Contract law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Contract law - Essay Example In the formation f contracts two elements are vital. Firstly, the "offer," an indication by one person prepared to contract with another, on certain terms, which are fixed, or capable f being fixed at the time the offer is made. Secondly, there must be an "acceptance", an unconditional assent to a definite offer.[2] These two combine to create certainty that a contract has been formed, for, as in Scammell v Ouston (1941),[3] "if an agreement is uncertain on some important issue.the courts will hold there is no contract."[4] Following this, the elements f consideration and intent provide the contract's "body and substance"[5]So, what is meant by "consideration" and "the intention to create legal relations" English law usually requires prof that the parties have made a bargain, or agreement, [6] this is known as the benefit and detriment test. (Currie v Misa (1875) [7] or "a benefit to one party or a detriment to another."[8] So, in practical terms consideration can be defined as what one party in an agreement is giving, or promising, in exchange for what is being given, or promised, by the other side. [9] This provides mutuality, making the contract enforceable. The Oxford Dictionary f Law definition states, "Consideration is essential to the validity f any contract other than one made by deed. Without consideration an agreement not made by deed is not binding; it is a nudum pactum (naked agreement) governed by the maxim ex nudo pacto non oritur action (a right f action does not arise out f a naked agreement.)"[10] English law does not rely on formalities as a way f identifying intention to create a legally binding contract. Instead it focuses on offer, acceptance and consideration. [11] If these are present, and unless rebutted by contrary evidence, courts operate on the basis f two legal presumptions, that there is no intention to be bound in domestic or social arrangements, but there is intention to be bound in commercial agreements. [12] Professor B.A.Hepple claims that there is no need f a separate requirement f intention, and that a bargain, involving mutuality is sufficient. These views are not generally accepted as it is widely agreed that identifying the parties' intentions is essential to the role f the courts when establishing if a contract was made. [13] It is useful to look at why English law has become so reliant on the consideration element f a contract, and why it has frequently been used as the "badge f enforceability,"[14] Professor Atiyah argues that "consideration" originally meant a "reason for enforcing an agreement."[15] Early forms f contract law mainly involved agreements regarding debt, covenant, or detinue ie., wrongful detention f property, and were only binding if under seal. This method, which required a degree f form such as writing or a deed, was used to prevent fraud and proved that there was an intention to create legal relations. Consideration was first used in the sixteenth century when, in order to enforce informal agreements, the law f assumsit was developed.[16] So, while that the law would, "...still not enforce merely gratuitous promises, ... the law had to develop an element that could distinguish between a proper contractual agreement, and something less that would not."[17] Due to the Law f Property Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1989, form is still required for contracts involving the sale f land. It is also used to offer consumers protection in hire purchase and consumer credit agreements. In the English Common law system, a promise is not legally binding as part f a contract except if it is made in a deed or supported by some consideration. [18] Sir Guenter Treitel Q.C.,

Report in MLA Style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Report in MLA Style - Essay Example And the last element is resolution when the conflict is resolved in some way. The vivid example is given in the book â€Å"The Illustrated Mum† when the protagonist dares to speak to her mother about the problem. The genre of children’s literature is rather specific since it demands to be catching and at the same time easy to read and understand. Fist of all it must be about childhood or animals. The plot is to be simple and straightforward, the author expresses a child’s point of view, as a rule the stories tend to fantasy, repetitions, has a form of pastoral idyll, represents the world from the innocent viewpoint, is didactic, tries to balance the idyllic and the didactic. Genre - a type of literature in which all the members of one genre share common characteristics (Chapleau, p.24). Nancy Anderson, associate professor in the College of Education distinguishes seven genres of children’s literature: 1. Picture books, such as board, concept, pattern and wordless books (Chapleau, p.24). They are characterized by colorful pictures that are followed by small pieces of text. It makes the reading process for children interesting and fascinating. The example here is â€Å"The sleeping house†. 2.Traditional literature: myths, fables, ballads, folk music, legends, and tales. Traditional literature is characterized by the stable description of natural events and situations that are common in the whole world. Usually, such literature doesn’t have a definite author. The example here is "Hansel and Gretel" by Ian Wallace, "The Dragons Pearl" by Julie Lawson 2) There are several stages how to get a child interested in literacy: introduce a title and let children speculate what it is about; introduce some details of the plot, encourage the students to read a book in order to see whether their suggestions were right, organize the group discussion of the book in the

The Hydrogen Bond Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Hydrogen Bond - Essay Example The nature of the hydrogen bond in addition to some other factors, such as the disordered arrangement of hydrogen in water imparts unusual properties to H2O that have made conditions favorable for life on Earth. For example, it takes a relatively large amount of heat to raise water temperature one degree. This enables the world's water bodies to store enormous amounts of heat, producing a moderating effect on the world's climate, and it makes it difficult for marine organisms to destabilize the temperature of the ocean environment even as their metabolic processes produce enormous amounts of waste heat. One of the most important noncovalent interaction within molecules is the hydrogen bond, a dipole formed when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom is shared with a second electronegative atom (typically an oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine atom), such that the proton may be approached very closely by an unshared pair of electrons. Hydrogen bonds play a significant role in the unusual thermodynamic properties of water and ice, and the DNA double-helical and protein a-helical and b-structure conformations are extensively hydrogen bonded. Hydrogen Bonds can be formed between different molecules (Intermolecular) or between the different parts of the same molecule(Intramolecular).

