Friday, November 29, 2019

Creation II Essays - Creationism, Pseudoscience, Denialism

Creation II Mrs. Brew 13 May 1996 Intelligent Design of the Universe The search for knowledge about the origin of humanity is as old as its inhabitants. Since the early 1800's mankind has narrowed the debate to creation by a Supreme Being and the theory of evolution. Ever since then, science has been at odds against religion. Now it appears that science is returning to religion. Scientists are finding proof that the universe was created by a Supreme Being. The word evolution refers to the change of something over a period of time(Webster's 634). In biology, the theory of evolution is "the complex of processes by which living organisms originated on earth and have been diversified and modified through sustained changes in form and function"(Valentine). This theory proposes that between 4 million and 10 million years ago, all organisms on earth had a common ancestor and that through a process of evolution, all living organisms descended from this common ancestor(Coyne). Chevalier de La marck, a French naturalist proposed a theory of evolution in 1809. His idea did not get much scientific consideration until Charles R. Darwin announced his theory of evolution(Coyne). Darwin published "his most famous book, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection"(Valentine) in 1859. Darwin stated that offspring resemble their parents, yet they are not exactly identical to them. He also noted that some of these differences were not effects of their environment, but actually were passed down from parents to children(Valentine). Darwin is the most well known scientist to write on evolution. There are many different variations on the theory of evolution. Darwin states that natural selection is the main reason for the evolution of life. The fight for food, water and other necessities benefits those creatures who are well adapted for the struggle. Those that cannot survive, die with no offspring to continue their genetic line. Natural selection is also called survival of t he fittest. Another related idea to evolution is gradualism. "Gradualism is the idea that evolutionary changes do not occur suddenly but over large amounts of time, ranging from decades to millions of years"(Coyne). Genetic drift is another way that scientists define evolution. When two of a species mate, their offspring gets 23 chromosomes from both parents. When a gene does not split and combine correctly, a mutation occurs. This mutation will get passed down from the creature to its offspring. In this way a species can permanently be changed(Coyne). Scientists who have accepted the general theory of evolution as fact disagree among themselves about the ratio of importance between natural selection and genetic drift. They also disagree about what caused the apparent gaps in fossil layers. New species "abruptly"(Valentine) appear in the fossil record with no apparent mutation from another species, then remain unchanged for long periods of time. They do not seem to exhibit the gradu al changes that would be expected by modern evolutionists(Valentine). Many people, including those in the scientific community, do not accept the theory of evolution as fact. When Darwin was alive, his theory was attacked by many scientists and religious leaders(Coyne). In the 1900's, United States public high schools began teaching evolution in science classes. By the 1920's, laws in twenty states to ban the teaching of evolution in public schools had been proposed by people who did not want their children being indoctrinated. "They considered the teaching of the theory to be part of a dangerous trend toward the separation of religious beliefs from everyday life"(Coyne). Several of the proposed laws were passed into effect in states including Arkansas and Tennessee. "The ACLU challenged the Tennessee law in 1925 by defending a teacher named John T. Scopes, who had volunteered to stand trial on the charge of teaching evolution"(Coyne). The ACLU lost the case but because of bad pres s, creationists appeared ignorant to science. However, in 1968 the Supreme Court of the United States "ruled that laws banning the teaching of evolution were unconstitutional because they made religious considerations part of the curriculum"(Coyne). The courts continue to give rulings on creation and evolution in schools, some have come as recently as 1987(Coyne). The fight to keep evolution out of the classroom is still persevering. Those who are

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Unforgetable Man

The Unforgetable Man Being an orderly at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital was a fun job that required a strong heart. The hospital was a great place for me to experience the beauty of life and the unwanted death of humans. Throughout my year of employment at the Community Hospital, I was able to enjoy my work by interacting with many kinds of interesting patients. Without the hospital, I would have never imagined to be carrying on conversations with most of these people. Aiding curses required many long exhilarating hours of work each day, but I loved experiencing the daily recovery of patients, in which I was able to be some part.The night of August sixth became a different story. Just as my shift was coming to a normal close, a nurse‚s call light from one of the patient‚s rooms had illuminated. On one of my many repetitive walks down from the station to a patient‚s room, I had nothing else on my mind except for my evening plans with friends.Nurse log, Quinault Rain Forest Nature TrailI was extr emely happy that this would surely be the last call light I would be answering that shift. As I entered the room, a crying relative came yelling at me. "He is going, something happened, do something, do something now!", demanded the distressed lady standing right at the bed side. I had seen this man before, although I had never spoken to him. I had know idea that he was not in a stable health."All right, all right," I replied in frustration, not knowing exactly what to do first. I looked at the 84 year old overweight male patient. He appeared very pale with his brown colored eyes half shut looking desperately at me for some sort of help. My mind was becoming blank, as I could not believe what...

Friday, November 22, 2019

How Has the Growth of Ecommerce Affected the Retail Sector in the UK Research Paper

How Has the Growth of Ecommerce Affected the Retail Sector in the UK in Over the Last 10 Years - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates that in the UK, online retailing is outperforming high street with several structural changes in progress with the internet providing a powerful tool to connect customer data on preferences and to facilitate and react to customers’ requests and feedbacks, using it to form a competitive advantage. Data was gathered through the use of primary and secondary sources from several authors and journals. Findings have been carefully scrutinized and analyzed.The research reveals that retail sector in the UK has undergone tremendous development and retailers have to apply and adopt online technology to be able to survive in that industry against their competitors. E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods or service by use of electronic methods such as the Internet and other computer networks. Almost two decades, to when this fast-paced electronic business atmosphere was just starting to develop, its eventual achievement must have looked far less convinced. Ov er the last decade, e-commerce has altered the look of the retail zone, helping corporations to enlarge into new markets, connect more efficiently with consumers, decrease costs and drive revenue growth in the future. To thrive now, it is not just a question of selling online, but taking a tactical view of your online presence to make certain it delivers the utmost possible worth to your business. Fortunately, a new generation of e-commerce technologies, powered by web 2.0 techniques, is now heralding a new period for both businesses and consumers in a similar way. It is now extensively known that the Internet’s supremacy range and interactivity supplies retailers with the possibility to change their customers’ shopping familiarity. According to Levenburg, e-commerce helps traders and suppliers to build up their own competitive positions. The Internet’s capabilities to provide information, ease two-way communication with customers, gather market research data, p romote goods and services and eventually to support the online ordering of goods, provide retailers with a tremendously rich and bendable new channel. In so doing, the Internet gives retailers an instrument for expansion of target markets, improving customer interactions, extending product lines, improving price efficiency, enhancing customer relationships and delivering modified bids.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Analyze the relationship between humans and technology in the novel Essay

