Introduction To Disaster Management Environmental Sciences Essay

Catastrophes are seen as the consequence of jeopardies on vulnerable countries. Hazards that occur in countries with low exposure do non ensue in a catastrophe. Great harm, loss, devastation and desolation to life and belongings are the consequences of Disasters. The unmeasurable harm caused by catastrophe varies with the geographical location. In the concerned countries catastrophes have the undermentioned effects: It wholly upsets the normal twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours life. Detrimentally carry the exigency systems Depending on the strength and badness of the catastrophe the normal demands and procedures are severely affected and deteriorated. Catastrophes are the consequence of jeopardy on vulnerable or defenceless countries. Hazards that occur in countries with low exposure do non ensue in a catastrophe.1.1.2 Types of Catastrophes:Catastrophes can be classified as: Natural catastrophe Human-Made catastrophe1 ) Natural Catastrophes:Natural catastrophes are the consequence of biological, geological, seismal, hydrologic or meteoric conditions. They are a menace to, people, constructions and economic assets Few illustrations are: Earthquake Cyclones Hurricanes Floods Landslides2 ) Human-Made Catastrophes:Human-made catastrophes are Emergency state of affairss which are the consequences of calculated human actions. They involves state of affairss in which people suffers casualties, losingss of basic services and agencies of support. Few illustrations are: Oil Spill An aeroplane clang War Civil discord Major fire1.1.3 Difference between EMERGENCY and DISASTERstate of affairss:A state of affairs in which community is CAPABLE of get bying is EMERGENCY. Emergency state of affairss are generated by a existent happening of events that require immediate attending of exigency resources. A state of affairs in which community is INCAPABLE of get bying is DISASATER. Catastrophe state of affairss are natural or human-caused events which causes terrible negative impact on community.1.2 WHAT IS A HAZARD?1.2.1 Definition:Hazard is a opportunity or possibility of being injured or harmed. OR Hazard is the possibility of puting yourself unfastened to loss or bad luck. Hazards can be classified into two Manners: Dormant Mode Active Mode1 ) Dormant Mode:The state of affairs that has the possible to be risky, but no people, or environment is presently affected by this. For illustration: An unstable hillside, has a potency for a landslide but there is nil below or on the hillside that could be affected.2 ) Active Manner:An incident in which jeopardy has really occurred, making an Emergency state of affairss or Catastrophes.Categorization of Hazards:Hazard can besides be classified as: Natural Hazard Man-made HazardNatural Hazard:Definition: These jeopardies are caused by a natural procedure. Examples of some Natural jeopardies are: 1 ) Volcanic Volcanic eruptions: Ashs and different toxic gases are expelled through vents from deep inside the Earth 2 ) Droughts: A portion of a land suffers from deficiency of rain during specific period of clip which causes terrible harm to the harvests, dirt, animate beings and people besides. 3 ) Tsunami: Very big moving ridges which caused by an Earthquake, Volcanic eruptions knocks into a shore.1.2.4 Man-made Hazard:Definition: These jeopardies are created by worlds. Examples of some Man-made jeopardies are: Global Heating: Projected additions in the Earth ‘s ambiance ‘s mean temperature. In the twentieth century the Earth ‘s mean temperature rose about 0.6 degree Celsius. Crime: It is a sort of Sociological jeopardy. Crime is a breach of Torahs and regulations. For illustration Breach of contract. Industrial Hazard: It is a sort of Technological jeopardy. Industrial jeopardies frequently have an environmental impact. For illustration Bhopal Disaster ( worst industrial catastrophe to day of the month ) .1.3 VULNERABILITY, CAPACITY AND RISK:1.3.1 Vulnerability:Definition: Susceptibility of a individual, group or society to physical or emotional hurt. OR Person or group apt to injury. Equally far as Hazards and Catastrophes are concern, the construct of Vulnerability is to associate the relationship that people have with their environment to societal forces and establishments and the cultural values that sustain them.1.3.2 Capacity:Definition: Within a community all the available resources, that can cut down hazard degree and catastrophe effects. Frequent term used in Disaster is ‘Capacity constructing ‘ . Capacity edifice is the attempts to develop human accomplishments within a community to cut down hazard degrees.1.3.3 Hazard:Definition: Occurrence chance of a jeopardy that trigger a catastrophe with an unwanted result. Hazard involves an exposure to a opportunity hurt or loss. Risk by and large described in footings of chance. Hazard can besides be defined as the chance of a loss, hazard depends on three elements: Hazard Vulnerability Exposure1.4 DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE:1.4.1 What is Disaster Management?Main thought: To forestall catastrophes wherever possible or to extenuate or decrease those catastrophes which are inevitable. Through Public consciousness and Hazard direction catastrophes could be prevented or mitigated.1.4.2 What is Disaster Management rhythm?Definition: Disaster Management Cycle is a rhythm which has stages to cut down or forestall catastrophes. It is a cyclic procedure it means the terminal of one stage is the beginning of another stage, although following stage can be started before the completion of old stage. Some times several stages are taking topographic point at the same time. During each stage, timely determination devising can consequences in greater readiness, better warnings, and forestall farther catastrophes. The complete Disaster Management rhythm includes the defining of public policies and programs that addresses the causes of catastrophes and decreasing their effects on people, belongings and substructure.1.5 PHASES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENTCycle:Disaster Management Cycle has four stages: Phase 1- Mitigation Phase 2 – Readiness Phase 3 – Response Phase 4 – Recovery1.5.1 Phase 1 – Extenuation:1.5.1.1 Goal:The Goal of Mitigation activities is to acquire rid of or cut down the catastrophe happening chance, or to extenuate the effects of ineluctable catastrophes.Definition:Extenuation refers to all actions taken before a catastrophe to minimise its impacts. Examples: Public instruction Building codifications and districtingExtenuation includes:Reviewing edifice codifications Zoning and land-use direction Implementing preventive wellness stepsThere are two types of Mitigation activities:Structural Extenuation: It refers to building undertakings to cut down economic and societal impacts. Non-structural extenuation: They are the policies which raise consciousness of jeopardies. Non-structural extenuation activities besides encourage developments to decrease catastrophe impact. Through Mitigation we can educate concerns and populace in order to cut down loss or hurt.At place Mitigation activities:In your place Strengthening vulnerable countries such as roof tops, exterior doors and Windowss. In your place construct a safe room.1.5.2 Phase 2 – Readiness:1.5.2.1 Goal:The end of Preparedness activities is: for any exigency state of affairs, achieve a satisfactory degree of preparedness through plans that support the proficient capacity of authorities.1.5.2.2 Definition:Readiness activities are the Plans/preparations made to salvage lives or belongings.1.5.2.3 Preparedness includes:Implementation/operation Systems of early warning. Readiness programs Emergency exercisings Emergency communicating systems Public instruction Through early warning systems people will respond suitably when any early warning is issued. Preparedness actions depend upon the incorporation of suited steps for development programs at national and regional degree. To salvage lives and minimise catastrophe harm, persons, authorities and organisation develop programs and this all is done in Preparedness stage.1.5.2.4 Disaster Preparedness and DisasterExtenuation:Catastrophe extenuation and Disaster Preparedness go manus in manus. To guarantee that bing substructure can defy the forces of catastrophe, catastrophe readiness includes execution of extenuation steps.1.5.3 Phase 3 – Response:1.5.3.1 Goal:The end of Response is to give instant aid to keep life, better wellness and keep up the morale of affected population.1.5.3.2 Disaster Response includes:Helping refugees with conveyance. Give impermanent shelter and nutrient. Establish semi lasting colony in cantonments. Repairing harm substructure. The basic demands of people are more focussed in Response stage until lasting solutions can be found.1.5.4 Phase 4 – Recovery:1.5.4.1 Goal:To assist people reconstructing their lives and substructure every bit shortly as possible.1.5.4.2 Types of Recovery Activities:Recovery activities can be: Short term recovery activities Long term recovery activities Until all system return to normal or better, recovery activities continues.1.5.4.3 Recovery activities in catastrophes include:Constructing Temporary lodging. Public information. Educating public about Health and safety instruction. Hiding plans for people. Reconstruction Economic impact surveies From recovery to long-run sustainable development there should be smooth passage.DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE ANDEMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:1.6.1 Ems:EMS is the acronym for Emergency Management System. EMS can ease the effectual direction of Disasters. Information Technology can better the system of Disaster Management and back up all the stages of the DMC ( Disaster Management Cycle )1.6.2 PHASE I: Extenuation and Prevention:To cut down the impact of catastrophes, effectual Disaster Management plays a cardinal function. Disaster Management uses different effectual technological tools to assist the procedure of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. For illustration:Tracking system:the lading of Hazard Management ( HAZMAT ) can be track by progress Vehicle-mounted hardware and when shipment transporting Hazardous stuffs deviates from its path centres of Disaster Management issues presentment to direction centres.Inventory systems:For any exigency state of affairss Inventory Systems ensures that the suffient supplies are available. It monitors the stock list degrees of of import equipment and supplies and keep the record of of import supplies on regular footing in signifier of Databases.Detection:For observing and supervising the risky lading, Roadside Detectors are used. These Roadside sensors besides confirm that lading is non diverting for its path. 1.6.3 PHASE II: Readiness: Preparedness trades with the development of programs before any exigency or black state of affairss. Emergency direction system helps Phase II of DMC via technological services like:Telemedicine:It is a connexion between ambulances which are reacting and exigency medical installations available really near. By utilizing telemedicine physicians can give advices to medical forces for the intervention of those patients who are on the manner to infirmary.Advanced ACN:Advanced ACN is the acronym for Advanced automated hit presentment. They inform exigency forces through vehicle mounted detectors and wireless communicating about incidents like hits or clangs. They besides tell the incident ‘s exact location and features. 1.6.4 PHASE III and IV: Response and Recovery: To supply immediate aid or aid to the population affected by catastrophes is the Goal of Response Phase. While the Goal of Recovery Phase is the Restoration of people ‘s unrecorded every bit shortly as possible after the catastrophe or any exigency state of affairs. Emergency direction System with the aid of Technology can assist the Response and Recovery phases through different systems and package like:Scheduling and Coordination package:In order to do the response procedure organized, structured and efficient complicated scheduling system can supervise and organize many response activities.Early on Warning System:In transit substructure a huge assortment of detectors are used which provide an early warning systems. This early warning system used to observe large-scale catastrophes and exigencies and besides semisynthetic catastrophe or technological catastrophe. Large-scale catastrophes include temblors, tsunamis etc and man-made or t echnological catastrophes include HAZMAT incidents, act of terrorist act, atomic power works accidents.Response direction:Emergency vehicle fleets can be track by Response direction by utilizing the engineering of Automated vehicle location ( AVL ) and bipartisan communicating between starters and exigency vehicles.Chapter No:2TYPES OF Catastrophe:2.1 Introduction:Harmonizing to [ 11 ] CRED ( Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disaster ) , Belgium, defines Disaster as: â€Å" A catastrophe is a state of affairs or event which overwhelms local capacity, asking a petition to a national or international degree for external aid † OR Catastrophe is besides defined as ‘Great harm, loss or devastation consequences from a sudden ruinous event ‘ . Many [ 11 ] different types of events like conditions or Earth ‘s geology are represented by Disasters. There exist a close association between a catastrophe and utmost conditions events like cyclones, inundations, twisters etc. The database of catastrophe events are maintained by CRED. It maintained the catastrophe events from 1900 to show.Possible causes of increase in catastrophes:There [ 11 ] are many causes for addition in catastrophes but some common causes are as under: Environmental alterations related to economic development may impact the potency for catastrophes. Change of Global clime from the build-up of nursery gases may take to a greater frequence of utmost conditions events ( heat moving ridges ) in the hereafter, every bit good as sea degree rise. Several bing coastlines may be threatened in this event. Industrialization without controls may increase the hazard for technological catastrophes. Consumption of fossil fuels with industrialisation.2.1.1 What are the Types of Disasters?Catastrophes can [ 1 ] be loosely classified harmonizing to their: Causes – Natural or Man-made catastrophe Speed of onset – Sudden or Decelerate Earthquakes, Cyclones, Tsunamis are the illustrations of Natural catastrophes. The two most common illustrations of Man-made catastrophes are ‘The Bhopal gas release ‘ and the ‘Chernobyl atomic accident ‘ . Forest fires ( initiated by adult male ) may be another illustration. There can be a sudden oncoming or slow oncoming of catastrophe. Sudden or Quick oncoming of catastrophe agencies they can happen all of a sudden in clip and slow oncoming of catastrophe agencies they may develop over a period of clip or bit by bit.2.2 NATURAL DISASTES:2.2.1 Definition:Natural [ 1 ] catastrophe occurs of course in propinquity to, and present a menace to people, constructions or economic asserts. They are caused by biological, geological conditions or procedures in the natural environment for illustration cyclones, temblors, tsunamis, inundations etc. Few illustrations of Natural catastrophes are: Earthquake Tsunami Flood Cyclone Now I will discourse above Natural catastrophes.2.2.2 Earthquake:Earthquake is the quiver of Earth ‘s surface due to belowground motions. Earthquakes besides called as shudder or earthquake. Sudden release of energy in the Earth ‘s crust leads to a natural catastrophe called Earthquake. This sudden release of energy moving ridges are called as seismal moving ridges. Epicenter of temblor is called as the beginning point of these seismal moving ridges. Among the most unpredictable natural