Wednesday, December 25, 2019

It Is General Knowledge That Being Abused As A Child Will

It is general knowledge that being abused as a child will leave lasting impressions on them even into their adult life. The severity of the abuse does change how much of an impression was made, but, nonetheless, abuse leaves nothing but negative results. It will affect how children handle issues and communicate with others. It will likely worsen their grades in school and, if the child’s relationship with their parents is still bad, they will continue into a downward spiral later on in life. People who have experienced abuse as children will experience thoughts of inadequacy and/or superiority, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even personality disorders. Depending on the type of abuse, some children might develop paranoia, OCD, psychosis,†¦show more content†¦Similarly, a longitudinal study found that physically abused children were at greater risk of being arrested as juveniles, being a teen parent, and less likely to graduate high school. Abuse in children also result s in a negative effect on their ability to maintain healthy and intimate relationships later in life. If a survivor of child sexual abuse has not been in therapy or been helped along the way to cope with their abuse history, there is a range of effects that stem from the abuse. Depending upon each individual survivor’s trauma history, different mental illnesses can manifest. The mental illnesses could range from anxiety to personality disorders depending on factors such as severity and frequency of abuse. When humans are young, their world revolves around their parents or primary caregivers. Parents or caregivers are the primary source of safety, security, love, understanding, nurturance and support. Child abuse violates the trust at the core of a child’s relationship with the world. When the primary relationship is one of betrayal, a negative set of beliefs develops. Emotional abuse can also lead to overwhelming feelings of inadequacy and the need to overcompensate in order for a child to â€Å"prove their worth†. People know at a base level that everything a person experiences as a child affects them continuously throughout life, but there are those people who do not take this fact to heart and treat children asShow MoreRelatedEffect of Child Abuse in Our Society1405 Words   |  6 Pages EFFECT OF CHILD ABUSE IN OUR SOCIETY INTRODUCTION Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional abandonment and/or maltreatment of a child. Child abuse is a latent function of some families that is not intended but happens anyway. Child abuse is often seen differently, depending on various cultures, societies, and groups. We as a society cannot really understand the effect of â€Å"Child Abuse in Our Society† unless we have the grasp knowledge of what child abuse actually is. ThisRead MoreChild Abuse And Neglect Is The Act Of Maltreating A Child Essay1708 Words   |  7 Pages child Abuse and Neglect In America Child Abuse is the act of maltreating a child. Abusing of a child can be by the parents, guardians or caregiver. More than five children die every day as a result of child abuse and neglect. Eighty percent of these children are under the age of four. We have close to sixteen million children in America and every child deserved a short at the American dream. When every child gets a fair chance at success, AmericanRead MoreDefinitions of Child Abuse and Neglect1422 Words   |  6 PagesChild abuse is defined as the mistreatment of a child by a parent or guardian (dictionary.com). The different types of child abuse are emotional, neglect, physical, and sexual; abuse each having unique signs for the specific type of abuse. Child abuse can have many effects throughout an individual’s development including the possibility of the repeating abuse to their own children when they have a family. According to the textbook â€Å"Human Development,† emotional abuse or maltreatment is the rejectionRead MoreThe Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse Essay1694 Words   |  7 Pagespath. The definition of child sexual abuse is the force, coercion, or cajoling of children into sexual activities by a dominant adult or adolescent. Sexual abuse of children includes touching (physical) sexually including: fondling; penetration (vaginal or anal using fingers, foreign objects or offenders organs; oral sex, or non-physical contact including: sexual comments; indecent exposures; masturbating in a child’s presence; child prostitution or child pornography (Child Welfare, 2009a). Read MoreChild Sexual Abuse And Child Abuse1308 Words   |  6 PagesChild sexual abuse is a problem that many people are still unaware of. Currently, one in twenty boys and one in five girls are sexually abused (Child Sexual Abuse Fact Sheet). In the past, children’s accusations of sexual abuse have not been believed (Berk 352). Many children told adults, yet still had to carry the burden, as adults, of their rapist never being caught. However, now, people are recognizing the truth and are trying to come up with a solution (Berk 352). Despite the increased effortRead MorePsychological And Social Aspects Of Child Abuse895 Words   |  4 PagesChild abuse has been an ongoing problem throughout the years that can affect a child from infancy all throughout adulthood. There are three kinds of child abuse. The first one is emotional abuse, it involves the psychological and social aspects of child abuse. It is usually seen when a parent cares more about their personal needs an d goals rather than their children. The type of parenting style is characterized as overt aggression towards children or intimidation