Hate Crimes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Hate Crimes - Essay Example These prejudices are not inborn but rather they are a result of the prejudices which children are exposed to through their families, friends, teachers and the media. This prejudices and biases lead to various stereotypes of different groups. Even the parenting style and personality factors were found to have an effect on the offenders of hate crimes. Creating a stereotype image of a certain group often lead to bad judgments. Hate crimes can be prevented if even at an early age, children are taught that not all people are alike, that each one is a unique person. As such, individuals must learn to respect and accept the diversity of people in communities. Bias and prejudices may not be totally eradicated but they should be kept at a level which does not develop into hate so as not to lead to violent crimes. Tolerance of other people’s differences must be instilled in children at an early age. The government has led the way in preventing hate crimes by making policies and regulations which prevent racial discrimination and promote equality especially in the workplace. Government should provide economic opportunities to minority groups since it is believed that there is a link between economics and hate crimes. Local community leaders must be more aware of the presence of extremist groups who are tremendously prejudiced against certain groups. Reading the chapter makes one think whether hate crimes can be prevented or at the very least, be minimized. Another question is whether there is a way of detecting a person who will most likely commit a hate crime and if detected, can he be swayed into doing otherwise? Is there a way of controlling or limiting one’s prejudices and biases so as not to move one from committing a hate

Chinese philosophy Essay Example for Free

Chinese philosophy Essay The 6th century B. C. E. was an amazing time of philosophical growth for ancient China. It was during that time that the two most influential spiritual leaders native to China, Confucius and Lao-tzu, are thought to have lived and taught. The philosophies that they practiced, Taoism and Confucianism, existed simultaneously in dynastic China, attracting countless numbers of followers over the past 2,500 years. The fascination of both the Eastern and Western worlds with these two legendary figures and the philosophies that they created remains strong. The Old Master  Lao-tzu, translated as either Old Master or Old Boy, is believed to be the author of Taoism. Very little is known of his life; he may not even have existed. According to myth, at his birth around 604 B. C. E. , Lao-tzu came from the womb as an old man, white-haired and full of wisdom. He eventually took a position as head librarian of the Imperial Archives. Saddened by societys lack of goodness, Lao-tzu decided to leave his home in Luoyang to live out the rest of his life in quiet and solitude somewhere beyond the Great Wall of China, possibly near Tibet. As he passed through the city gates for the final time, the gatekeeper asked Lao-tzu to write down his parting thoughts. The Old Master agreed, and three days later returned with a small book. Lao-tzu then left civilization, never to return. His writings were titled the Tao Te Ching, and became the most important text of Taoism. The Vinegar Tasters Lao-tzu smiles while the Buddha and Confucius wince after they taste-test vinegar. The philosophies of ancient China are summarized in the faces of its three most colorful characters. According to Taoism, the entire universe and everything in it flows with a mysterious, unknowable force called the Tao. Translated literally as The Way, the Tao has many different meanings. It is the name that describes ultimate reality. The Tao also explains the powers that drive the universe and the wonder of human nature. Taoists believe that everything is one despite all appearances. Opinions of good and evil or true and false only happen when people forget that they are all one in the Tao. Therefore, it is the aim of Taoists not to forget, and if forgotten to remember that oneness. However, Lao-tzu reminds believers that the Tao is difficult to grasp: the Tao that can be spoken is not the true Tao. Over time a Taoist religion evolved, becoming somewhat different from the philosophy of Taoism just described. While religious Taoism held some of the same beliefs, it also called for worship of many gods and ancestors, a practice that began during the Shang dynasty. Other religious practices included the cultivation of bodily energy called chi, the creation of a system of morals, and use of alchemy in attempts to attain immortality. The folk religion of Taoism became popular after its adoption by China as the state religion in 440 C. E. , and continues to be practiced even to the present-day. Confucius and the Analects The other driving philosophy of dynastic China was created by a politician, musician, and philosopher named Confucius. Born in 551 B. C. E. , Confucius wandered throughout China, first as a government employee, and later as a political advisor to the rulers of the Chou dynasty. In later life, Confucius left politics to teach a small group of students. After his death in 479 B. C. E. , the ethics and moral teachings of Confucius were written down by his students to become the Lun-yu, or Analects. Many of his clever sayings are still followed today. It is as hard to be poor without complaining as to be rich without becoming arrogant. Lao-tzu, the founder of Taoism Lao-tzu, known as the Old Master, wrote his parting thoughts on the Tao or The Way before he left civilization. The Tao Te Ching, as this writing came to be known, has influenced millions during the last 2,500 years. Learning to be human was the goal of Confucianism. According to Confucius, each person should act with virtue in all social matters; family, community, state, and kingdom, to ensure order and unity. Mans virtue in all its forms is called jen. Jen is all encompassing and unable to be defined, in some respects similar to the Tao. Confucian ceremonies contained many rituals based in the Five Classics, especially the I Ching, or Book of Changes. Procedures for birth, marriage, and death were rigid and specific. For example, according