Kant vs. Kierkegaard Essay Example for Free

Kant vs. Kierkegaard Essay I also believe that the issue that I am discussing is deep, and therefore interesting. Its weaknesses would be its lack of quotes. The difficulty with this paper was trying to find the idea in the first place. It took me a lot of time to find deep similarities and differences between the two. It also took me some time to figure out how I would lay the essay out and how I would flesh the essay out. As this paper is not superficial, I found myself finding new ideas and problem as time passed. This gave me another problem as I always had to rethink and re-edit. The goals for my next paper are to include more quotes, as my papers lack evidence. My other goals are to carry on writing interesting and thought provoking papers. I aim to try to make my essays as clear as possible, as tackling deep issues can sometimes make the writing quite convoluted. Love of Duty vs. Love of Choice In their essays ‘Lectures on Ethics Friendship’ and ‘Works of Love – Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor’, respectively, Kant and Kierkegaard both appear as idealists: They each portray a utopia in which friendship is universal. Kant believes that perfection can be achieved if people put love of mankind before love of oneself, and Kierkegaard believes that perfection can be achieved if you love everyone as if they were your neighbor. Ironically, both also contradict themselves: Kant contradicts his other idea that one will never be able to achieve the ideal of friendship, where partners share everything with each other. While Kierkegaard contradicts himself by saying a true Christian is completely selfless. This is a contradiction, as someone who is selfless cannot have a choice (free will), but as rational humans we do have a choice. Given these parallels, are these two thinkers ultimately offering us the same sense of utopia? No – in fact, Kant is a realist who uses a scientific approach to figure out what it means to be a friend, whereas Kierkegaard is a religious thinker who applies his religious morality on people. Their utopias look very similar on the surface, but their underlying methods to reach them are vastly different. Both Kant and Kierkegaard come from two very different backgrounds. Kant was born in Prussia, and was interested in physics and mathematics. He didn’t have a positive view of religion was also asked to stop teaching Theology at the University of Konigsberg by the government as he allegedly ‘misrepresented’ the principles of Christianity. This shows that Kant was a thinker independent of religion. Kant believed that â€Å"mankind’s final coming of age,† was â€Å"the emancipation of the human consciousness from an immature state of ignorance and error. † This is the opposite of Kierkegaard, as he was a devout Christian. Kierkegaard tried to incorporate religion (Christian morality) with reason. This is where he comes up with his idea of ‘loving thy neighbor’. Whereas Kierkegaard comes from a position that his way is the ‘right’ way, as it was mandated from God, Kant comes from a position which is influenced by Rousseau and Aristotle, in fact Kant’s idea of man having self-love and love for humanity comes straight from Rousseau’s book ‘The Discourse on the Origin of Inequality’. There is also a deeper difference: Kierkegaard’s religious morality implies duty, whereas Kant’s view on friendship implies choice. Choice lies at the heart of Kant’s philosophy. He says that man has two basic instincts: self-love and love for humanity (pity). These two instincts conflict with each other and only one can win. Kant believes that in an ideal world, all people would put love for humanity before self-love. This would create a world where love is reciprocated, and therefore man does not have to worry about losing his happiness. In essence, Kant’s version of a utopia is where man chooses to love humanity. This is vastly different to Kierkegaard’s version, where man has no choice, as it is his moral