Analyze the relationship between humans and technology in the novel and in the present - Essay Example But amidst the shining avenue of technological advancement, human civilization forgets the curse that it brings with it. The dark abbeys lying behind the gleaming and shining pavement of human civilization is casted with curse, tears, agony and bloodshed of million innocent people who become mere scapegoats and prey in the hands of lured and power hungry class who tear asunder the faith and the dreams of numerous innocent faces for their own interest and power play. The novel ‘Fail Safe’ by Eugene Burdick, throws light on the darker side that the technological glitch brings and discusses about the apocalyptic attitude which Americans possessed during the peak hours of the Cold War. This feeling and foreboding eclipsed the entire American society and pervaded throughout the nation. First introduced in the year 1962 to its readers, the novel ‘Fail Safe’ was written when entire America was still staggering from the Cuban missile crisis. At such point of time ‘Fail Safe’ was written to portray the fact that more the countries would indulge into the development of nuclear capabilities, more the potential for newer enemies would prowl on their horizon. ‘Fail Safe’ is written against the background, when disaster would have trucked any moment and during the period of political doldrums â€Å"Fail Safe† continued to deliver powerful response through the issues captivated within the periphery of the novel. Before trying to relate the difference of relationship between the humans and technology in the novel and the similar articles during the contemporary time, it is quite essential to note and understand the background of the write-up. Analyzing the background of the write-up essentially and poignantly involves the background of the creative mind behind the framing of the plot. The background of the writer who yields various documentations in the form of hypothesis or direct testimony of his experience or recorded experience

Monday, November 18, 2019

Brand makeover Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brand makeover - Case Study Example (Urbanoutfitters Inc.) The brand Urban Outfitters targets mainly young adults between the age group of 18 to 30 years and has established a good rapport with youngsters. However the company Urban Outfitter Inc. faces some risk in it business segment which is sensitive to economic conditions, consumer spending, shifts in fashion industry, increasing competition, etc. It is necessary to rebrand the products in order to retain the existing customer and also to attract new customers by increasing the line of apparels and accessories for other age groups also. Amanda Comunale states that the company's identity is expressed through the brand image which can be discovered by specifying the meaning, intention, aspirations and mission of the retail brand. The most effective approach to uphold the brand image is through internal branding i.e. employees. Urban Outfitters should have makeover in terms of variant fashion and accessories by including clothes which are the hottest trend in market for all ages. Brand mak eover as it creates a sense of ripeness among the customers and tempts the customer to know what's new in the brand. Therefore it is an important tool to market and increase the sale. (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/) Majority of Urban Outfitters products are targeted towards young people which markets online making it one of the largest 500 internet retailer in t

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Research Essay Ballast Water Environmental Sciences Essay

