome was used as a shelter for the remaining citizens. The slow reaction of the government left these people stranded in the Superdome, without food or fresh drinking water. Citizens began looting and stealing for survival. In the aftermath of Katrina the media blamed the category five storm for such devastation, when in fact it was the hurricane procedures and people of New Orleans to blame for the mass destruction of the city (McCarragher). Gore uses these two examples of global warming effects without proper facts. If Kilimanjaro’s melting glaciers were caused by global warming it would be a proper example. However since it is caused by other factors it is not a proper example of global warming Gore creates doubt amidst his audience when he uses examples that do not directly relate to his cause. The pictures and evidence of melting glaciers on Mt. Kilimanjaro and the destruction of hurricane Katrina is very real and convincing, but they are not applicable to Gore’s presentation. He uses them to create support for his cause with ignorance of their cause. With more time and effort it may be possible to disprove more of Gore’s ideas and examples of global warming. Scientific facts have disproved the two ideas chosen for this paper and have caused reasonable doubt for Gore’s entire presentation on global warming. Research Papers on The Truth About Global WarmingRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andPETSTEL analysis of IndiaHip-Hop is ArtDefinition of Export QuotasBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaGenetic EngineeringAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Marketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Biography of Pol Pot, Cambodian Dictator

Biography of Pol Pot, Cambodian Dictator Pol Pot (born Saloth Sar; May 19, 1925–April 15, 1998) was a Cambodian dictator. As the head of the Khmer Rouge, he oversaw an unprecedented and extremely brutal attempt to remove Cambodia from the modern world and establish an agrarian utopia. While attempting to create this utopia, Pol Pot initiated the Cambodian genocide, which lasted from 1975 to 1979 and caused the deaths of at least 1.5 million Cambodians. Fast Facts: Pol Pot Known For: As the leader of the revolutionary Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot oversaw the Cambodian genocide.Also Known As: Saloth SarBorn: May 19, 1925 in Prek Sbauv, CambodiaParents: Loth Sar and Sok NemDied: April 15, 1998 in Anlong Veng, CambodiaSpouse(s): Khieu Ponnary (m. 1956–1979), Mea Son (m. 1986–1998)Children: Sar Patchata Early Life Pol Pot was born Saloth Sar on May 19, 1928, in the fishing village of Prek Sbauk, Kampong Thom province, in what was then French Indochina (now Cambodia). His family, of Chinese-Khmer descent, was moderately well-to-do. They had connections to the royal family: a sister was a concubine of the king, Sisovath Monivong, and a brother was a court official. In 1934, Pol Pot went to live with the brother in Phnom Penh, where he spent a year in a royal Buddhist monastery and then attended a Catholic school. At age 14, he began high school in Kompong Cham. Pol Pot was, however, not a very successful student, and he eventually switched to a technical school to study carpentry. In 1949, Pol Pot obtained a scholarship to study radio electronics in Paris. He enjoyed himself in Paris, gaining a reputation as something of a bon vivant, fond of dancing and drinking red wine. However, by his second year in Paris, Pol Pot had become friends with other students who were impassioned by politics. From these friends, Pol Pot encountered Marxism, joining the Cercle Marxiste (Marxist Circle of Khmer Students in Paris) and the French Communist Party. (Many of the other students whom he befriended during this period later became central figures in the Khmer Rouge.) After Pol Pot failed his examinations for the third year in a row, however, he had to return in January 1953 to what would shortly become Cambodia. Joining the Viet Minh As the first of the Cercle Marxiste to return to Cambodia, Pol Pot helped assess the different groups rebelling against the Cambodian government and recommended that returning members of the Cercle join the Khmer Viet Minh (or Moutakeaha). Although Pol Pot and other members of the Cercle disliked that the Khmer Viet Minh had heavy ties with Vietnam, the group felt this Communist revolutionary organization was the one most likely to take action. In August 1953, Pol Pot left his home secretly and, without even telling his friends, headed to the Viet Minh’s Eastern Zone Headquarters, located near the village of Krabao. The camp was located in the forest and consisted of canvas tents that could be easily moved in case of an attack. Pol Pot (and eventually more of his Cercle friends) were dismayed to find the camp completely segregated, with Vietnamese as the high-ranking members and Cambodians (Khmers) given only menial tasks. Pol Pot himself was assigned tasks such as farming and working in the mess hall. Still, he watched and learned how the Viet Minh used propaganda and force to take control of peasant villages in the region. The Khmer Viet Minh was forced to disband after the 1954 Geneva Accords; Pol Pot and several of his friends headed back to Phnom Penh. 1955 Election The 1954 Geneva Accords had temporarily quashed much of the revolutionary fervor within Cambodia and proclaimed a mandatory election in 1955. Pol Pot, who was now back in Phnom Penh, was determined to do what he could to influence the election. He infiltrated the Democratic Party with the hope of being able to reshape its policies. When it turned out that Prince Norodom Sihanouk had rigged the election, Pol Pot and others became convinced that the only way to change Cambodia was through revolution. Khmer Rouge In the years following the 1955 elections, Pol Pot led a dual life. By day, Pol Pot worked as a teacher and surprisingly was well-liked by his students. By night, Pol Pot was heavily involved in a Communist revolutionary organization, the Kampuchean Peoples Revolutionary Party (KPRP). (â€Å"Kampuchean† is another term for â€Å"Cambodian.