duty to love everyone as if they were his neighbor. Kierkegaard does acknowledge Kant in a way, by distinguishing between earthly love and spiritual love. He says earthly love (Kant’s type of love) is the exact opposite of spiritual love. He argues that a ‘poet’ (Kant) is absolutely right in saying that earthly love cannot be commanded. Kierkegaard believes that Christian love is better as it is ‘completely selfless’. For Kierkegaard, â€Å"Christian love teaches love to all men, unconditionally all. Just as unconditionally and strongly as earthly love tends towards the idea of there being but one single object of love, equally unconditionally and strongly Christian love tends in the opposite direction. If a man with respect to Christian love wishes to make an exception in the case of one man whom he does not wish to love, then such love is not ‘also Christian love,’ but it is unconditionally not Christian love. † (41) Kierkegaard also believes that it is quite liberating to be forced to love. As if the absence of choice creates peace. He believes that â€Å"it is encouraging in your relation to a distinguished man, that in him you must love your neighbor; it is humbling in relation to the inferior, that you do not have to love the inferior on him, but must love your neighbor; it is a saving grace if you do it, for you must do it† (50). Thus the difference between earthly and spiritual love is that earthly love is a choice and spiritual love is a command from God. Both Kierkegaard and Kant come to different conclusions because in their writing, their focus is on separate ideas. Kant, being a man of reason primarily, approaches his philosophy in a scientific manner. To explain, he breaks one thing into smaller things. Kant makes observations based on what he sees, hears, tastes, smells, and feels (like his three types of friendships). However, he does also make some conceptual assumptions (discussed earlier) such as his idea of putting love of humanity before self-love will cause reciprocation of friendship. Unlike Kierkegaard, Kant does not focus on religion as it is unnecessary for someone who is only interested in empirical observations. Kierkegaard however is not concerned with empirical observation, as he believes that there is something higher and more important i. e. Christianity. Kierkegaard concentrates more on morality and what he believes is right, instead of focusing on what is actually there. Kierkegaard doesn’t even talk about friendship in his writing. This shows that he places much more importance on what his religion says is right instead of trying to observe and deconstruct what friendship is. Although both philosophers have radically different ideas on how to achieve a utopian world, their ideas as an end result are very similar. They both want a world in which everyone loves everyone. The difference is that Kant’s love comes from reason, whereas Kierkegaard’s is spiritual. For this reason Kant’s idea seems more logical to the rational human being. Kant doesn’t believe in forced love, he believes in a choice to put either love of humanity or love of oneself at the fore. Kierkegaard’s idea of loving as a moral duty is contradictory at its heart, because how can you love if you don’t have a choice who to love? If you ‘love’ everyone it stops being love because love is defined by its opposite. How can there be love without hate? If it can’t exist, then how feasible is Kierkegaard’s idea? This is the main problem with Kierkegaard, because his observations come from his faith. In the real world, love should come from understanding, not dogma. If there is no understanding, it’s like a slavery of the mind. Works Cited Immanuel Kant, â€Å"Lectures on Ethics†, Ethics. Trans. Louis Infield, Harper Torchbooks, The Cloister Library, Harper Row Publishers, New York and Evanston. Soren Kierkegaard, â€Å"Works of Love†, Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor. Trans. David F. Swenson Lillian Marvin Swenson, Princeton – New Jersey, Princeton University Press.

