The Geopolitics Of The Global Illegal Drug Trade Geography Essay

The Geopolitics Of The Global Illegal Drug Trade Geography Essay One of the biggest problems facing the world today is the production, trade and consumption of illegal drugs. Millions of people around the world are involved in either this trade either as producers, vendors or consumers, despite it being a highly illegal activity with strict and often harsh penalties for even the possession of a small amount of these illegal substances. In this paper we will be discussing the consequences of the global illegal drugs trade in different areas of the world, and whether the legalization and regulation of this trade would be positive or negative. 2. AFGHANISTAN Afghanistan is one of the worlds top producers of illegal substances, in particular opium, and there are many reasons why this is the case. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, according to the CIA world fact book, with a GDP per capita of just $800 and ranked 181st on the UNs Human Development Index second lowest in the world. (CIA World Fact Book, 2009) It is a landlocked country with direct links to Russia and the EU 2 of the worlds largest illegal drug markets with land movement being extensive due to lack of border control. Rugged terrain, with many isolated areas makes government surveillance and law enforcement difficult. Due to this and Afghanistans notoriety for lawlessness, instability and poverty (resulting from decades of war which have ravaged the country) the opium trade has flourished and now a huge proportion of the country is dependent upon its cultivation. It is interesting that under the Taliban regime, levels of opium production were showing signs o f falling, but since 2001 when the USA declared its â€Å"War on Terror†, this level has increased significantly from around 75,000 hectares in 2000 to nearing 200,000 hectares in 2007. So why is the opium trade such a huge issue? Agriculture is the countrys main form of industry and the collapse of the economy forced more and more farmers to seek alternative methods of generating revenue from crops. This came at a time when demand for opium was increasing due to restrictions being made in nearby opium producing countries such as India. Farmers realised there huge profits could be made from the cultivation of opium poppies, with the risk of being caught relatively low due to the reasons mentioned in the previous paragraph, despite it being a punishable offence. In addition, opium poppies are notoriously hardy- they are almost drought resistant compared to legal crops such as wheat. Many Afghans have used poppy cultivation as a means of investment in legitimate businesses due to lack of personal loans resulting from the poor economy; while illegitimate moneylenders have high interest rates and use various forms of intimidation such as kidnapping. The seriousness of t his situation being that many farmers in Afghanistan have little other legal lucrative alternative, and the government is doing little to encourage farmers to do so. There is also significant evidence to suggest that the since the fall of Taliban, they and other terrorist groups are now significantly funded by the drug trade. What then are the options available? The first is enforcement of current laws whilst offering alternative livelihood options. This involves better monitoring of opium growers in the country and eradication of Heroin production factories, and offering farmers incentives to grow alternative crops. One suggestion is substitution with Saffron, another lucrative crop which has proven to grow well in Afghanistans climate. This would also involve improving the infrastructure needed to support legal crop cultivation. The other option which has been suggested is licensing the opium trade. This gives the government much more control over the end use of opium, as it could be used in the production of valuable legal opiates such as morphine. Trade could also be taxed, providing valuable revenue for the undeveloped economy of Afghanistan. Another issue this would solve is eliminating warlords and severing the ties between the drug trade and human/weapons trafficking as it could be regulated and m onitored by government authorities â€Å". (Licensing) combines the best of both worlds. It stabilizes a crucial country in the global war on terrorism and alleviates the pain crisis in AIDS stricken developing countries. It is not a silver bullet for Afghanistans many troubles, but it does pave the way for the country to escape its current development and security crisis† (Kamminga , Van Ham. 2006). This is not necessarily saying that Heroin should be made legal; but is another option that could be looked into with the legalisation and regulation of all drugs, rather than a select few. 3. THE NETHERLANDS The Netherlands government takes an alternative approach to the enforcement of anti-drug laws, believing that drug use is a public health issue, rather than a criminal one; and that there is a difference between soft drugs (cannabis) and hard drugs (cocaine, heroin). A quote which summarises this attitude is â€Å"if a problem has proved to be unstoppable, it is better to try controlling it instead of continuing to enforce laws that have shown to be unable to stop the problem† (WordIQ: Drug policy of the Netherlands. 2010). They therefore employ a policy of non-enforcement towards soft drugs such as cannabis, but will still prosecute users if they are found causing a public disturbance, or pose a risk to themselves or others whilst under the influence of drugs. The Netherlands drug policy has a number of aims which are: To separate the market between hard and soft drugs so that soft drug users do not come into contact with hard drugs To limit the sale of soft drugs to minors To divert profits from the sale of soft drugs away from criminal drug dealers To gain tax from the legitimate sale of soft drugs To use the money gained to assist problem drug users (i.e. Treatment and rehabilitation) and promote awareness and education of hard drugs To prevent soft drug users being criminalised unnecessarily So is this policy working? In the USA where cannabis is strictly illegal and carries severe fines and prison time, 42.4% of Americans have tried the drug, whilst in The Netherlands only 19.8% of the population have tried cannabis, despite it being tolerated and sold freely in coffee shops (Degenhardt et al. 2008) 9.7% of young adults consume soft drugs once a month in Holland; this figure is far lower than the UK level of 15.8%, but higher than in other European countries such as Sweden (3%). The EU average of soft drug users that go on to become problem drug users is 0.52%, in The Netherlands this figure is just 0.3%, and the number of hard drug users is also considerably lower. These statistics show that while levels of soft drug use in The Netherlands is not significantly higher or lower than the rest of Europe, the levels of problem drug users and hard drug users is considerably lower. It is also interesting to note that due to taxes gained from the legitimate sale of cannabis, a round 90% of drug users can be treated effectively. 4. NON-GOVERNEMENT ORGANISATIONS NGOs around the world aim to eradicate problems associated with the illegal drug trade; however without financial backing and access to resources, their policies are often limited. Their strategies focus on influencing government protocol and targeting social issues in a ‘prevention over cure approach. The social aspect focuses on education of the young and those vulnerable to drug addiction, in addition to financing and organising rehabilitation for those suffering from addiction. Strategies also target producers of drugs, particularly agricultural ones. These producers are influenced to cultivate alternative products (such as wheat), both through financial incentives and legal prevention. All aspects of the global illegal drugs trade span over large areas, making it difficult for individual state governments to act effectively. NGOs such as the UN, WHO and the EU create policies targeting drug abuse issues to socially improve nations. High costs and infrastructure requirement s for drugs trade prevention deter LEDCs from acting, as their costs do not warrant their benefits it is the state importing that often suffers the most. So what would be the effect of the legalisation of the illegal drugs trade in regards to NGOs? Effectively there would be dissolution of all strategies to cease and prevent the global trade in illegal drugs. Trade would shift to safer routes through legally disclosed transport subject to scrutiny at borders, so potential would remain for NGO involvement in cases of unregulated drugs being traded across borders. 5. CONCLUSION A quote from ‘The Economist claims that the UN believes thatâ€Å"The drug market has â€Å"stabilised†, meaning that more than 200 m people, or almost 5% of the worlds adult population still take illegal drugs† and goes on to say that â€Å"by providing honest information about the health risks of drugs and pricing them accordingly, governments could steer consumers towards the least harmful ones† (The Economist, 2009). However, the legalisation of drugs is a highly complex and sensitive issue which has many social, political, moral and economic implications. The scale of which is unimaginable and is something which many people feel would be an impossible task. It is a known fact that people around the world produce, distribute and use drugs- as they have done for thousands of years. Perhaps money would be better spent on educating people about the dangers of certain drugs (including legal ones) as well as helping those that have become dependent on either the sale or use of illegal drugs, rather than criminalising those that use them safely, or have little other viable options other than producing drugs. This could also have benefits for those in the developing world who rely on the illegal drugs trade as a source of income, and could eliminate the violence involved with the illegal drugs trade. REFERENCES CIA: The World FactBook Afghanistan. 2009. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html Degenhardt et al. 2008. Toward a global view of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and cocaine use: Findings from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. PLoS Medicine 5(7) e141 Kamminga, Van Ham. 2006. Poppies for peace: Reforming Afghanistans opium industry. The Washington Quarterly. 30:1 pp 69-81 The Economist. 2009. Failed states and failed policies: How to stop the drug wars. http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13237193source=login_payBarrier WordIQ: Drug policy of the Netherlands Definition. 2010. http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Drug_policy_of_the_Netherlands Ashley White Registration No: 090167133