†) During this time, Pol Pot also married Khieu Ponnary, the sister of one of his Paris student friends. The couple never had children together. By 1959, Prince Sihanouk had begun to seriously repress leftist political movements, especially by targeting the older generation of experienced dissidents. With many of the older leaders in exile or on the run, Pol Pot and other young members of the KPRP emerged as leaders in party affairs. After a power struggle within the KPRP in the early 1960s, Pol Pot took control of the party. This party, which was officially renamed the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) in 1966, became more commonly known as the Khmer Rouge (meaning â€Å"Red Khmer† in French). The term â€Å"Khmer Rouge† was used by Prince Sihanouk to describe the CPK, since many in the CPK were both Communists (often called â€Å"reds†) and of Khmer descent. The Battle to Topple Prince Sihanouk In March 1962 when his name appeared on a list of people wanted for questioning, Pol Pot went into hiding. He took to the jungle and began preparing a guerrilla-based revolutionary movement that intended to topple Prince Sihanouk’s government. In 1964 with help from North Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge established a base camp in the border region and issued a declaration calling for armed struggle against the Cambodian monarchy, which they viewed as corrupt and repressive. The ideology of the Khmer Rouge gradually developed in this period. It featured a Maoist orientation with an emphasis on the peasant farmer as the foundation for a revolution. This contrasted with the orthodox Marxist idea that the proletariat (working class) was the basis for revolution. Courting Vietnam and China In 1965, Pol Pot was hoping to get support from either Vietnam or China for his revolution. Since the Communist North Vietnamese regime was the most likely source of support for the Khmer Rouge at the time, Pol Pot went to Hanoi to ask for aid. In response to his request, the North Vietnamese criticized Pol Pot for having a nationalist agenda. Since, at this time, Prince Sihanouk was letting the North Vietnamese use Cambodian territory in their struggle against South Vietnam and the United States, the Vietnamese believed the time was not right for an armed struggle in Cambodia. It did not matter to the Vietnamese that the time might have felt right for the Cambodian people. Pol Pot next visited the Communist People’s Republic of China (PRC) and fell under the influence of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, which emphasized revolutionary enthusiasm and sacrifice. It accomplished this in part by encouraging people to destroy any vestiges of traditional Chinese civilization. China would not openly support the Khmer Rouge, but it gave Pol Pot some ideas for his own revolution. In 1967, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, though isolated and lacking widespread support, made the decision to start a revolt against the Cambodian government. The initial action began on January 18, 1968. By that summer, Pol Pot had moved away from collective leadership to become the sole decision maker. He even set up a separate compound and lived apart from the other leaders. Cambodia and the Vietnam War The Khmer Rouge’s revolution progressed very slowly until two major events occurred in 1970. The first was a successful coup led by General Lon Nol, which deposed the increasingly unpopular Prince Sihanouk and aligned Cambodia with the United States. The second involved a massive bombardment campaign and invasion of Cambodia by the United States. During the Vietnam War, Cambodia had officially remained neutral; however, the Viet Cong (Vietnamese communist guerrilla fighters) used that position to their advantage by creating bases within Cambodian territory in order to regroup and store supplies. American strategists believed that a massive bombing campaign within Cambodia would deprive the Viet Cong of this sanctuary and thus bring the Vietnam War to a quicker end. The result for Cambodia was political destabilization. These political changes set the stage for the rise of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. With an incursion by Americans within Cambodia, Pol Pot was able to claim that the Khmer Rouge was fighting for Cambodian independence and against imperialism. Although he might have been refused aid from North Vietnam and China before, Cambodian involvement in the Vietnam War led to their support of the Khmer Rouge. With this new backing, Pol Pot was able to concentrate on recruiting and training while the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong did most of the initial fighting. Disturbing trends emerged early. Students and so-called â€Å"middle† or better-off peasants were no