and manipulation. The parentsRead More Investigating the Long-Term Effects of Physical Child Abuse Essay1057 Words   |  5 Pageschildren being abused by someone who is supposed to protect them. An estimated 905,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006(Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2008). In 1996, more than three million victims of suspected abuse were reported to child protective services agencies in the United States (Baker, 2002). The numbers have changed and still many cases of abuse go unreported. The number of incidences of child abuse rises when the family is under stress, such as being in ourRead MoreChild Abuse Is An Issue That s Going On Every Day1037 Words   |  5 PagesChild abuse is an issue that’s going on every day. Child abuse is defined as harmful behaviors against children which can become psycholo gical. Child abuse includes different conditions. It can harm children and teenagers in different ways, including being abused sexually, physically abused, child neglect, emotional neglect and abuse, and failure to thrive. These conditions can effect a child or a teenager’s in different ways. It can interfere with the way the child turns out to be in the futureRead MoreFailure Of Protect Laws And Their Harmful Effects On Abused Mothers915 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Æ' Failure to Protect Laws and their Harmful Effects on Abused Mothers Violence against women has been, and continues to be, a problem in the United States. Domestic violence especially is a large part of today’s society. It accounts for 21% of all violent crime (Truman Morgan, 2014), and one in three women have experienced physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner in their lifetime (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Three women lose their lives to domestic violenceRead MoreChild Abuse And Neglect Data System1521 Words   |  7 PagesChild abuse is far too common. When the neighbors, teachers and social workers turn their heads to the physical and psychological indicators, abuse can become fatal. Like most crimes, this will not evaporate exclusively due to knowledge magnitude on this subject but with the education we can provide on this matter, we can work to building a path to better protect our children. Child abuse that leads to the murder of an innocent child is something that can be prevented. In this presenta tion you will

Monday, December 16, 2019

The American Reaction to Involvement in Vietnam Essay

The American Reaction to Involvement in Vietnam In the early 60s, most Americans were very ignorant about Vietnam. They just saw it as a little concern. They were an extremely confident nation who had never lost a war to date, and whose resources were limitless. So they naturally assumed that all their weapons and firepower would ensure victory in a couple of months. Patriotism was very strong in America at that time. Many people remembered the McCarthy trials of the 1950s, so people were extremely aware of the anti-Communist feelings in the country in the early 1960s.Most Americans believed the Domino Theory during these years, and so most were in favour of military involvement. So part of the†¦show more content†¦But, young people were playing an increasingly more important part in public opinion on the war at that tmie. Youth culture came to the forefront during the 60s. It had already begun to take hold during the 1950s, with figures such as Elvis Presley capturing the heart of teenagers across the country. This wa s because the wealth of America had lead to young people having more money to spend on music and fashion, and so they had more say in the country. Thye had more liberal attitudes and were concerned with freedom of speech and self-expression. During this young people threw time traditional values out of the window and it was a period of huge social change in all areas of society. For example it was the time of womens liberation and the sexual revolution with the introduction of contraception such as the pill. This was all part of young peoples struggle against authority, and so as you can imagine, the idea of a war was not going to go down too well. Part of young peoples negative attitude to the war was connected with the desire to rebel against their parents ideas and values. One thing that made Vietnam unpopular with young people was conscription, which came in at this time. Boys would receive their draft cards on their 18th birthdays. Children of the rich were sometimes able to do dge the draft by being sent abroad, but on the whole, this madeShow MoreRelatedMedia and American Withdrawal From Vietnam Essay1745 Words   |  7 PagesMedia and American Withdrawal From Vietnam The history of Vietnam is characterised by struggles for independence since French rule in 1859 after the French took Saigon, and a great ability in warfare and continual determined resistance to foreign domination. Major military involvement by American armed forces came after events such as Russian communist revolution in 1917 and the Korean War in the 1950s; these events put the America people in a period of moral panic Read MorePresident Lyndon. B Johnson and the Vietnam War Essay1379 Words   |  6 Pages The conflict in Vietnam for the United States started when President Dwight D. Eisenhower went along with the domino theory and sent in military advisors in South Vietnam to stop the communist movement from taking place in South Vietnam. The Vietnam conflict was between the communist’s and the United States. North Vietnam was led by Ho Chi Minh, and Ho Chi Minh led the Viet Cong, a guerilla group to help spread communism. The United States were supporters of the