Research Essay Ballast Water Environmental Sciences Essay INTRODUCTION The proper control and management of ballast water from ships is now a major environmental challenge not only to the International Maritime Organization but also for the shipping industry worldwide. This problematic issue has led some countries to consider actions at the national level to establish regulations and criteria for the discharge of ballast water in areas under its jurisdiction. In this way, the IMO adopted in 2004 the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship ´s Ballast Water and Sediments and several guidelines and resolutions. As the Convention previously mentioned has not yet entered into force, several states have taken unilateral action to prevent, minimize and ultimately eliminate the risks of the introduction to the marine environment of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens from ballast water. Consequently, in 1998 the Argentine maritime authority approved Order No. 7-98 entitled Prevention of pollution by aquatic organisms in the ballast water of ships bound for Argentine ports in the estuary of the River Plate, which requires ships from overseas bound for Argentine ports in the estuary to discharge, change or treat their ballast water before entering a zone in which polluting activities are prohibited, which is located at the exterior limit of the River Plate. Even though Argentina is an IMO member state, for political reasons it has not signed the IMO Convention for Ballast Water. However, Argentina follows the IMO recommendations to create its own regulations in a standardized way, in order to avoid the negative impacts that ballast water discharge involves. This paper will analyze Argentina ´s national regulations and procedures for dealing with ballast water and determine the similarities and differences with the IMO recommendations. In addition, before analyzing this specific aspect, it is necessary to introduce the ballast water issue. First, the ballast water definition and its brief history. Second, this paper will describe the problems that ballast water implies. Third, the IMO responses in concordance with the international cooperation, regarding ballast water management and the assistance to developing countries, like Argentina, to reduce the entry of invasive species. Finally, this research will compare the Argentine legal framework with the international one; to be concluded with some suggestions and recommendations to improve this significant environmental problem. BALLAST WATER BACKGROUND What is Ballast Water? To understand the problems that ballast water imply, it is necessary to know the meaning of ballast water. According to the IMO Convention, ballast water means water with its suspended matter taken on board a ship to control trim, list, draught, stability or stresses of the ship. Ships are designed and constructed to sail carrying cargo such as oil, minerals, containers and so on. Consequently, if the ship travels without charge from one port and goes to the next port, the ballast must be on board to allow the vessel to operate efficiently and with safety. This includes keeping the ship at a depth sufficient to guarantee efficient operation of the propeller and rudder, and to avoid stress and strain on the hull, mainly in heavy seas, that could cause it to break or to sink the ship. Thousands of years ago, when ships began to be built, they carried solid ballast, such as rocks, sand or metal. However, since 1880, ships have used water as ballast, mainly because it is more affordable, it is much easier to load and unload and is, therefore, more effective and economical than the ballast solid (Ballast Water Defined, n.d.). As the figure 1 shows, when a ship is freed from its cargo, it is filled with water ballast. The water is distributed into the ballast tanks in the vessel. These tanks are strategically located depend on the vessel structure. They are usually located along the side and bottom of the hull. Ballast water is extracted through sea water intakes located in the side or vessel bottom, with the aid of feeding pumps for ballast or gravity. The seawater intakes are covered with grills or filters that prevent large foreign objects from entering the ships ballast tanks. However, many species are able to pass through the ship ´s water intake and pumps (The Issue, n.d.). Figure 1 Cross section of ships showing ballast tanks and ballast water cycle Note: Globallast Partnerships Retrieved from: http://globallast.imo.org/index.asp?page=problem.htmmenu=true C:Usersanalia soleda viggiaDesktopJING IMAGESBW.png The ballast water sediments are closely associated with ballast water. When ships charge ballast water, they also receive the solid material contained in the water. When this material enters into the ballast water tank, it sits in the bottom of the tank as sediment and the problem is that it can carry a variety of invasive species. Consequently, approximately 7,000 diverse invasive species could be transported into the ballast water tanks around the world. Many of these species may not survive during the ships ´ voyage. In the same way, other species are able to survive but when they are discharged in a place with different environmental conditions, they may die. However, several of the invasive species not only are able to survive but also find favourable conditions in the new environment to reproduce and to be a competitor or depredator of native species (The Issue, n.d.). BALLAST WATER PROBLEMS Invasive Species There are many problems in the ballast water discharge due to invasive species that are introduced in a new environment. These invasive species could be defined as species that have been introduced, intentionally or accidentally in a place, area or region where not found naturally. Other synonyms that are used to refer to invasive species are non-native species, non-indigenous species or invasive alien species (IAS) (Invasive species, n.d.). Furthermore, according to the IMO BW Convention, the invasive species are defined as: Aquatic organisms or pathogens which, if introduced into the sea including estuaries, or into fresh water courses, may create hazards to the environment, human health, property or resources, impair biological diversity or interfere with other legitimate uses of such areas. The problem involving invasive species is that after they have been introduced into a new geographic area, they are established and spread, which causes or may cause, damage to the environment, economies or the health of human beings (Invasive species, n.d.). Invasion Process The invasive process has three main steps: Introduction, establishment and propagation. 1 Introduction of the species: The species is introduced successfully in a new geographical area, intentionally or accidentally. This means that the species survives the voyage and is able to live in that area because the environmental conditions such as light, temperature, salinity, nutrients, among others, are adequate. 2 Establishment and reproduction of introduced species: Survivors persist and reproduce successfully, establishing a self-sustaining foundational population. 3 Propagation: The established population begins to spread, sometimes after a stationary period (or stationary stage) that could be for years and even decades. Then an explosive growth stage begins, this moment is when the new species becomes invasive (Invasive species, n.d.). Negative impacts The introduction of invasive species and their spread is recognized as a devastating issue in the affected environment because the damage that species cause to the local biodiversity could be irremediable. In this way, these complications in the environment imply also a negative impact in the economy of the affected area and to human health that is impaired by the invasive species ´ effects. In addition, all these negative impacts that invasive species produce in the environment, the economy and the human health are interrelated and influence each other (Ballast Water Management, n.d.). Ecological/ Environmental Negative ecological impacts happen when invasive species alter the local biodiversity of the area and/or ecological processes. While the initial impact may be insignificant and therefore, not detected; over time, as the population increases, also the severity of the effects increases. The most significant ecological impacts that invasive species cause in the environment are (The Ballast, 2002, p.8): Competing with native species for space and food. Preying upon native species. Altering habitat. Altering environmental conditions. Altering the food web and the overall ecosystem. Displacing native species, reducing native biodiversity and even causing local extinctions. Economic Invasive species can produce huge economic losses to society, whether in the form of direct economic impacts, such as loss of marine food production, or secondary economic impacts associated with the health of humans or ecological impact. For example, it is estimated that in the U.S., the cost associated with the control of invasive species is enormous. To clear Zebra Mussels were cost between US$750 and US$1 billion between 1989 and 2000. In general, the economic impacts include (The Ballast, 2002, p.10): Reductions in fisheries production (including collapse of the fishery) due to competition, predation or displacement of the fishery species by the invading species or through environmental changes caused by the invading species. Impacts on aquaculture (including closure of fish-farms), especially from introduced harmful algae blooms. Physical impacts on coastal infrastructure, facilities and industry, especially by fouling species. Reduction in the economy and efficiency of shipping due to fouling species. Impacts and even closure of recreational and tourism beaches and other coastal amenity sites due to invasive species (e.g. physical fouling of beaches and severe odors from harmful algae blooms). Secondary economic impacts from human health impacts of introduced pathogens and toxic species, including increased monitoring, testing, diagnostic and treatment costs, and loss of social productivity due to illness and even death in affected persons. Secondary economic impacts from ecological impacts and bio-diversity loss. The costs of responding to the problem, including research and development, monitoring, education, communication, regulation, compliance, management, mitigation and control costs. Human health Because of the continued transfers of ballast water, chances are high that ships carry microorganisms on a large scale. For instance, there is evidence that cholera epidemics can be directly related to the discharge of ballast water. While Vibrio cholera and other pathogens are normal elements of coastal waters, they are not usually present in concentrations high enough to cause health problems for humans. However, with the increase in global trade and vessels transiting between international ports, the transfer of microbes could well be the worst threat related to the discharge of ballast water. A clear example is the cholera epidemic that happened in Peru in 1991 because of ballast water discharge, affecting more than a million people and killing more than ten thousand. Another problem in the human health that ballast water implies is that ships could carry in the ballast tanks not only bacteria and viruses, but also a range of species of microalgae, including toxic species that may form harmful algae blooms or red tides' (The Ballast, 2002, p.13). This kind of algae causes shellfish poisoning, which can produce sever illness and death in humans. ARGENTINE CASE STUDY The invasive species introduced by ballast water have affected Argentine waters causing many negative impacts. For instance, since 1991, the Golden Mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) entered to Argentina through the River Plate into the ballast water tanks of Asian ships (Crosier, Molloy, n.d.). One of the complications that golden mussel causes is the damage in water intakes and water treatment plants, in which it is adhered. Consequently, the pipes are clogged, the water flow moves slowly and filters are clogged (macro-fouling) (Figure 2 and 3). Other disorders associated with the presence of this invasive bivalve are the rapidly changing in communities of organisms living on the bottom of water bodies (called benthic) and the displacement of indigenous species of mollusks. Figure 1 and 2 Golden Mussel Note: Para Nauticos Retrieved from: http://www.paranauticos.com/Notas/Tecnicas/Oceanografia/mejillon-dorado.htm C:Usersanalia soleda viggiaDesktopJING IMAGESGolden_Mussel.pngC:Usersanalia soleda viggiaDesktopJING IMAGESGolden_Mussel_002.png Furthermore, the Golden Mussel produces changes in the food chains of the environment, such as change of diet of vogue in the River Plate. In this case, this fish chooses the golden mussel as their main food, altering the normal ecosystem characteristics. On the other hand, the arrival of the invasive bivalve has economic negative effects that can be quantified by the value of the damage it causes, plus the costs of prevention and control tasks (Mirasso, n.d.). As a result of the Golden Mussel invasion in the River Plate, there are several negative impacts, such as in the human health, taking into account that the water consumed by people is that one that be affected by the Golden Mussel in the treatment plant. Moreover, other negative effects are ecological (because the environmental changes) and economics (due to the procedures used it to solve the problems that the bivalve produces). INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION RESPONSES Since late 1980, the IMO has been actively engaged in trying to find a solution to the problem of ballast water. Initially, the IMO developed and published a set of guidelines in 1991, which were replaced in 1997 with Resolution A.868 (20) called Guidelines for the control and management of ship ´s ballast water to minimize the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens. Subsequently, IMO began working on an international legal instrument that resulted in the adoption by consensus of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ballast Water and Sediments in the Diplomatic Conference that was held at the IMO headquarters in London on February 13, 2004. This Convention will enter into force 12 months after ratification by 30 States, representing 35 per cent of world merchant shipping tonnage. The last IMO report of  August 31, 2011 shows that 35 States have ratified the Convention, representing 27.95% of world merchant shipping tonnage (Ballast Water Man agement, n.d.; Status of Conventions, 2012). Basically, the BWM Convention will require all ships to implement a Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan; all ships will have to carry a Ballast Water Record Book and will be required to carry out standard ballast water management procedures. In addition, Parties to the Convention are given the option to take additional measures which are subject to criteria set out in the Convention and to IMO guidelines. These guidelines were created by the IMO Member States between 2005 and 2008 to facilitate the uniform implementation of the ballast water process. The mentioned guidelines are the following (BWM Guidelines, n.d.): Guidelines for sediment reception facilities (G1) (resolution MEPC.152(55)) Guidelines for ballast water sampling (G2) (resolution MEPC.173(58)) Guidelines for ballast water management equivalent compliance (G3) (resolution MEPC.123(53)) Guidelines for ballast water management and development of ballast water management plans (G4) (resolution MEPC.127(53)) Guidelines for ballast water reception facilities (G5) (resolution MEPC.153(55)) Guidelines for ballast water exchange (G6) (resolution MEPC.124(53)) Guidelines for risk assessment under