to Confucian funeral tradition, a willow branch is always carried behind the body of the deceased symbolizing the soul of that person. However, by far the most influential aspect of Confucianism remains the Analects: Not to teach a man who can be taught, is to waste a man; to teach a man who cannot be taught, is a waste of words. The wise will lose neither men nor words. It was sayings such as this one that made Confucianism the social philosophy of China from the Han dynasty in 202 B. C. E.until the end of dynastic rule in 1911. Rival Philosophies Taoism and Confucianism have lived together in China for well over 2,000 years. Confucianism deals with social matters, while Taoism concerns itself with the search for meaning. They share common beliefs about man, society, and the universe, although these notions were around long before either philosophy. Both began as philosophies, each later taking on religious overtones. Legend states that Confucius and Lao-tzu did in fact meet to discuss the Imperial Archives. Lao-tzu was unimpressed by the beautiful robes worn by Confucius, and did not agree with looking back on the past. Put away your polite airs and your vain display of fine robes. The wise man does not display his treasures to those he does not know. And he cannot learn justice from the Ancients. Regardless of the disagreements between Lao-tzu and Confucius, both Taoism and Confucianism have served as guides. They have led China through the peaks and valleys of its vast history, the longest continuing story on the planet.

Main Concerns In Internet Banking Information Technology Essay

Main Concerns In Internet Banking Information Technology Essay The Internet banking is changing the banking industry and is having the major effects on banking relationships. Even the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Internet research emphasised that Web is more important for retail financial services than for many other industries. Internet banking involves use of Internet for delivery of banking products services. It falls into four main categories, from Level 1 minimum functionality sites that offer only access to deposit account data to Level 4 sites highly sophisticated offerings enabling integrated sales of additional products and access to other financial services- such as investment and insurance. In other words a successful Internet banking solution offers  · Exceptional rates on Savings, CDs, and IRAs  · Checking with no monthly fee, free bill payment and rebates on ATM surcharges  · Credit cards with low rates  · Easy online applications for all accounts, including personal loans and mortgages  · 24 hour account access  · Quality customer service with personal attention DRIVERS OF CHANGE Advantages previously held by large financial institutions have shrunk considerably. The Internet has leveled the playing field and afforded open access to customers in the global marketplace. Internet banking is a cost-effective delivery channel for financial institutions. Consumers are embracing the many benefits of Internet banking. Access to ones accounts at anytime and from any location via the World Wide Web is a convenience unknown a short time ago. Thus, a banks Internet presence transforms from brouchreware status to Internet banking status once the bank goes through a technology integration effort to enable the customer to access information about his or her specific account relationship. The six primary drivers of Internet banking includes, in order of primacy are:  · Improve customer access  · Facilitate the offering of more services  · Increase customer loyalty  · Attract new customers  · Provide services offered by competitors  · Reduce customer attrition INDIAN BANKS ON WEB The banking industry in India is facing unprecedented competition from non-traditional banking institutions, which now offer banking and financial services over the Internet. The deregulation of the banking industry coupled with the emergence of new technologies, are enabling new competitors to enter the financial services market quickly and efficiently. Indian banks are going for the retail banking in a big way. However, much is still to be achieved. This study which was conducted by students of IIML shows some interesting facts:  · Throughout the country, the Internet Banking is in the nascent stage of development (only 50 banks are offering varied kind of Internet banking services).  · In general, these Internet sites offer only the most basic services. 55% are so called entry level sites, offering little more than company information and basic marketing materials. Only 8% offer advanced transactions such as online funds transfer, transactions cash management services.  · Foreign Private banks are much advanced in terms of the number of sites their level of development. EMERGING CHALLENGES Information technology analyst firm, the Meta Group, recently reported that financial institutions who dont offer home banking by the year 2000 will become marginalized. By the year of 2002, a large sophisticated and highly competitive Internet Banking Market will develop which will be driven by  · Demand side pressure due to increasing access to low cost electronic services.  · Emergence of open standards for banking functionality.  · Growing customer awareness and need of transparency.  · Global players in the fray  · Close integration of bank services with web based E-commerce or even disintermediation of services through direct electronic payments (E- Cash).  · More convenient international transactions due to the fact that the Internet along with general deregulation trends, eliminate geographic boundaries.  · Move from one stop shopping to Banking Portfolio i.e. unbundled product purchases. Certainly some existing brick and mortar banks will go out of business. But thats because they fail to respond to the challenge of the Internet. The Internet and its underlying technologies will change and transform not just banking, but all aspects of finance and commerce. It represents much more than a new distribution opportunity. It will enable nimble players to leverage their brick and mortar presence to improve customer satisfaction and gain share. It will force lethargic players who are struck with legacy cost basis, out of business-since they are unable to bring to play in the new context. MAIN CONCERNS IN INTERNET BANKING In a survey conducted by the Online Banking Association, member institutions rated security as the most important issue of online banking. There is a dual requirement to protect customers privacy and protect against fraud. Banking Securely: Online Banking via the World Wide Web provides an overview of Internet commerce and how one company handles secure banking for its financial institution clients and their customers. Some basic information on the transmission of confidential data is presented in Security and Encryption on the Web. PC Magazine Online also offers a primer: How Encryption Works. A multi-layered security architecture comprising firewalls, filtering routers, encryption and digital certification ensures that your account information is protected from unauthorised access:  · Firewalls and filtering routers ensure that only the legitimate Internet users are allowed to access the system.  · Encryption techniques used by the bank (including the sophisticated public key encryption) would ensure that privacy of data flowing between the browser and the Infinity system is protected.  · Digital certification procedures provide the assurance that the data you receive is from the Infinity system. Concluding Part Claus Nehmzow, a Principal in the Information Technology Group in London at Booz Allen Hamilton, writes of some compelling research findings and offers his projections for European banks in The Internet Will Shake Backings Medieval Foundations. He believes the low transaction cost will make banking on the Net irresistible, but also that this will require institutions to carefully consider and plan customer relations programs.  · It is believed that everything will be determined by content and context, and where execution will be key. From a customer and service provider perspective, this is where the world is moving-it is going to be real-time, on-line, personalisation for both marketing and the service experience. If existing banks dont want to disappear, it is this challenge of Integration that they need to embrace in order to win and survive. The more things change, the less they change. In the months and years-ahead are going to be how Service Providers integrate and market their offerings across different channels. The strategic and executional battles of the future are going to be fought for Channel Integration. What does Channel Integration means? It means that an institution presents an identical face to the customer-be it in the branch, on the web, at an ATM or for that matter, through a sales representative or a broker. An identical face, an identical message. Or better still, messages that re inforce each other. If a sales representative tries to sell you a housing loan, you get e-mail a day later reminding you about the loan. Thats called Integrated Sales, which results in incremental economic activity and improved efficiencies of communications. Channel Integration across the phone web can clearly lead to a gain of several percentage points of GDP. The beauty of this approach is that one channel does not displace another. They feed on each other to create incremental value for the customer, as well as the institution. The incremental value comes from two distinct sources. Firstly, you reduce inefficiencies. You dont send people junk mail because you know that they are not likely to buy a particular product or service today. That results in net saving for the economy. Secondly, you persuade people at the right time (the right time from the customers perspective, not from the service providers perspective) to opt for a tailor made offering. This too increases value. Actu ally, this has to do with the Internet itself, and more to with the underlying technologies of the Internet which allow incremental efficiency, and empowers the customer to make more enlightened and timely choices.  · Lastly the product range is another issue which becomes important. It will take a technological revolution to make available advanced banking products on the net and given the rate at which the technology is developing we can expect this to happen in near future. STRATEGIES TO BE ADOPTED BY INDIAN BANKS Internet banking would drive us into an age of creative destruction due to non-physical exchange, complete transparency giving rise to perfectly electronic market place and customer supremacy. The question to be asked right now is What the Indian Banks should do Whatever is the strategy chosen and options adopted, certain key parameters would determine the banks success on web: 1. For long term success, a bank may follow:  · Adopting a webs mindset  · Catching on the first movers advantage  · Recognising the core competencies  · Ability to deal multiplicity with simplicity  · Senior Management initiative to transform the organisation from inward to outward looking  · Aligning roles and value propositions with the customer segments  · Redesigning optimal channel portfolio  · Acquiring new capabilities through strategic alliances. 2. The above can be implemented in four steps:  · Familiarising the customer to new environment by demo version of software on banks web site. This should contain tour through the features which are to be included. It will enable users to give suggestions for improvements, which can be incorporated in later versions wherever feasible.  · Second phase provides services such as account information and balances, statement of account, transaction tracking, mail box, check book issue, stop payment, financial and customised information.  · The third phase may include additional services such as fund transfers, DD issue, standing instructions, opening fixed deposits, intimation of loss of ATM cards.  · The last step should include advanced corporate banking services like third party payments, utility bill payments, establishment of L/Cs, Cash Management Services etc. Enhanced plan for the customers in future can include requests for demand drafts and pay orders and many more to bring in the ultimate in banking convenience. All the above strategies will help banks in translating their traditional business model into an Internet one, falling into three main categories  · One stop shop  · Virtual one-stop-shop  · Best of breed supplier.