Diabetes :: essays research papers

Diabetes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Diabetes is a very serious disease that attacks millions of people around the world. It can strike at any age and can happen to anyone. Although we are not exactly sure about the causes of diabetes, we believe that it has to do with the body's own immune system attacking and destroying insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, the glucose that we need to live, has a hard time entering the cells of the body that need it. If too much glucose builds up in the blood, then a diabetic may begin to have headaches or blurry vision. They may become very thirsty and have dry, itchy skin. If glucose levels go too low, then a diabetic may feel shaky, tired, hungry, confused, or nervous. There are two types of diabetes. They are called Type 1 and Type 2 Some symptoms of diabetes include: excessive thirst; constant hunger; sudden weight loss for no reason; rapid, hard breathing; sudden vision changes or blurry vision; and drowsiness or exhaustion. These symptoms can occur at any time. Type 1 diabetes is more common in Americans then Type 2. It has affected over 1 million Americans with 30,000 more people diagnosed every year (13,000 of those being children). Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age but is most commonly diagnosed during childhood. In Type 1 diabetes, a person's pancreas produces little or no insulin, and because insulin is necessary for life, people with Type 1 diabetes must take several insulin injection shots each day for the rest of their lives. Although insulin allows a person to stay alive, it does not cure diabetes or prevent it's complications. The blood sugar level of the diabetic must be tested several times daily. One this is done by pricking the finger with a special needle and placing the blood into a machine that will carefully read it. This helps balance the glucose in the blood and will help determine how much insulin is needed. Diabetics need to pay careful attention to their diets, exercise, and blood sugar levels in order to stay healthy. Other factors that can affect the blood sugar levels are stressed, periods of growth, dollars for infection, and fatigue as well as their exercise and any changes in their normal schedule. Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 2 diabetes or, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is different than Type 1 diabetes in one major way.