regulation A-4 of the BWM Convention (G7) (resolution MEPC.162(56)) Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) (resolution MEPC.174(58)) Procedure for approval of ballast water management systems that make use of Active Substances (G9) (resolution MEPC.169(57)) Guidelines for approval and oversight of prototype ballast water treatment technology programmes (G10) (resolution MEPC.140(54)) Guidelines for ballast water exchange design and construction standards (G11) (resolution MEPC.149(55)) Guidelines on design and construction to facilitate sediment control on ships (G12) (resolution MEPC.150(55)) Guidelines for additional measures regarding ballast water management including emergency situations (G13) (resolution MEPC.161(56)) Guidelines on designation of areas for ballast water exchange (G14) (resolution MEPC.151(55)) Guidelines for ballast water exchange in the Antarctic treaty area (resolution MEPC.163(56)) However, the most relevant IMO recommendation regarding ballast water is the before mentioned Resolution A.868 (20) Guidelines for the control and management of ship ´s ballast water to minimize the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens. This Resolution was adopted on 27 November 1997 not as a solution to the ballast water issue but as a tool to minimize the risks caused by invasive species. Also, it asked countries to cooperate with this issue, applying the resolution itself and any other necessary measures. First, the Resolution A.868 (20) establishes several indications both to port States and ships. Beginning with the port States, they should inform the IMO of specific requirements that they have such as regulations, specific zones, standards and exemptions, in order that IMO can distribute this information and in this way, the ships could obtain each country ´s requirements prior to their arrival at port. Other information that the port States should pass on to IMO is the results of inspections and analyses of samples of ballast water tanks. In addition, the port States should have adequate reception and treatment facilities in their ports for safe disposal of ballast tank sediments. Second, according to the Resolution, the ships should have a specific ballast water management plan including safe and effective procedures during the charge and discharge of ballast water. All ships should record each discharge, mention at least dates; geographical location; ship ´s tanks and cargo holds; ballast water temperature and salinity; amount of ballast water loaded or discharged. Additionally, the ships should follow precautionary practices such as avoiding taking ballast water in darkness, shallow water or where propellers may stir up sediments. Also, they should avoid unnecessary discharge of ballast water. The ballast water exchange process could be done in deep water, in open ocean, as far as possible from shore or where the port State authorizes. In case of using pumping systems, the water should be pumped through the tank at least three times. Third, the Resolution takes into account future considerations in relation to ballast water exchange. This means that the measures could be revised and adjusted according to new technologies or developments. In addition, this document has two appendices. Appendix 1 is the Ballast Water Reporting Form to be provided by ships to port State Authority upon request. Appendix 2 is the Guidance of safety aspects of Ballast Water Exchange at sea. This appendix mentions the safety measures (stability, weather conditions, and stress on the hull, among others) and two recognized methods: Sequential method, in which ballast tanks are pumped out and refilled with clean water; and Flow-through method, in which ballast tanks are simultaneously filled and discharged by pumping in clean water. Finally, the Resolution establishes the necessity of crew training and familiarization regarding the ballast water management plan, ballast water methods, pumping system and recording the information required concerning ballast water loading and discharge. This point is very important because conscience and compromise about the ballast water risk, not only from the crew members but also from the port States, are the first steps to minimize the introduction of invasive species. The IMO not only carries its own efforts to solve the ballast water problem, but also it has been supporting the international cooperation among countries in order to achieve a common solution, and to help developed countries to implement the necessary measures to avoid invasive species and to implement the Ballast Water Convention. In this way, one of the most important programs under the IMO auspices is the GloBallast Patnership that it will be developed in more detail in the next section. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION International cooperation is essential to prevent the transferences of invasive species. This means that it is necessary joint cooperation among states, the maritime community, shipping companies and non-governmental organizations, in order to prevent, reduce and control human caused pollution of the marine environment, including the intentional or accidental introduction of harmful or alien species to a particular part of the marine environment. (Ballast Water Management, n.d.). In this way, since 2000 the IMO has been working with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to deal with the introduction of invasive species from ships ´ ballast water in new environments. In order to confront this issue with an international effort, these organizations initiated the Global Programme of Ballast Water Management to avoid obstacles to the effective implementation of control measures and ballast water management in developing countries (GloBallast Partnership). This is a comprehensive technical cooperation program for help developing countries to (GloBallast, n.d.): à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reduce the transfer of harmful organisms from ballast water of ships. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Implement the IMO guidelines on ballast water. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Prepare for the implementation of the Ballast Water Convention of IMO (which was still in negotiations at that time). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Develop mechanisms for sustainability and reforms at national level. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Promote regional coordination and cooperation. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Develop new technologies and exchange of information among governments measures. The GloBallast Partnership is divided into phases. The first phase was initiated in 2000 and finished in 2004. The second phase was initiated in 2007 and continuous running during this year. This second phase aims to build on the progress achieved in the original project. It will focus on national policy, legal and institutional reforms in developing countries with particular emphasis on integrated management. The approach includes: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Build on the achievements and use the skills and knowledge acquired in the first phase; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Repeat best practices and technical activities to promote national policy reforms. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Support countries particularly vulnerable and high environmental sensitivity in their efforts to adopt legal reforms and to implement the Convention on Ballast Water Management. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Promote collaboration with industry to facilitate the successful transfer of new technologies from developed to developing countries (GloBallast Partnerships, n.d.). Consequently, Argentina participated in the GloBallast Partnership Program and this year the Argentine Coast Guard was designated as the focal point to represent Argentina to International Organizations in this Program. In order to assist with other nations in the world particularly vulnerable countries regarding the introduction of invasive species and pathogens through ballast water of ships, to fortify political and legal aspects (Environmental Protection, 2012). ARGENTINE LEGAL FRAMEWORK The BWM Convention was opened to signature from 01 June 2004 to 31 May 2005. Eight countries including Argentina signed the instrument subject to ratification. Until now Argentina has not ratified the Convention because it still remains in the Congress to analyze. However, this situation does not mean that Argentina does not support the fight against invasive species incoming from the ships ´ ballast water. On the contrary, Argentina was a pioneer in this issue. In 1998 the Argentine maritime authority approved Ordinance No. 7-98 entitled Prevention of pollution by aquatic organisms in the ballast water of ships bound for Argentine ports in the estuary of the River Plate, which obliges ships from overseas bound for Argentine ports in the estuary to discharge, change or treat their ballast water before entering a zone in which polluting activities are prohibited, which is located at the outer limit of the River Plate. On December 1999, this national regulation was submitted to the I MO through MEPC 44/4/2, in order to be distributed among the states. In the same way, Ordinance No. 12-98 entitled Special Protection Areas on the Argentine Coast was submitted to the IMO. This Ordinance established twelve special protection areas, where among other prohibitions, it is forbidden to discharge ballast water, even if treated in some way, unless it has been exchanged for water taken within 150 miles from the outer limit of the area concerned. Both regulations were made by the Environmental Protection Department of the Argentine Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval Argentina). This Department is in charge of all the issues related to environmental protection. Within this Department is found the Scientific Research Division that works with specialists such as biologists, and this group is continuously conducting research about ballast water and the impact in the environment. In this way, they confirmed with several studies that three species of freshwater bivalves that have been found in the River Plate (Corbicula fluminea, Corbicula largillierti, and Linmoperna fortune, known as Golden Mussel) originating from the estuaries of south-east Asia, and that they had entered via the discharge from ships from that region, to which bulk cereals had been exported from Argentina. Considering that the River Plate is the gateway of the export/import activity of Argentina, it was necessary that this national regulation be applicable and mandatory both for national ships and foreign flagged ships. This last consideration was possible because Argentina submitted the Ordinance to IMO and then it was distributed among the states. Several of the Ordinance requirements are similar to the IMO Resolution A. 868 (20), because it was made based on this last one. For instance, as the Resolution, the Ordinance has a final annex including Guidance on Safety Aspects of Ballast Water Exchange at Sea and Crew Training and Familiarization. Other similarity appears in the ship-shore communication and the methods admitted by both regulations. However, some requirements are specific to the Ordinance, such as sealing ballast tanks or pumping control valves and the exigency of salinity levels. Furthermore, the Ordinance does not have many requirements included in the Resolution, such as the port states procedures or the Ballast Water Reporting Form. The Ordinance No. 7-98 Prevention of pollution by aquatic organisms in the ballast water of ships bound for Argentine ports in the estuary of the River Plate establishes that all ships that navigate along the River Plate shall exchange ballast water avoiding the prohibited zone of polluting actions located in front of the external limit of the River Plate. Another requirement is the radio electric communication that ships must make with the Vessel Traffic Services of the River Plate (CONRASE) informing them of the ballast water exchange or ballast retention on board. In case of exchange, they must indicate position, amount of water discharged, exchanged or retained on board and method applied for the ballast water exchange. According to this Ordinance, the methods admitted by Argentine Coast Guard are: Total deballasting and reballasting (like the Sequential Method indicated in the Resolution A. 868 (20)), Flow-through (the same as in the IMO Resolution) and Overflow (it is similar to the flow-through method, but pumping water for a time and making it overflow from the top of tank). In case of considering new methods, these should be approved by the IMO. Some methods admitted as a complement are: Filtering systems, oxidizing and non-oxidizing biocides, thermal techniques, electric pulses and plasma pulses, ultraviolet treatment, acoustic systems, magnetic field, deoxidation, biological techniques and anti-adherent coatings. Furthermore, the Ordinance allows Coast Guard members to seal ballast tanks and pumps to control valves of ships, to be sure that they would not discharge the water on the way to Argentine Ports. Also the officers may take samples of the contents of ballast tanks, pipes and pumps to control the presence of invasive species and water salinity. In case that the water salinity is below 30mg/cm3, the ship would be not be allowed to enter into the River Plate because this water quality means that the ship exchanged ballast water very near the River Plate without taking into account the requirements of the Ordinance. Finally, Argentina tries to arrive at a ballast water solution with its own national regulations. However, this is not enough because, since the adoption of the Ordinance No.7-98, many cases of new invasive species have happened, not only in the River Plate but also in the Argentine south where it does not exists any particular regulation, referent to ballast water. For example, the Golden Mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) that entered through the River Plate, affecting this complete zone until Brazil or the Wakame seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) that invaded Puerto Madryn (a southern Argentine province) causing economic losses because this place is a touristic beach where people make activities like scuba diving but since this seaweed has invaded this place it is impossible to practice this activity. This is a shortcoming in the Argentine regulation because the Ordinance No.7-98 only contemplates the River Plate but not the others ports of entry at the country, mainly in southern Argentina . On the other hand, the Argentine regulation does not contain any reference to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships ´ Ballast Water and Sediments because both instruments are not contemporary; the Ordinance was made six years previously. CONCLUSION The introduction of invasive species is a ballast water problem that involves the majority of the countries in which the trade is made by ships. Nowadays, most of the ships in the world fleet effectively carry ballast water and, therefore, would need to manage ballast water as part of their operations. The ecological, economic and human health impacts of invasive species are significantly severe for each country or region affected. Ballast water transfers and aquatic invasive species are perhaps the biggest environmental challenge facing the global shipping industry this century. For this reason, the problem of ballast water and invasive species must be addressed on an international basis involving cooperation between all countries and the shipping and port industries because the ships are involved in the international trade around the world; the port states are linked to receive and to c