South Vietnam because they wantedRead MoreThe Vietnam War : We Can Not Understand War Without Understanding Culture1267 Words   |  6 PagesThe Vietnam War â€Å"We cannot understand war without understanding culture† â€Å"Involvement in two world wars and the Cold War transformed America into a â€Å"crusader state† convinced of the superiority of its institutions and way of life and intent on imposing them on the outside world. † Whether fought at home or abroad every war is to impact all parties involved. Such example of staggering influence on one country’s culture is no more evident then in America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Upon enteringRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1155 Words   |  5 Pages The Vietnam War was one of the first wars to be broadcasted in one’s own living room. It is also one of the most misconstrued and misunderstood wars that have resulted in American defeat. Being one of the longest wars fought in history, it has left many questioning the motivation behind the conflict that spanned two decades before being resolved. Despite being a conflict between North and South Vietnam, the United States decided to enter the war in spite of being faced with opposition from its citizensRead MoreUnited States Involvement in South Vietnam1676 Words   |  7 PagesUnited States Involvement in South Vietnam It is apparent from source A that America was involved in Vietnam to maintain capitalism and to suppress communism. The writer of the source, John F Kennedy, had a high position in the US government and he makes the point that the Americans did not like communism and wanted to stop it spreading. If the red tide of communism overflowed into Vietnam, then Burma, Thailandà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and Cambodia would be threatened. This shows theRead MoreThe Vietnam War and Its Effects on Society During the 1960s1594 Words   |  7 Pagesfelt though out the counting during the middle of the decade. The infamous Vietnam War and the new alternative culture were pushing the United States towards a time of liberalism and a nationwide rebellion against the social norms. The first combat forces were sent to Da Nang in 1965, by a formally anti war President, Lyndon B Johnson. The question of why the United States was engaging in a war between North and South Vietnam was raised. Anti war rebellions sprouted up all across the country, allRead MoreThe United States Involvement In The War In Vietnam Essay examples1731 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States Involvement In The War In Vietnam There were many reasons why the US became increasingly involved in the Vietnam War, and when all linked together they explain why. In this essay I will explain all aspects of why the US got involved and then I will summarise all the points at the end. Since the 1880’s, France had controlled an area of eastern Asia called Indo-China, which consisted of Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In 1940, France was at war withRead MoreThe Vietnam War Changed America1139 Words   |  5 Pages The Vietnam War greatly changed America forever. It was the longest war fought in America’s History, lasting from 1955 to 1973. The Vietnam War tarnished America s self image by becoming the first time in history the United States failed to accomplish its stated war aims, to preserve a separate, independent, noncommunist government. The war also had great effects on the American people. It was the first war ever broadcast on television. The public was able to see what happened on the battlefieldRead MoreThe Vietnam War1737 Words   |  7 PagesThe purpose of the Vietnam War, was to end the awful spread of communism. As Ho Chi Minh (North Vietnam’s communist president) fought to which spread North Vietnam’s political uses to Southern Vietnam. With this, the American Military Advisors sought to believe that a fall of Southern Vietnam to communist hands, would then lead to a total takeover of neighboring nations to fall under communism. The effect of the neighboring nations falling, was known as the â€Å"Domino Effect†. It all began when TheRead MoreVietnam And The Vietnam War848 Words   |  4 Pageseverything. The Vietnam War changed a lot of people all around the world. The Vietnam War was between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The Vietnam War was a very bloody and violent war. The war was a long and costly-armed conflict. This war changed Vietnam and its citizens forever. During the Vietnam War, North Vietnam and South Vietnam both had received help from other countries. South Vietnam worked with the United States, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand. North Vietnam worked with

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Raists Essay Example For Students

Raists Essay Its 3:20 am. on a Friday morning, and pitch black out. The only things visible are the tree branches and pavement shining from yellow streetlights that carve out a path from the parking lot to the back door of my building. Living on campus at Towson I shouldve owned mace, but I clutched my car key instead, pointed outward ready to stab the eye of anyone deciding to come out of the dark after me. The brisk walk up the hill seems to take half an hour. Finally under the bright lights of the overhang I swipe my card quickly to get inside. The door bolt locks behind me with a loud click. Im safe. This is the typical scenario were one would assume a rape to take place. When people think about rape, they usually think of a stranger with a knife hiding in the bushes. He waits for a woman to walk by and then attacks. However this is far from the truth. The majority of