Importance of Outdoor Recreation in Education

Importance of Outdoor Recreation in Education This essay is designed to have you explore the research around the goals and purposes of different approaches to outdoor learning. There is a significant body of learning theory that informs how people interpret and understand natural environments and it is essential that you familiarise yourself with this work. Some of the key approaches you should consider in your work include: adventure education, outdoor recreation, outdoor education, outdoor environmental education, environmental education, outdoor environmental studies, adventure therapy, and bush adventure therapy. My name is Steele Millroy and I am currently studying a Bachelor in Secondary Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast, majoring in Health and Physical Education (HPE), or as it may also be known, outdoor studies. HPE is an umbrella term for many varieties of outdoor educational teaching practices. These include outdoor recreation, outdoor education, adventure therapy and outdoor environmental education. The two that I would like to focus on for this essay are outdoor recreation and outdoor education. I believe these two have the biggest impact on my career area, while still being effective even within the limitations the classroom provides. Today, when we hear outdoor recreation, it is often associated with the term leisure or leisure activities (Martin, Cashell, Wagstaff, Breunig, 2006). Outdoor recreation is defined to be an active side of leisure that transpires in a natural setting such as a mountain, lake or field (Martin et al, 2006). Being actively immersed in these outdoor locations can have a profound effect on the way people view their environment. It can change a persons perspective of the way we use, understand and appreciate the natural environment (Martin et al, 2006). As a person begins to use their environment for recreation, it starts off as just another piece of equipment for them to use, but as they return to the same spots repeatedly, it can become like an old friend. A person will notice more and more detail about the environment as it will become more familiar to them. They develop a deeper appreciation for landscape and everything it has to offer. Outdoor Recreation now has become increasingly po pular since the 1950s due to the prosperity of western countries and their increase in leisure time (Martin et al, 2006). This also lead to areas that previously had been relatively unknown becoming popular activity spots and in doing so has had a detrimental effect in some natural areas (Martin et al, 2006). In America, this concern led to the first significant study done by the Outdoor Recreation Resource Review Commission (ORRRC), which was to assess the state of outdoor recreation in America and make suggestions on its future development (Martin et al, 2006). These suggestions by ORRRC have led to the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963 and the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (Martin et al, 2006). These acts have helped reduce the impact humans have on natural recreation areas and help improve those areas for the future. Examples of the natural areas that we use for recreation are things like hiking trails, rivers or streams that we kayak on, mountains for climbing or ev en an open field for a game of football or cricket. In summation outdoor recreation is a great way for humans to become more involved in nature, but we must become educated in a way that ensures us we are not doing damage to the places we love. A way to keep humans educated with how our environment works and why we need it is through Outdoor Education. Outdoor Education is broadly defined as the philosophy of learning by doing (Priest Gass, 1997). The term Outdoor Education covers two main subjects of Environmental Education and Adventure Education (Martin et al, 2006). In Environmental Education the emphasis of learning is placed between people and their natural environment and natural resources (Priest Gass, 1997). Adventure Education focuses on interpersonal growth through the opportunities that adventure experiences can give to us (Martin et al, 2006). Adventure Education is often done with a group of people that will have to work together to complete a certain task. This provides them with a personal challenge while still have to use skills such as decision making, communication, cooperation and most of all they learn to trust each other (Priest Gass, 1997). The educator who is running the challenge structures it in such a way that the risk is perceived to be much higher than it truly is. This gives more opportunity for the participants to hit their peak adventure point while still being challenged to grow and change (Priest Gass, 1997). Examples of this type of education would be a rope course where your team must all pass together or a navigation exercise where your team is left some basic equipment and you are dropped off in an area you dont know. This navigation exercise can be very beneficial as it can seem like the risks are very high (when it is just your group and their survival skills), but in truth the guides who dropped you there would know the area extremely well and can remove you at any time if the situation calls for it. With this adventure education you must then become involved with environmental education for without knowing about the environment we could lose the nature and beauty that we all love about adventure education (Priest Gass, 1997). Environmental education can b e parted into two segments: ecosystemic relationships and ekistic relationships (Martin et al, 2006). Ecosystemic relationships refer to independent organisms living in the ecosystem, whereas ekistic relationships refer to the interactions between people and the environment, or how we treat our ecosystem, and in turn, how that will affect us (Martin et al, 2006). An example