The History Of Poaching Rhinos History Essay

The History Of Poaching Rhinos History Essay As one of the last surviving species of mega fauna, the white rhino is distinctively known by its square shaped lip that enables it to graze. At the end of 2007, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimated that there were 17 480 of these animals left, causing them to be classified as near threatened. In the past 3 years, South Africa has suffered the tragic loss of 93 white rhinos. (Source A: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Kruger-Park-loses-more-rhinos-20100226 ) These animals are commonly hunted for their horns, despite the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) having declared any trade in rhino parts for commercial reasons illegal. Thus hunters have resorted to poaching both white and black rhinos, often using high-tech weapons and helicopters to achieve their means. (Source E: http://www.traffic.org/home/2009/7/9/poaching-crisis-as-rhino-horn-demand-booms-in-asia.html) In the case of professional poachers, the following takes place. First, the rhinos are shot from the air using a low-noise weapon, for example a crossbow. The poachers then land and remove both horns; sometimes the rhinoceros is still alive but severely wounded when this happens. Before rangers have realised whats happened, the poachers are in the air again. A white rhino killed for its horns in the Kruger National Park. http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/white-rhino-poached-for-horn-picture.jpg Location: The majority of white rhino poaching incidents in South Africa take place in the Kruger National Park (KNP), but it is unknown what the exact statistics are. A map of South Africa indicating the various biomes. The reserve is found roughly within the red lines. http://www.plantzafrica.com/vegetation/savanna.htm The Northern Half of the reserve is home to the savannah biome, characterised by longer grasses and woody plants . This makes KNP the perfect habitat for the white rhino, a grazer. The park is world-renowned and a proud South African tourist attraction, however this not enough to create awareness about the importance of white rhino conservation. A map of the Kruger National Park and its national borders http://www.go2africa.com/south-africa/kruger-national-park/maps/134.jpg This part of the reserve also shares an Eastern Border with Mozambique, home to nearly all of the poachers arrested in 2009. (Source C: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/krugerpark-times-e-3-anti-poaching-yield-results-25073.html) The bigger picture: In 2007 13 Rhinos were poached in South Africa. In 2009 93 Rhinos were poached in South Africa. The problem, as stated by Source B, is that the killing spree is no longer opportunistic poaching by individuals but carried out byhighly sophisticated criminal gangs.(http://www.rhinoconservation.org/2009/10/14/commercial-rhino-poaching-thrives-in-south-africa-thanks-to-asian-demand-for-rhino-horn/) This source goes on to lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of Asian countries: commercial rhino poaching has become a well-oiled machine and the new Asian wealth is bankrolling the slaughter. However, this does not investigate the poachers themselves. By July 2009 the South African National Parks (SAN Parks) reported that 32 white rhinos had been poached in the Kruger Park. Of these, 28 had been killed along the Mozambican border. Every single one of the 14 suspects arrested are Mozambican citizens. (Source C: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/krugerpark-times-e-3-anti-poaching-yield-results-25073.html) Source D goes on to say that law enforcement officials in Mozambique are not doing enough to stop the poaching. Not a single poacher arrested in Mozambique for killing a rhino has gone through the full process prescribed by conservation law. The article reports that not a single poacher arrested by Kruger Park officials was jailed for longer than two weeks. In one incident, poachers responsible for trade in R1,5 million were fined a mere R1250 and released. In another case, a poacher with a freedom-fighting history and close ties with politicians and police was released from prison without a fine, one week after being arrested in KNP. (http://hughpaxton.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/more-on-rhino-poaching-the-mozambique-connection/) From 1977 to 1992 Mozambique fell into a civil war that crippled its economy and left its people impoverished. Graph 1: Mozambiques annual GDP in relation to that of Southern Africa, and Africa as a whole. http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/uploads/tx_llaeocountries/Mozambique1.jpg With a Gross Domestic Product of just over $1000 Purchasing Power Parity (USD PPP), it comes as no surprise that Mozambicans would resort to poaching, or that the legal system is too weak to prosecute them. However, it is possible that many would prefer the illegal trade in rhino horn to honest work. As part of the anti-poaching initiative in Kenya, this pile of ivory and rhino horn was burnt to create public awareness http://www.safariweb.com/safarimate/trial2/ivory.jpg At November 25, 2009, the black market value of rhino horn was officially greater than that of gold, as stated in Source G (http://news.mongabay.com/2009/1126-hance_rhino_gold.html) . Table 1: Approximate Black Market values of rhino horn and gold per kilogram at November 2009 Commodity Price ($) per kilogram (kg) Gold 60 000 Rhino horn 40 600 However, it is important to note that fault can also be found with South Africans. 