The Impact Of Green Supply Chain Management On Industry,...

Green Supply Chain Management In Automotive Production Stephanie C. Soutier College of Charleston Abstract This paper investigates the impact of green supply chain management on industry, consumer perception and environment. Through research into multiple companies and case studies, a distorted perception among large corporations shows a historic struggle to find a balance between profit and sustainability. However, the potential long-term effects of the lack of environmental courtesy cannot be undone and therefore must be carefully engineered. Multi-billion dollar automotive corporations such as Hyundai and Toyota will be discussed and studied in depth to conclude the innovative changes†¦show more content†¦Keywords: green supply chain, automotive sustainability, global impact Green Supply Chain Management In Efficient Business Practices The automotive industry changed the way that Americans purchased products when cars became an affordable luxury in the early 19th century. Not only did cars drastically reduce travel in daily life, they provided a gateway of possibilities for expanding business beyond carriage or foot travel. Due to the mass production assembly line strategy implemented by Henry Ford, cars could be produced quickly and efficiently. This dramatic shift in production dropped prices to the affordable level for the average American, which led to the establishment of buying on credit. The automotive industry provides economic growth and convenience in America and throughout the world – but this amenity comes at a great price to the environment. Throughout the entire life cycle of an automobile, carbon emissions and waste are produced. Although most believe that automobiles creates only carbon emissions when in use, the process begins negatively contributing to the environment long before and long after the life of the car. Additionally, the understanding and research related to carbon emissions from the use of gasoline-powered cars has provided consumers with an awareness of their effect on the environment. For some, this realization has prompted conservatory measures in vehicle use, utilizing public

Mutually Assured Destruction in Theory and Practice

By definition Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is a doctrine of military strategy in which full-scale use of nuclear weapons by both sides would effectively result in the destruction of both side. It is not a complicated concept. An elementary school child could understand that the two biggest kids in the class dont openly brawl because both would suffer unacceptable damage as well as put third parties in the danger of the crossfire. The concept of MAD is not the complicated part; it is everything else that pertains to it that has baffled policy makers and theorists for generations. Mutually Assured Destruction is a complex but precarious balance that dominated the Cold War Era. The stability can easily be disrupted by actions taken by†¦show more content†¦Credited with first use of the phrase assured destruction, McNamara did much to outline the dilemma that both the United States and the United Soviet Socialist Republic faced. Secretary McNamara proved to be highly influ ential on the Cold War, such as the Kennedy Administration actions on the Bay of Pigs Operation, (although it ended up backfired on the Administration). He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Security Counsel that advised President Kennedy on the Cuban Missile Crisis. He is famous for his Athens and Ann Arbor speeches in Greece and Michigan respectfully, which suggested picking military targets rather than cities, as well as indivisibility of control which stressed a united nuclear deterrent against the communist forces. The idea of a change in targets was however dropped when it was realized how difficult it would be to make it an effective strategy. 9 Central to the employment of mutually assured destruction as a military doctrine is a belief that neither side would attack for it would ensure its own death. This delicate balance exists only while conditions remain stable. 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MAD, States and International Law The most common phrase in the discourse on the threat of nuclear weapons is the infamous acronym MAD (mutually assured destruction). MAD is the primary principle as to why nuclear weapons are not the number one threat especially to the US, who have primacy over nuclear weapons. MAD was born out of the 1950s’ US doctrine of massive retaliation, and despite attemptsRead MoreComparison of the 1938 Munich Crisis and 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and the Role of Nuclear Arms2588 Words   |  11 Pages1945, shaped contemporary international relations. What makes the Cuban Missile Crisis fundamentally different was precisely because it occurred during nuclear age. This essay will outline some of the concepts such as deterrence, mutual assured destruction doctrine, and the concept of balance of terror to justify why the nuclear age has shaped events after World War II. The essay concludes by affirming the need to rethink and revisit the role of nuclear weapons in the 21st century. ComparisonRead MoreThe On Ai Should Not Make Things Worse Essay1697 Words   |  7 Pagesof AI weapons would inevitably lead to Mutually Assured Destruction. Take the Cold War for example; the nuclear arms race put practically the entire population of the planet on edge worrying about whether a nuclear bomb would wipe them out at any second. Therefore, establishing clear and concise laws would reinforce the idea of having rules allow the positive prosperity of AI instead of the negative ones, such as autonomous weapons, therefore making it mutually beneficial to everyone in the futureRead MoreMilitary Technology And Technological Advancements2082 Words   |  9 Pagesthrough a combination of firepower, mobility, and maneuver. Warfare has now transitioned to become the battle of wits, nerves, technology and tactics. Military thinkers developed new theories to integrate these technological advancements into the existing military setup. General Swinston and Colonel Fuller developed th eories that influenced development of the armored warfare. Early airpower theorists, Giulio Douhet, Billy Mitchel and Hugh Trenchard evolved different concepts for effective employment ofRead MoreThe Utility of Deterrence as a Central Nuclear Security Strategy6048 Words   |  24 Pagesis orders of magnitude larger than conventional weapons, and the eventual introduction of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) meant that during the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union were on the brink of mutual, possibly