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Can God Love a Good Gay Guy? Essay example -- Homosexuality Religion E

Can God Love a Good Gay Guy? To begin my project, I’ll give you some of my background, so you can understand why the topic of Christianity and homosexuality is so relevant to me. I have been fortunate to be raised Christian with many family members who are regularly active within the church. We are members of the Fairland Brethren in Christ Church in Cleona. I have always felt very welcomed and loved by that Christian body, even during my younger years when I was dorky and rejected by many of my peers. I found comfort in the fact that God loved me and the congregation offered their care and support. Since then I have also realized that our congregation is one of the more open, outgoing, thoughtful, creative, and helpful in the area. Because our church is so ambitious and outgoing, I was given many opportunities to aid in events. God has given me great artistic and design talent. I have used this gift for years to give back to the church and across the community, through doing sets for church plays, decorations for banquets, signs for festivals, creating holiday displays, and designing and constructing scenery /decorations for main events, such as Vacation Bible School. I am extremely grateful to have been blessed with this wonderful background in religious beliefs. I will always continue to use them as guidance in my life and towards my path of spiritual growth. It was in sixth grade, with the onset of puberty and fluctuating hormones that I first realized I was attracted to the same sex, even then, I wasn't aware that it was an option. It simply wasn't discussed, beyond the yearly "it's-wrong/ gays go to Hell" speech given in church. I didn't choose to be gay, as a thief chooses to steal, I simply am gay, and have no ... ...Oct. 2004. <http://www.inthefaith.com/archives/00084.php> Johns, Loren L. Homosexuality and the Bible. 19 Oct. 2004. <http://hem.passagen.se/nicb/christ.htm> Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. Gentle Shepherd Metropolitan Community Church. 21 Oct. 2004. http://www.gentleshepherdmcc.com/bible/index.php Sklar, Bill. â€Å"1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:10.† Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Catholic Handbook. 21 Oct. 2004. <http://www.otkenyer.hu/halsall/lgbh-cortim.html> The Random House Dictionary of the English Lanquage. New York: Random House, Inc. 1966. Robinson, B.A. What the Bible Says About Homosexuality. 19 Oct. 2004. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibh.htm> Wink, Rev. Dr. Walter. The Bible Should Not Be Used to Condemn Homosexuality. 19 Oct. 2004. <http://hem.passagen.se/nicb/christ.htm>