2008 Minister of Environmental Affairs, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, announced that individuals with valid hunting permits were abusing their permits to trade illegally in rhino horn. As stated in Source F: During investigations into rhino horn deals, enforcement officials had found that prospective hunters had applied for permits to hunt rhino in various provinces, and these had subsequently been issued. But the hunts had never taken place and the relevant authorities had never been informed. (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1HYPERLINK http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1click_id=139art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799HYPERLINK http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1click_id=139art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799click_id=139HYPERLINK http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1click_id=139art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799HYPERLINK http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1click_id=139art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799) The article goes on to quote Democratic Alliance (DA) environmental spokesperson Gareth Morgan in saying that the South African Government is still not taking sustainable development seriously. (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1HYPERLINK http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1click_id=139art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799HYPERLINK http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1click_id=139art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799click_id=139HYPERLINK http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1click_id=139art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799HYPERLINK http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1click_id=139art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799art_id=vn20080609114119227C941799) Furthermore, in conducting this report I have come to realise that most South Africans view poaching as something of the past or something limited to North Africa and Asia. Thus the plight of the white rhino has largely fallen on deaf ears. The ignorance of the people who stand to lose the most has proven a greater threat to white and black rhinos than poachers. Main concerns: Ethical Southern white rhinos are killed with immense cruelty. Before colonisation it was the traditional practice amongst most African tribes to respect wild life, this was emphasised by using every part of an animal that was hunted. Today, the world only takes a stand when cute wild animals or domestic animals are abused. Furthermore, the flippancy with which poachers break the law suggests complete disregard for animal life. As stated by Source D: many suspects are repeat offenders. (http://hughpaxton.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/more-on-rhino-poaching-the-mozambique-connection/) Economic The extreme black market value of rhino horn proves that this is a scarce commodity. However, this only seems to increase demand and frequency of poaching. In addition, SAN Parks pledged R5,2 million to anti-poaching strategies within KNP (Source C: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/krugerpark-times-e-3-anti-poaching-yield-results-25073.html). As the situation escalates, greater donations will be required which could prove to be a set back while the world recovers from the economic recession. Legal The failure of Mozambican authorities to prosecute poachers has instilled doubt in the poverty-stricken country. Relations between South Africa and this neighbour have become clouded with suspicion as KNP game rangers suspect severe corruption within the Mozambican legal system. (Source D: http://hughpaxton.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/more-on-rhino-poaching-the-mozambique-connection/) Environmental A northern species of white rhino is feared extinct. Black rhinos are near extinct. How long before there are no more of these amazing creatures are left in the world? Who plays the largest roles? The rangers of the Kruger National Park, the World Wildlife Foundation International (WWF), the IUCN, TRAFFIC (affiliated wildlife trade monitoring network of the IUCN), CITES, the Saving Rhinos initiative, the Rhino Conservation initiative, and the South African Police Services (SAPS) have thus far played the greatest role in physically protecting the southern white rhino and creating awareness regarding the poaching crisis. (Source E: http://www.traffic.org/home/2009/7/9/poaching-crisis-as-rhino-horn-demand-booms-in-asia.html) However, this will not be enough without the co-operation and support of the South African public. Furthermore, more efforts such as this one by the Saving Rhinos initiative should be made in Asia: An advertisement by the Saving Rhinos initiative aimed at educating the public. http://www.savingrhinos.org/images/Rhino-species-sizes.jpg Co-operation and support is also needed from animal rights organisations such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the Governments of Mozambique, Vietnam, The Peoples Republic of China and Thailand in order to destroy the market for rhino horn. Solutions currently in place: According to Source A, current Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica has overseen the implementation of the following sustainable steps to prevent poaching in KNP: The addition of 58 rangers in the park, bringing the total number to 350 19 Motorbikes have been purchased for the rangers for use in patrols The purchase of high-tech night vision equipment for use by SAN Parks Air Service The addition of an ultra-light aircraft for use in patrols The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has taken over from the South African Police Service (SAPS) in patrolling the Mozambique/ KNP border. (http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Kruger-Park-loses-more-rhinos-20100226 ) Solutions that should be in considered: At this stage Mozambican poachers arrested on their national soil are not efficiently prosecuted, thus poachers should be arrested and prosecuted in South Africa as far as possible. Brian Jones of Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre has said from experience that South Africans living around KNP feel very protective over their wildlife. Furthermore, the locals are very passionate about bringing an end to poaching. By employing these locals as rangers and Border Patrol Officials, SAN Parks will not only be reducing unemployment statistics (even if only minimally) but getting the public involved where they often turn a blind eye. Imploring the Governments of Asian countries to educate their people about the effect of rhino poaching and the truth behind the medicinal values of rhino horn. Addendum SOURCE A: Kruger Park loses more rhinos 2010-02-26 22:09 Cape Town Eight more white rhinos have been killed by poachers in the Kruger National Park, despite the deployment of high-tech equipment and extra rangers at so-called hot spots within the flagship reserve. In a written reply to a parliamentary question, Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said