total destruction of the global population at any given time, a scenario that has never before existed in the human experience (Crouch et. al. 2009, p. 2-3). Granted, human beings have lived under the threat of mass extinction throughout their entire history, butRead MoreImpact Of Social Media On Society1443 Words   |  6 Pagessurgeon-only technique. Another glaring downfall, is that robotic-assisted surgery is not regulated by the FDA, and all of the training, a nd equipment upgrades, and certifications needed are issued by the producer, doctors, and facilities in which they practice. People must decide for themselves whether or not robotic or robotic-assisted surgery has cross the line from a personal procedure, to a cold, metal, electrical occurrence. Military technology has made tremendous strides in the past one hundred yearsRead MoreThe Nuclear Warfare And Weapons2178 Words   |  9 Pagesimpossible, so different theories and opinions on how nuclear weapons should be handled were formed. One main strategy, called deterrence, is the idea that the threat of destruction from nuclear weapons is so frightening that they, themselves can be used to discourage countries from using them or even going to war with each other. The other main strategy is called non-proliferation. This is the effort of destroying all nuclear weapons, thus destroying the chance of such mass destruction. This idea, whileRead MoreNuclear Weapons Should Be Handled2123 Words   |  9 Pagesimpossible, so different theories and opinions on how nuclear weapons should be handled were formed. One main strategy, called deterrence, is the idea that the threat of destruction from nuclear weapons is so frightening that they, themselves can be used to discourage countri es from using them or even going to war with each other. The other main strategy is called non-proliferation. This is the effort of destroying all nuclear weapons, thus destroying the chance of such mass destruction. This idea whileRead MoreThe Necessity to Swap Ethnic Profiling for Behavioral Profiling1718 Words   |  7 Pageswent â€Å"colorblind†, the southerners attempted to restore order through the lynching of blacks. As said by Lancaster in his Journal American Essentialism: White Supremacy and Collective Violence in the United States, â€Å"lynching had its genesis in the practice of judicial killing, so does the modern system of capital punishment have its origins in lynching†. Thus, the modern system of capital punishment descends from the southerners attempt to reconstitute the â€Å"social order upset by the ostensibly color-blind

Political Maharashtra Free Essays

Politics of Maharashtra After India’s independence, most of Maharashtra’s political history was dominated by the Indian National Congress party. Maharashtra became a bastion of the Congress party producing stalwarts such as Yashwantrao Chavan, Vasantdada Patil, Shankarrao Chavan, Vasantrao Naik, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sharad Pawar. The party enjoyed near unchallenged dominance of the political landscape until 1995 when the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured an overwhelming majority in the state to form a coalition. We will write a custom essay sample on Political Maharashtra or any similar topic only for you Order Now After a split in the Congress party, former chief minister Sharad Pawar formed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), but formed a coalition with the Congress to keep out the BJP-SS combine. Prithviraj Chavan of Congress party is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Maharashtra, 1960-1971 Establishment of the State : In 1956 the Bombay State ceded Kannada-speaking territory to Mysore, but gained Marathwada (Aurangabad Division) from Hyderabad State and Vidarbha (Amravati and Nagpur Divisions) from Madhya Pradesh Berar. In 1960, Bombay State was split into the States of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Administration : From 1962 to 1979 Maharashtra was administrated by an Indian National Congress (INC) led government Annals : 1960 : Bombay State split into Gujarat and Maharashtra; Bombay capital of Maharashtra, Marathi provincial language 1960 : Nagpur Pact; Nagpur (Vidarbha) elevated to second capital of Maharashtra; legislative assembly meets here for two weeks in December every year 1961 : communal violence in Nagpur (BBoY 1962) 962 : state election; INC formed government 1966 : communal incidents in Maharashtra (BBoY 1967) 1966 : Shiv Sena (SHS), Maharashtra Hindu party, founded 1967 : state election; INC formed government 1968 : Hindu-Muslim riots in Aurangabad and Nagpur (BBoY 1969) 1969 : India’s first nuclear power station at Tarapur became operational (BBoY 1970) Social History : In 1961 the population of Maharashtra was 39. 9 million, in 1971 50. 3 million. The Statesman’s Yearbook, based on the census of 1971, gives the literacy rate for Maharashtra in 1971 as 39. %; in 1961 80. 2 % of the population were Hindus, 7. 6 % Muslims, 7 % Buddhists. Government, Politics and Judiciary Maharashtra is one of the most advanced states in India, the second most populated state and the third largest state in India. The government, politics and judiciary of Maharashtra is quite similar to those of the other states. The state of Maharashtra is governed by the Governor and the Chief Minister. The Governor is the nominal head of the state and the Chief Minister is the Head of the government. He is the head of the political party which has the maximum number of seats in the State Legislative Assembly. The State Legislative Assembly is also known as the Vidhan Sabha and it is situated in the capital city of Maharashtra, Mumbai. The Chief Minister has all the executive powers which he can execute taking the advice of his council of ministers. The government of Maharashtra is aided by a bicameral parliament, the lower house and the upper house – the Vidhan Sabha and the Vidhan Parishad. At present the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is Vilasrao Deshmukh from the Congress Party. The political party which holds the maximum number of seats in the Vidhan Sabha at present is the NCP which had formed the government with a coalition with the Congress. The state of Maharashtra has been nominated 19 seats in the Rajya Sabha and 48 in the Lok Sabha. Commissions : The four commissions of the government of Maharashtra are the State Election Commission, Maharashtra Public Service Commission, Union Public Service Commission, and Staff Selection Commission. These commissions have been formed to fulfill certain special responsibilities such as conducting exams which are related to government jobs. The State Election Commission: has the responsibility of taking care of the election chores