catastrophes people can see, Earthquake is the 1. During temblors 10s of 1000s of people are put in danger.Some International Statistics of Earthquake:More than half a million deceases worldwide caused by Earthquake between 1999 and 2009. Each twelvemonth more than one million Earthquakes occur worldwide.Measurement of Earthquake:To mensurate the size of an Earthquake there are many ways. Some of these ways depend upon the damaged sum caused by the Earthquake and some depend upon seismal energy generated by the temblor. To mensurate temblor there are two graduated tables which are really popular: Seismograph Richter graduated tableSeismograph:Seismic moving ridges are generated by Earthquakes these moving ridges can be detected by a sensitive instrument called Seismograph. Nowadays Digital seismographs are high-technology seismographs which can enter land agitating over seismal amplitude and screens wide set of frequences that is why they are besides called as Broadband Seismograph.The survey of Seismograph is called as ‘Seismology ‘ .Richter graduated table:Earthquake ‘s strength and magnitude can be represented by Richter graduated table. If the strength of temblor is 3 on a Richter graduated table so that temblor is non harmful. Highly harmful temblor has the reading of 7 or above on the Richter graduated table. Presents modified versions of Richter graduated tables are used for temblor measuring throughout the universe. Richter graduated table is besides called as Richter magnitude graduated table because it measures the magnitude of temblor.2.2.3 Tsunami:Ocean [ 1 ] moving ridge generated by undersea temblor, powerful volcanic eruption or submerged landslide is called Tsunami. Tsunami [ 12 ] frequently generated by temblor in a subduction zone ( an country where an pelagic home base is being forced down into the mantle by home base tectonic forces ) . Tsunami besides called as seismal sea moving ridge. Sudden Large supplanting of H2O causes Tsunami. Tsunami travels at a great velocity across the unfastened ocean and builds into big deathly moving ridges in a shallow H2O of a shoreline. Tsunamis consist of multiple moving ridges with an highly low period and wavelength. The [ 1 ] largest temblor event recorded in Samoa was on 26 June 1917, mensurating 8.3 on the Richter graduated table. The event originated in Tonga ( about 200km South of Apia ) and it triggered a tsunami of 4 to 8 meters runups in Satupaitea, Savaii. The tsunami arrived less than 10 ( 10 ) proceedingss from its point of beginning, intending it travelled at a velocity of more than 1,000km/hr. Hence, when an temblor occurs, you must listen to the tsunami warning, for illustration, people populating in low-lying coastal countries must relocate to higher and safer evidences instantly.Tsunami velocity:Tsunami in a Pacific ocean can go at velocities up to 450mph ( half of the velocity of sound ) . The tallness of Tsunami moving ridges are about 30 to 100 feets.Damage caused by Tsunami:Significant [ 13 ] sum of harm can be caused by Tsunamis. Entire coastal small towns can be destroyed by a individual Tsunami. It can take all the sand from the beach sand which took hundred of old ages to roll up.Safety:The attack [ 13 ] of Tsunami can be determined by many technological methods but nature has its ain methods of warning people. If in a certain country the coastal H2O is abnormally high or low, so this is the warning for Tsunami.2.2.4 Floods:Flood occurs when [ 1 ] big sum of H2O flow from river or from broken pipe onto a antecedently dry country. The beginning of inundation can be really [ 11 ] quick or they may develop over a period of yearss or hebdomads following an drawn-out period of rain or speedy thaw of snow. Flash inundation have sudden oncoming. Drowning is the chief jeopardy from deluging. This is most common in brassy inundation. The common hazard factor for brassy inundation victims is driving in an car, many victims of brassy inundation drown within their vehicle.Health concern from implosion therapy:A longer [ 11 ] term wellness concern from implosion therapy is the development of disease from afloat sanitation Stationss. Large inundations pose a jeopardy to bing sanitation and imbibing H2O systems.Importance of Implosion therapy:For [ 1 ] local e cosystem, implosion therapy can be environmentally of import. For illustration some river inundations bring foods to dirty such as in Egypt where the one-year implosion therapy of the Nile River carries foods to otherwise dry land. Flood besides affect economic system.How to extenuate impact of inundation:pre-event [ 11 ] steps: early warning for brassy inundation events public instruction on inundation jeopardies like car drive post-event steps: keeping proper sanitation system proper control of population2.2.5 Cyclones:Chapter no 3THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT:Introduction:The Advanced Information Technology plays a great function in planning and execution of different steps for the decrease of jeopardies. The advanced information engineering includes: Gilbert Remote Feeling Satellite Communication Internet The quality and analysis power of natural jeopardies can be update by Geographic Information System ( GIS ) . In the choice of extenuation steps GIS can direct development activities. The designation of risky countries and before clip warning for many future catastrophes can be done by Remote Feeling Communication orbiters contribute a batch to supply communicating in exigency state of affairss and timely alleviation steps. For jeopardy decrease the add-on of infinite engineering inputs into monitoring of natural catastrophes and mechanisms of extenuation is really of import3.2 WHAT IS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:The direction of exigencies refering all jeopardies, including all activities and hazard direction steps related to bar and extenuation, readiness, response and recovery. Emergency direction can reconstruct and reconstruct society back to functional degree in no clip after a catastrophe. The basic intent of exigency direction is to: 1 ) Save as many lives as possible 2 ) To protect and continue the environment 3 ) To protect the economic system3.2.1 Emergency Management System:Definition: It is a technological tool used to better and heighten the Emergency Disaster Management. Emergency direction system can assist Disaster Management in several countries, such as:Materials:To guarantee that the warehouse is stock with all the points needed for national endurance in any catastrophe, before any abroad aid reaching.Work force:In first assistance and shelter direction train forces.Emptying Plans:Testing of General catastrophe and Evacuation program.Communication:To set up dependable Communication system.Transportation system:To set up effectual Transportation plans for illustration transit through air which facilitates the ‘food bringing supplies ‘ procedure to the victims of affected countries which are cut-off from any vehicular traffic. Examples of Emergency Management System at work:Management of Hazardous Materials ( HAZMAT ) :By agencies of Air, Sea and Land, EMS provides unafraid transit of unsafe and risky stuffs. EMS uses particular devices for tracking the cargo of HAZMAT.Emergency medical services:EMS notifies the exigency forces with of import and valuable information on exigency incidents. For illustration EMS is equipped with machine-controlled hit presentment system to observe vehicle hit.Recovery and Response:EMS has efficient Detectors which can observe natural catastrophes and warn population before manus.IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT, APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:Through Information Technology the agony of the catastrophe victims can be minimized. There are several tools of Information Technology which are utile in the direction of any catastrophe. In this Report I am concentrating the undermentioned Information Technology tools used in Disaster Management: Geographic Information System ( GIS ) Remote Feeling Global Positioning System ( GPS )3.3.1 GIS in Disaster Management:3.3.1.1 Introduction:GIS is the acronym for ‘Geographic Information System ‘ . For Disaster Management GIS can work in many ways, such as: They are the sort of information system which are good capable of hive awaying, incorporating, analysing, redacting, sharing, and exposing the information which is geographically-referenced. GIS can make the synergistic questions, edit informations and different maps and can easy show the concluding consequences of all these operations. The quality and power of analysis of appraisals of natural jeopardies can be improved by GIS. In the choice of extenuation steps, exigency readiness and response action, GIS besides guide and help different development activities.Applications of GIS:For the undermentioned activities GIS applications are really utile.Creation of hazard stock list map:At all the territory and inter-municipal degrees, the developmental undertaking ‘s pre-feasibility survey can be really expeditiously done by GIS.To locate of import installations:Through GIS we can take information on physical locations of drains, shelters and other physical installations.Management and Creation of associated Database:Planners can do undertakings at feasibleness degree. These undertakings can used to do hazard maps for bing metropoliss, catastrophe readiness planning and alleviation activities after catastrophe.Vulnerability appraisal:To spread out Disaster Management organisations by making consciousness of catast rophe with authorities and populace is done by advanced and synergistic engineering tool GIS.Emergency shelters and the usage of GIS:Shelter [ 1 ] operators use GIS engineering to take the personal inside informations of individuals being housed at the shelters. GIS engineering would besides give information to the shelter operators on the general make-up of the shelter like that how many kids, grownups, disable or any particular resident are in the shelter or demand shelter.Relief Distribution and the usage of GIS:GIS generate maps of the affected countries where clump of victims are located so with the aid of these maps ‘food beads ‘ procedures will take topographic point. These maps will besides place the alone demands of individuals within these Bunches.Vulnerable countries:The countries which are prone to catastrophes are highlighted by GIS. This will assist the catastrophe directors to make be aftering before the happening of catastrophe and it besides facilitates the coordination of attempts during and after the event.GIS Advantages:There are more advantages of GIS than challenges. Some GIS advantages are as under: It can [ 1 ] represent spacial information over a broad geographic country. To take more elaborate position of contents GIS uses 3D artworks. Integration of different information of geo-spatial can be facilitated by GIS. Information of geo-spatial includes maps, theoretical accounts and other signifiers of artworks. GIS distributes updated informaton. It besides expeditiously analyzes, collects and manage that information. For persons who wants to utilize GIS merely small tranning is required. This characteristic of GIS makes it various and easy to utilize.3.3.1.4 Challenges of utilizing GIS in Disaster Management:GIS [ 1 ] can sometimes uncover personal and people-specific information which can significantly impact people ‘s life. Form GIS information sometimes critical and difficult determinations have to be taken in the best involvement of affected people. To acquire the end product which is meaningful and utile from the system, big sums of inputs are required. GIS delayed the determination doing procedure during exigency because it require immense sum of information and huge sum of clip to analyse that information.Disaster Management Cycle and GIS:Planning:To [ 1 ] recognize the demand for be aftering which is based on the present hazard is the most of import phase of DM. For frontward be aftering GIS plays a cardinal function. GIS provides a construction for catastrophe directors to see spacial informations by computing machine based maps.Extenuation:For structural and non-structural extenuation, GIS can play really of import function. Areas which are at hazard are spatially represented by GIS. GIS besides identifies the hazard degree associated with peculiar jeopardy. Catastrophe directors use GIS to find the degree of alleviative constructions that should be in topographic point given the exposure of an country or population.Readiness:GIS can play a critical function in the designation of resources and countries which are at hazard. The nexus between spouses and critical bureaus is established by GIS and the usage of GIS in the constitution of that nexus will assist catastrophe directors to cognize the location of Stationss of relevant spouse bureaus. In the context of Disaster Management, maps of GIS can supply information on the human resources nowadays in an Emergency Operation Centre every bit good as on the land forces such as security, wellness suppliers and other cardinal respondents. This is peculiarly utile since the engineering can assist with strategic arrangement of exigency forces where it matters most. Through GIS we can do certain that communicating webs and route substructure are capable of managing the effects of catastrophesResponse:By utilizing GIS, users can take accurate and dependable information of the location of an exigency state of affairs from GIS and in this manner GIS can salvage tonss of clip needed to find the location of problem countries. Once the issues ( issues like paths to the country ) are known GIS can supply speedy response to affected countries. To indicate out emptying paths and other emptying affairs in exigencies, GIS can be used as a floor usher.Recovery:GIS can supply a outline of what has been damaged, where, and the figure of individuals or establishments that were affected. To the recovery procedure this sort of information is rather utile.Distant Sensing in DisasterManagement:3.3.2.1 Introduction:In Remote Sensing [ 1 ] a recording device ( which is non in physical contact with the object ) is used to acquire the information about an object or phenomenon, that entering device utilizations EMW ( Electronic Magnetic Waves ) radiations. The Goal of EMW or Electromagnetic Waves is the transit of information and energy from one topographic point to another. Cellular webs, Microwave ovens and x-ray machines used EMW. Distant Sensing include semisynthetic detectors, these detectors are attached to orbiters and aircrafts. Alternatively of sing a far off planet from Earth, the feeling equipment is normally high above looking down at our ‘distant ‘ planet – Earth. Distant in this context can intend merely a few hundred pess operating expense or stat mis above the Earth ‘s surface3.3.2.2 Applications of Remote Sensing:Remote Sensing is one of the developed and successful tool in Disaster Management. Some applications of Remote Sensing are as under: By utilizing Remote Feeling the jeopardy and hazard mold of many catastrophes like Tsunamis, hurricanes, temblors and disease pandemics can be done. We can utilize Remote Sensing based early warning systems for many natural catastrophes like Floods, Tsunamis, Earthquakes etc. After catastrophe, harm appraisal can be done by Satellites and airborne detectors.3.3.2.3 Remote Sensing Advantages:The Advantages of Remote Sensing are as under: The users of Remote Sensing do non hold to be in direct contact with the danger zones. This engineering saves tonss of clip. Remote Sensing engineering can gives the clear image of really big country of land. It can easy observe characteristics at wavelengths which are even non seeable to bare oculus. For frontward planning and Reconstruction of any affected country, Remote Sensing plays an of import function