Monday, November 11, 2019

Health and Safety Problems in Rio de Janeiro

There are many health and safety problems that people in Rio de Janeiro are currently facing today. Probably one of the main problems that Rio has is its large crime rate. Rio de Janeiro has been known for its high crime rate by the State Department for the past 25 years. Crime statistics continues to be critically high and rising levels of crimes in the city of Rio de Janeiro are indicative of organized crime units. They are dealing with categories of rape, theft, gangs, drug abuses and kidnapping.Many different kinds of robberies are held in the city, especially street robberies and even robbery in your vehicle during the night. It is even difficult for tourists to come visit Rio de Janeiro because of the high crimes rates. Many tourists have experienced or seen both robbery and fraud in the city. Some even experienced rape. On April 3rd , 2012 an American woman visiting Brazil with her boyfriend was raped and beaten by 3 men onboard a bus. There should be a stricter system of law r rather have the government pass a new law regarding the issues of these crimes.That would help the city of Rio to reduce the crimes happening there. Rio de Janeiro has been known for having many slums in the city, and these areas are called favelas. Rios favelas have been statistically the center of high crimes rates. Since the 1980s, nearly every Rio favela was controlled by violent drug gangs or criminal organizations. Rio de Janeiro has over 1,000 favelas. At one point, the favelas were the home of the most wanted man in the city of Rio de Janeiro.There were many drug gangs and many people walking in the streets armed with weapons, fearing neither the police nor the government. Innocent people living in the area were afraid of the gangs. There were also many robberies and rape in the slums. In order to take care of the crime problem in their slums they established what is known as the Favela Pacification Program (FPP) first introduced in November 2008. It recruited thousands of police to secure and watch over almost every part of Rio's favelas.They established permanent presence called Unidade de Policia Pacificadora (UPP). Police took care and arrested violent drug gangs and even had the most known gangs in the slums in their custody. Because of this they were able to reduce the crime rates drastically in Rio de Janeiro. Another result of the UPPS formation is the decline of homicide rates in the city. Since 2005, homicides in the state and city of Rio de Janeiro have declined over 50 percent in real numbers and in the homicide rate.The homicide rate in the ity of Rio de Janeiro has dropped dramatically from 42 homicides per 100,000 in 2005 to 24 homicides per 100,000 in 2012. Another health issue in Rio de Janeiro is the infant mortality rate. In Rio de Janeiro the rate varies greatly from region to region. In 2008, the citys overall average was 19 deaths for every 1,000 live births until 12 months old. Barra da TiJuca, a richer neighborhood in Rio reco rded 6 deaths per 1,000 live births while another town in Rio has a rate of 21 deaths per 1,000 births. This shows the difference between the rich and the poor areas of Rio.As for prenatal care for pregnant women in Rio, only 32% of women met the target of seven visits during pregnancy. The lack of prenatal care reflects the high percentage of infant mortality. To help with the issues of infant mortality rate, Rio should issue more health centers for women or people in need of health care, especially in the slums ot Rio. Not many people can attord medical care so it would help the people to have mini health centers around their neighborhood. Women would better be able to come for checkups during pregnancy.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Owning a Pet