in the state. There is a state election commissioner who is appointed on the basis of certain qualifications. Maharashtra Public Service Commission: the MPSC consists of examinations which are scheduled for the posts of Judges of the Co – Operative courts, Assistant Director, Special District Social Welfare Officer, Medical Officer. This commission fixes the dates of the examinations, the syllabus for the examination, the schedule for the interview and other details in connection with the examinations. Union Public Service Commission: the most important function of the Union Public Service Commission is the recruitment of services through written examinations and interviews, advising the state government on the recruitment of personnel, disciplinary functions, other miscellaneous functions regarding pensions and reimbursements of legal expenses. Staff Selection Commission: he function of the Staff Selection Commission of the Maharashtra government is to select staff of the Group B and technical staff of the Group C in the Ministries or Departments, Government of India offices, Election Commission and the Central Vigilance Commission. The Commission is responsible for formulation of policies which might assist in conducting the examination smoothly. Government Departments : Maharashtra government is dedicated tow ards serving the citizens and for that purpose it has delegated the responsibility to the various departments of the government. Each department takes care of the different needs of the inhabitants. Apart from the government departments, the government of Maharashtra is assisted by the Boards and Corporations in the fulfillment of its duty. The Government Departments and their functions are: Agriculture Department Co-operation Department Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) Directorate of Technical Education, Maharashtra Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) Employment and Self Employment Department, Maharashtra Finance Department, Maharashtra Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department Forest Department Home Department Irrigation Department Public Works Department (PWD) Vidhan Sabha : The Vidhan Sabha of Maharashtra is the lower house or the House of the People. The total strength of the House is 289 members and the term of office for the members is five years. Under unusual conditions the House may be dissolved. It consists of members who are directly elected by the people of Maharashtra. There are certain qualifications required to be the member of the Vidhan Sabha which are: To be a citizen of India To be not less than 25 years of age To be mentally sound and not bankrupt To have an affidavit of not having any criminal procedures against him. Mumbai High Court : The highest body of the Maharashtra judiciary is the Bombay High Court under which there are the Subordinate Courts which serve the districts and the City Civil Courts. The Bombay High Court can exercise original jurisdiction over the state of Maharashtra, Goa, Daman and Diu. It has benches in the cities of Bombay, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Panaji in Goa. The Bombay High Court can exercise both original and appellate jurisdiction in Bombay. The Bombay High Court can have maximum of 64 judges. The judiciary of the state of Maharashtra offers legal aid services in all its benches. The Lokayuktas and the Upa – Lokayuktas form the subordinate courts of Maharashtra. the benches of the Bombay High Court in the cities also serve as the subordinate courts in the state. Other than that there is the Maharashtra State Legal Services and Authority department which provides all the necessary information about the important names and contact numbers related to the judiciary services. Maharashtra Politics : Current Scenario India is the biggest democratic country in the world. Indian democracy provides the right of vote to its citizens to elect the government of their choice after every period of five years. However, some times unfortunately the situation rises when the ruling government looses majority in the house and vote of non-confidence is passed by the opponent party, and if the ruling party is not able to win the vote of non-confidence the house has to under go the mid-term elections. This situation may rise at the Lok Sabha in centre or at Vidhan Sabha or State Assembly in state. The major political parties dominating Indian Politics from the last few decades have been Indian National Congress and Bhartiya Janta Party besides them there are various regional parties at state level which play an influencing role in the political scenario. These parties however do not have their threshold in whole country but they have their impact on the politics at state level. These parties are the ruling parties in some of the states and in some states they act as an alliance of the party in rule. The politics of Maharashtra is not an exception to it where apart from the two major political parties i. e. , Indian How to cite Political Maharashtra, Essay examples

Child Pornography On Internet Essay Example For Students

Child Pornography On Internet Essay In this new age of Information, the Internet has made all types of informationreadily available. Some of this information can be very useful, some can bemalicious. Child pornography, also known as Paedophilia is one of theseproblems. Any one person can find child pornography on the internet with just afew clicks of the mouse using any search engine. Despite webmasters and lawenforcement officials efforts to control child pornography and shut downillegal sites, new sites are posted using several ways to mask their identity. The Internet provides a new world for curious children. It offers entertainment,opportunities for education, information and communication. The Internet is atool that opens a window of opportunities. As Internet use grows, so do therisks of children being exposed to inappropriate material, in particular,criminal activity by paedophiles and child pornographers. Many children firstcome in contact with the Internet at a very young age. Some children becomevictims of child pornography through close relatives who may have abused them. Some children become involved with chat services or newsgroup threads. It isusually through these sites that they meet child pornographers. Children may beasked to send explicit pictures of themselves taken either by a digital cameraor scanned from a polaroid. The pornographer will then post the pictures ontheir web site, sometimes hiding them through encryption, steganography orpassword protecting them using a javascript or applet. Certain efforts have beenmade to control child pornography through legislation. In 1977 the SexualExploitation of Children