longer allowed to join the Khmer Rouge. Former government workers and officials, teachers, and people with an education were also purged from the party. Chams- an important ethnic group in Cambodia- and other minorities were forced to adopt Cambodian styles of dress and appearance. Decrees were issued establishing cooperative agricultural enterprises. The practice of emptying urban areas began. By 1973, the Khmer Rouge controlled two-thirds of the country and half the population. Genocide in Democratic Kampuchea After five years of civil war, the Khmer Rouge was finally able to capture Cambodia’s capital of Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975. This ended Lon Nol’s rule and began the five-year reign of the Khmer Rouge. It was at this time that Saloth Sar began calling himself â€Å"brother number one† and took Pol Pot as his nom de guerre. (According to one source, â€Å"Pol Pot† comes from the French words â€Å"politique potentielle.†) After taking control of Cambodia, Pol Pot declared the Year Zero. This meant much more than restarting the calendar; it was a means of emphasizing that all that was familiar in the lives of Cambodians were to be destroyed. This was a far more comprehensive cultural revolution than the one Pol Pot had observed in Communist China. Religion was abolished, ethnic groups were  forbidden to speak their language or follow their customs, and political dissent was ruthlessly suppressed. As dictator of Cambodia, which the Khmer Rouge renamed Democratic Kampuchea, Pol Pot began a ruthless, bloody campaign against a variety of groups: members of the former government, Buddhist monks, Muslims, Western-educated intellectuals, university students and teachers, people in contact with Westerners or Vietnamese, people who were crippled or lame, and ethnic Chinese, Laotians, and Vietnamese. These massive changes within Cambodia and the specific targeting of large sections of the population led to the Cambodian genocide. By its end in 1979, at least 1.5 million people had been murdered in the â€Å"Killing Fields.† Many were beaten to death with iron bars or hoes after digging their own graves. Some were buried alive. One directive read: â€Å"Bullets not to be wasted.† Most died from starvation and disease, but probably 200,000 were executed, often after interrogation and brutal torture. The most infamous interrogation center was Tuol Sleng, S-21 (Security Prison 21), a former high school. It was there that prisoners were photographed, interrogated, and tortured. It was known as â€Å"the place where people go in but never come out.† Vietnam Defeats the Khmer Rouge As the years passed, Pol Pot became increasingly paranoid about the possibility of an invasion by Vietnam. To preempt an attack, Pol Pot’s regime began carrying out raids and massacres in Vietnamese territory. Rather than dissuade the Vietnamese from attacking, these raids ultimately provided Vietnam with an excuse to invade Cambodia in 1978. By the following year, the Vietnamese had routed the Khmer Rouge, ending both the Khmer Rouge’s rule in Cambodia and the genocidal policies of Pol Pot. Ousted from power, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreated to a remote area of Cambodia along the border with Thailand. For several years, the North Vietnamese tolerated the existence of the Khmer Rouge in this border area. However, in 1984, the North Vietnamese made a concerted effort to deal with them. After that, the Khmer Rouge survived only with the support of Communist China and the toleration of the Thai government. In 1985, Pol Pot resigned as head of the Khmer Rouge and handed over day-to-day administrative tasks to his longtime associate, Son Sen. Pol Pot nonetheless continued as the de facto leader of the party. Aftermath In 1995, Pol Pot, still living in isolation on the Thai border, suffered a stroke that left the left side of his body paralyzed. Two years later, he had Son Sen and members of Sen’s family executed because he believed that Sen had attempted to negotiate with the Cambodian government. The deaths of Son Sen and his family shocked many of the remaining Khmer leadership. Feeling that Pol Pot’s paranoia was out of control and worried about their own lives, Khmer Rouge leaders arrested Pol Pot and put him on trial for the murder of Sen and other Khmer Rouge members. Pol Pot was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of his life. He was not punished more severely because he had been so prominent in Khmer Rouge affairs. Some of the remaining members of the party, however, questioned this lenient treatment. Death On April 15, 1998, Pol Pot heard a broadcast on Voice of America (of which he was a faithful listener) announce that the Khmer Rouge had agreed to turn him over to an international tribunal. He died that same night. Rumors persist that he either committed suicide or was murdered. His body was cremated without an autopsy to establish the cause of death. Legacy Pol Pot is remembered for his long, oppressive reign and for his attempt to exterminate all religious and ethnic minorities in Cambodia. The Cambodian genocide- responsible for the deaths of at least 1.5 million people- resulted in several Khmer Rouge leaders being convicted of crimes against humanity. Sources Bergin, Sean.  The Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian Genocide. Rosen Pub. Group, 2009.Short, Philip.  Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare. Henry Holt, 2005.