by giving clear and big image of those countries. By utilizing Remote Feeling the reappearance of the same event in the hereafter can be prevented. It can assist in harm appraisal monitoring. We can routinely and on a regular basis obtain and enter information.Categorization of Remote Sensing:There are [ 1 ] three parts of Wavelength in Remote Sensing: Brooding infrared and Visible Remote Sensing Thermal infrared Remote Feeling Microwave Remote Feeling Brief description of the above wavelength categorization for Remote Sensing is given below:Brooding infrared and Visible Remote Detection:Everyday visible radiation and infrared optical masers are the most common applications of the reflective infrared and seeable Remote Feeling with wavelength scope of 0.4 to 0.8 microns. For the comparing of before and after events of catastrophe we can utilize seeable Remote Sensing.Thermal infrared Remote Sensing:We can image temperature differences by utilizing infrared detectors. Temperature differences like thermic pollution in rivers or temperature differences near any vent can easy represented by utilizing infrared detectors. Infrared detectors developed a fact that all objects emits Electromagnetic Radiation, these Electromagnetic Radiation are called as ‘blackbody radiation ‘ . These black body radiation has a peculiar wavelength which is relative to the temperature of the surface of an object. We can besides see the peculiar portion of electromagnetic spectrum ( EM spectrum are the series of electromagnetic moving ridges with peculiar wavelength ) by utilizing infrared detectors.Microwave Remote Sensing:The other type of Remote Sensing is the ‘Microwave Remote Sensing ‘ . As the name implies, it uses microwaves for Remote Sensing and these moving ridges are non merely less affected by atmospheric conditions but besides they can image beneath or through objects. There are two board classs of Remote Sensing: Passive Remote Sensing Active Remote Sensing Descriptions of these two classs are as under:Passive Remote Detection:This sort of Remote Sensing uses detectors. These detectors detect the reflected or emitted Electromagnetic Radiations from natural beginnings for illustration Sunlight.Active Remote Detection:The detectors used in Active Remote Sensing detect reflected responses from objects that are irradiated from unnaturally generated energy beginnings for illustration Radars or sonar devices used by ships and imaging systems.Challenges of utilizing Remote Detection:Challenges for utilizing Remote Feeling are as under: To construct and run Remote Sensing system is non cost effectual. Activities which are little sized are hard to sketch on Remote Sensing imagination. Expert accomplishments may necessitate to construe the informations obtained from Remote Sensing. Resolution is frequently harsh. Particular Detectors with really high spacial declaration are required for parts which are little size.Disaster Management and Remote Sensing:Professionals [ 2 ] for Disaster Management can utilize Distant Feeling to do the effectual undertaking be aftering really much possible and more accurate now so of all time earlier. The purpose of experts in Disaster Management is to supervise the state of affairs, imitate the complicated natural phenomenon every bit accurately as possible so as to propose better eventuality programs and fix spacial databases. Proper Disaster Management which includes catastrophe bars, catastrophe readiness and speedy and sufficient catastrophe alleviation can sufficiently cut down the impact of natural catastrophes. States which have more beforehand warning systems and edifice codifications can make successful remote detection of the Earth to foretell the happening of black phenomena and to warn people on clip. With the addition of natural catastrophes and semisynthetic catastrophes it is necessary to utilize technological progresss to decrease the effects of catastrophes. Distant Sensing can be really utile to extenuate the effects of Natural Disasters like Earthquakes, Flooding, Hurricanes, Volcanic eruption and Landsliding.Remote Sensing and Earthquake:We can utilize Remote Sensing Technology ( RCT ) for seismal hazard extenuation intent. Remote Feeling like Satellite imagination can be used for temblor readiness. On good declaration orbiter imagination, Active mistakes and Structures associated with temblors can be good identified. Structural and non-structural jeopardies can be identified and minimized by utilizing distant feeling engineering. For illustration by utilizing LandSat imagination tool we can place and minimise the effects of Structural and Non-structural jeopardies. States which are more prone to temblor usage Satellite Remote Sensing Technology ( RST ) for early seismal warning. The quality [ 1 ] of assistance that can be provided after an temblor can be well improved by utilizing Remote Sensing. After major temblor has taken topographic point the hunt and deliverance activities are best affected by distant detection. Distant detection can besides used for making deep hunts in the countries which have considerable sum of dust and collapsed constructions.Recent Development:Nowadays Airborne and Satellite RSTs can be used for garnering damaged informationRemote Sensing and Volcanic Volcanic eruptions:Around [ 2 ] the Earth there are 500 active vents and by utilizing distant feeling we can make seismal monitoring of these vents. Through distant feeling Catastrophe directors can continuously supervise the volcanic activities by making limited field work. Remote feeling besides enables vulcanologists to significantly cut down the sum of field work and saves attempts and money.Remote Sensing and Flooding:The Second most [ 2 ] common and widespread natural catastrophe is Flood. For [ 3 ] inundation monitoring remote detection has become the cardinal tool in recent old ages. Catastrophe directors can place inundation planes and countries which are prone to deluge on a remotely perceived imagination. Remotely sensed imagination generates images which help professional in mapping the high and low hazard countries and in measuring the amendss to the belongingss in inundation affected part. In flood direction remotely sensed informations can be used to calculate inundations and this will mitigates future amendss. Distant feeling allow [ 1 ] users to see what is taking topographic point in affected countries, without endangering their safety, since they will non really be on the site. By utilizing distant feeling engineering we can foreground characteristics of the geographics that make the community susceptible to the jeopardy. Using distant feeling Response workers can garner of import information for making deliverance and alleviation attempts without physically being present at the site.Remote Sensing and Hurricanes:Disaster [ 1 ] directors uses Remote feeling for hurricane prediction which will assist them to gauge the likely figure of storms for a given old ages, strength and possible degree of devastation. Remote detection is utile in any phase of the hurricane in extenuating the deathly effects of hurricanes. Remote [ 1 ] feeling can let contrivers to determine informations about the characteristics of water partings to include drainage and denseness. Once obtained, this is utile information as it provides information on the capacity of the watershed to cover with the volume of water-flow that could ensue from rains associated with the storm. Distant detection can supply good declaration spacial informations on hurricanes which can gives wealth [ 4 ] of information for appraisal, analysis and monitoring natural catastrophes like Hurricane, Tornados and Cyclone harm from little to big parts around the Earth. After the Hurricane experts can supervise the recovery advancement and find the alteration in landscape by utilizing distant detection. Remote feeling saves tonss of clip in a manner that it will let experts to analyze larger land mass in no clip. Coastal implosion therapy and storm rushs which consequences in hurricanes can be better mapped utilizing distant detection. Catastrophe directors, Emergency direction and community contrivers can be better prepare for hurricane impacts on their parts by utilizing the tools of distant detection.Remote detection and Landsliding:Landslide [ 1 ] can happen independently or with other jeopardies like temblor, deluging etc. Using distant feeling engineering in landsliding catastrophe directors are better able to prioritise and aim extenuation and readiness activities for their country. Once [ 1 ] major parts of land displacement out of topographic point, entree to and general visibleness of the affected country is normally badly restricted. Remotely perceived images under these conditions are utile tools in helping contrivers. It presents a image of what has taken topographic point, and AIDSs in the determination doing procedure sing the hereafter of the affected country. Where appraisal of an country is limited due to debris and mudflow from a landslide, remote feeling could perforate heavy countries to supply critical information. On [ 5 ] local and regional graduated tables remote feeling can greatly assist in probes of landslides. For landslide probe remote feeling can be used in two phases: landslides sensing and categorization monitoring activity of bing landslides Distant detection can assist greatly in foretelling future landslide happenings and this is of import for those who reside near unstable incline.Global Positioning System ( GPS ) in Disaster Management:3.3.3.1 Introduction:GPS [ 1 ] or Global Positioning System refer to Global Navigation Satellite System or GNSS developed by Defense Department, America. Initially merely US military can utilize GPS but in 1980s it was extended for commercial and scientific universes. For navigational and positioning GPS tool is widely used. GPS include pilotage on land, in air and on sea. [ 5 ] By utilizing GPS engineering tool we can observe first phase catastrophe and suggest extenuation steps. In Landsliding Boundary of landslide country can be determine by GPS. Space section of GPS has 24 well-spaced orbiter groups ; these 24 orbiter groups orbit the Earth two clip per twenty-four hours and let people with land receiving systems to indicate out their exact location on Earth with high truth. Due to the low cost of GPS receiving system it is used globally. Receivers or devices have GPS equipment receives transmittal from at least few of the orbiters and can able to separate really precise placement informations ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.wisegeek.com/what-is-gps.htm ) In Earth [ 6 ] scientific disciplines GPS plays an of import function. For conditions prediction and planetary clime surveies meteorologists utilizations GPS. During and between temblors the tectonic gestures can be measured by GPS.3.3.3.2 Applications of GPS to Disaster Management:There is [ 5 ] no limitation of conditions for utilizing GPS, it can be used anyplace any clip and this makes GPS really utile in catastrophes. It has a dependable degree of preciseness. During exigency state of affairss GPS incorporated with GIS to cover real-time activity. In all stages of Disaster direction Cycle GPS is really utile and plays a critical function. In Emergency Disaster Management GPS plays an of import function by tracking exigency vehicles and supplies. Emergency vehicles have GPS receiving system and location is overlayed onto a map. For precise [ 7 ] placement of the deliverance squads and vehicles during catastrophe GPS Stationss can be good utilised as a base Stationss. Through [ 5 ] GPS experts can supervise the tallness of moving ridges. GPS units are fixed to buoys and the tallness of the units are can be determined to within centimeters any important alteration in moving ridge tallness or speed can trip an dismay for a tsunami or sea rush. With the aid of GPS, vents can be monitored. Catastrophe directors can mensurate the distortion of the land by utilizing GPS and made decision about volcanic activity. These GPS Stationss can be utilized as base Stationss for precise placement of deliverance squads and vehicles during the catastrophes.3.3.3.3 Advantages of GPS:The Advantages of [ 10 ] GPS are as under: Structural jobs in edifices and route can be detected by GPS. It besides predicts catastrophes like Flooding, earthquakes etc. GPS system in a auto or in a plane ensures that you will ne'er lost. It streamlines supply ironss and truck motion. it can track goods at any point of clip and predict accurately when goods will make their finish. Some [ 9 ] GPS systems allow you to seek the local country for nearby comfortss, such as hotels, eating houses and gas Stationss. This is highly helpful in some state of affairss. GPS [ 9 ] devices are perfect for H2O pilotage. In state of affairss where underwater jeopardies are a job, GPS devices allow leghorns to maneuver around concealed dangers.3.3.3.4 Disadvantages of GPS:Besides tonss of advantages GPS have some of import disadvantages besides [ 5 ] . Some of these disadvantages are preciseness is affected by the figure of discernible orbiters present, the obstructor of the observation point, and the monitoring of installed GPS receiving systems which have been placed out in the field. Obstacles like edifices and trees can debar the GPS signals and this will do your place on the GPS screen to be off by every bit much as 100 pess. Atmospheric conditions besides affect GPS truth. GPS [ 9 ] signals are non wholly accurate. Obstacles like edifices and trees can debar the signal, doing your place on the GPS screen to be off by every bit much as 100 pess. Atmospheric conditions ( such as geomagnetic storms caused by solar activity ) may besides impact GPS truth3.3.3.5 Disaster Management and GPS:For catastrophe direction and extenuation GPS is one of the most of import developmental and planning tool. Catastrophes which are in their first phase can be easy detected by utilizing GPS tools. GPS is besides an effectual tool for supervising natural catastrophes.GPS and Earthquake:The [ 6 ] size of an temblor can be measured by GPS and this is done by look intoing the entire distance that a station has moved in an temblor by comparing its place prior to the event with its place following the event. Harmonizing to scientist there is a relationship exist between sum of supplanting caused by an temblor and magnitude of temblor. Scientist use this relationship to happen out the size of an temblor by utilizing technological tools of GPS. GPS can [ 6 ] make really accurate measurings and due to this scientists can enter millimeter-scale faux pas on mistakes that can non normally be measured. GPS progress tools can be really utile in: Emergency readiness and response betterment Determining of aftershock hazard countries following major temblors Prevent devastation of edifices, belongings and substructure Provide better geophysical theoretical accounts.GPS and Flooding:For [ 7 ] natural catastrophe like Deluging GPS has the potency of making deliverance and relief operations during and after Flood. The integrating of location based spacial function system: GIS, with GPS can straight give the map of the country being covered. The Video Mapping System, a digital picture camera straight linked to a GPS receiving system can give us the complete image of the part. This will let improved image reading, which is really utile for Flood jeopardy extenuation and direction. GPS [ 8 ] engineering helps deluge field directors to: Perform hazard appraisal and jeopardy designation Take proactive steps to really cut down inundation hazards Produce GPS Elevation Certificates which help place proprietors recognize their true inundation hazard and obtain best-value inundation insurance to cut down their fiscal Vulnerability Help speed up Federal catastrophe aid support when deluging really occurs.