Act was put into Legislation. (U.S. Code : Title 18,Section 2251-2253) The law prohibits the use of a minor in the making ofpornography, the transport of a child across state lines, the taking of apornographic picture of a minor, and the production and circulation of materialsadvertising child pornography. It also prohibits the transfer, sale, purchase,and receipt of minors when the purpose of such transfer, sale, purchase, orreceipt is to use the child or youth in the production of child pornography. Thetransportation, importation, shipment, and receipt of child pornography by anyinterstate means, including by mail or computer, is also prohibited. The ChildProtection Act of 1984 (U.S. Code : Title 18, Section 2251-2255) defines anyoneyounger than the age of 18 as a child. Therefore, a sexually explicit photographof anyone 17 years of age or younger is child pornography. On November 7, 1986,the U.S. Congress enacted the Child Sexual Abuse and Pornography Act (U.S. Code: Title 18, Section 2251-2256) that banned the production and use ofadvertisements for child pornography and included a provision for civil remediesof personal injuries suffered by a minor who is a victim. It also raised theminimum sentences for repeat offenders from imprisonment of not less than twoyears to imprisonment of not less than five years. On November 18, 1988, theU.S. Congress enacted the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act (U .S. Code : Title 18, Section 2251-2256) that made it unlawful to use a computer totransmit advertisements or visual depictions of child pornography and itprohibited the buying, selling, or otherwise obtaining temporary custody orcontrol of children for the purpose of producing child pornography. On November29, 1990, the U.S. Congress enacted US Code : Title 18, Section 2252 making it afederal crime to possess three or more depictions of child pornography that weremailed or shipped in interstate or foreign commerce or that were produced usingmaterials that were mailed or shipped by any means, including by computer. Withthe passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, it is a federal crime foranyone using the mail, interstate or foreign commerce, to persuade, induce, orentice any individual younger than the age of 18 to engage in any sexual act forwhich the person may be criminally prosecuted. The Child Pornography PreventionAct of 1996 amends the definition of child pornography to inclu de that whichactually depicts the sexual conduct of real minor children and that whichappears to be a depiction of a minor engaging in sexual conduct. Computer,photographic, and photocopy technology is amazingly competent at creating andaltering images that have been morphed to look like children eventhough those photographed may have actually been adults. People who alterpornographic images to look like children can now be prosecuted under the law. .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f , .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f .postImageUrl , .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f , .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f:hover , .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f:visited , .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f:active { border:0!important; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f:active , .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf4a0caf91cf49580b9c6408805a6aa7f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Thomas Hobbes Essay ThesisAbstracts for these laws can be found at http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/. The current legislation in place at the federal and state level clearly defineschild pornography, and the standard sentencing for offenders. It also clearlydefines a minor and what activity involving a minor is illegal. What thelegislation does not do is set the standards for retreival of evidence from anelectronic device, namely computers. Also, the current legislation does not setstandards for decrypting child pornography that is protected. One example is theuse of Steganography. Steganography uses a bitstream algorithm to hideinformation in the form of raw binary code within other files suitable to holdinformation. The most commonly used form of Steganography uses the leastsignificant bit of a bitmap image to store virtually any type of information. Every three bytes in a bitmap file represents a pixel. Each of these bytesrepresents a level of red, blue or green. Since there are eight bits in a byte,there can be up to 256 different combinations of 1s and 0s in a single byte. In the case of a bitmap, each unique combination of 1s and 0s represents alevel of red, blue or green. When the colors are combined, there is thepossibility of 256^3 or 4,294,967,296 different colors. In order to hideinformation within a bitmap file, the file in which you want to hide must becopied bit for bit into the last bit of each byte in the bitmap file. This willchange each pixel of the bitmap file at the most by 1 / 2,097,152, depending onwhether the bit being copied is the same as the bit it is replacing. Since thehuman eye can only physically distinguish between an average of 250 differentcolors, a difference of 1 / 2,097,152 is indistinguishable. Since only one bitof the target bitmap is being used to store information, the source file can atmost be 1/8 of the size of the target file. In the case of a bitmap, a highresolution picture can easily hold a lower resolution picture that may containchild pornography. Legally, if a bitmap image is found to contain a hidden imageus ing steganography, there is no legal procedure for extracting that evidencefor a court case. The prosecution would have to somehow explain howsteganography works to a jury, and to the judge, and would have to prove in someway that the information found did in fact come from that bitmap file. Currently, evidence found in this manner is inadmissible in court because thereis no legislation dealing with this type of evidence. Also, there is no standardapproved software that will decode these files. There are several softwareprograms readily available on the internet which will encode or decodeinformation using the least significant bit algorithm. One example is calledHide and Seek. Anyone can obtain this software free of charge, making it easyfor child pornographers to hide their work. Another problem is illicit materialthat is stored on a remote computer. If the perpetrator of child pornographydoes not own the computer that the material is stored on, it would be difficultfor law enforcement officials to obtain a warrant to search a third partyscomputer. Also, there is currently no legislation that defines what space an amachine belongs to a specific do.