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Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 11

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Death Penalty should be legalized Research Paper

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Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 11

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The Singapore An Aging Population Economics Essay

The Singapore An Aging Population Economics Essay Ageing is the accumulation of physical, physiological and social changes in a person over time. It is a phenomenon that every individual is bound to experience. Therefore, it is only natural for one to hope to live in a society that respects, supports and caters to various needs of the elderly. Today, governments around the world are facing the tough challenge of providing adequate healthcare and housing for the elderly. Due to the possible ineffective allocation of funds or the lack of concern for its elderly citizens by the government, there is a possibility that a large proportion of the aged are neglected and are left scrounging for basic necessities while struggling with myriad health issues associated with age. Singapore currently has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. However, it also has an extremely low birth rate and an appallingly high rate of ageing. Approximately 10% of the population of 5 million is aged over 65. This figure will increase to about 25% by the year 2020. With such shocking statistics, many questions come to mind. A young man may worry about how he will find the means to support his elderly parents as well as his own family.   A woman close to retirement may be concerned about her future and wonder whether she would have to perform menial jobs to make ends meet. It is the duty of any government to give priority to the needs and demands of its citizens and take steps to address them. Thus, Singapores Government has to formulate policies that address the possible problems of an aging population and take preventive measures to counter the same. Stakeholders Involved Before attempting to solve the problems of Singapores aging population, it is critical to identify the stakeholders involved. By studying the effects of an ageing population on these stakeholders, the potentially negative effects of this issue can be mitigated, and future problems can be anticipated. Especially with the ever-changing social demographics and economic conditions, the inter-connectedness of the pressure which an aging population would exert on our country as a whole should not be underestimated, especially during the phase when identified secondary social stakeholders transit to primary social stakeholders. Primary stakeholders include: 1) Senior citizens Senior citizens are the very group of people to experience the most impact as their well-being is at stake. General concerns for these group of stakeholders include: Would the future generations be able to support the increasing proportion of senior citizens? Are infrastructure and public services elderly-friendly? Will the Singapore Government introduce more schemes and policies aimed at improving the situation? 2) Working Singaporeans As an ageing population increases demand for healthcare and other services, the financial pressure on Singaporeans rises too as the taxes they contribute to support these services increases. This decreases the income they bring home and directly affects their spending power. 3) Singapore Government With a shrinking workforce, a drop in the economic growth rate is inevitable. The government is responsible for the introduction of suitable policies to contain the situation. Besides, the government has to ensure that Singaporeans adopt an optimistic view on the matter and create nation-wide awareness on the impacts of an ageing population. Secondary stakeholders include: 1) Future generations Currently, the implications of an ageing population have yet to fully present themselves and the Singapore Government is absorbing most of the effects at current situation. However, if statistical studies prove right and the proportion of senior citizens to working Singaporeans increases, the effects would be more severe and Singaporeans would have to share the burden of supporting the ageing population in later years. Therefore, our future generations will also face the same negative effects of the ageing population that current Singaporeans face. 2) Businesses As Singapores population is growing older, there will be a relatively fewer number of people in the working sector. Businesses and organisations will be affected by the lack of young and skilled workers. As a result, additional funds may have to be spent on trainings to help the older workers master new skills. Furthermore, due to higher taxes burden on households,   purchasing power of individuals will decrease significantly. This will eventually affect the growth of businesses. The secondary stakeholders neither directly affected nor involved in the problem. Future generations have yet to be affected by the problem of ageing. When the situation worsens in future, our descendants will have to support their elders and will also be affected by higher taxes. They will subsequently become primary stakeholders. As we can see, large sections of the society are affected by this issue and will continue to be affected by the continuous increase of ageing population. Hence, immediate steps have to be taken in order to minimize the damages caused by this issue. Figure 1 (insert) The Implications Of An Aging Population Singapore has one of the highest proportions of elderly citizens in the world, and second only to Japan in South East Asia. (Suan Ee Ong, 2010). http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/reference/sif2012.pdf 1. Society The Declining Standards of an Individuals Health Research suggests that as individuals age, they are increasingly prone to numerous health risks. The risk of malnutrition heightens with age with 3 in 10 elderly at high risk. (http://www.asicluster3.com/blog_self/index.php?page=viewentryid=133)   As a person ages, problems like diabetes or parkinsons sets in, along with dietary restrictions. One can also expect an overall deteriorating quality of physical health. For instance, psychomotor skills deteriorate, resulting in stifled physical independence.   