Evaluate the importance of regular exercise Essay

In recent years, the awareness of the importance of public health has increased significantly and maintaining a healthy body and mind is undoubtedly everyone’s daily wishes. Doing exercise is one of the ways to help people to fulfill their dreams as it can strengthen our body and improve our mind. The effectiveness of the aids from the state to help achieving the goal efficiently has also been put on the public’s discussion table. In this essay, will first examine the importance of exercise, following by analyzing how both Hong Kong and British government plays their role in ensuring its citizens exercise regularly and suggesting some follow-up actions. To begin with, doing exercise can help to improve our health condition and makes us stronger. Exercise can be divided into four categories: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility which will give us benefits if we can finish them all. (Go4Life n.d.) Researches. (Mayo clinic 2014) has shown that working out will on one hand lower stress and on the other hand in reduce body fat which will makes us look fitter and healthier. Once body fat is reduced, it can also lower the blood pressure and maintain a smooth circular blood flow. Threats posed to our body due to high blood pressure can be ceased for example strokes. Moreover, exercise shows a negative relationship with depressions. Endorphin is a hormone released when doing exercise which has a positive impact on our mood by making us happier and reducing rates of depression. This shows that the more we work out, the higher the level of happiness we can gain. Endorphins will diminish the perception of pain in brain will leads to positive feelings. (WebMD 2014) Social circle can also be widened when doing exercise as some of them require team work and players will have to co-operate with each other which increases their cohesions and boost their relationships. Take playing basketball as an example, team players will  have to communicate and trust each other and pass the ball to one another so as to gain goals. Strong social support which resulted can reduce the chance of depression as ones attention has been increased. By contrast, without any work out may lead to suicide in some extreme cases. Studies done by Dhaval and Inas shows that there i s a direct relationship between overweight status, depressive disorders, and suicidal behaviors. Overweight adolescents will have a low self-esteem as they are labeled as â€Å"fat boy† which makes them having a weak self-confidence and body dissatisfaction. (Dhaval & Inas 2009) As exercising can relate to life and death issues, it proves that it is of high importance that regular exercises are needed to maintain our body health. Next, the government should also play an important role in dealing with healthcare issue of citizens. According to recent reports, (Ko 2010; Chapman 2014) both Hong Kong and Britain are facing a problem of increased death rates due to obesity. This is mainly due to the increasing personal populous and changing in lifestyle characteristics with reduced in physical activity but increase in food intake which results in chronic diseases. With reference to the Hong Kong government’s official website, it has made a step forward to tackle this problem by introducing the National Fitness Day on 8th August annually (GovHK 2010). This offers its local citizens in free of charge sporting experience in appointed sports center in 18 districts of Hong Kong for example dancing play-in, fitness corner and some fitness and health talk and workshops. Parent-child activities are also available which can promote their relationships. Through this event, it can surely arouse the publics’ att ention in doing sports and even increases their own interest in developing certain type of sports. However, British government only did limited actions in developing citizens’ sportsmanship with the exception of London Olympics 2012 (Olympic.org 2013) which reveals more Britain are dead due to overweight and obese kept increasing and the figure is even 50 percent more when comparing to France as Chapman said. It is believed the British government should take Hong Kong as a reference to ensure its citizens involve in sports more often. By introducing reward system can increase their attention in doing sports and they will be more willing to do so. Also, public sports centers with low membership fees can  also be established so as to help low income families to enjoy this entertainment in low cost. Promotions and advertisements are needed so more people will know about it and raise their awareness of it. Due to the high authority of the government, it will hopefully help to promote exercise in Britain more effectively and testify to the success of Hong Kong in promoting spo rts to its residences. In addition, citizens maintaining good health will also benefit the state. With a poor health condition, worker will result in absentee from work and will decrease the productivity of the firm. (Krol at el., 2012) During the absent period, it may be difficult for the company to find a perfectly suitable substitute as the productivity loss will be unpredictable as workers are not assigned to the right jobs. Profits will be lost and reduces the economic growth of the nation (Wei at el., 2011). Also, as mentioned earlier, suicide incidents of workers can also affect the company. Foxconn, the production factory of Apple products is one of the place where often heard of workers there committed suicide due to poor working conditions and loneness ( BBC 2010). This will in no doubt damage the reputation of the firm and affect sales. However, if there can be enough work out for the labor, they will feel less stressed and more happy to work. Unwanted accidents can be avoided. One of the main responsibilities of citizens is to contribute to the society that we should produce to the profit maximizing output to help maintaining the labor force of our place to maintain efficiency. With good health, workers are able to work more efficiently as they can perform well and show their own talents. Productivity will then increase as a result of stimulating economic growth which will benefits the society. With better economic conditions, people are able to afford their own lives and have a higher standard of living. In order to avoid ceasing production process and reducing efficiency of firms, the government to a high extent should be responsible to regulate rules to help its citizens in public health issues. However, some may argue that it is our own responsibility to stay healthy which means we should not rely on the state. Health is a long-term investment which can be determinates by ourselves and we are personally  responsible daily. Some may also say that (Sherman 2012) good health will be attained if effort is given and we prioritize it well. Long-term effort is needed so as to balance our body, mind and effort. Exercise is a personal activity which depends on the individual willingness. If the government force them to work out, they may feel discontented and conflicts between the two parties will exist. Costs will be involved in dealing with the disputes which exploits interests of them. Furthermore, people may think that they will have their own practice to maintain health for example controlling their diet such as following the food pyramid (GovHK 2012). Parents also play vital role in dealing with the health conditions of their children. Healthy lifestyle practices should be n urtured since small so they will pay more intention to that even when they grow up. In addition, supports from schools should also be given to students for example setting up more physical education classes and also extra-circular activities related to sports so as to increase their amount of physical exercise. It is undouble that teaching from parents to their children is the most effective way to convey the idea of health to them as most children tend to listen to their parents more than anyone else. Therefore some believe that it is not the state’s responsibility and it should not intervene with people’s daily routines. To conclude, although some people may be dissatisfied if the government meddle with their exercise pattern, it is of paramount importance which the state should be responsible to deal with the health issues of its citizens as this is one of its responsibilities. If the state help to preserve the public’s exercising rhythm, it can reduce the disease-related problems and it is much easier for the state to intervene due to its high authority. At the same time, it will also bring positive impacts like increasing productivity which benefits the society. As a result, to a large extent the state should help in ensuring its citizens exercise regularly in order to maintain a good health. Reference List 1. Blanch, B, 2010. Foxconn suicides: ‘Workers feel quite lonely’. BBC online, [online] 28 May 2010. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10182824> [16 May 2014]. 2. Chapman, J, 2014. Britain’s obesity death rate. [online] Available at: [Accessed 04 May 2014] 3. Dhaval, D and Inas, R., 2009. Overweight status, self-perception, and suicidal behaviors among adolescents. Social Science & Medicine, [e-journal]. 68(9) Available through: Lancaster University Library website [Accessed 15 February 2014]. 4. Go4Life n.d., 4 Types of Exercise. [online] Available at: [Accessed 12 May 2014] 5. GovHK, 2010. Sport For All Day† on August 8 promotes benefits of regular exercise. [online] Available at: [Accessed 10 6. GovHK, 2012. The Food Pyramid -A Guide to a Balanced Diet. [online] Available at:< http://www.cheu.gov.hk/eng/info/exercise_07.htm> [Accessed 10 May 2014] 7. Krol, M ; Brouwer, W ; Severens, J ; Kaper, J ; Evers, S., 2002. Productivity cost calculations in health economic evaluations: Correcting for compensation mechanisms and multiplier effects. Social Science & Medicine, [e-journal] Abstract only. Available through: Lancaster University Library website < http://onesearch.lancs.ac.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?frbrVersion=5&tabs=detailsTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=TN_sciversesciencedirect_elsevierS0277-9536(12)00553-9&indx=3&recIds=TN_sciversesciencedirect_elsevierS0277-9536(12)00553-9&recIdxs=2&elementId=2&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&frbrVersion=5&dscnt=1&scp.scps=scope%3A%2844LAN_ALMA_DS%29%2Cscope%3A%2844LAN_ML_DS%29%2Cprimo_central_multiple_fe&frbg=&tab=quicksearch&dstmp=1400453092549&srt=rank&mode=Basic&dum=true&tb=t&vl(freeText0)=absenteeism%20productivity&vid=LUL_VU1> [Accessed12 May 2014]. 8. Ko, G, 2010. Obesity in Hong Kong – Risk and Burden. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 May 2014] 9. MAYO Clinic, 2014. Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity. [online] Available at: < http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389> [ Accessed 10 May 2014] 10. Olympic.org, 2013. London 2012. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 May 2014] 11. Sherman, S, 2012. Healing, Health and Self-responsibility. [online] Available at: [Accessed 11 May 2014] 12. WebMD, 2014. Exercise and Depression. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 February 2014]. 13. Zhang, W ; Bansback, N and Aslam H.A.,2011. Measuring and valuing productivity loss due to poor health: A critical review. Social Science & Medicine, [e-journal] 72(2), 185-192. Available through Lancaster University Library website [15 May 2014]