You go to the mall, and there in center court is a bunch of cute, soft, wiggly puppies and kittens; some of them are in cages and some are being walked around by handlers. There is a crowd of adults and children surrounding them. You just have to hold one of them for just a minute, and then you are hooked. Everyone knows that pets are loveable, soft and cuddly; what we forget about is the responsibility that comes with pet ownership. Outside of the time commitment to caring for a pet, there is also the financial aspect.When you own a pet, they have to be fed, groomed, exercised and loved; most of the time, with puppies, there is the training aspect of getting them to let you know when they need to go outside to eliminate waste and not to chew on furniture or other house fixtures. Try to avoid the use of second person â€Å"you† in your writing. Pets also add to the normal housekeeping routine due to pet hair and shedding which may require additional vacuuming. And, with cat ow nership, there is the need to keep the litter box clean.All of this takes time from an already busy schedule. Add to that the expense of owning a pet: food, grooming, veterinarian and training expenses, to name a few. Consequently, what seemed like a good idea can have a drastic impact on your life. Most of us work; what do you do with the pet during the day when you are away from home? Or, what if you plan a trip and are unable to take the pet with you? Do you have a family member willing to take on the responsibility of caring for your pet while you are gone?Or, do you pay to have the pet boarded while you are gone? Cats are fairly self-sufficient and can be left alone for long periods of time; dogs, not so much. If you own a dog and are away at work, what do you do about the dog using when it needs to go outside? These are all important considerations prior to walking out the door with that cute, fluffy pet. We all know that pets are loving and loyal companions. Above all, one sh ould consider the consequences of pet ownership, in terms of time and expenses.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