of this relationship would be humans polluting a river or lake, then in turn having no fresh water to drink. In this relationship, if we take care of that specific environment, it will in turn take care of us. Outdoor education is a very important tool for us to understand each other and our natural environment. Both outdoor recreation and outdoor education are important to me being a HPE teacher. Outdoor recreation is one of the big examples of being a HPE teacher. Since all schools will not have the same funding for their sporting programs, the ability to go outside and create a game or activity, that uses the natural landscapes around us, are vitally important. Doing this will show the students how to use the land respectfully and in turn can be woven into a lesson of Environmental Education. The benefits of using outdoor recreation as a learning tool are that it can be very cost effective, the games can be played by the students at home without much equipment and the students begin to appreciate the natural environment and getting immersed within it. Outdoor education can work well alongside outdoor recreation. I believe that they complement each other well. In recreation, they can make relationships to a place while in outdoor education they learn why that relationship is so important. During my career as a HPE teacher I will also be endeavouring to use Adventure Education. I believe that using Adventure Education in a class setting as it can strengthen the class as a whole and make different friendship circles communicate with each other. A challenge for me will be providing such a challenge in a school setting that seems high risk even when it isnt. A possible way around this would be a day trip somewhere if the school budget allows it. When we are not doing practical classes and are in the classroom, that is when I will begin to teach the students about ecosystemic and ekistic relationships. These are both important pieces to the outdoor education puzzle as they teach the students how we can impact one little organism and then how that can impact the ecosystem as a whole. In that past there has been some debate on whether all this should be taught in a HPE classroom, but I agree with L. B. Sharp (cited in Ewert Sibthorp, 2014) when he said those things which c an best be taught outdoors should there be taught (p. 6). These disciplines of outdoor recreation and outdoor education will be a great tool and asset to the modern HPE classroom. Getting the students involved in the outdoors and playing games is a great way to keep their attention while we teach them how to respect it. When students form their own relationships with a place, that is when they truly start to understand the importance of nature. Doing this through outdoor recreation and outdoor education is an effective and affordable way to achieve this goal. References Ewert, A. W., Sibthorp, J. (2014). Outdoor adventure education: foundations, theory, and research. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Martin, B., Cashel, C., Wagstaff, M., Bruenig, M. (2006). Outdoor leadership: theory and practice. Journal of Education and Outdoor Learning, 8, 3-12. Priest, S., Gass, M. A. (1997). Effective leadership in adventure programming. Palaestra, 22, 17-26.

Legal Drugs? The Problems of Alcohol Essay examples -- Drugs, Cocaine,

Heroin, Cocaine, and Marijuana are all recognizable variations of drugs. â€Å"A drug is a chemical substance that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addition† (â€Å"American† 431). The affects a drug can have on the central nervous system as well as other parts of the body can be very devastating, but bodily damage is just one result of drug use. When a person abuses a drug it can cause them to act in a way that hurts themselves or others often resulting in problems at work, marital issues, child abuse, or even murder. Most drugs are illegal because of the harmful effects that can result from using and abusing them; however, one very powerful, extremely addictive drug has slipped through the cracks. This drug is alcohol. â€Å"Alcohols ability to alter body function, as well as, its potential to cause addiction, has led to its classification as a drug†. (Mitchell 9). Although it is legal in most countries, like all d rugs it can do serious damage if it is not used properly. The key phrase here is â€Å"used properly†, which most people do not. With all the problems associated with alcohol, there should be stricter laws and harsher punishments for people who abuse alcohol. There are two types of dependency related to drug abuse: physical and psychological. Alcohol is no different. When a person is physically dependent on alcohol, also known as an alcoholic, the person’s body needs the alcohol and can not function normally without it. Alcholism is characterized by cravings, loss of control, and tolerance (the need for more and more alcohol). Alcoholics may show symptoms of withdrawal as well. This includes nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety. â€Å"An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serio... ... Works Cited The American Heritage College Dictionary. 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2010. Print. Ball, Jacqueline A. Everything You Need To Know About Drug Abuse. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 1992. Print. Biggers, Jeff. Chemical Dependency and the Dysfunctional Family. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 1998. Print. Haughton, Emma. Alcohol. Austin: Steck-Vaugh Company, 1999. Print. Mitchell, Hayley R. Teen Alcoholism. San Diego: Lucent Books, Inc., 1998. Print. Nakaya, Andrea C, ed. Opposing Viewpoints: Alcohol. Detroit: The Gale Group, 2008. Print. Sanders, Pete, and Steve Myers. What Do You Know About Drinking Alcohol. Brookfield: Cooper Beech Books, 1997. Print. Wilson, Hugh T, ed. Drugs, Society, and Behavior. 14th ed. Guilford: Dushkin/ McGraw Hill, 1999. Print.