Benefits of Distance Learning Essay

The benefits of distance learning are apparent as distance learning aims at meeting student’s needs. The offered outline is composed according to student’s needs and abilities. The most important factor affecting many future students who are willing to study is financial problems. Therefore firstly they consider financial benefits of any type of learning. Ability to take part-time job along with ability to save money plays an important role in choosing studying course. Students having financial problems also consider benefits in time management and distance learning gives the opportunity to study when it is convenient for a student. Therefore time management benefits have to follow financial ones. Furthermore, effectiveness of studying process is also a matter of concern for future students. Ability to correspond with teachers and other students via e-mail, telephone and chat rooms offers wide range of studying opportunities. Constant access to on-line libraries and data bases affects student’s choice. Students having full-time and part-time jobs would be able to pass exams during their available time. Finally, social benefits take the last place, because considerations about financial and studying benefits are more important in modern society as education is very expensive and one firstly thinks abut the ability to pay for the course and only then about the opportunities to lead social life. References Distance Learning Benefits. (2005). Retrieved October, 27, 2006, from http://www. distance-learning-college-guide. com/distance-learning-benefits. html

Factors That Affect the Chemical Reaction Rate

Factors That Affect the Chemical Reaction Rate Its useful to be able to predict whether an action will affect the rate at which a chemical reaction proceeds. Several factors can influence the chemical reaction rate. In general, a factor that increases the number of collisions between particles will increase the reaction rate and a factor that decreases the number of collisions between particles will decrease the chemical reaction rate. Concentration of Reactants A higher concentration of reactants leads to more effective collisions per unit time, which leads to an increased reaction rate (except for zero-order reactions.) Similarly, a higher concentration of products tends to be associated with a lower reaction rate. Use the partial pressure of reactants in a gaseous state as a measure of their concentration. Temperature Usually, an increase in temperature is accompanied by an increase in the reaction rate. Temperature is a measure of the kinetic energy of a system, so higher temperature implies higher average kinetic energy of molecules and more collisions per unit time. A general rule for most (not all) chemical reactions is that the rate at which the reaction proceeds will approximately double for each 10Â °C increase in temperature. Once the temperature reaches a certain point, some of the chemical species may be altered (e.g., denaturing of proteins) and the chemical reaction will slow or stop. Medium or State of Matter The rate of a chemical reaction depends on the medium in which the reaction occurs. It may make a difference whether a medium is aqueous or organic; polar or nonpolar; or liquid, solid, or gaseous. Reactions involving liquids and especially solids depend on the available surface area. For solids, the shape and size of the reactants make a big difference in the reaction rate. Presence of Catalysts and Competitors Catalysts (e.g., enzymes) lower the activation energy of a chemical reaction and increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. Catalysts work by increasing the frequency of collisions between reactants, altering the orientation of reactants so that more collisions are effective, reducing intramolecular bonding within reactant molecules, or donating electron density to the reactants. The presence of a catalyst helps a reaction to proceed more quickly to equilibrium. Aside from catalysts, other chemical species can affect a reaction. The quantity of hydrogen ions (the pH of aqueous solutions) can alter a reaction rate. Other chemical species may compete for a reactant or alter orientation, bonding, electron density, etc., thereby decreasing the rate of a reaction. Pressure Increasing the pressure of a reaction improves the likelihood reactants will interact with each other, thus increasing the rate of the reaction. As you would expect, this factor is important for reactions involving gases, and not a significant factor with liquids and solids. Mixing Mixing reactants increases their ability to interact, thus increasing the rate of a chemical reaction. Summary of Factors The chart below is a summary of the main factors that influence the reaction rate. There is typically a maximum effect, after which changing a factor will have no effect or will slow a reaction. For example, increasing temperature past a certain point may denature reactants or cause them to undergo a completely different chemical reaction. Factor Affect on Reaction Rate temperature increasing temperature increases reaction rate pressure increasing pressure increases reaction rate concentration in a solution, increasing the amount of reactants increases the reaction rate state of matter gases react more readily than liquids, which react more readily than solids catalysts a catalyst lowers activation energy, increasing reaction rate mixing mixing reactants improves reaction rate