Osteoporosis, a disease in which causes the bones to become less dense affects large numbers of our elderly. Additionally, mental health starts deteriorating with the onset of illnesses like dementia and depression. As one ages, quality of health will undoubtedly follows a downward trend. Coupled with an increasing number of citizens aged 65 and above. this leads to a decrease in the standard of health over a period of time. This would in turn give rise to new industries and businesses revolving around health care, with niche specialisations in care for the aged. It is important for the society   to provide services that target the aged. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that not all of   the aged will be in need of health care services if society helped them lead an active lifestyle. Therefore, the population growth forecasted in future years, urban economic countries will lack the appeal to attract immigrants. (Kresl, Peter Karl Letri, Daniele (2010)) Being a small country with low birth rate, Singapore may face some challenges in attracting foreign talent to our city in future. Therefore, our society may face difficulties in employing a sufficiently skilled workforce to maximise output. Effects On Future Generations As the population ages, there will be an increasing demand for goods and services in the healthcare sector. A governments duty is to serve its people, and society as a whole would expect basic health care services to be provided. Consequently, there will be   increased pressure on the government to provide for health care. Monetary costs would be incurred and would be passed on to society in the form of increased taxes. With the dismal birth rates we see today (1.22 births per woman in 2011, down from 1.83 in 1990), tax burdens on future generations (who will then become primary social stakeholders) will only increase as time goes by. (Department of Statistics Singapore. (2012)) There is an inverse relationship between the dependency ratio (percentage of the population who are too old or too young to work) and birth rate of a country. Naturally, an increasing dependency ratio can be attributed   to a declining birth rate.   If the birth rate continues to stagnate or drop, the dependency ratio would only increase at a faster rate in the future. This translates into a heavier burden on the working population to maintain economic growth and to provide for dependent citizens. The Reverence of The Silver Generation to Society It is evident that the elderly exert a major influence on our social fabric. They carry with them the cultures, traditions and values that make our country what it is today. The hard work and time that they put in to raise educated, motivated and refined citizens of this generation is the reason why our country has reached this level of success. As the saying goes, with time comes wisdom. Therefore, the silver generation is much revered, and as per asian cultures, due respect and care should be given to them. As the elderly before us have served the country by contributing to it in various aspects, Singapores government should have a sense of filial piety to them. Since the government is a primary social stakeholder involved in the issue of an ageing population, it has introduced many government initiatives to solve arising problems. Summing Up To handle the implications of an aging population, we should seek to improve elderly standards of living and encourage them to contribute to society even at an age past retirement. The government should also take up initiatives to help senior citizens fit in and continue to be part of the workforce even at a ripe old age. 2. Businesses Due to the rapid growth of an ageing population, there are certain issues that may arise. Productivity Issues In Organisations A large proportion of senior citizens in a population indicates a decline in size of a productive workforce.   According to the UNs latest biennial population forecast, the median age for all countries will rise from 29 to 38 years by 2050. (SOURCE) We may safely assume that the dependency ratio will increase dramatically over the next few decades. Organizations looking to expand productivity would be reluctant to hire older workers. Those following a profit maximising model opine that it would be more cost efficient to hire younger workers due to their higher productivity. Additionally, during periods of recession, more often than not, older workers are among the top few in the retrenchment list. However, this contrasts   the fact that older workers bring with them a plethora of experience and wisdom, which can only be gained over time.   