victims are raped by individuals they know or who are acquaintances. This type of rape is known as acquaintance rape. Eighty percent of all rapes are, in fact, acquaintance rapes. (CallRape) One kind of acquaintance rape is called date rape, in which a man and a woman go out on a date together and forces her to have sex when she does not want to. Date rapes typically occur when a woman is alone with a man. If a woman goes to a mans room or apartment, or even get into his car alone, she is vulnerable. Date rapes can also occur when others are relatively close by; for example, they can happen in an upstairs bedroom while fifty people attend a party on the first floor. Most girls dont think to reach for mace or car key s in these situations. They dont think about easy escape routes or whos within shouting distance. We shouldnt have to. Unfortunately it is an issue that needs to be discussed. Awareness is the most effective weapon women have against this horrible and often unreported crime. Many of the attitudes, beliefs, and mistaken ideas about rape have been with us for centuries. By looking at myths, such as women ask for it, and women secretly enjoy rape, from a historical perspective, can lead us for better understanding how they evolved. Much stems back to the idea that women are still seen as the property of men, and are protected as such. Men and women are still taught to occupy very different roles in todays world. Men are usually in power positions, and women are seen as passive. This socialization process is changing, but slowly. Even in early age, boys are taught to be more aggressive than girls are. They are expected to enjoy playing sports. Girls are expected to play less aggressive sports. Boys are taught that they should get anything in their ways, even if it means using violence. Girls are taught to stay away from conflicts. Boys are sometimes taught to have a lot of girlfriends, and not to get tied down by one girl when they are young. They are supposed to play the field. Girls are often taught that they should have a steady boyfriend. They are taught to guard their reputations. All of these childhood lessons come into play in date rape for obvious reasons. (Mufson et all, 1993). Rape is defined as a forced sexual intercourse against the will of the victim (Parrot, 1988). Rape is a violent act, not a sexual act. The myth that men who rape women are sexually pathological has begun to be dispelled and replaced with an understanding that rape is an act of anger, power and control rather than lust. Rape can happen to anyone. Women from different cultures, races, ages, and economic level are all vulnerable. So no matter who you are or where you live. Most rape, and specifically most acquaintance rape, happens between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. Because this is the time when young women are most likely to date, it is therefore are most vulnerable age of date rape, though acquaintance rape is not limited to dating situations. It may

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Road to Serfdom free essay sample

Hayek has written one of the most important books of our generation. It restates for our time the issue between liberty and authority. It is an arresting call to all well-intentioned planners and socialists, to all those who are sincere democrats and liberals at heart, to stop, look and listen. ’ The author is an internationally known economist. An Austrian by birth, he was director of the Austrian Institute for Economic Research and lecturer in economics at the University of Vienna during the years of the rise of fascism in Central Europe.He has lived in England since 1931 when he became Professor of Economic Science at the University of London, and is now a British citizen. Professor Hayek, with great power and rigour of reasoning, sounds a grim warning to Americans and Britons who look to the government to provide the way out of all our economic dif? culties. He demonstrates that fascism and what the Germans correctly call National Socialism are the inevitable results of the increasing growth of state control and state power, of national ‘planning’ and of socialism. We will write a custom essay sample on Road to Serfdom or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is essential that we should re-learn frankly to face the fact that freedom can be had only at a price and that as individuals we must be prepared to make severe material sacri? ces to preserve it. 68 69 the road to serfdom We must regain the conviction on which liberty in the AngloSaxon countries has been based and which Benjamin Franklin expressed in a phrase applicable to us as individuals no less than as nations: ‘Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Toward a better world To build a better world, we must have the courage to make a new start. We must clear away the obstacles with which human folly has recently encumbered our path and release the creative energy of individuals. We must create conditions favourable to progress rather than ‘planning progress’. It is not those who cry for more ‘planning’ who show the necessary courage, nor those who preach a ‘New Order’, which is no more than a continuation of the tendencies of the past 40 years, and who can think of nothing better than to imitate Hitler.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Research Proposal on Trading in Gum Arabic The WritePass Journal