Regina V. G and Another Case Brief

Case Title: Regina v. G and another (Appellants) (On Appeal form the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)) Citation: [2003] UKHL 50 Procedural History (PH): The appellants were charged on 22nd August 2000; without lawful excuse damaged by fire; commercial premises and being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged. The appellants stood trial before Judge Maher in March 2001. The appellants’ case at trial was that they expected the fire to extinguish itself on the concrete.It was accepted that neither of them conceived that there was any risk of the fire spreading. At the start of the trial submissions were made on the meaning of â€Å"recklessness†. The judge ruled that he was bound to direct the jury in accordance with R v Caldwell . The Judge then directed the jury on the three matters he listed. The jury was unable to come to a decision on the same day but returned on another day and convicted the appellants. Upon receiving the verdict the judge adjourned the proceedings for a pre-sentence report.The judge made a one year supervision in the case of each appellant. Facts: On the night of 21st -22nd August 2000, the appellants, then aged 11 and 12 respectively went camping without the permission of their parents’, they entered the back yard of the Co-op Shop in Newport Pagnell. They lit some newspapers that they had found. Both defendants threw some lit newspaper under a large plastic wheelie-bin. The defendants left the yard before putting the fire to rest.As a result the newspapers caught fire to the first wheelie-bin which then spread to the other wheelie-bin then spread to the eave, guttering, fascia and the roof and eventually spread to the adjoining buildings. The damages approximated to a sum of 1million Pounds Sterling. Issues: 1. Did the defendant damage by fire the building and the commercial premises? 2. Would the risk created by the defendant been obvious to an ordinary, reasonable, bystander? 3. Had the defendant g iven any thought to the possibility of there being a risk in doing what he did?Judgment: The Appellants succeeded in having their conviction quashed. By the reasons given by Lord Bingham of Cornhill, with the support of Lord Browne-Wilkinson, Lord Steyn, Lord Hutton, and Lord Rodger of Earlsferry. Rule(s) of Law: 1. Did the defendant damage by fire the building and the commercial premises? The appellant did damage the building and commercial premises by fire. During the proceedings, the judge pointed out that there was no doubt in the appellants damaging the building and premises by fire. 2.Would the risk created by the defendant have been obvious to an ordinary, reasonable, bystander? It is accepted that the reasonable bystander is an adult with no particular expertise with the common knowledge and reasoning capabilities. The jury agreed that the reasonable bystander would have been able to foresee the possibility of the fire spreading. Thus the appellants were convicted under stan ding test . The jury was inclined to accept that intention could be shown by proof of reckless disregard of an act perceived by the reasonable man as a risk. 3.Had the defendant given any thought to the possibility of there being a risk in doing what he did? It was agreed on appeal that the boys did not foresee any risk of the fire spreading in the way it eventually did. Many leading academic writers on English criminal law have believe that the criminal law should punish people only for those consequences of their acts, which they foresaw at the relevant time. Supporting Argument: Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea. Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea translates to; the act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty.It is a constructive principle that conviction of serious crime should rely on evidence not merely that the defendant caused an detrimental effect to another but rather that his state of mind when so acting was blameworthy. Willingly disregardin g an appreciated and unacceptable risk of causing a detrimental effect or a methodical and purposeful ignorant state of mind to such risk would also be considered blame worthy. In contrast it is not distinctively culpable to do something that encompasses the gamble of grievance to another in the event of one authentically not identifying the said gamble.Did the judge’s direction transgress the decision of the jury? It can be debated that since R v Caldwell the case at hand precisely outlines that Lord Diplock’s direction is capable of persuading evident unfairness. The trial judge admitted to the regret of his direction to the jury which transgressed the decision of the jury. The jury may have inferred that persons the same age of the appellants would have understood the risk involved however this was not their decision. However the jury thought it unfair to convict them.It is not considered moral or just to convict a defendant s a result of what another may have under stood if the defendant had no such understanding himself. Was the interpretation of â€Å"recklessly† wrong? In section 1 of the Act, it was shown that the interpretation of â€Å"recklessly† to have been misleading. Had the misinterpretation not conflicted with any principle or had not intensified an injustice; the misinterpretation would not have had any impact, however it resulted in the opposite.Thus it is vital for the correction of the misinterpretation of â€Å"recklessly†. Losing Argument: Should the rule in R v Caldwell be modified? The modification would defy the principle that conviction depends on the mens rea of the defendant. If the principle was modified to accommodate children on the grounds of naivety it would be uncharacteristic if no modification was made to include the mentally handicapped on the grounds of their narrow ability of perception.Implementing modifications of this classification will encourage challenging and controversial debate with regard to the qualities and characteristics plausible for comparison. The implementation of this modification will replace one misinterpretation for another. Were the appellants reckless? A person is said to be reckless if knowing that there is a risk that an event may occur as a consequence of their conduct as defined by The Merriam Webster dictionary .A defendant is only considered to have acted recklessly by the advantage of their failure to give any thought to the risk or property damage that may have been apparent had they given any thought to the matter. Determining if a risk would have been apparent to the defendant is very unpredictable. The tribunal of fact should not acknowledge the defendant’s proclamation that it never occurred to them that there was risk of property damage providing that the conditions, prospects, and evidence point that the thought process must have crossed their mind. Obiter Dicta’ The meaning of â€Å"maliciously† It is unde rstood by the court that use of the term ‘maliciously’ requires proof of intension. Malice necessitates an authentic objective to do a precise kind of destruction. The court accepts that â€Å"maliciously† introduces consciousness that an act may have the consequence of causing substantial impairment to some other person despite if the impairment foreseen was reasonably minimal.

The Best Years of Our Lives Film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Best Years of Our Lives Film - Essay Example This movie reflects the worrisome time phase when the entire world was undergoing a harsh transition. This movie revolves around the lives of three war veterans who were returning home with the harsh and brutal memories of the war. This was the time when entire Europe and Japan was devastated culturally, socially and economically and America was enjoying the supreme power and hold in greater parts of the world. This movie shows that how those veterans were to be lived in this change with unstable economy and unpredictable life. This movie answers some of the reality based questions in a liberal manner regarding social reformism of Franklin D.Roosevelt. It was expected that this social reformism was about to come to an end. The film contains the hardest realities of unrest social conditions and uneasiness. One cannot ignore the fact that it was the crucial time in the world’s history filled with depressing times and social unrest. The Purpose of the Film: The purpose of this fi lm was to express the social turmoil the world was going through and the return of soldiers who were filled with the hard memories of the war. ... Message Conveyed Through the Film: The movie, Best Years of Our Lives expresses a very strong message that how veteran who have returned home were trying to cope with their normal day life. The movie shows that how difficult it became for the officers of the wars to sustain and maintain their social prestige in the society while working at the low level jobs and how they were viewed by the people in general. Without realizing their situation and hardships, people accused them for participating in a â€Å"wrong war† as in the case of Fred Berry who after returning from war is now working as a soda jerk. He was accused of having fought with the wrong enemy by the people around him and eventually, his social life ends in distress. The same happened with Parrish who was being offered the job of a salesman by his girlfriend’s father due to the harsh reality for being a disable person which would set his image as an object of pity for the people (Charles Boogle). William Wyle r has tried to convey the message that how people react and behave towards soldiers who are already bound by the harsh experiences of war-time. Conclusion: The movie is intended to entertain those audiences which are keen to know the lives of the soldiers, their experiences during the war and the hardships they go through. The movie is an artistic masterpiece which depicts the real lives of soldiers and their hardships. Work Cited: Boogle, C. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946): realism and reformism. (2007). Web http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/aug2007/best-a11.shtml accessed online on 12th April,

Globalization Has Helped the World in Technology Research Paper

Globalization Has Helped the World in Technology - Research Paper Example hat globalization has helped the field of technology is the fact that it allows an intensification of interconnections between people from different areas, who are, due to advancements in information technology (IT), able to share ideas to an unprecedented degree (Dhruvaraja and Vickers 26). Technology development is something of a self-reinforcing cycle – new technologies make it easier to breed new technologies, and so when something new is developed it makes it much easier to develop something even newer and more interesting. We see this process occur in many places, but cell phone design is a good example: the iphone introduced a new kind of interface based on a touch screen and small icons in a home screen, and now almost every cell phone has that feature. But beyond that, new cell phones have also moved forward and introduced new elements on top of that, which Apple has then responded to by building off of those. This reinforcing loop is only able to occur to the degree that everyone who is developing new technology is able to know the ideas of other people who have developed technology before them. If someone does not know something has been developed, they may spend a great deal of time developing a very similar thing themselves – this is called reinventing the wheel, and previously in human history it happened very often. Globalization, however, ensures that reinventing the wheel will happen very rarely. This is because the globalization, and the forces that go along with it, connect people from disparate parts of the globe more closely than they have ever been before, so now anyone anywhere will be able to access the ideas of anyone else. Not every aspect of globalization has helped the advancement of technology – the freedom of people to move goods around more easily, for instance, has little impact on technological development. It is mostly the internet, and the new developments that came along with it, that have allowed the community of

What are the benefits and hazards of medical marijuana Research Paper

What are the benefits and hazards of medical marijuana - Research Paper Example The federal government considers marijuana as a class one controlled substance and is, therefore, illegal to have while more than twenty states in the country have effective laws that govern the use of marijuana as a medicine. Such contradictions in the importance and illegality of the drug continue to heighten the controversy that surrounds the use of marijuana in the country. This report, therefore, discusses the benefits and the hazards of medical marijuana with the view to determining the suitability of the substance. The report presents a number of the medical benefits of the drug and compares them to the possible hazards of the substance. Such is a contribution to the raging debate on the use of the drug. Cannabis sativa also known as marijuana is a type of psychoactive drug. The drug has a number of physiological and psychoactive effects. Owing to such nervous effect, the federal government just as many other governments throughout the world banned the use of cannabis in the country. However, a number of scholars and medical practitioners began vouching for the use of the drug claiming that it presented a number of medical benefits. As such, medical marijuana has been in use in a number of state and come in various forms suitable for smoking, vaporization and ingestion in the form of a pill. However, the use of the drug and the numerous advantages it presents remain contentious. Scholars and medical practitioners continue to give varied opinions concerning the use of the drug. Supporters of the use of cannabis continue to cite a number of benefits it presents while opponents of the use of the drug allude to the numerous hazards it presents as the discussion below portrays. Key among the medical benefits of marijuana is that it contributes to the management of such serious diseases as cancer, sclerosis and AIDS among many others. Marijuana can help relieve the pain from the above diseases (Caulkins, Hawken, Kilmer & Kleiman, 2012).