eight white rhinos, two impalas and a zebra were poached in January this year, compared to seven white rhinos, two impalas and one kudu during the same month the year before. Her reply contains details of sustainable steps taken to curb poaching in the park that includes: the deployment of 58 new field rangers taking the total number of rangers to 350 to poaching hot spots; the purchase of 19 motorbikes to help with patrols; the acquisition of new night-vision equipment for use by crew of the SANParks Air Service units two helicopters; and the purchase of another ultra-light aircraft, bringing the total to two, for use in anti-poaching operations. The air service unit also has three fixed-wing aircraft. Dramatic rise Sonjica said the SA National Defence Force would take over from the SA Police Service in patrolling the parks international border with Mozambique during the later part of this year. Over the past two years, the number of rhinos poached in the Kruger, and in other reserves around the country, has risen dramatically. On January 22, SANParks chief executive officer David Mabunda said in a statement that at least 14 rhinos had been poached since the start of the year, seven in the Kruger and seven in the North West. This brought the total number of rhinos killed in the past three years to 93. There had been 48 arrests made over this period. Mabunda said at the time that plans to bring the military to patrol the Krugers border with Mozambique were at an advanced stage. SAPA SOURCE B: 14 Oct 09 Commercial Rhino Poaching Thrives in South Africa, Thanks to Asian Demand for Rhino Horn Well-funded poaching syndicates are cashing in on Asias demand for rhino horn and jeopardizing decades of rhino conservation efforts in South Africa. The reason behind the current 15-year high in rhino poaching is no longer a mystery or baffling to experts: It is fueled by the insatiable demands of a newly affluent and increasing population in Asia. Commercial rhino poaching has become a well-oiled machine and the new Asian wealth is bankrolling the slaughter. Todays rhino poachers Heavily funded, politically connected, and well-armed, todays rhino poachers use helicopters to fly into Africas game reserves to kill rhino with the latest high-powered weapons. In a recent Guardian article, chief executive of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, Yolan Friedmann, said the average number of rhino killed has skyrocketed from 10 to 100 yearly. There has been a rampant increase in South Africa. Poaching figures for this year have already surpassed the whole of last year. Its probably the worst its been for 15 years. Theres a lot more money going into poaching and its becoming more hi-tech. Its no longer just a man with a bow and arrow wading through the bush. These guys are using helicopters and AK-47 rifles. Despite the once successful Save the Rhino project, rhinos are under siege. South Africa is facing a crisis. Weve done extremely well in rhino conservation, but something has changed in the past 18 months, theres an insatiable appetite for rhino horn in the far east. Cathy Dean, director of Save the Rhino International, says in the article that the surge in poaching is a threat to years of hard-earned success in rhino conservation. The gains of the last decade are in real jeopardy. The underlying concern is that this upsurge in rhino poaching a major issue in Zimbabwe as well as South Africa is no longer opportunistic poaching by individuals but carried out by à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ highly sophisticated criminal gangs. So far this year, 84 rhino have been killed in South Africa. In 2007, the number was 13. Unfortunately, commercial rhino poaching has become widespread: Zimbabwes rhino population is also suffering at the hands of a politically connected poaching cartel that fulfills orders from Chinese nationals for rhino horn. And illegal killing isnt the only way rhino horn enters Asias flourishing endangered species marketplace. http://www.rhinoconservation.org/2009/10/14/commercial-rhino-poaching-thrives-in-south-africa-thanks-to-asian-demand-for-rhino-horn/ SOURCE C: Escalated anti poaching actions starting to yield results South African National Parks (SANParks) announced earlier this months that more poachers have been apprehended in recent weeks due to the increased efforts to stamp down on poaching of rhino and other high value wildlife in the Kruger National Park. In July 2009 SANParks announced that the organisation had lost 26 white rhino and one black rhino to poaching and an added 10.3kg of rhino horn through a violent robbery in the Addo Elephant National Park. It is with sadness that we announce that since our announcement at the end of July we have lost a seven white rhino to poachers. However, the greatest news to come out of these despicable activities is that SANParks has since apprehended another six suspected rhino poachers and the recovery of five illegal firearms, said Dr David Mabunda, the chief executive of SANParks. The new arrests bring the number of arrested suspects to 14, with 11 recovered illegal firearms. Dr Mabunda said that what is alarming about this information is that of the 33 rhinos (including 1 black rhino) poached this year 28 of them were illegally killed along the eastern boundary with Mozambique and all the 14 suspects arrested thus far were of Mozambican origin. We intend to increase our efforts even more in ensuring that this scourge is routed out. Discussions have been started with Mozambican authorities to solicit their assistance in apprehending suspects and preventing illegal activities from proliferating on their side of the fence, said Dr Mabunda. SANParks has pledged a sum of R5.2 million from its Park Development Fund which is aimed at improving anti-poaching interventions in the KNP. The funds are being used for increasing the number of field rangers by 57 people as well as buying more vehicles and a state of the Crime Information Management System. SOURCE D: Rhino carnage continues YOLANDI GROENEWALD Jan 15 2009 05:00 The illegal slaughter of at least 12 rhinos over the festive season brings the number of the animals poached in South Africa in the past year close to 100. The rising death toll comes amid allegations that Mozambican authorities are not doing enough to crack down on known suspects and, in some cases, might