2016 Republican Presidential Power Rankings

2016 Republican Presidential Power Rankings (Rankings Updated 1/25/2016) These rankings are not based exclusively - or even heavily - on polling data, but instead on a combination of factors including debate performances, favorability ratings, evidence of momentum, and general campaign activity. Who will move up, down, or out of this these rankings moving forward? OFF: Paul, Huckabee, Pataki, Santorum, Carly Fiorina 7. Ben Carson (Previous: 5) - Carson is just in a free-fall right now and he appears to be putting all of his eggs in Iowa. Though he had strong poll numbers, his support levels were always soft in regards to those who were definitely voting for him. They seem to have gravitated towards Cruz for the time being. Carson is still popular enough to do some damage in Iowa, but his dreams of being a legitimate contender seem over. 6. Jeb Bush (Previous: 6) - Just about everybody has written off the 100-Million-Dollar-Man, and he has outspent opponents big time with nothing to show for it. Has Jeb had a single good moment in 6 months?   His message gets lost in constant word stumbles and poor phrasing. On a stage of smooth-talkers, his ineloquence is becoming a liability. This was supposed to be the shock-and-awe campaign that scared everyone away. The opposite happened. What the polling data shows is that Jeb better find a way to start getting Republicans to really like him. Much of Trumps appeal seems to be that everyone is afraid Jeb will get the nomination. But thats starting to seem far less likely. 5. Chris Christie (Previous: 4) - Before the debate, I said this: He still has some Northeastern appeal, but he would need Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, and John Kasich to have serious meltdowns. Jeb Bush his flailing, and Christie probably had the 3rd best showing at the 3rd debate. Christie is a great talker, and he is reminding us of when he was a favorite a few short years ago. But there are probably still too many negatives to imagine him pulling this off. But he could spoil some things for Rubio in New Hampshire. 4. John Kasich (Previous: 8) - Kasich feels like he was plucked out of central casting as a 1990s-era Presidential candidate. Hes definitely the kind of moderate, boring candidate that the GOP is known for nominating. He has gone all-in in New Hampshire, a geographically-friendly state. He could end up second there and be the establishment pick. 3. Marco Rubio (Previous: 1) - Rubio loses the top spot and we no longer think he has the best odds at winning the nomination. His plan to surge with the help of high-powered endorsements has not materialized a week out from Iowa, and he remains in a distant third place in Iowa and in a jumble for distant second in New Hampshire. I received the endorsement of the Des Moines Register, but his lack of a lane - hes neither establishment nor anti-establishment - seems to have left him in neutral with no core base. 2. Ted Cruz (Previous: 2) - Cruz was finally forced to go after Trump after a long political bromance, but it may be too little to late, as he is a very distant second everywhere (except Texas). If anything, his actions gave Trump more power than he would otherwise have and talk radio and conservative media never had to choose between the duo. Cruz strategy of not attacking Trump was almost exclusively reliant on having the establishment do it for him, and frankly they have refused to do so. When Cruz did pivot, he simply did not get enough anti-establishment leaders to move to him from Trump. 1. Donald Trump (Previous: 2) - Trump remains an incoherent mess and, magically, 10 points ahead or more just about everywhere. The mainstream and conservative media are fueling his campaign, and he picked up an endorsement from Sarah Palin. Nobody dealt with him seriously from the start, and now he may be unstoppable. In the first debate, he praised socialized medicine and bragged about his role in buying off politicians for business favors. He threatened to run as a 3rd party candidate for leverage, and then doubled-down on his theory that the Mexican government was intentionally sending criminals across the border. In the second debate, Carly Fiorina got the better of him time and time again, and Trump continued to show absolutely no interest in developing policy positions. Does he have any campaign infrastructure? Does he really think people believe he is going to self-fund a billion dollar campaign? I long assumed that those pushing Trump would eventually pivot away to Cruz, and now that we are 1 weeks away that has not happened. (But we think this has more to do with Cruz not seizing the opportunity.) Until someone actually does damage to Trump, or unless Talk Radio backs away, hes the one to beat.