Managing Communications,Knowledge and Information Assignment

Managing Communications,Knowledge and Information - Assignment Example The increasing importance of services and knowledge in the 21st century has successfully impressed China towards taking concrete steps and measures in the journey of becoming knowledge based society by itself. The information is identified as the basic and fundamental requirement for running any sort and type of business in any part of the globe. The investors on the other hand, are required to have timely and accurate information in order to make effective decisions. The investors in developing parts of the world do not have sufficient information and expertise that are required to take valuable decisions (Richard & Nory 2005). The lack of accurate information in addition with inability to follow economic rationality has repeatedly resulted in significant losses. The investors long for insightful analysis that can help them in making wise choices. The trend of online news agencies is very notably prevalent in developed and emerging parts of the world (Clemons, Gu, & Lang 2002). Thes e news agencies however, conceptualized to cover companies that are operating in advanced countries. The companies that are working in emerging economies are not being effectively covered by the financial news agencies. The increasing levels of Foreign Direct Investment in the featured economic sector of the globe, warrants the creation of permanent analytical facilities that can provide the investors with fresh insights on a daily basis. The target economies of Bangladesh and India will be kept under a bigger microscope as they are the leading and most probable candidate for transforming into leading nations in the future. The demise of America as a superpower in the near future will induce the development of smaller centers of political and fiscal strength throughout the world. The resource interdependencies are going to be more than stronger and because of this reason, national economic systems will become more conducive in the direction of developing and forging productive bilat eral trade agreements. In this way, it will not be a surprise to see South Asian economies emerging as the most profoundly developing sectors. The futuristic investment decisions will have widespread reparations for the entire economic system of the globe (Sachs, Warner, Aslund, & Fischer 1995). The proposed online news agency will keep a close eye on the developments occurring in all of the leading economies of the world. The economic experts from all over the world are invited to comment on the situation of stock markets. The main objective of starting a new business is to efficiently reduce the level of information asymmetry that is famous for prevailing between shareholders and corporate management teams. The developing economies’ citizens do not possess the enough level of comprehension needed to take delicate investment decisions. The important information about stock markets of emerging economies will be gathered through accessing sites such as Google Finance and Yahoo Finance. Based on the information provided by featured online sources, the financial experts are requested to guide investors’ decisions. The proposed online news agency will release list of the most attractive stocks on a daily basis. The financial decisions are supposed to be made after conduction detailed research. The investment decisions in South Asian countries are take in an impulsive fashion and therefore, they are notorious for yielding superficial financial gains.

Come up with an assertin- a claim,a point, an opinion- that you can Essay

Come up with an assertin- a claim,a point, an opinion- that you can support with some of the facts from the articles - Essay Example This premise is demonstrated beautifully when Charlie attempts to win Lalu from Hong King by playing poker. Clearly, Charlie is willing to gamble on Lalu because he loves here whereas Hong King is willing to gamble on her to maintain her slavery. Tragically, Lalu does not see this because she has always been viewed as a chattel and therefore presumes that Charlie views her much the same way. The problem that Charlie has is that he will never win the love or affections of Lalu because ultimately, she is the product of a bet. I suspect however, that had Charlie allowed Lalu to kill Hong King or had assisted her in the murder, he would have ultimately won her over. No matter how hard any man may try, a woman’s dignity will not be stolen from her without her consent. Women, all women want protection, but not at any price. Finally, once a woman has decided that a man sees her only as chattel, he can never shake that impression from

Factors Of Influence On Retail Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Factors Of Influence On Retail Trade - Essay Example on the retail industry as a whole and therefore Sainsbury’s have been chosen for the purpose as it holds the 30th position in the global ranking of retail industry â€Å"Kantar Retail Top 50 Retailer Rankings† (Kantar Retail, 2013). Sainsbury’s was set up during 1869 and presently it runs more than 1106 convenience stores and supermarkets that provide job opportunities to almost 157000 people. Customer is considered to be the heart of the organization and the firm continuously invests money for improving the experience of the channel partners and employees to offer the customer with the best â€Å"shopping experience† (J Sainsbury PLC, 2013). Key Issues Whilst Tesco has issues in almost each part of its operations, its greatest competitor Sainsbury's revealed an advanced move towards growth in sales by the means of â€Å"quality and service† (Gottdiener, 1998). Sainsbury successfully exchanged blows with its rivals like Asda and Tesco. Justin King, the chief executive of the firm stated that the success of Sainsbury primarily rooted from its excellent service quality and from the superior quality self-brand products. The firm has strongly protested against the â€Å"Price Promise† ad program of Tesco. According to Sainsbury, The program deceives the consumers since it proves to be a failure in pointing out that the firm’s own-label brands have original standards or excellent ethical benchmarks. Sainsbury’s claim had been supported by â€Å"ethical trading accreditation bodies† namely the RSPCA's Freedom Food proposal, the Marine Stewardship Council and the Fair-trade (Butler and Rankin, 2013). According to Justin King, fundamentally most of the customers visiting the supermarkets prefer to opt for discount stores like Lidl and Aldi, and these stores have been... Whilst Tesco has issues in almost each part of its operations, its greatest competitor Sainsbury's revealed an advanced move towards growth in sales by the means of â€Å"quality and service† (Gottdiener, 1998). Sainsbury successfully exchanged blows with its rivals like Asda and Tesco. Justin King, the chief executive of the firm stated that the success of Sainsbury primarily rooted from its excellent service quality and from the superior quality self-brand products. The firm has strongly protested against the "Price Promise" ad program of Tesco. According to Sainsbury, The program receives the consumers since it proves to be a failure in pointing out that the firm's own-label brands have original standards or excellent ethical benchmarks. Sainsbury's claim had been supported by "ethical trading accreditation bodies" namely the RSPCA's Freedom Food proposal, the Marine Stewardship Council and the Fair-trade (Butler and Rankin, 2013). According to Justin King, fundamentally mo st of the customers visiting the supermarkets prefer to opt for discount stores like Lidl and Aldi, and these stores have been experiencing remarkable growth for the past years. However, in spite of offering goods at discounted prices, Lidl and Aldi failed to beat the superior service provided by Sainsbury's. The in-house labels of the retailer like â€Å"By Sainsbury's† and â€Å"Taste the Difference† developed at a rate that is two times the rate of the external brands since the customers always find ways for saving money.

Original Marriage Polygamy Essay Example for Free

Original Marriage Polygamy Essay Once referred to as the â€Å"original marriage† Polygamy is now an alternative lifestyle lived by many, but is it right? There are multiple countries around the world that believe that this is in fact an applicable way of living. The Origins of polygamy are extremely vast and are practiced all over the world. However, in the United States it is illegal, yet there are many knowing individuals who still partake in this style of living. It is reported that â€Å"there are 40,000 people living in polygamous families or communities across the Western region of the U. S† (Scharnberg Brachear, 2006). Should these people be prosecuted? Or are we as Americans pre judging a lifestyle that we know nothing about? In this paper, I will discuss what polygamy is, the controversies surrounding polygamy in the United States, and how polygamy emerged and extended through various cultures and religions globally. In addition, I will further explain if it is still practiced, and if so, is it accepted and acknowledged by their creed. Polygamy consists of three forms; they are polygyny, polyandry, and group marriage. Polygyny is the practice of having more than one wife at the same time. This was the original name for polygamy during the ninetieth century, it later became known as polygamy. The second form is polyandry which is the act of having many husbands at more than one time. Of the three, this practice is rare; it was traditionally practiced among Tibetans in Nepal and parts of China. The final form is group marriage (also referred to as circle marriage) this is the act of multiple women and men forming a single family. All members of the marriage share parental duties of any children they may have or will be created within their circle. Many practitioners feel that they are misunderstood and misjudged and feel that a monogamous relationship is ultimately impossible to maintain and that polygamy is a culture that is honest and upfront with each other. Amy Kaufman believes that â€Å"The most prevalent objection to polygamy is that it demeans women†. (Kaufman, 2005) It is also argued to be another form of slavery where children are at risk every day because in many cases they are conditioned to embrace a life of servitude. In any event, Polygamy still exists and is practiced around the world. All though there aren’t many cases surrounding polygamy it is a severely controversial topic. In the United States it is difficult to prove that polygamy is of existence. Even though polygamy is considered a crime, Individuals are rarely charged because it is extremely difficult to encourage polygamist or ex polygamist to come forth. Many of them are scared of being barred from their community or even prosecuted for admitting that they’ve partaken in polygamy. Unfortunately, without any choices of their own, children are born in to polygamy and the mental damaged is already done. They see nothing wrong with underage marriage, pregnancy and incest. There are several controversies surrounding this topic one of which is organized under aged marriages. In the case of the State of Utah vs. Holm’s Suzie Stubbs was married to her husband Rodney H. Holm in 1986. Holms a member of the fundamentalist church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints participated in a marriage ceremony (while still married to his first wife) with 16-year old Ruth Stubbs. Ruth claimed that she was forced into marrying her sister’s husband. Suzie Stubbs was later arrested; all though she wasn’t charged for polygamy she was charged with abetting bigamy and illegal sex. One of the largest custody cases in the United States history was the Texas polygamist custody case. It initiated with a 16-year old girl repeatedly calling an abuse hotline, claiming to be beaten and forced to become a â€Å"spiritual wife† to an adult man. Acting on her calls Texas Child welfare services removed all 439 (ranging in ages from infants to teenagers, and teenage mothers) children from the Yearning for Zion Ranch. The children were placed in foster care until the state Supreme Court ruled. It was later detected that the phone calls were fake. The children were later returned to the ranch. Arguably one of the most controversial polygamy cases in the United States was Warren Jeff’s. Warren Jeff was the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints (FLDS) from 2002- 2007. Separating themselves from mainstream Mormonism, the FLDS group decided to continue monogamy since Utah denounced Polygamy in 1890. They began building residential structures in El Dorado, Texas, Colorado City and Arizona. Unlike Islamic belief, In Africa women are not given the authority to decide whether they’re husbands can have multiple wives. In Africa, polygamy is used to show a man’s wealth and it is also utilized to display a man’s virility and need for sexual satisfaction. Men can also accumulate wives as a result through inheritance. In the unfortunate event of a husband’s passing his brother would take over his household which includes his wife. In instances where there are multiple wives, they would be distributed among the remaining brothers. There is a lot of resentment between the wives. With hopes to eliminate one another many of the wives performed witch craft on each other. The children are put against each other, and in some severe cases, are encouraged to kill their father with the hopes of inheriting his wealth and status. In ancient India, Polygamy was mainly among warrior’s castes and rich merchants, while the sages and seers were strictly monogamous or completely celibate. Although it was never a popular practice in ancient India, It was accepted for the procreation and continuation of family lineage. Polygamy in ancient India was considered a matter of personal choice. Several Hindu gods were often depicted as polygamous. It was noted that lord Krishna had 16,108 wives. It was tradition that the women in Hinduism never be left alone with males. Similar to African polygamy, in the event of her husband’s death she must marry her husband’s brother. The Hindu law books later made provisions on polygamy. Present day Hindus consider both polygamy and polyandry archaic and inadequate and no longer practice the belief. In conclusion, whether your views on polygamy are positive or negative, it appears to be a lifestyle that will always exist. Polygamy is a culture that is practiced globally. Initially the reasoning was solely for procreation. It has later become a religious tenet, and a matter of choice. It is arguably compared and associated with gay and lesbian marriage rights. Many polygamists feel that they are being stripped from their right to live freely. However if â€Å"living freely† involves sexual assaulting minors, and secluding their young from civilization, then maybe polygamy should stay illegal in the United States.