Mercury :: essays research papers

Mercury   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mercury is a metallic element that is a liquid at room temperature, it is one of the transition elements. Mercury's atomic number is 80. It is superconductive when cooled to within a few degrees of absolute zero. Mercury was once known as liquid silver or quicksilver which was studied by the alchemists. Mercury was first distinguished as an element by the French chemist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier in his experiment on the composition of air. At room temperature mercury is a shining, moving liquid that has a silvery-white color, and slightly volatile. Mercury remains a liquid over a wide temperature range. Mercury is a solid when given a pressure of 7640 atmospheres (5.8 million torrs). It dissolves in nitric or concentrated sulfuric acid but is resistant to alkalies. Mercury melts at -39C, boils at about 357C,and has a gravity of 13.5. The atomic weight of mercury is 200.59. Mercury comes in its pure form or combined with silver in small amounts. It is mostly found in the form of the sulfide. Mercury has many uses and is a very important element. A major use of mercury is in electrical equipment such as fluorescent lamps, and mercury batteries. Mercury is used in thermometers because the change in volume for each degree of rise or fall in temperature is the same. The use of mercury in the thermometer instead of alcohol was done by Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit in 1714. It was also used in vacuum pumps, barometers, and electric rectifiers and switches. Mercury is used in a mercury-vapor lamps which are used as a source of ultraviolet rays in homes and for sterilizing water. Mercury-vapor is also used instead of steam in the boilers of some turbine engines. Mercury is sometimes used for amalgamation. Amalgamation is a metallurgical process that utilizes mercury to dissolve silver or gold to form an amalgam. This process has been largely supplanted by the cyanide process, in which gold or silver is

Anti Mining Essay

I. Exordium (opening) â€Å"Where you stand on this issue is determined by the question: do you love this country? If you do, you’ll fight for it..† â€Å"Mining is a search-and-destroy mission.† II. Salutation: Member of the Board of Judges, my worthy opponents, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. III. Definition: According to Meriam-Webster’s Dictionary, mining is the excavation of materials from the Earth’s crust, including those of organic origin, such as coal and petroleum. Modern mining is costly and complicated. First, a mineral vein that can likely produce enough of the desired substance to justify the cost of extraction must be located. Then the size of the vein or deposit is determined, and mining engineers decide the best way to mine it. Most of the world’s yearly mineral production is extracted by surface mining, which includes open-pit mining, strip mining, and quarrying. For ore bodies that lie a considerable distance below the surface, underground mining must be considered. In both techniques, excavating and extracting mineral substances involve costly combinations of drilling, blasting, hoisting, and hauling, as well as measures for health and safety and reduction of environmental impact. IV. Team Split I shall discuss the Necessity aspect while my team mate, 2nd speaker shall discuss the Beneficiality and the 3rd speaker shall discuss the Practicability aspect of the proposition. V. Argument I VI. Argument II VII. Argument III VIII. Closing/Conclusion Haribon Foundation features women in the book â€Å"STORIES from the MINES of struggle, sisterhood and solidarity† released by Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM); these are the women â€Å"who continue to campaign for human dignity, biodiversity conservation and sustainable communities†. Natividad Nagutom or Naty, 61, is a resident of Barangay Magapua, Mogpog in Marinduque. She is married to Julio Nagutom and a mother of eight children. She is a member of Marinduque Council for Environmental Concern (MACEC) for over 13 years. Now, she is the chairman of MACEC chapter in their barangay. Her involvement in MACEC had developed her to become a tough advocate of human rights and a safe and peaceful community. Like most members of MACEC, Naty has her own share of struggles with the impact of mining in their town. In 1993, the Maguila-guila Siltation Dam of Marcopper Mining Corporation collapsed and caused a flash flood that gushed to the Mogpog River. The heavy surge of water and mine spill had shaken their house and almost drowned them to death. Naty and her husband tied themselves with their eight children, so that they can support each other and avoid drowning. That traumatic experience drove her to be involved in the campaign against mining in their community and the entire province. She actively participated in many seminars, trainings, and mobilizations in and out of the province which are usually sponsored by MACEC. With support from MACEC and other organization, she took the lead in filing the case against Marcopper Mining Corporation. In 2005, she attended a Mining Conference in Baguio City organized by Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center. In the conference, she shared her experience during the 1993 flash flood and her contributions to the anti-mining actions. The participants felt her struggle; almost all of them cried after realizing that they were not alone in the fight for justice. That experience made her an even stronger advocate. Her integrity was challenged by the attempts of mining company to buy off her stand and discontinue. But she never thought of withdrawing the case even though sometimes it frustrates her to think that it is moving slow. But they cherish victories and milestones in their campaign—the 50-year mining moratorium in the province is one. To Naty, mining is a destructive industry that causes people to live in fear and exposes them to so much threat. For her, mining has no place now in Mogpog and in the entire province of Marinduque. THE IMPACTS OF MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES The problem of the issue is the negative environmental and health impact of mining.   