Research Proposal on Trading in Gum Arabic Research Proposal on Trading in Gum Arabic BACKGROUND Before the discovery of oil in 1956, the Nigerian economy was primarily agrarian with 97% of exports consisting of agricultural produce like cocoa, rubber, cotton just to mention a few, but sad to say that a shift in focus to oil has led to a decline in the production and exports of these produce which presently constitutes just 26.8% of GDP. With the growing need for a sustainable development of the Nigerian economy, there has arisen a need to shift spotlight away from oil and concentrate on other income generating sectors of the economy that can help the foreign exchange position of the country. From 1981, there was a policy shift towards export promotion and a move to intensify the use of local raw material in industrial production. However the increase in the value of imports led to a worsening of the balance of payments (with, in addition, the backdrop of the collapse in world oil prices), which forced the government to promulgate the economic stabilization (Temporary Provisions ) act in April 1982[Inye, 2007]. However, some   incentives have been put together to encourage investment in agriculture, some of which are; Finance credit Tax Holdings, Reduced Customs Charges on Imported Inputs, Technical Support through Research Institutions, Export Financing and Guarantee, Agricultural Insurance Scheme, as Export Processing Zones (EPZs), Export Processing factories (EPFs), Export Processing villages (EPVs) and Extension Services. But most diversification initiatives had not made much headway until recently; they were mainly hampered by poor administration and ineffective trade policy strategy while some are still in their early stages so their impact is yet to be significant. In 2003, a lot of funds was injected into the presidential initiatives on cassava which was introduced to mobilize Nigerians to fully and profitably tap the potentials of cassava which hitherto had remained largely unharnessed, its strategy was to boost the production of cassava for both domestic consumption and for expo rt, this development led to an increase in the production and export of ethanol. Presently,Nigeriaranks as the largest cassava producer in the world with estimated annual production of about 40million metric tons, of which about 90% is consumed as food [Yisa 2009] In Nigeria, agriculture engages majority of the poor so the improvements in the sector is paramount to income generation, welfare enhancement, poverty alleviation, food stabilization and industrialization.   With so many resources left unharnessed like; bitumen, cocoa, cassava cocoa, palm oil, yams, cassava, sorghum, millet, corn, rice, livestock, groundnuts, cotton, Gum Arabic.   A boost in the supply side of these agricultural produce will invariably increase the country’s foreign exchange position, create employment opportunities and reduce overdependence on oil. This paper focuses on one of these unharnessed resources that have the potential of serving as a good source of foreign exchange, Gum Arabic. Gum Arabic is an organic adhesive produced from a tree called Acacia Senegal it is a natural gum that exudes from the exterior of Acacia trees in the form of dry, hard nodules, with over 1,100 Acacia species worldwide, it produces a natural gum made of hardened sap mostly taken from three species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal (Grade 1) which is the highest grade, Acacia seyal (Grade 2) and Combretum. In Nigeria, the major Acacia utilized for commercial Gum Arabic production are Acacia Senegal and Acacia seyal. The produce is used as a thickener, suspender, emulsifier, stabilizer, flavor carrier, binder and encapsulating material, so it is therefore needed in industries such as the textile, food, beverage, dairy and ice cream, cosmetic, confectionary   and pharmaceutical,   thereby making the market for it quite robust. The gum has binding or adhesive properties and as such is used as a good emulsifying agent.   In food products, it serves as a stabilizer, emulsifier, and b inding agent for chewing gums, ice cream and jams. In pharmaceuticals, the gum is a binder in lozenges, tablets, pills, throat pastilles and cough drops. In textile industry, it is used for fabric stiffening and as a binder for textile printing gums. In miscellaneous industries it is used in producing ink, water colors, paints, carbon papers, pottery glace; it is also used in the plastic industry. In confectionery industry it is used for, hard gums, soft gum and gum pastilles. The Gum Arabic tree is usually ready for tapping 4-7 years after its establishment, tapping can then continue every year for at least ten to twelve years then they are finally coppiced for fire-wood and charcoal when the trees are about 15 years old. The tree’s extensive rooting system protects the land and has high potentials of improving soil fertility through inter-cropping with arable crops and its pods are valuable sources of livestock feeds.   Due to the ability of the tree to withstand adverse environmental conditions, is now seen as a potent weapon in the continued fight against desertification and environmental degradation in the Sahelian belt of the country, Edward (1992) stated that   it can be planted as a windbrake or shelterbelt to reduce soil erosion and desertification, as the tree can exist under extreme climatic conditions, it is easily tolerant of an annual average rainfall of less than 300mm and of substantial rainfall and temperature variations over wi de stretching of the northern sudanian – sahelian zone the presence of a Gum Arabic ‘belt’ helps to ‘hold back’ desertification. Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) is grown in the Sahelian zone of the country, covering 14 States of the Federation namely Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Plateau, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Nasarawa and Niger with an estimated population of 4 million Nigerians engaged in its cultivation and trade. From available data Africa produces about 98% of the world requirement of gum Arabic,Nigeria is the 2nd largest producer of the crop in the world afterSudan with an average production of 20,000 metric tonnes of all grades of Gum Arabic.   In the year 2004, world production of Gum Arabic was put at 70,000 metric tonnes while Nigerias production amounted to 18,935 metric tonnes with export earnings of US$88.08 million selling the raw form of the product, In 2008 alone Nigeria exported a total of 20,000 metric tons of Gum Arabic estimated at US$43.55m (N6.5325 bill) [commodity network, 2008, cited in, Aghughu and Mokwunye 2010], buyers included USA, Portugal, Holland, India, Japan, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Italy, and China.   In Anaekwe’s (2010) opinion, the country’s current production of about 20,000 MT is low compared to its potential and it stands to gain US$5.00 for every one kilogramme of processed Gum Arabic. While the Gum Arabic provides a good source of foreign exchange for the nation because of its high international demand, it is generally believe that Nigeria is not fully taking advantage of the large land available for the cultivation of the product, having little from the producing trees and at such, perhaps the most neglected area is in the area of processing, most of the product are harvested and sold as a raw instead of adding value to the product before sale. Industries are frustrated because of inadequacies in infrastructure (notably roads, transport logistics and the ports system) have consistently raised the cost of doing business. Critical among them is the serious deficiency in the supply of electricity which persistently defies solutions. A study on the cost of infrastructure failure inNigeriahas indicated that responders had ranked power outages and voltage fluctuations as among the major obstacles to their operations. The huge cost of production means thatNigeriaâ€℠¢s manufactured goods do not have the desired competitive edge in the international markets [Inye 2007]. According to [Xinshe, Paul, 2007] Low productivity, high transportation, marketing costs, various formal and informal trade barriers (both physical and institutional) and inconsistencies in trade and agriculture policies all contribute to the lack of market competitiveness. In other to resolve some of these challenges, the Gum Arabic Sector Development Program was initiated with the main objectives of, ensuring a reliable and sustained supply of quality gum arabic fromNigeria to theU.S., strengthen the ability of Nigerian stakeholders to produce and market quality gum arabic, and plant more trees in order to control environmental degradation. Presently only little has been achieved. Apart from these national problems, farmers are also faced with certain challenges. In the early 1970s the supply of Gum Arabic was threatened by the following fact; frequent clashes between farmers during gum collection in Acacia field due to lack of ownership of the wild grooves and rapid depletion of the natural forest due to activities of the natives who cut down the Acacia Senegal and Acacia Seyal tries for fuel wood , tool handles and agric implements as well as fodder and browse for livestock [Mokwunye and Aghughu 2010], presently, the   few   farmers involved in production, face greater   problem as regards   finance. The limited access to finance available is known to be hindered by high interest rates and collateral requirements. Long term access to finance is scant and so it is only the large multinational firms that are likely to receive loans, while the small-scale entrepreneurs are marginalized [Inye 2007]. Hence, because of these constraints, the total perceive d benefits from A Senegal are therefore carefully weighed by the farmer against the expected returning and benefits from cash cropping, food cropping and often from livestock raising and off-form employment, farmers expect that the relative profitability of gum to other crops should ensure sufficient incentives for them to include gum in their farming systems where it is appropriate [Edward 1992]. It is anticipated presently that the use of intercropping of immature Gum Arabic plantation with Arabic crops is recommended for effective utilization of land resources and it’s expected to motivate farmers to adopt Gum Arabic innovations [Dengle et al   2008] At this stage of development, formal training by trained trainers has not been conducted, but an impressive amount of informal training has been done. Newly established National Association of Gum Arabic Producers, Processors and Exporters of Nigeria (NAGAPPEN) chapters in each state have been the vehicle through which informal training has been conducted. Encouraging farmers to plant Gum Arabic in organized plantations and educating them would enhance the efficiency of farmers [Dengle et al 2008]. The stage is now set for the healthy growth of Nigeria’s gum Arabic sector but the deserved attention is still yet to be given by the government in terms of huge financial support and incentives to boost the supply side and there is need for promotion and awareness, as most stakeholders and potential investors are still oblivious of the huge potentials in the product.   