Concept of collective identity

Concept of collective identity Introduction: Although the concept of collective identity is a post-colonial phenomenon, a few nations would describe themselves under a collective identity before the modern times. In fact, Europe is historically unique in terms that it has been the people living in the continent of Europe who have persistently described themselves as Europeans since the 17th Century (Pagden, 2002). Indeed, European Union emerged as the most important attempt for creating a supranational entity in the Continent and the best example of a Pan-European common identity as even the words Europe and the European Union are being used as synonyms by millions of people every day. Nevertheless, an uncertainty of a common identity has always been the case for Europeans throughout history and the physical as well as social borders of Europe has never been distinctly known for centuries which are full of wars, confrontation competition and blood. Today, the same problem continues to exist and many believe that it is the major factor blocking the efforts for achieving a fully integrated Europe, as the definition and frontiers of a common European identity is still unknown. Indeed, one of the most important issues of the European integration from a socio-political perspective is the vague concept of a common European identity including prospects of European Union Citizenship. Although a common European identity has been long around for centuries, these are fairly new issues in relevance to the half a century long history of todays European Union. However, I believe how the common European identity is defined is very important for the future steps of the European integration project, as nowadays the EU is undergoing transformation towards a political union with an aim to become a global actor in the international political arena. What shall be the elements of a common European identity, how shall it be formulized if it is to bec ome a successful construct which would define Europe correctly to end the efforts that lasted for such a long time? I believe a triumphant common European identity must include the concrete and symbolic realities and it must be rooted to the diversity of cultures which had been created by the long history of Europe (DAppollonia, 2002). Otherwise, if it remains as a form of thin identity suggested by Habermas (2006), the problems and uncertainties of European identity as well as the poorly functioning European Union citizenship is most likely to exist in the Unions foreseeable future. In fact, a common European identity can only be successfully constructed by taking into account all the ambiguities, contradictions and developments in form of a unity in diversity principle which can be applied to the reality of Europe rather than building a shallow and artificial construct as it seems to be today. Theoretically, a united Europe in political terms is made possible if a united Europe in cultural terms is established through formulating a collective common identity which may only be conceived as a coll ection of multiple and complex values created by complicated dynamics of Europes long history. Nevertheless, a united Europe in cultural terms shall not mean to enforce a homogenous and strictly ordered European society; rather the European identity shall celebrate Europes long tradition of diversity. Another important question is how should European Union citizenship be defined and what should be the frontiers of cultural implications of such a political formulation. Considering the wide cultural diversity and long history that the individual members of the European Union had share in the European continent, a collective identity may prove to be far too complex to construct, so one may argue that a common European identity is still an illusion. Although Europeans have a successfully formed a common economic and increasingly political union, they are still far away from the desired level of cultural unity and a common identity which seems to be an alarming factor for the next stages of the European integration. Nonetheless, European Union citizenship is an area open to developments and it might be used as a critically important tool by the European Union leaders to accumulate a common European identity, only if it is formulized correctly. The critical point on the debate of Europe an Union citizenship is that the dominant Classical Model of Citizenship is based on the structures of nation-state and that is why this model cannot be applied to the European Union, as it is a whole different level of organization which cannot be compared to a nation-state. On the other hand, Post-National citizenship is a modern approach to the issue of European identity and my evaluation shows that it is a feasible solution suitable for todays Europe in order to reach its goals of unification and deepening through building a stronger common identity in the 21st Century. This paper is organized in several sections. European identity from a historical perspective is analyzed in the first part; nationalist responses to the current status of European identity and the issue of national identities in contrast to the common European identity is discussed in the following part; a new European identity and suggestions for a new understanding of common European identity is suggested in the third part; a brief history of European Union efforts and progress on building a common identity is examined in the fourth part; the current status of European Union Citizenship is discussed in the fifth part and finally, Post-National citizenship as a model for European Union citizenship is proposed in the last part of this paper. After all, this paper argues that a common identity in form of a collective European identity is clearly necessary for the Union at this stage of integration, and it is a crucial element for the future of the European integration project especially as our world is getting smaller as well as more fragmented simultaneously due to the complex dynamics of international relations every day at the age of globalization. European citizenship is very much connected to the issue of European identity and it is the key to achieving such a strong common and collective identity when it is formulized as a Post-National phenomenon. The Europeans must derive their power from the diversity of their cultures by building a thick identity for Europe rather than a thin identity which consists of merely political rights; yet the Europeans shall not overlook the uniqueness of the Continent and the similarities they share in comparison to the rest of the world emphasized by the Unity in Diversity principle. Today, it is time for the Europeans to unite under one roof in socio-political terms, complete the long standing task of defining the boundaries of the European civilization by establishing a common and collective European identity in order to carry on the progress of the European integration project in a globalized world. Nonetheless, the question of possibilities of the Europeans to achieve such a high level of cultural as well as political unity remains a question and it is subject to a whole different level of research. However, often seen as a regional product of globalization itself, I believe the European integration project cannot progress any further without achieving a common European identity which is more critical than ever today in order to overcome the challenges of globalization in the 21st Century. What is Identity? Identity has always been a problematic concept because it is uncertain, fluid and highly flexible. Identity is the way to define ones self and to differentiate from the others. If taken literally, identity means equal; identical. Identity is not static but dynamic, and it can be defined in different ways in different circumstances. Identity is construct, which cannot be constructed immediately but only in time. It is not a fixed, constant and pre-given entity; while identity formation is heavily dependent on how one is perceived by the others. Identification implies belonging or membership, in turn which implies the exclusion of non-members (Bretherton Vogler, 1999: 236). In other words, the sole purpose of identity is to separate self from the other in a sense. Moreover, identities are multiple in nature, or even kaleidoscopic. A person may have a single identity, but it will be made up of many levels of loyalty and identification (Von Benda-Beckmann Verkuyten, 1995: 18). Meanwhil e, identities change, because they are based on perceptions, which themselves change over time and environment; as it is possible to identify ones self with more than one thing at a time such as class and gender, or religion and age. Therefore there are various elements of ones identity and which operate at different levels and these various elements in an identity may well be contradictory (Von Benda-Beckmann Verkuyten, 1995: 12). On the other hand, a collective identity means the attitudes, which all members of that group have in common in their thoughts and behavior; which differentiates them from the other (Munch, 2001: 137). Collective identities can provide existential meaning for people, thus they are primary means of unity in a society which give additional stability especially during periods of upheaval. Collective identities can generate a degree of continuity between individuals and their social environment, and can provide social recognition and approval (Von Benda-Beckmann Verkuyten, 1995: 24). Therefore, collective identities are defined mainly by culture from a historical point of view rather than biological genes, ethnicity, nationalism or simple political rights. Finally, they are used to construct community and feelings of cohesion and holism, a concept to give the impression that all individuals are equal in the imagined community (Strath, 2002: 387). From the perspective of political scienc e; there are two types of political identities: a civic identity and a cultural identity. The cultural definition of political identity entails a sense of belonging of an individual towards a particular group which can mostly defined by its uniform cultural or ethnic values. On the other hand, the civic definition of political identity involves with the identification of an individual mostly in form of citizenry with a political structure, which includes political institutions, rights, duties and rules (Bruter, 2004: 26). Therefore, a cultural European identity implies a reference to Europe as a continent, a civilization and a cultural entity whereas a civic European identity implies a reference to the political and institutional aspects of European Union identity largely in the form of EU citizenship. European Identity throughout History: Europe has always been more of a mental construct than a geographical or social entity (Lowenthal, 2000: 314). Europe has no natural frontiers both in geographic and sociological terms. Therefore it had never been easy to acquire a singular definition of European identity because the borders of Europe had always been dynamic, and no one knew where Europe started and Europe ended (Pagden, 2002). A European identity is an abstraction and a fiction without essential proportions (Strath, 2002: 387). The concept of a European identity is an idea expressing artificial notions of unity rather than an identity of equality. In this sense, the concept of European identity is inscribed in a long history of political reflection on the concept of Europe. From the perspective of history, Europe has been united as a singular entity in various settings for a number of times in its past such as the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Napoleonic Empire, and arguably the Nazi Third Reich. However, identity was only conceptualized as a macro-level collective phenomenon by the intellectual elites of Europe; on the other hand, for the rural masses of Europe, identity was a local term associated with the micro-level, rarely the nation and never an incident as large as the continent of Europe (Pagden, 2002). In different period of history, a common European identity had been defined on different basis. In the Middle Ages, Christianity was the main defining characteristic of European identity, whereas in modern times, the emergence of the nation state, periods of nationalism and afterwards democracy and secularism has been the common characteristic of the Europeans. Meanwhile, Christianity lost its dominance yet it arguably remained as one of the important components of European identity. Today, the European Union similar to the continent of Europe can be characterized by overlapping and unclear boundaries. From a geographical perspective, the EU has fuzzy boundaries due to the ongoing enlargement processes since the 1970s (Risse, 2003: 490). Although the geographical borders of Europe are not objectively defined particularly in the East, a state without a geographical relevance to the European continent cannot become a part of the European Union, even if it shares the EUs collective values and norms. Moreover what adds to the uncertainty of Europes borders is that boundaries of the EU may change according to different policy fields such as the Schengen includes the non EU member Norway but at the same time it does not include the EU member state the United Kingdom. Therefore, before anything else the lack of solid geographical boundaries weaken efforts of the EU to be seen as a singular entity by its own people (Castano, 2004). Meanwhile, the geographic boundaries of Europe have suffered dramatic changes within time and even the recent years provide an image of changing boundaries in Europe considering the reunification of Germany, the break-up of Yugoslavia and collapse of the Soviet Union. Therefore, Europe cannot be defined solely as a geographical space. On the contrary, Europe cannot be defined in cultural space either, unless European culture is associated with the Continents long history of diversity itself. Indeed, diversity shall be the main characteristic of European identity from a cultural point of view. Religious and cultural heritages including Roman law, political democracy, parliamentary institutions, Renaissance humanism, rationalism, romanticism characterize the common identity of the Europeans (Smith, 1992). On the other hand, there are undeniable socioeconomic, cultural, national and ethnic differences among the member states of the European Union. Nevertheless, the motto of the EU, unity in diversity, reflects this fact from a positive point of view and proposes a common identity for Europeans based on their peaceful diversity as a fundamental character of the European society at large. A collective political culture is an important feature of the common European identity. The Greeks gave Europe the science and philosophy and the Romans gave it the idea of single continent and unity which created Europes strong cultural and political origins. The diverse and multiple cultures of the ancient Europe shared a single identity as they were brought together under a common system of Roman law. The people of Europe also shared a common language, Latin, and after Europe slowly converted to Christianity they acquired a common religion as well. Christianity has been a crucial part of the European identity and it played a key role to create its internal cohesion and to designate its relationship with the rest of the world. Further references are made to Europes identity besides its heritage of Greco-Roman civilization and Christianity; such as the ideas of the Enlightenment, Science, Reason, Progress, Industrialization, Democracy and Individualization as the core elements of th is claimed European legacy (Wintle, 1996: 13-16). Hellenism, Romanticism, welfare society and cross-fertilization of diversity can be added to this list (Garcia, 1993: 7-9), while one may argue that Europes core values include its commitments to an undivided continent, to individual freedom, and to the universalism of humanity (Havel, 1996). However, this