Despite cost inefficiency, it is unfair to be against the notion of hiring of older workers. Singapores government foresaw these issues and implemented new legislations to curb age discrimination at the workplace. As of 1 Jan 2012, under the Retirement and Re-employment Act (RRA), the statutory retirement age was set at 62, and companies have to offer re-employment contracts to workers up to the age of 65. http://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/employment-rights-conditions/retirement/Pages/retirement.aspx With these new initiatives, it can be seen that the government is indirectly engaging all business organisations through legislation. These businesses, which were once secondary social stakeholders, are now evolving into primary social stakeholders in this issue of an aging population. Increase In Demand For Health Care   Elderly-Specific Facilities Many countries, including Singapore, have been working towards providing better care, not just in clinics and hospitals, but also within the community and at home. To enhance accessibility for the elderly, the government has taken up many initiatives and projects to improve   living conditions for the elderly. For example, the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme implemented by Singapore government introduced slip-resistant bathrooms and even installed grab bars within flats. Other projects include life upgradation, building   of   barrier-free features such as ramps and the levelling of steps . In order to provide a more accessible healthcare services, the Singapore government has given more emphasis on home and community-based services, which include the expansion of social rehabilitative care places . More subsidies have also been introduced to support the poor and those from middle-income families.    The growing ageing   population has resulted in the growing demand for facilities and the expansion of subsidies which is putting great pressure on government. Government spending on health care is estimated to increase even further in the future   as more money is required to support new initiatives and expansion of the existing initiatives. There is also a need to hire more health professionals, for which more resources and funds are required. As a result, the allocation of the budget towards healthcare is expected to rise as related spending would increase to about twice by 2030. http://www.asiaone.com/Business/News/My+Money/Story/A1Story20080627-73309.html 3. Government Government policies not only have a positive impact on the lives of the elderly, but may also have a negative impact on businesses. Business owners may feel restricted by such employment policies and may decide to move out of Singapore. They may also stop supporting the government in the elections . The government relies heavily on taxes from small and large businesses for its sources of revenue. If these businesses were to change location or move out of Singapore due to restrictive policies, revenues would fall. A drop in revenue would mean that the government has less to spend on other facilities for its people. Furthermore, relocation of businesses would result in widespread loss of local jobs. The result is a higher dependency ratio, higher unemployment rate, less revenue for the government and the slowing down of the economy. Thus, the government should ensure that any policy related to ageing does not anger or upset the sentiments of various businesses and should keep in mind what is at stake. Summing Up Let us consider the repercussive chain of effects of aging population. Firstly the number of people in the workforce would drop, with a corresponding increase in the dependency ratio. This translates into a drop in output /productivity of individual businesses and the economy as a whole. As Singapores GDP is very dependant on both our import/export sectors and consumerism this could cause Singapores economy to go into a slowdown. One might argue that there would be an increase in the growth due to the consumption of more healthcare. However the drops in productivity would be greater than the increase in consumption of healthcare. Eventually, there will be an increased burden on the current workforce to maintain economic growth. Finally, if nothing is done, a vicious cycle commences, and future generations would find it increasingly difficult to provide for the previous generations and support the economy. (Picture Singapores indicator of ageing) Actions Taken By Singapores Government Singapores government recognises that the increase in the ageing population will lead to several consequences that will affect all sections of society, as well as the economy of the country. Hence, in order to support the older population, the government has put in place various policies and introduced new   schemes. In 2004, the government set up the Committee on Aging Issues. This committee comprised of   private and government representatives who came together to discuss issues related to ageing.   The recommendations for solutions related to these issues were presented in a report and were passed for implementation. They aimed at enhancing employability, improving healthcare facilities, promoting active lifestyles and financial independence. The government also aims at establishing concrete facts about our population and conducts frequent surveys to gauge the physical and mental health of seniors. It also identifies areas to improve the wellbeing of its citizens. (Reference: http://app1.mcys.gov.sg/Portals/0/Topic/Issues/EDGD/Brief%20on%20Ageing%20Population%20(Public).pdf) 1. Housing As seen from Figure 1 (Singapore: Indicators of Ageing), the proportion of Singaporeans aged 65 and above will significantly rise in the coming years. Hence, there is a need for the government to introduce schemes that provide adequate housing that caters to the needs of elderly such as their health, mobility and security, which