Recently there has been a call for new investors to invest in the technology transforming gum Arabic into powder , According to Business world (2010) the project operating at the estimated installed capacity is capable of producing 3000 tons of gum Arabic powder per annum, assuming conservative export price of $10,000per ton and the local sales prices of N150,000 per ton, annual turnover of N2.8billion can be recorded with export volume of 2000 metric tons of refined Gum Arabic powder. A Strong positive profit figure after tax can be generated and a high internal rate of return due to the foreign exchange rate component of the export product is achievable. A three year estimated payback period for the project is guaranteed. To sustain the supply of Gum Arabic to both local and international markets, efforts are being made to establish a Gum Arabic Security Stock in the three leading producing countries (Sudan,NigeriaandChad) with the support of the GAO, Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa (NGARA) and Association of International Producers of Gum Arabic (AIPG). This will lead to rapid development of natural gum as a national resource for fighting poverty, desertification and environmental degradation. The National strategy for Gum Arabic is to encourage local value addition through increased local processing in order to attract better returns on investments. Thus, apart from providing more income, local processing creates job opportunities thereby empowering our people, Usman [2009] suggests that for greater benefit to enhance export there is need for Public- private partnership, he says that strategies such as establishment of an effective trade facilitation system, organization of regular cap acity programmes, establishment of skills acquisition centers, storage facilities and agricultural trade support infrastructure, are key. Ongoing policy reform and substantial investment in production agriculture and supporting infrastructure are shifting the location of production and exports of agricultural commodities, particularly for bulk agriculture products, away from the developed countries and towards the developing world. As a consequence strong competition is expected to be a feature of international agriculture markets not only from traditional exports but also from the developing and transition country exporters that are exploiting their comparative advantage in agricultural production [OECD-FAO 2006].Nigeriatherefore needs to take advantage of its abundant natural resource cum market availability and prepare for the buoyant production of Gum Arabic.    AIMS AND OBJECTIVES In view of diversifying the Nigerian economy and reducing the high rate of unemployment, this research intends to provide comprehensive information that will guide investment decisions in the Gum Arabic sub sector by taking a thorough look into the potential of investing in Gum Arabic, the opportunities and profitability both in raw and refined form. It also intends to suggest strategies to help boost the supply and demand side of the sector, ensure market efficiency and effectiveness by looking at both the domestic and international market for gum Arabic. The specific objectives are grouped under several headings namely: production, processing and equipments, transportation, products and products development, and export. The specific objectives are as follows: Identify the technical, institutional, socio-economic and policy opportunities and constraints for promoting the Gum   Arabic sub sector Assess the domestic market opportunity for Gum Arabic by-products inNigeriaand suggest how this potential could be realized. Evaluate the economics of Gum Arabic production and processing costs structures (and profitability) of value adding Gum Arabic enterprises and suggest reduction strategy Determine optimal locations of processing plants based on identical markets for various Gum Arabic products. Provide information on marketing cost structure from rural to urban areas for Gum Arabic and its products and determine the break-even distance and volume for Gum Arabic transportation Make recommendations on how to make Gum Arabic and its products competitive within the domestic and export markets To provide insight into the employment opportunities in the Gum Arabic sub-sector. Evaluate Gum Arabic’s contribution to the growth of non-oil exports. The analysis will be in two parts the first part will follow a vertical agribusiness perspective in which we assume that the Gum Arabic sub sector is segmented into four categories where Gum Arabic is produced at the farm level by farmers, processed, and used by agro industries to produce other products and used by other industrial markets. Secondly we look at the export potentials, opportunities and it importance to the diversification of the Nigerian economy. FIRST PART OF THE ANALYSIS Production:   Provide information on the unit production cost for Gum Arabic   in the producing states inNigeria and ascertain the Gum Arabic varieties available and their actual and potential yield Processing and Equipments:   Evaluate the economics of existing Gum Arabic processing equipments and new equipments. This is in view to ascertaining the current status of processing technology and local maintenance capacity. Transportation:   Provide information on transportation costs from rural to urban areas for the movement of Gum Arabic produce. Products and Products Market: Provide information on price trends for Gum Arabic and its products.   Identify and assess the status of existing and potential industries that use or can potentially use Gum Arabic products. And also ascertain the market share and size of use of Gum Arabic as raw material in these identified industries inNigeria. Finally to identify existing and potential volumes, prices, quality standards, and delivery schedules for Gum Arabic based products used by the various industries inNigeria and overseas. SECOND PART OF THE ANALYSIS   Export: Provide information on export quality requirements, delivery schedule, shipping costs and requirements, international prices for Gum Arabic and its products.   