be abetting the poachers. Another two rhino deaths in Mpumalanga have been reported but not confirmed some game reserves are reluctant to comment on such killings. If the figure is correct it would put the unofficial death toll of rhinos poached in South Africa since January last year at 96. The dead animals include critically endangered black rhinos. An Mpumalanga ranger who has tracked poaching across South Africas border into Mozambique said the countrys law enforcement failures were contributing to the problem. Not a single poacher arrested in Mozambique for killing a rhino has gone through the full process prescribed by the conservation law, the investigator said. Unfortunately, the Mozambican legislation cannot deal with modern poaching methods and this is being exploited by the poaching lords. He said many suspects are repeat offenders who simply return to poaching. And even if they point out their handlers the handlers can simply pay a fine if they are ever arrested. No poachers arrested in Mozambique for offences in the Kruger park and Mozambiques Sabie Game Park have been jailed for longer than two weeks. This includes offenders who have been apprehended twice for similar offences, the investigator said. A report he has drawn up reveals that poachers killed at least 43 rhinos between January 2004 and July 2008 in the Kruger park and around its border. Though the Kruger park would not provide official figures, the Mail Guardian understands that more than 40 rhinos were shot there between January and the end of November last year. In many cases Mozambicans, allegedly employed by Vietnamese syndicates operating out of South Africa, are the prime suspects. The syndicates are said to provide their local recruits with high-calibre weapons. Crossbows are also used because they are silent. The investigator said that a community leader from Mozambiques Limpopo National Park had shot rhinos in the Kruger National Park on three different occasions. Kruger law enforcers pursued him into Mozambique, where he was arrested each time, but on all three occasions the cases were either not finalised or no sentence was given. When the poacher tried his luck a fourth time he was apprehended on South African soil. The investigator said that South Africas laws should ensure that he is taken out of the poaching system. In another case in 2007 five rhinos were shot on the border of the Kruger park, in Mozambique. A task team comprising the Mozambican border police and staff from Kruger and Sabie Game Park arrested two suspects along with high-calibre weapons, the tracking equipment and binoculars. The investigator said the suspects and the evidence were handed over to the police commander in Moamba, Mozambique. But the investigator also sent letters about the case to the national government in Maputo because he felt Moamba police had bungled previous cases. In addition, he met with police leaders in Maputo and raised the lack of detective competency in Moamba. Despite his efforts, he said, the two suspects were simply fined R1 250 and released. The fine should have been at least R1,5-million if it was properly investigated and proper channels followed, he said. The horns were worth at least R1,5-million. The investigator said he suspected that some of the police in Moamba were corrupt and actually assisted the poachers. In one case the name of the poachers handler was obtained and the man was arrested. But the suspect has a freedom-fighting history and close ties with politicians and the police, the investigator said. Within one week he was released and South African investigators believe he did not even pay a fine. The Mozambican police had not responded to emailed questions by the time of going to print. Carlos Come, a director in the Mozambican police, merely commented that joint commissions between South Africa and Mozambique had been put in place to help Mozambique with its challenges.

Junk E-Mail is Abusive to the Internet and its Users :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

Junk E-Mail is Abusive to the Internet and its Users    With in the past decade, the term â€Å"junk mail† has transformed from a pile of flashy advertisements and unnecessary coupon books to an intruding, pervasive, and even offensive collection of electronic messages. Though, the distribution of postal mail for the purpose of advertisement is governed by effective laws, distribution of unsolicited email runs free across the internet at the expense of others. The solicitation of â€Å"junk e-mail† fosters profit for few, at the inconvenience of many. Though the solicitors of junk email are to blame for the mail itself, the government is to blame for the continuing flow and lack of response to this dilemma. Email is one of the most popular means of communications today. According to our textbook, Media Now, â€Å"Obviously, the ‘killer’ electronic application these days is email. Its presence is all but inbiquitous among computer users and its growth skyrockets day by day† (LaRose, 362). In fact, email is even more widely used than the United States Postal Service (LaRose, 362). If email circulates more mail than the post office, then why is email less regulated? The internet and email is a new technology which Congress is unsure on how to regulate. Email has become popular only within the past few years, but regulation must be enacted. According to the Final Comments to the Federal Trade Commission on Unsolicited Commercial Email which was compiled in June of 1997, the burdens of junk email is expected to grow. In fact, most people do not want this unsolicited mail sent to them. World research reports that over one half of the people they surveyed â€Å"hated† junk mail, and another one fourth found it â€Å"bothersome†(Semilof, 1). Something must be done. One might ask, however, why email needs to be regulated. The core of the problem is the extra costs and intrusions of privacy which junk email provokes. Senders of junk email slow the processing and quality of Internet Service Providers, intrude privacy by harvesting email addresses, and unfairly distribute mail to uninterested consumers. Junk email incures storage costs, productivity costs, bandwidth or telephone line costs, and processing costs (Simmons, 24). Senders of this mail benefit from the burden on others. Though the senders of this mail need to be stopped, action must be taken to stop them.