is of utmost importance. Some schemes that the government introduced were the Multi-Generation Flats in 1987 and Granny Flats in 1991. However, they were not very well received. A more successful initiative was the implementation of Project LIFE ( Lift Improvement and Facilities Enhancement for Elderly). (Reference: http://asiaforum.tsaofoundation.org/pdfDownloads/Day1/D1_plenary/plenarySession_1/Housing%20developments%20for%20ageing%20population%20in%20Spore%20-%20yap%20chin%20beng.pdf) This proposal aims at creating lifts in Housing Development Board (HDB) flats so that every floor is serviced, for the convenience of the elderly and the handicapped. The government expects complete adoption of this plan in all HDB flats by 2014. In addition, integrated studio apartments were also incorporated into each housing block and came with spaces for social and communal gatherings. In the year 2011, the government introduced the idea of barrier-free housing environments which involved the building of handicap ramps and pathways to facilitate easy movement of wheelchairs. Therefore, continuous modification of housing landscapes aims at meeting the needs of citizens and to provide a comfortable shelter for each and every senior citizen. 2. Transport Public transport has also seen improvements and is somewhat more elder-friendly. In 2006, MRT stations were modified and made barrier free. Today, approximately forty percent of our buses are wheelchair accessible. 3. Encouraging re-employment Due to the negative impacts of ageing population on the workforce productivity, the government has seen the importance to tackle on this problem so as to sustain economic growth. Hence, the 2005 appointment of a Tripartite Committee (government, employers and trade union) on Employability of Older Workers by the Minister for Manpower addressed the issue by implementing several measures (Thang, L. (2011)). One of the measures is the the enactment of Retirement and Re-Employment Act (RRA) which was put into effect on 1 Jan 2012. The Tripartite Committee formed the Tripartite Implementation Workgroup to help employers carry out this initiative. In October 2007, the Tripartite Implementation Workgroup formed by the Tripartite Committee was to assist companies in the implementation of the re-employment measures. In order to further encourage the implementation of re-employment schemes for older workers, companies were given financial support of up to $400,000 for policies that were placed in line with the re-employment legislation. Workforce Development Agency also subsidized the re-training programmes that were put in place by employers. in addition, Continuing Education and Training (CET) master plan was launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Manpower to provide trainings for employees so that they will be equipped with skills that keep up with the pace of the fast-growing industries. While the government attempts to encourage re-employment of older workers, they have to ensure that younger employees and employers are willing to accept them. This is because older workers are generally perceived as unproductive and inflexible. Hence, measures have been put in place foster an age-friendly working environment. This is done by introducing national awards to acknowledge companies with the most progressive and unbiased practices. The Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP) has also put in place many guidelines to advocate on fairness and to discourage discrimination of the old-aged employees. (Thang, L. (2011)) Hence, by encouraging the older employees to continue working, and   by changing mindsets to accept older workers, Singapores workforce and output can be maintained at the current level of integrity. The Tripartite Implementation Workgroup was a relative success as by February 2009, 706 unionized companies have committed to re employment while 4650 workers over age 62 were re-employed by the end of 2008. (Thang, L. (2011)) 4. Ensuring financial stability for the aged Due to the decreasing fertility rate in Singapore, there will be a heavier financial burden on the future generations, and it is possible that the older generation may not be financially independent. The Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) Scheme was introduced in 2007 to ensure that Singaporeans will have sufficient savings for their retirement. This scheme encourages the older workers who are earning low-paying salary to continue working so that they can accumulate more CPF savings.   In order to supplement higher take-home pay and reduced CPF rates, the Government began to give elderly workers part of the WIS in cash so that they can afford for their basic needs. (Reference:http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/Gen-Info/Workfare.html) Furthermore, due to the increase in life expectancy, the government plans to increase the Minimum Sum Draw-Down age from 62 to 65 by the year 2018. There were also plans to introduce a longevity insurance scheme. This will ensure that CPF members can be assured of a basic income as long as they live. (Reference:http://app1.mcys.gov.sg/Portals/0/Summary/pressroom/03-2008.pdf) 5. Healthcare In face of the current trend that can be observed in Singapore, it is essential that healthcare services are improved to cater to the needs of the older population. Thus, the Ministry of Health introduced a Chronic Disease Management Programme which empowered physicians to adopt a holistic approach in the treatment of diseases. Furthermore, the ElderShield Scheme for the disabled was enhanced in 2007 to help increase affordability of medical services by paying $400 per month for up to 6 years. There was a 60% improvement from the previous scheme.    