obese flights Essays

obese flights Essays obese flights Essay obese flights Essay Essay Topic: Flight obese flights BY killwi1125 J. T. scott Engl: 191 Rough draft Flight of the Obese Imagine this You worked overtime shifts for the past 3 months to be able to afford this vacation. You struggled to get time off and you are now ready to relax and enjoy yourself on the trip. The time has come to take your seat on the plane and low and behold, you cant even have a seat to yourself because the person next you is overweight and therefore over the armrest. Not only is this affecting your ability to enjoy a comfortable flight but economically this may affect your ability to afford to fly in the future. The objective of this research paper is to debate whether or not obese people should have to pay more for airline tickets. A study concluded that the 10 pounds Americans gained on average during the 1990s required an additional 350 million gallons of fuel a year (Adler). Obese passengers not only affect the comfort of others on the plane, it is a known fact that the heavier the vehicle the more fuel it burns. This means that as fuel usage goes up, so will the cost of plane tickets. Since there is no way to immediately tell if a potential passenger will cost extra fuel via internet purchase, airlines will simply Just harge more from each customer to compensate for the rising cost of fuel. Obesity is rising in America, thats no secret but are people aware of the rising economic costs of those extra pounds? According to a new study from the Campaign to End Obesity, spending due to obesity is actually twice the amount previously estimated and exceeds the costs of even smoking. Those medical costs affect everyone, not Just those who are obese. Higher health insurance premiums lead everyone to cover those extra medical costs. The U. S. spends an excess of $190 billion a year, the study found. Dybuncio). The air is not the only place in which the obese are affecting the economy. Cars burn nearly a billion gallons of gasoline more a year than they did in 1960, due to heavier passengers and in the skies; fuel costs have risen to carry heavier customers. Not to mention the skyrocketing costs of missed work days from people taking off because of poor health. The impact of obesity is everywhere (Dybuncio). Maybe if the airlines charged overweight, it could be a stepping stone toward sending a message to the youth and society in general that obesity has monetary consequences s well as health repercussions but my main issue with the situation is this, If you use more of the product (more space, more than one seat, more fuel, etc ) you should have to pay more. Its only fair. The difficult thing to do would be to come up with a system to decide who would have to pay that extra fee without being insensitive to those given the fee. One idea is to have an airplane seat readily available for people to sit in and see if they need the extra space. Just taking ones weight is not sufficient because everyone carries the pounds differently. One possible way is to Just ask the customer online before the ticket is purchased. That way the customer can already have the accommodations In place DeTore tney ny ana dont nave to deal wltn embarrassment of being told in public that they are too big for Just one seat. Any solution is sure to be awkward and uncomfortable to some. Kenlie Tiggeman is a 30 year old political strategist and weight loss blogger who, along with her mother was told that she was too fat to fly. Tiggeman said the incident happened in Dallas over Easter. She and her mother were told by a gate gent they each had to purchase two seats (Slatterly). The problem was that this was a return flight, and they hadnt been stopped before. The gate agent said it was policy. Tiggeman, who once weighed 393 lbs said that she was asked embarrassing questions such as How much I weighed, what size clothes I wear. I gave answers in front of a gate full of people, some of whom were snickering (Slatterly). This kind of treatment of people is unacceptable and turned out to be a black eye to Southwest Airlines, which allowed the woman and her mother on a later flight, apologized, efunded their tickets and gave them free vouchers. The Airline then issued a public apology to Ms. Tiggeman. A spokesperson for the company had this to say about this particular policy: If a passenger cannot fit in a seat with the armrests down, a second seat must be purchased. If the flight is not full, that added charge will be refunded. The airlines are not the only institutions that have rustled some feathers as far as the overweight are concerned. Bill Wisth, who weighs 3501bs and stands at a towering 6ft6in, went to the Thiensville, Wisconsin restaurant for their all-you-can-eat ish fry. However, he said that after 12 pieces, Chucks Place cut him off. The restaurant staff said they were running out of fish, but sent Mr. Wisth on his way with eight more pieces. He told Todays TMJ 4: We asked for more fish and they refused to give us any more fish. (Stebner) But he was not to be swayed. Mr. Wisth has decided to picket the restaurant every Sunday, condemning them for false advertising. At this time, Id like to apologize if the tone of this assignment has come off as bitter towards the obese. It is easy to Just complain about the problem rather than to nderstand the other side to it as well. I imagine that boarding a crowded airplane for on overweight p erson must be an incredibly awkward and tense experience since no one wants to be someones airline horror story. The sad story making the rounds at present is that of Arthur Berkowitz, who thought hed hit the coveted empty- middle-seat Jackpot on a cross-country flight from Anchorage, Alaska to Philadelphia back in July, only to lose out at the final moment when a last-minute addition boarded the plane and sat down beside him. Berkowitzs new seatmate was very fat, and Berkowitz responded by refusing to buckle his seat belt, in violation of FAA regulations, and spending the seven-hour flight standing in the aisle and galley area of the plane(Leslie). Berkowitz claims to be coming out with his tale of woe now because US Airways failed to give him a refund. Oh, and also because of safety. I doubt parts of his story for a few reasons. For one, I give a big side-eye to the notion that the airline would uniformly come down on the side of the fat dude if his size were indeed an impediment to the satisfaction of FAA safety regulations. Every major irline has a clause in their contract of carriage which you tacitly accept when you purchase your ticket specifying that should an individual prove too big for one seat, said individual must purchase a second seat. Its a bit of legal ass-coverage that many airlines rarely employ, but its there for Just such an occasion as this. The bottom line Is tnls; tne world Is Decomlng a more expensive Tor everyone. we are at tne polnt where as a society we expect to pay more for things we need to live such as food, gas, transportation, everything. The only things that are getting cheaper are fast food tems and that may part of the problem though Mark Bittman disagrees. THE fact that Junk food is cheaper than real food has become a reflexive part of how we explain why so many Americans are overweight, particularly those with lower incomes. I frequently read confident statements like, when a bag of chips is cheaper than a head of broccoli or its more affordable to feed a family of four at McDonalds than to cook a healthy meal for them at home. This is wrong(Bittman). He may be correct in that going to a store and buying groceries using coupons or 2 or one deals will save you money in the long run but for people who work, have children, and other obligations, fast food is significantly more feasible. The backlash to this is heavier Americans. And heavier Americans cause more drag in vehicles such as airplanes therefore using more gas and money. Combine that with the sheer annoyance many feel by being pinned in a seat due to an obese seat mate after already going through the hell that TSA puts everyone through and you have a legitimate reason to charge more to those you use more of the product which in this case is airplane space.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Financial Markets & Risks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Financial Markets & Risks - Essay Example Then we’ll make an assessment of the impact on the banking system if short-term interest rates were to rise. And at last let’s provide an explanation of the actions the ECB might take if the rumours of liquidity problems in other institutions prove to be correct. Over the last few years, the euro area has witnessed a gradual recovery in economic activity. The recovery started in the second half of 2003 and has now led to ongoing trend growth rates that seem to be close to our present estimates of the potential growth rate of the euro area economy. Several factors are behind the relatively gradual pace of this recovery, including oil price increases, the restructuring and reshaping of the productive sector triggered by global competition, and a possible decline in potential output growth. First, taking a longer-term perspective, there is some evidence that, underlying the moderate growth rates over the last few years, there may have been a decline in trend potential output growth in the euro area, particularly when comparisons are drawn with most of the 1980s and 1990s. The trend potential output growth rate seems to have moved closer to the lower bound of the previously estimated range of 2.0-2.5%. The sustained decline in euro area labour productivity growth has been identified as the main factor explaining lower potential output growth. Euro area labour productivity growth (measured per hour worked) was 2.4% in the euro area from 1981 to 1990. However, during the period 1996-2004, productivity fell to 1.3%. Decomposing trend labour productivity growth, in turn, shows that this decline reflects both lower growths in total factor productivity and less capital deepening. There is a wide consensus that the still significant structural rigidities in the euro area factor and product markets are likely to explain the lacklustre

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Understanding the Concepts Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Understanding the Concepts - Assignment Example Understanding the Concepts Quick ratios are the other important ratios for the small business, where the current assets of a business entity, with an exception of the inventories, are compared to the current liabilities to determine how best the business is placed in meeting its current cash payment obligations. Profitability ratios are also vital for a small business, since they help the business determine how much profits it has generated within a specified period of business operation (Bangs, 1992). In so doing, the business understands its performance, ranging from the effectiveness of its operations to how well the business is placed to compete with other businesses of its nature, serving the same market segment. Through the creation of such insights, developed from the analysis of financial ratios, a business makes suitable, tactical and strategic decisions that help it thrive in the market while improving on its operations effectiveness; customer needs satisfaction and profitability (Horcher, 2005). These ratios compares with those applied by large corporations in that, the same ratios are applied by the large corporations for the same reasons, as are for the small businesses. Thus, such ratios are equally important to the managers of large corporations, as they are to the owner managers of small businesses. However, some financial ratios are more appropriate to aid the process of making decisions in large corporations. Such ratios, which are more useful to the managers of large business entities include the debt to asset ratios, which compares the debts that an organization has, to the assets owned by the organization, thus determining how well the organization is placed to meet its debt obligations (Bangs, 1992). Return on asset ratios are the other important ratios for the large corporations. These ratios analyses how the assets of the organization has been generating returns. Such ratios, which are more appropriate for the large corporations, differs from those most suitable for small businesses in that, the financial ratios for larger organizations mostly deals with the assets and the debts owed by the entity, as most of the large organizations owns many assets as well as debt obligations. This is in contrast to the small businesses, which owns fewer assets, and which are mostly financed from the pockets of the owners, making such ratios not very vital for such businesses (Horcher, 2005). Debt financing is mostly applied by business owners who do not have sufficient finances to establish or to finance the operations of their business, yet they prefer to have total control of their business, at the expense of inviting investors into their business, who will take some control. There are various advantages associated with this type of business financing. First, the owner of the business retains the full control of the business, while obtaining the required financing to run the operations of the business (Bangs, 1992). Therefore, the owner of the business reserves the whole privilege of making the business decisions to himself. The other advantage associated with debt financing is the fact that the interest paid by the owner of