CCTV and Crime Reduction

CCTV and Crime Reduction The Role of CCTV Surveillance Systems in Reducing Crime in Town Centres Introduction The use of closed – circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems to curtail burgeoning crime rates in the United Kingdom has resulted in the rapid proliferation of such systems in almost all town centres in the country, making it practically ubiquitous. This system was first established in Bournemouth town centre in 1985 and according to Armstrong and Norris (1999), following that 300000 cameras where installed annually (cited by Davies Thasen, 2000). Consequently, †¦the citizenry of the UK have become the most watched, catalogued and categorized people in the advanced world (Coleman, 2004, p. 3). The rapid proliferation of CCTV is largely on account of the faith reposed in its ability to reduce crime by the government and the majority of its citizens. In the words of Alun Michael, Minister of State: The advantages of CCTV, properly managed, speak for themselves: crime prevention, the deterrent effect of knowing that there is observation, the alerting of police at an early stage to stop dangerous situations escalating, the operational assistance to the police in sizing up a situation, the safer convictions that can be obtained – and, above all, the fact that peoples confidence is renewed, which has led to many town centres being revitalized (cited by Goold, 2004, p. 1). Despite such overwhelming enthusiasm, critics have pointed out that there is little concrete scientific evidence that proves the positive effect of CCTV surveillance systems in reducing crime. Therefore an evaluation of the exact role of CCTV in reducing crime in town centres is called for as it will provide a comprehensive analysis of the existing situation and help ascertain the future of such systems in the fight against crime. CCTV Surveillance Systems These systems usually consist of cameras with monitors and video recorders. The cameras may be fixed or they may literally have a roaming eye. Nowadays, cameras have sophisticated features like pan, tilt and zoom which may be used as per the need. Images may thus be captured and stored and retrieved anytime in the future. The quality of the equipment used is a chief determinant of efficiency and outcomes. It also follows that the more cameras are used the more security is afforded, as a larger area comes under scrutiny. Positioning is also important in providing maximum security. All these factors need to be taken under consideration while installing the CCTV surveillance system. The efficient working of these systems is subject to variations. Sometimes the cameras are allowed to do the job as everything will be recorded and particular incidents can be viewed based on the offences that have been perpetrated. At other times surveillance takes place round the clock and the monitored im ages are viewed constantly by hired staff or police operators. When incidents of crime are reported, police are able to rush to the scene as quickly as possible, and they will have access to pertinent information that will enable them to narrow down the list of suspects and give them a head start on the investigation. In this respect, Gill and Hemming (2006) stress the importance of planning and design for purposes of maximum efficiency. The positioning of the cameras is vital, and it should be such that it allows for maximum coverage of the area that is under surveillance. Due considerations must be given to lighting as otherwise, images are likely to be blurred and grainy making positive identification extremely difficult. The manner in which the system is operated also determines outcomes. Operators must be trained to extract the best possible results from such a system and the element of human fallibility must be taken into consideration and sufficient measures must be taken to counter it. CCTV and Crime CCTV came to be closely associated with crime following the infamous James Bulger murder case (cited by Goold, 2004; Newburn Hayman 2002; Coleman Norris, 2000). CCTV had captured images of the toddler being led away by ten – year olds Thompson and Venables and in the aftermath of the killing the images sent shockwaves rippling through the world and strengthened the position of CCTV as a crime fighting tool. The images did little to prevent the heinous crime but it did prove useful in identifying the perpetrators. For the first time government officials as well as the majority of the populace sensed that CCTV could be a powerful weapon against crime. And the muted arguments against its use on the grounds of civil liberty and a right to privacy were silenced. Before evaluating the effectiveness of CCTV in reducing crime, it is necessary to understand the theory behind its use. According to Weiss, one of the types of crime prevention has particular relevance with regard to the use of CCTV – Primary Crime Prevention is focussed on the offence rather than the offender, and is often associated with situational crime prevention strategies which focus on the immediate and localised context of the offence (cited by Coleman Norris, 2000, p. 146). This type of crime prevention is based on rational choice theory and assumes that the individuals most likely to commit crimes are the ones who believe that they can get away with it. Thus by employing CCTV, the confidence of aspiring criminals is shaken as they are cognizant of the fact that they may be apprehended or they may feel the   cameras are watching their every move , and are loathe to risk capture and consequently they may refrain from committing the crime. Criminal recklessness is r eplaced by fear. As Tilley (1993) puts it, CCTV could reduce crime by increasing the likelihood that present offenders will be caught, stopped, removed, punished and therefore deterred (cited by Gill Spriggs, 2005, p. 7). Thus when used in this particular context, CCTV seeks to reduce the opportunity to commit crime and thereby deter