Fires of Jubilee Part One Essays

Fires of Jubilee Part One Essays Fires of Jubilee Part One Essay Fires of Jubilee Part One Essay When reading part one of Fires of Jubilee, there was a lot of things that stood out to me and had me thinking. The first thing that stood out to me was that Nat’s mother tried to kill him when he was a baby because she didn’t want him to grow up a slave. She didn’t want him to grow up in such a harsh environment and be treated poorly all his life and didn’t want to see those things happening to her own child. When everyone started recognizing that Nat was very bright for his age and that he could recall things that happened before he was born was when I started to really get into the book. I also thought it was crazy that he could read and write because no one recalls someone teaching him his letters and how to read. I don’t see why Nat’s father left behind him and his mother but I can see why he escaped to the north to not be enslaved by the white man anymore. When Samuel would use Christianity to scare the slaves into obedience and I though t that was a captivating spot in the chapter. Most southerners were very religious and dedicated Christians. The main thought that slave owners would try and scare slaves with was that God was supreme and allows slavery because whites are superior to blacks. Lazy slaves and ones who questioned would burn in hell for eternity, and even thinking about escaping was the work of the devil. To me, this was something i read over a few times because these owners were so worried about them running away and escaping that they would turn around the word of God and use it in such a twisted way just to scare people into staying and not running away to their freedom. The point that the author is trying to get across is that the life of African slaves was very hard. They were living a good life in the homeland just doing what they could to strive in that land until the white man came and starting taking all of them by force. In Nats instance, he was born into slavery so he didn’t have to go throug :

Multiple Sclerosis and its Development Case Study

Multiple Sclerosis and its Development - Case Study Example This has been continuous and thus has been associated with the cause of the hearing loss. His condition caused a lot of misery in his life since he mysteriously lost over 20 pounds of weight and often become fatigued. This prompted Philip to seek medical attention where a few medical and neurological checkups led to MRI scan of the brain. The results indicated a patchy demyelination controlling every part of his body, thus a confirmation of multiple sclerosis. The results proved quite challenging to him with concern for his family members, his real estate business, and fear of loss of more physical attributes (Richard, 1). Despite the condition, Philip never gave up but intensified search for more knowledge about the disease. In his endeavor of the search, he met Dr. Swank, a neurologist who introduced the low dairy diet as well as low fat for the patients suffering from the disease. This program seemed effective for Philip, and thus reducing the severity of his condition. Despite experiencing some improvements, Philip never gave up and this offered him the opportunity to meet Dr. Richard, an orthomolecular practitioner. Due to his desire to get better, he accepted a neurological diagnosis, which authenticated the weakness in the left foot, failure of concordant rotational motion of the hands, hand tremor. Moreover, he displayed junky movements of the left limbs in case of stimulation by the neurological hammer (Richard, 1). Moreover, he experienced left-sided hyperactive reflexes, had nystagmus among other symptoms of MS. However, the laboratory report was more promising and indicated an iron overload due to the high presence of ferritin, which stores a lot of protein. Consequently, the thyroid panel indicated a low activity of 1.1 while the nerve cells were sensitive to mercury due to the presence of tubulin protein. Nevertheless, the laboratory test revealed deficiencies of vitamins pyridoxine and thiamin,  which facilitate nerve function (Richard, 1).  

Finance Policy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Finance Policy - Assignment Example The strategic planning manager is entitled to reduce the acquisition amount so that the firm Alresford could take over Gibson at more profit and at a price less than the market price. The firm Alresford aims to take over Gibson ltd at a reduced price, which is less than the market value of the firm in order to obtain profits. c) Determine which of the strategic planning manager’s suggestions should be undertaken and specify the optimum life of the south division. Advise Alresford ltd. of the maximum amount it should now be prepared to pay for Gibson. The strategic planning manager’s suggestion of using the Alresford’s transport rather than the north division’s transport which could save the transport expenses by $ 600,000 annually results in a savings of $ 2,400,000 in four years. Even though such a change would increase the replacement cost by $ 1.6 million, yet such a type of system will result in a savings of $ 800,000 which the firm can use for other business restructuring processes. The system of dividend imputation was introduced in Australia in 1987 in order to avoid double taxation with respect to the income of a company. Before the introduction of the dividend imputation in Australia, there was double taxation because the companies paid tax on their earning income and the shareholders also had to pay tax on the dividends at a marginal tax rate, which provided the government double tax on a single company’s earnings. Here the difference with respect to dividend payment if the firm Alresford implemented the Australian dividend imputation system could not be clearly calculated as no provisions with respect to payment of dividend are provided. Therefore, there is no change in calculations with respect to payment of dividend if the Australian dividend imputation system is used. The system of Dividend Imputation allows the shareholders of the firm to obtain more