unity never reached to the point of sharing a common European culture up to this point in history of the Continent. In fact, a single body of citizenry or a common cultural identity could not be reached even in the peak of Europes history of unity and solidarity. When the differences within Europe are emphasized, they are often in the form of unity in diversity; religious differences such as Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christianity, and linguistic differences including Romance, Germanic and Slavic languages are obvious; yet they are seen as correlated, Catholic-Romance, Protestant-Germanic, Orthodox-Slavic, and essentially are underlying the major ethnic cleavages and conflicts in the history of Europe (Wintle, 1996). Anthony Smith is among the scholars who are skeptical of the possibility of a common European identity because they could not find a common culture across the European continent, and even more critically they claim that Europe lacks of a shared set o f myths, experience and symbols; these elements which they find crucial to create post-national identity (Smith, 1992: 72-73). Furthermore, Europe lacks of a shared historical and cultural content as which is the largest source of division among Europeans. Other obstacles to a common European identity include linguistic diversity and its tripartite religious division. In fact, a major difference among EU countries is the persistence of linguistic diversity, even though in practical level English has become the dominant language in Europe. Language does not only have an instrumental but also an emotional dimension and peoples sense of nationality is often tied up with their mother tongue (Guibernau, 2001: 192). Finally, confrontation, wars and the effort to establish clear differences between peoples of the continent dominate the history of Europe, which is the exact opposite of what the European Union seeks to achieve today. On the other side of the debate, scholars such as Michael Wintle are more optimistic on the possibility of creating a European identity. Indeed, the existence of the EU identity in the form of converging education standards, educational exchanges, and the organization of a European civil society is already established in most parts of Europe. Wintle argues that a European identity was previously already created during the high Middle Age (Wintle, 1996: 19-22), and it can be easily established today considering the forces of globalization. For now, the major success of the EU in fostering its identity has been limited with the increasing free movement of people across European borders, which has accelerated since the 1985 and formalized in 1990 Schengen accords parallelly correlated with the rising impact of globalization. Increased interaction among peoples of Europe would also encourage cultural exchanges and this could foster a stronger sense of a shared community. Education and hi gh culture shall play a key role in European Unions cultural policy which has critical importance for building a thick European identity, because these two factors have an important effect on the creation as well as promotion of the EU identity. Education is obviously one of the crucial dimensions in any attempt to develop the future identity of the EU or at least more understanding and convergence among Europeans; high culture unites Europeans against the low culture which separates them. After all, the development of the EU identity will be the outcome of a long process in which bottom-up as well as top-down initiatives are likely to be employed (Guibernau, 2001: 183-184). The idea of Europe as well as the identity of Europeans are constructed over time with processes of contention and bargaining. Gerard Delanty argues that a European Culture is not an entity with cohesion and fixed boundaries, but a floppy concept, with no clear borders and with internal opposition and contradictions, discursively shaped in contentious social bargaining processes (Delanty, 1995; 1999). In other words, the images of Europe do not exist as a natural phenomenon but are discursively shaped by internal as well as external forces (Strath, 2002). A basic step in the process of creating a collective identity is to defining itself in relation to the other. Central to ones identifications are images of others. Likewise any identity, European identity necessarily contains an element of separation from the non-European. The boundaries of Europe can only be drawn and the identity of Europe can only be realized in the mirror of others. Indeed, Europe does not exist without non-Euro pe and that non-Europe does not exist without Europe (Wintle, 1996). Many centuries ago, the Europeans defined people living in the north as uncivilized and people living in the south as oriental (Pagden, 2002). Furthermore, the Greeks labeled the non-Greek speaking people as barbarians, even if that word would surely have a different meaning by that time. In nearer times, although the Russians shared many features with a European society including the same religion, it could not reach the formal limits of a Romanized civilization thus perceived as a barbaric empire or the orient, depending on the time. Moreover, European belief of its superiority relied on the common features of European societies such as science and liberal arts. Thus the rest of the world could only be portrayed as actors in relation to Europe, in other words always remained as the other. According to Delanty, Europe has been always invented and reinvented on the basis of division and strategy for the construction of difference from the other starting from Christian identity against Islam in the Middle-Ages, after that in the colonial politics to the New World, and to the ethnic minorities in the contemporary European Union (Delanty, 1995). Therefore, historical experience suggests that the new European identity may be constructed on the other which may be the United States, the East, Islam or the European past itself. Samuel Huntington has argued that religion provides the best common means of historically distinguishing between Europeans and the other, especially in terms of the confrontation between the Judeo-Christian tradition and Islam (Huntington, 1996). However, at the same time, the separation between Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Western variations of Christianity has, for a long time, been crucial in establishing a division between Western and Eastern E urope; partially reinforced in the Cold War, divisions between Catholicism and Protestantism and separation between North and South (Guibernau, 2001). Therefore, history shows that peoples of Europe has been united against peoples of other civilizations at times such as global upheaval and wars while at other times Europeans get divided and separated due to the face that they may perceive the other internally. Today, the European Union is frequently argued to be a fortress for the other and the EU is often referred to as a Christian Club, because historically all states on the continent of Europe had Christian societies. The Ottoman Empire was the greatest enemy of European states as well as Christianity in the Middle Ages; which made Islam the primary characteristic of the other for Europeans from the perspective of history. Today, the accession dialogues of Turkey into the European Union raise wide public opposition in Europe while the European Union officials make constant efforts to prove their allegiance to non-religious, non-ethnic but solely liberal and non discriminatory Copenhagen Criteria independent from historical aspects of the other which has actually been extensively used to define the European identity. Finally, Europe is unique because it has possessed an identity as a cultural space which gave birth to political unions throughout its history; however, it has never succeeded to constitute a single nation-state or a unified ethnic group. Although the European Union with its single currency and supranational political and legal institutions changed these historical facts to an extent, it is only possible with the means of a common European identity which will carry Europe to the next stage of integration that it always aimed but failed to achieve during its long history. Nevertheless, history has already proved that it will surely be hard to overcome uncertainties of a common European identity at the level of the masses. Over the past millennium, the advancements of European civilization gave rise to the elites living on the continent of Europe who feel increasingly attached to Europe as a whole and shared dreams of a united continent. However, Europe as a realm sharing a common history as well as a common destiny has been largely abandoned by fixed prejudices on often nationalistic and ethnic grounds. National interests and biases at local, national, and global levels have prevented the masses of European people from viewing themselves collectively (Lowenthal, 2000: 315). However today, forces of globalization, advancements in communications technologies and popular culture now promote the sense of being European among larger segments of society other than the European elites. Although a truly trans-European society is still far away, many of its essential elements are already in place this time largely due to the forces of globalization. Most European states are increasingly democratic; their econo mies are for the most part market driven; their popular culture grows more homogeneous as communication technologies expand under the forces of globalization in the 21st Century (Waterman, 1999: 23). Therefore, Europe is at the stage of defining its identity today; however which criteria are being deployed to define Europe, Europeans, Europeanness and their respective boundaries is critically important. A common European identity must be constructed by defining and understanding the historical roots of outstanding features of the European society in relation to the notion of citizenship, which will be discussed in depth in the following parts of this paper; developed in the past over the land of Europe. For sure, Europe is being redefined as a result of a complex set of processes, but an important question is what sort of Europe is emerging from them? Nationalist Responses to European Identity: There is certainly a structured symmetry in the perception of the European Union as the coincidence of a homogenized socio-political space, a unified regulatory space of an EU super-state, a singular European civil society surpassing existing national and regional differences in culture and identity (Hudson, 2000). In some respects there has been progress towards such an ideal of European common European cultural and a trans-national civil society. For example, the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights have had an important role in defining acceptable standards across Europe. The issue of European identity and the criteria used to denote Europeans is clearly a critical one for the political and social integrity of the European Union. Europe will exist as an unquestionable political community only when European identity permeates peoples lives and daily existence (Demos 1998). Identity is a key issue which is continuously changing and thats the reason why it is so hard to define especially in a world of fast changes in the 21st Centurys globalization. The member states of todays enlarged EU have become multi-ethnic and multi-cultural societies with various structural phenomenon ranging from the immigrant community of France to Post-Communist yet ethnic communities of the Central and Eastern European states. As the EU expanded eastwards in the last two rounds of enlargements, the issue of defining a European identity became even more critical for sake of integrity and stability of the Union. One conception of a singular European identity would see it constructed through a process similar to that involved in the creation of national identities in the 19th and the 20th Centuries. Ironically, while the aim was to create those national identities in the past, the challenge that Europeans face today would be to transcend them for the creation of a trans-national understanding of Europeannes. However, the current trends at local European level are quite different from the interests of Europeanists at the supranational level. There are pressures from nation-states and their citizens to resist any further transfer of national sovereignty as well as erosion of national identity (Hudson, 2000). In fact, the success of extreme right wing political parties in important European countries such as Austria and France in recent years may be seen as a sign of the reappearance of dangerous nationalist and racist ambitions which the peoples of Europe have most probably experienced more tha n any other continent in the world history. Eric Hobsbawm has proclaimed that nationalism is dead (Hobsbawm, 1990). On the contrary, Llobera argues that national identities are certainly not eternal, but the time of their demise has not yet arrived (Llobera, 2003). In fact, national identities are still dominant in Europe as recent Eurobarometer surveys show that people in Europe prefer maintaining their national identity and sovereignty; but increasing number of people have accepted European identity in addition to their national identities. Therefore, European nationalism is another important component of a common European identity and it has been a major ideological tool for unifying nation states as well as the Europeans as a whole throughout Europes history. To start with, the European Union, with its both intergovernmental and supranational characteristics represents a far different type of state-organization than a classical nation state. The main distinguishing characteristics of the EU from the nation-state are the ab sence of a shared language, a uniform media, common education system and most importantly a central state structure (Shore, 2000: 64). Furthermore, the powers of the EU rely on the sharing of sovereignty of its member states which may often have conflicting national interests. Indeed, the European integration project has mainly served as a tool for progressively limiting individual nation-states to practice any kind of harmful nationalism and this makes up an important part of the European identity. At this point, nationalist Euroskeptics may argue that building a common Europe and an identity for it means destroying nations. However, a general feeling of Europeanness and loyalty to Europe in a cultural sense, does not need to conflict with national identities (Andreani, 1999). A successful construct of European identity must include the concrete and symbolic realities created within history of the Continent but exclude nationalist ambitions of the past. Surely, the European states have not always been nationalist through Europes long history. The definition of nationalism counts on the idea of nation and territory; while the definition of a European nationalism depends on the historical and ideological evolution of the European nation states and aspirations for a post-national Europe. In fact, the aspirations that underlie in the roots of the foundation of the European Union are parallel to European cosmopolitanism in the 18th and the 19th centuries. From the Enlightenment to the beginning of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) after the Second World War; European nationalism found two separate meanings: one as an antinational Pan-European idea of a new united Europe that limits the sovereignty of the nation states, and the other as a pro-national ideology to create or legitimate new nation states (DAppollonia, 2002). Historically, cosmopolitanism reflected intentions for a European unity, and gave rise to anti-national European nationalism. European nationalism was characterized by the will to protect the European interests and its supremacy from non-Europeans as well as protecting Europe from itself by creating a federation. It can be argued that economic development, comme