the potential criminal, by increasing the chances of getting caught. Situational prevention can also cause a reduction of crime, by means of diffusion of benefits. According to Clarke and Weisburd (1994), The term refers to the fact that situational prevention can often bring about reductions in crime beyond the immediate focus of the measures introduced (cited by Clarke, 2005, p. 52). This additional benefit was demonstrated with regard to the use of CCTV in a case described by Poyner (1991), where CCTV cameras used to prevent theft in the car park at the University of Surrey not only reduced theft in the three areas being monitored, but in one not under surveillance (cited by Clarke, 2005, p.52). Considerable publicity was generated for CCTV surveillance systems following the identification and successful capture of dangerous criminals. CCTV footage helped in the capture of two men who had planted a bomb outside the Harrod’s department store in London (cited by Coleman Norris, 2000, p.150). In another highly publicised case, another London bomber was identified using images captured on CCTV (cited by Norris, 2003, p. 260). These cases served as examples for other criminals and served to deter them to an extent. Because of the large – scale installation of CCTV in town – centres everywhere, more effort had to go into planning crimes and to escape the watchful eye of the camera. Moreover, people tended to be more cautious and stick to areas under surveillance in order to decrease their vulnerability as victims. People also started to feel more secure in their newly protected environments. All these factors served to deter criminals at least theoretically a nd offered a positive scope for reducing crime. The Effectiveness of CCTV in Reducing Crime The theoretical possibilities for CCTV as a means of reducing crime appeared optimistic, however with regard to practical application the use of CCTV has fallen far short of expectations. Brown conducted a study on the use of CCTV in the town centres of Newcastle, Birmingham and Kings Lynn. According to Goold (2004, p. 37), He â€Å"concluded that CCTV is generally much more effective at reducing property – related crime than it is at combating problems associated with anti – social behaviour and public order†. It must be conceded that CCTV does help the police in gathering evidence but as a deterrent to crime it is something of a failure. Hardened criminals can easily work their way around the surveillance, by simply altering their appearance, preventing the camera from getting a good shot of their face or relying on the operators to notice nothing untoward or suspicious. The latter is a good possibility as most operators find continuous monitoring of the screen s a monotonous and trying chore and are likely to be slipshod in their task. Thus Brown’s study is discouraging with regard to the use of CCTV in town centres as a means of reducing crime. While many have pointed to the use of CCTV as a means of providing security and a feeling of safety to citizens who fear the rising rates of crime, the role of CCTV in actually alleviating fear is questionable. In fact, contemporary studies have concluded that there is little evidence to suggest that CCTV reduces fear of crime or crime itself (Gill Spriggs, 2005).   People who were unafraid in the first place are likely to report that they are not scared, while others continue to feel threatened. It may even have the counter effect of exacerbating fear and contributing to the waves of panic that often grip the populace, following particularly gruesome crimes. The cameras take on a menacing air as they stand tribute to the rising rates of crime and the perceived helplessness of the police. As Ellin (1996) puts it, increased CCTV surveillance can also contribute to accentuating fear by increasing paranoia and distrust among people (cited by Fyfe Bannister, 1998, p. 256). This perva sive atmosphere of paranoia and ill – feeling is itself conducive to crime as it serves to ferment   all the noxious elements that facilitate it. A study conducted in the town centre of Sutton by Sarno (1995) was initially encouraging (cited by Fyfe and Bannister, 1998, p. 262) as it showed a reduction in crime rate by 20 per cent in the two months following the installation of CCTV. But unfortunately it was revealed that crime had merely been displaced to areas that were not under surveillance. This finding is particularly disturbing as it seems to imply that CCTV surveillance systems merely give the impression of reducing crime, while indirectly leading to its increase under a false cover of security. While displacement is one of the problems that stems from the use of CCTV, it does not always occur and it can be countered by undertaking suitable measures. It is believed that CCTV surveillance is invaluable to the criminal investigator, as it is possible to identify perpetrators from the video footage. However the actual procedure is far more complicated and calls for plenty of man – power, entails hours and hours of sifting through multitudes of videotapes and finally careful analysis of the footage is called for before the identity of the criminal can be established. This is painstaking labour and often, owing to the amount of time that elapses in the course of the procedure, the criminal remains loose on the street, and is at liberty to wreak havoc on innocent citizens. Furthermore in recent times it has been determined that the cumbersome process of identification using CCTV is susceptible to error and inaccuracy. According to Davies and Thasen (2000, p. 412), a series of studies by Bruce and colleagues has reported high rates of failure to identify targets from CCTV footage. Consequently, convictions secured solely on the b asis of CCTV footage have been questioned. This was apparent in the case of R versus Church (1995), reported by Braman (1999), where   the accused was convicted on the strength of the physical resemblance between him and the suspect caught on tape. Experts in image processing were able to overturn the verdict during the appeal. At the retrial the experts for the prosecution once again succeeded in getting a conviction (cited by Davies Thasen, 2000, p. 424). Thus such legal wrangling reduces the credibility of CCTV in securing convictions and thereby reducing crime. Some studies pertaining to the role of CCTV in reducing crime have yielded positive results. Armitage et al (1999) found a sustained reduction of crime rates by 25 per cent   in Burnley; moreover, there was no sign of displacement (cited by Coleman Norris, 2000, p. 167).   