http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/costs_and_financing/schemes_subsidies/ElderShield.html In addition, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) are also conducting   a review of eldercare services aimed at bettering facilities such as daycare centres, rehabilitation centres and home help services . The concept of active ageing was developed by the European Commission in 2002. It brings forward the idea of higher retirement age and longer period of activity in the workforce. It has been proven that leading an active and directional life improves the overall well-being of an individual and helps keep illnesses and diseases at bay. Active ageing was introduced by the Singapore government in order to ensure self sufficiency of citizens after retirement. It established the Council for Third Age(C3A) in May 2007 to promote active ageing and fund community-based events related to active ageing. In addition, due to the increase in degenerative diseases that require expensive treatment, the concept of active ageing is gaining more importance. It is said that the cost of treatment for the older generation will cost two to three times more than that needed for the younger population. (Reference: http://www.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20071031-33327.html) What Does the Future Hold? Our population is ageing at a rate faster than in countries such as Australia, South Korea, UK and the USA. (ref first article in dropbox) . The number of citizens aged 65 and above will show a sevenfold increase by the year 2050. So what does this mean for our future? Firstly, our country will be more prone to external invasion. Presence of an ageing population is an indicator that our defense is weakening. We will have fewer young people to fill the ranks of the army, and fewer physically fit citizens to defend us in times of need. Our future and survival will be threatened. Secondly, economic growth will slow down. Singapore will no longer be seen as a hub of young, talented and competitive individuals by global MNCs. They may no longer want to invest and set up their offices here. Furthermore, with fewer individuals to pay income taxes, the government will have less money to spend on healthcare, infrastructure,etc. As a result, taxes will increase, leaving people less to spend on themselves and their family. The demand for healthcare services will rise, but will not be sufficiently subsidised by a government which does not have enough resources. Singapore is at the brink of entering a vicious cycle . If immediate short-term and long-term measures are not taken, we are bound to find ourselves moving backwards and reaching a rate of growth similar to what we had many decades ago. Our recommendations 1. Enhancing senior citizens value in the organization through empowerment In line with the re-employment policies the government has in place, we suggest that organizations create appointments and titles specially aimed at empowering senior citizens. They should ensure that   these creations are aligned with the capabilities of these senior citizens. Likewise, existing positions should   be modified according to their capabilities. The purpose of this   is to enhance their value and well-being in the workplace where they are often regarded as liabilities more than assets. With such initiatives, senior citizens will be able to perform better, with more flexibility and recognition within the organization. This also widens the operating structure of organizations, allowing for more variety of specialization. At the same time, organizations could tap into their experience and expertise, especially for crisis management and advisory roles. Even within the Singapore Cabinet, forefather Lee Kuan Yew is still actively involved in local politics at the age of 89 and the titles Minister Mentor and Senior Minister were specially created to continuously empower him. 2. Continuous active promotion of healthy aging from small communities Presently, Senior Citizens Executive Committees (SCECs) under the Peoples Association (PA), the largest senior citizens network in Singapore, organizes a wide variety of activities and courses aimed at enhancing senior citizens life experiences. They are usually conducted at a national level, and seldom reach out to the smaller communities. The government could engage Resident Committees (RCs) and Community Centres (CCs) in neighbourhoods to aid in promoting healthy aging. Subsidised or sponsored activities could be one alternative to attract senior citizens to actively exercise healthy aging. Constant awareness can be achieved through newsletters and pamphlets mailed to letterboxes. 3. Strengthening family ties It is important for our society to realise the value and importance of senior citizens. They should not be viewed as burdens; instead they should be seen as extraordinary citizens who brought us as well as our country to the position we are in today. Hence, it is expected that we, the younger generation, give them the deserved care and respect without any ulterior motive in mind. We feel that the indoctrination of these strong values should begin at a young age.   Special programmes should be introduced into schools in order to promote togetherness within the family. Children should be educated about the importance of elders in society and should be taught to always show them respect and kindness. The media can also play a role an important in this process by occasionally publishing articles that portray the elderly in a good light.