Controversy Over Full-Body Scanners

Having security inside an airport is a necessary and important safety precaution, but there is controversy as to how to achieve an effective airport screening system, and yet provide privacy to travelers. A recent national debate has arisen on the topic of installing new Full Body Scanners into airport security systems nationwide. The scanners are thought to be an invasion of privacy, have a very high cost, and are an ineffective security method.One of the key issues for the usage of full body scans is that it can be a major invasion of privacy to people being screened during the airport security process. For instance in the article â€Å"Debate Over Full Body Scans vs. Invasion of Privacy Flares After Incident,† the author John Schwartz explains that â€Å"images produced by the machine can be startlingly detailed†(1). So despite claims of â€Å"blurry and opaque images† they can in fact have the potential to become detailed images.This could potentially make th e security process a humiliating experience and discourage some people from air travel. In another article by U. S. A today â€Å"Our View On Transportation Security: Airport Body Scanners Balance Safety and Privacy,† they found out that â€Å"TSA sought to buy scanners that can store and send images in test mode†(1). If the scanners that can store photos are utilized by airport security systems, then it is possible that the images could be copied or shared.People should not have to worry that their semi nude images are going to be shared, however slight the risk. Is it not true that travellers should feel comfortable during the check in process and not need to be concerned about a humiliating or undignified experience? Another important argument against the instillation of full body scanners is that they can be overly expensive relative to traditional screening methods. Jessica Ravidz supports this argument in her article â€Å"Airport Security Bares All, or does it? ,† saying â€Å" each machine can cost up to a total of $170,000 per scanner†(1). It is a costly and unnecessary project because there is already a effective security system in place. It would be cheaper to stay with the current methods of security, such as metal detectors and pat downs than to incorporate a much more costly alternative. A story in The Wall Street Journal â€Å"TSA Pressed on Full-Body Scans Despite Concerns,† Cam Simpson and Daniel Michaels say in the paper that â€Å"The U. S.Transporation Security Administration plans to buy 450 body scanners, and that the Department of Homeland Security announced that they are purchasing 300 more this year†(1). This is a large fund of money that could be used for better training, different technologies, and more efficient systems moving people through the airport security process. Another way the money could be used is to fund investigations and intelligence work and detect threats before they even arr ive at the airport. The financial costs vs benefits to airport security does not appear to support adding Full Body Scanners to our current methods.A different debate on the usage of body scanners is that they are an ineffective security system and cannot detect certain objects. An example is in the story â€Å"Debate Over Full Body Scanner vs. Invasion of Privacy Flares Anew After Incident,† by John Schwartz states that â€Å"the machines cannot, for example, detect objects stowed in bodily orifices or concealed within folds of an obese person’s flesh†(2). This proves that the scanner technology is limited and can be deceived under certain circumstances. Therefore the scanners are only useful against a limited number of threats.In the same article Bruce Schneider, a technological security expert is interviewed and says â€Å"If there are a hundred tactics and I protect against two of them, I’m not making you safer, if we use full body scanning, they are going to use something else†(2). He brings up a point that even though the scanners can detect certain concealed objects they still only protect against a few specific threats. And now that people know about the scans and how they work they now also know how to get around them. Those are the reasons on why it is an inefficient security method and should not be put into use as primary airport security.In conclusion this proves that the usage of Full Body Scanners in airports would not be a conventional method to replacing current security processes. The reasons being on why they would not be viable solution are that they are an invasion of privacy to travelers, a costly national project, and would be an ineffective method for increasing security. The solution to the problem dealing with body scanners is to not install them in airports at all, but to stay with traditional methods and finding other means to improve on the current system.