Similarly Short and Ditton (1995) reported a 21 per cent decrease in crime at Airdrie and again there was no evidence of displacement (cited by Coleman Norris, 2000, p. 167). Studies such as these reveal that with proper implementation CCTV surveillance systems may prove to be effective in reducing crime. But in light of the majority of studies showing ambiguous or downright negative results, the role of CCTV in fighting crime remains questionable. While the effectiveness of CCTV in reducing crime in town centres may be deemed a failure, it remains a fact that CCTV surveillance is more effective under particular circumstances than in others. In general crimes which occur at the spur of the moment that are prompted by violent outbursts of passion or fuelled by excess alcohol are less likely to be reduced than crimes that are planned with any degree of precision. Consequently it is harder for this system to actually reduce violence but crimes such as theft may be deterred. According to Gill and Hemming (2006, p. 35), impulse crimes such as alcohol – related crimes were less likely to be reduced than premeditated crime such as theft. Violence against the person rose and theft of motor vehicles fell in the majority of projects. Thus there is scope for CCTV to serve effectively in the fight against crime, in certain contexts. Conclusion CCTV may not be able to reduce crime or even deter criminals; however it may used effectively to target specific offences. There is no doubt that it is a powerful and innovative weapon in the police arsenal and it may be employed to monitor town centres and help in controlling crime and upholding the letter of the law.

TThe Principle of Non-Rrefoulement at SEA and the Effectiveness of Essay

TThe Principle of Non-Rrefoulement at SEA and the Effectiveness of Asylum Protection - Essay Example Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights grants the right of seeking and enjoying asylum from persecution in other countries (Thomas 2011, p. 71). The principle reflects the dedication of the international community to guarantee enjoyment of human rights to all persons, including the rights to life, inhuman punishment or treatment, freedom from torture, and security of person. These rights and other rights may be endangered upon returning a refugee to danger or persecution (Andreas 2011, p. 1109). The observance of the principle of non-refoulement relates to the determination of refugee status. Arrangements or procedures for refugee identification should offer a guarantee against refoulement by ensuring that individuals entitled to protection receive it. Such arrangements or procedures are vital when a country receives both migratory movements and asylum-seekers. Respect of this principle may be most effectively ensured if claims to asylum and to refugee status are det ermined expeditiously and substantively (Bimal 2003, p. 23). However, sea-borne migration is alleged as a problem or a hassle by destination countries despite the refugees in awful need of protection. In some cases, countries deny refugees through invoking security concerns to refuse protection and justify the removal or non-admittance of refugees. Arrivals through the sea of asylum-seekers challenge the interpretation and application of the principle of non-refoulment and the existing regulations related to liberty and the safety of navigation. During the Vietnam War, from 1950s to 1970s, there were arrivals of several Vietnamese irregular immigrants to the coasts of neighboring countries. While dealing with these arrivals, the international community noted there was a gap in the international law. The law had no effective and useful instruments to deal with immigrants at sea, particularly with the asylum-seekers (Agnes 2009, p. 204). The key problems that remain include the identi fication of the rights and duties of the concerned states in different marine zones. This is with exceptional regard to the organization and administration of search and rescue operations at sea (Agnes 2009, p. 206). Another essential issue has been the question of whether the resolutions of countries to refuse the entry permission into their territories are lawfully limited. This question occurred mainly in relation to the handling of refugees and asylum-seekers, especially among the immigrants, with regard to the principle of non-refoulment. The exercise of sovereign powers in the different marine zones, pursuant to the customary international law and law of the sea, present challenges in the application of the principle of non-refoulment and the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers at sea (Schmitt, McCormack & Louise 2011, p. 544). Article 21(1) of the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) provides that the sovereignty of a coastal country extends beyond i ts internal waters and land territory. The article also defines archipelagic waters of an archipelagic country as the territorial sea. This maritime zone cannot exceed 12 nautical miles. The only exception to the exclusive authorities of the coastal country in its territorial sea contains the right of innocent passage. The coastal state shall not hinder the innocent passage of foreign vessels through the territorial sea, but it may regulate the passage conditions in the fields listed in article 2(1). An example is inter alia,