Statement of Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, 1998. Mining poses tremendous risks to life and limb, not only to miners but to the community as well. Countless accidents have happened and have affected thousands of miners in our country, directly or indirectly caused by hazardous mining operations. There is a very high social cost of mining and the impact on the society is immeasurable. Occupational health hazards posed by mining to workers are exposure to intense heat, poor ventilation, vibration, dust, fumes, repetitive stress injury (RSI), intense noise, manual handling (e.g. lifting) of heavy machinery and biological and chemical hazards. Due to the nature of underground mining, miners are constantly exposed to intense heat while hydration is very limited. Miners usually have fluid and salt deficiency due to constant sweating, increased stress on the heart, heat stroke, opacity of the lens and reduced fertility due to high heat. Poor ventilation robs the body of needed oxygen causing the brain to malfunction and leads to many deaths especially in underground operations. Vibration on the other hand can cause permanent damage to bones and vibration syndrome or â€Å"dead finger† syndrome can lead to gangrene in the hands and fingers. It can also cause digestive problems due to constant shaking of the internal organs, heart problems and disruption of the nervous system. Mines exposes workers to different types of airborne particulates, making them vulnerable to systemic toxic effects due to the absorption of lead, manganese, cadmium, zinc and other toxic material. Fumes are emitted by chemicals being used or by the machines being employed during mining operations. Coupled with poor ventilation, this can trigger accidents and cause death to workers. RSI being a soft-tissue disorder is caused by overloading of particular muscle group from repetitive use or maintenance of constrained postures. Miners who suffer from RSI complain of weakness of the affected muscles, heaviness, â€Å"pins and needles† sensation and numbness. Noise or irritating and hazardous sound can cause hearing impairment and/or disrupt body functions like blood circulation and hormone imbalance. Deafness and hearing loss can become irreversible and other non-auditory effects are increased blood pressure and peptic ulcer due to increased gastrointestinal motility. Manual lifting of materials causes back troubles leading to acute pain. A large percentage of the workers suffer sooner or later from this disorder caused by their type of work. Because most mines in the Philippines extract gold, the use of sodium cyanide for leaching gold from finely ground ore is frequent. The use of liquid mercury to create gold-amalgam is also wide-spread. Cyanide blocks the transfer of oxygen from the blood to the body tissues. Signs of acute poisoning include rapid breathing, gasping, tremors, convulsions and death. Effects of sub lethal poisoning include headache, dizziness and thyroid enlargement. A Fact-Finding Team composed of human rights and environmental experts from the United Kingdom which looked into the impact of mining on the environment and peoples’ livelihoods in the Philippines highlighted the occurrence of mining-related human rights abuses affecting local communities especially indigenous people; extrajudicial killings of persons protesting against mining; corruption in the mining sector; political pressure on the judiciary resulting in pro-mining decisions; and environmental impacts. The team observed that the record of mining companies with regard to environmental protection, disasters and post-mining clean-up in the Philippines is widely acknowledged, even with the government, to be very poor. As of 2003, there had been at least 16 serious tailing dam failures in the preceding 20 years and about 800 abandoned mine sites have not been cleaned up. Clean-up costs are estimated in billions of dollars and damage will never be fully reversed. It warned that water contamination from mining poses one of the top three ecological security threats in the world. Many mining applications in the Philippines are in water catchment areas close to the sea, and pose major threat to valuable marine resources. The severe pollution of the Taft river system in Eastern Samar as a result of the mining activities in Bagacay is a vivid example. The report also emphasized the very high geo-hazard risks in the Philippines. In the Philippines, over half of the active mining concessions and two-thirds of exploratory concessions are located in areas of high seismic risk where earthquakes are likely. The Philippines is considered as the hottest hotspot in the world in terms of threats to its mega diverse biodiversity. Thus there is an urgent need to properly manage its natural resources. It is estimated that 37% of Philippine forests may be exposed to new mining. We have to be concern with the past experiences where human rights were disregarded in pursuit of the mining operations. Likewise, our country is facing with the diminishing and restricted natural resources. Our government may be in need of revenue, but sacrificing the environmental management, such as the agricultural land, water and forests, which are more essential, sustainable and economically practicable. The exploration, development and utilization of mineral resources contend with the present day realities of global warming, pollution, and food shortages. One thing to consider is the dangers posed by earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic eruptions. Protecting the environment is avoiding risk and disaster; hence the acts of provincial board members are laudable. The bill in Congress banning all mining exploration and operation in Carigara Bay shows how Leyte 2nd district Representative (Rep.) Sergio Apostol, principal authored, with Leyte 3rd district Rep. Andres Salvacion and Biliran lone district Rep. Rogelio Espina, co-authors, seriously are concerned with the lives of the people and to protect the environment. Sangguniang Panlalawigan action on mining ventures in the province show they are not sleeping on their jobs. Their concern on the effect of mining is a great service to humanity, especially for Leyteà ±os. A negative impact on the environment, not only during its operations, but will continue even after long years of its cessation. Thus, the vital action of the government either from the national or local authorities imposing regulations to moderate the negative effect of mining in a locality is necessary. Our country has extremely poor mining reputation compared from other parts of the world. Abandoned mines and even those still operating have affected the livelihoods of thousands of lesser fortunate Filipinos. Mining has a negative effect for Filipino source of livelihood. In the case of the farmers in MacArthur wherein Leyte 2nd district Board Member Anlie Apostol is alarmed, because the Nicua Mining Corporation’s mining award may be against the spirit of the Agrarian Reform Law. Some 40 hectares were bought with option for the farmers to buy back the land may have violated the provision that the farmer-beneficiary could not sell the land within 25 years. Unless the land is no longer productive and approved by the Department of Agrarian Reform in accordance with the rules in conversion or exemption. At present we have some 800 abandoned mines in the country that have caused immense environmental damage. Some of which have records of human rights abuses. Abandoned mines have left the affected residents to undergo economic difficulties. How long will Nicua operates the mining? It is worthy to note that some mining companies have failed to comply with national law and international standards, according to Clare Short, a member of parliament from Birmingham, United Kingdom. As the stand taken by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) when they publicly opposed the 1995 Mining Act. Leyte 1st district Board Member Roque Tiu is correct in his contention that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and the Provincial Government of Leyte are not in contradiction over the Mining Act and the Local Government Code (LGC). It is true that licenses for mining operation is issued by the national government, however, the LGC provides: â€Å"Section 27. – Prior Consultations Required. – No project or program shall be implemented by government authorities unless the consultations mentioned in Section 2 (c) and 26 hereof are complied with, and prior approval of the Sanggunian concerned is obtained. Provided that occupants in areas where such projects are to be implemented shall not be evicted unless appropriate relocation sites have been provided, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. â€Å"Section 26. Duty of National Government Agencies in the Maintenance of /Ecological Balance.- It shall be the duty of every national agency or government-owned or controlled corporation authorizing of involved in the planning and implementation of any project or program that may cause pollution, climatic change, depletion of non-renewable resources, loss of cropland, rangeland, or forest cover, and extinction of animal or plant species, to consult with the local government units, nongovernmental organizations, and other sectors concerned and explain the goals and objectives of the project or program, its impact upon the people and the community in terms of environmental or ecological balance, and the measures that will be undertaken to prevent or minimize the adverse effects thereof.† In one of the rulings of the Supreme Court, it states: â€Å"Congress introduced Sections 26 and 27 in the Local Government Code to emphasize the legislative concern â€Å"for the maintenance of a sound ecology and clean environment.† These provisions require every national government agency or government-owned and controlled corporation to hold prior consultations with the local government unit concerned and to secure the prior approval of its sanggunian before implementing â€Å"any project or program that may cause pollution, climatic change, depletion of non-renewable resources, loss of cropland, rangeland, or forest cover and extinction of animal or plant species.†