Establish Gum Arabic’s contribution to non-oil export growth and as a means of diversifying the economy form Oil.   Finally predict and forecast potentials of the export contribution of Gum Arabic as a stable source of foreign exchange    METHODOLOGY In looking at the causes of technical inefficiencies in Gum Arabic based   cropping patterns among farmers, Dengel   et al ( 2008)   collected primary data using multi-stage, purpose and random sampling techniques, the empirical stochastic frontier production model was used and estimated using the Maximum Likelihood estimation. Edward (1992) carried out a crop profitability, financial, economic and environmental analysis to find the benefits of six representative gum Arabic production systems. This study will build on existing documents, surveys and researches, but it will focus on Gum Arabic producers, processors and traders as well as banks, input dealers and extension institutions. The study will cover all the major sectors where Gum Arabic and its products are (potentially) utilised. For the first part of the analysis, data will be collected in three stages: first wherever available, published data would be used to establish the structure, conduct and performance of Gum-Arabic sub-sector. Secondly, a rapid appraisal survey will be conducted using focused group interviews and key informants to obtain information on trading patterns, transportation facilities, processing costs and marketing systems. The third stage of the study will focus on the captains of industry that use or are potential users of Gum Arabic. This industrial survey will among other things focus on the size and volume of different Gum Arabic commodities required in the domestic market. The Heckscher-ohlin theory of international trade will be applied for the second part of the analysis by applying theOrdinary Least Squareestimation, in view to looking at the Gum Arabic and it contribution or potential contribution to non-exports. Expected Result To find out: the production cost for Gum Arabic in producing states inNigeria The availability of Gum Arabic varieties and their actual and potential yield provided. The economics of existing Gum Arabic processing equipments and new equipment evaluated.   the current status of processing technology, and local maintenance capacity inNigeria The transportation costs from rural to urban areas. The supply chain requirements and preliminary logistic framework.   Price trends for Gum Arabic and its products. The availability and current use of Gum Arabic products together with the key users as well as their supply chain structure (e.g. farmer groups, processor groups, industries etc). The existing and potential volumes, prices, quality standards, and delivery schedules for Gum Arabic-based products used by various industries inNigeriaprovided   Exports quality requirements, delivery schedule, international prices for Gum Arabic -based products, and niche markets forNigeria.   Expected rate of return on investment for investors   Predictions and   forecast on the long term viability on exporting Gum Arabic in terms of foreign exchange earnings to the country. Its potential in terms of contribution to non-oil exports Employment opportunities through development of the sub-sector. Suggest policies for the development of the sub-sector. The study will interest a wide range of readers including Gum Arabic producers, policy-makers, donors and banks, scientists and technicians, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. SOME ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES Differences in state pricing and techniques may require adjustment of data. Inability of get documented information on some requirements might lead to reliance on word of mouth. REFERENCES Abdulsalam Usman K., 2009. Evaluation ofNigeria’s benefits from the African growth and opportunity act (AGOA) Adebiyi D., Ehui S., Ukeje E. and Mclntire J. Agricultural export potentials inNigeria. Adel Beshai A., 1984. The economics of a primary commodity: Gum Arabic. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and statistics, 46(4), pp.371-81, Aghughu O.and Mokwunye M.U.B 2010. Restoring Nigeria’s lead in Gum Arabic production: Prospects and challenges. Report and opinion 2(4) 7-13 Anaekwe Everistus N., 2010.   Processing gum arabic for huge profit in Nigeria.   http://farriconsultingng.blogspot.com/2010/09/processing-gum-arabic-for-huge-profit.html Business World, 2010. Earn foreign exchange processing Gum Arabic. Dengle Y.G, Wuranti V., Abubakar M. and Ogwuche P. 2008. Analysis of the technical inefficiency of gum Arabic based cropping patterns among farmers in the gum Arabic belt of Nigeria. Journal of agriculture and social science Edordu C.C, Oramah B.O and Osuntogun A. 1997.   Potentials for diversifying Nigeria’s non-oil exports to non-traditional markets. AERC Research Paper 68 Edward Barbier 1992. Rehabilitating Gum Arabic systems in Sudan: economic and environmental implications. Environmental and resources economics 2: 341-58 Inye Nathan Briggs 2007.Nigeria: mainstreaming trade policy into national development strategies Lelom, J. et al., 2010.   Assessment of physical properties of gum Arabic from acaciaSenegalvarieties in Baringo district,Kenya. Kolawole O. and Henry O. Foreign direct investment, non-oil exports and economic growth inNigeria, a causality analysis. Yisa A. A. 2009.   Cassava markets: option for sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria. Ozean Journal of applied science 2(2) OECD-FAO, 2006.   Agricultural outlook 2006-2015. Production of gum Arabic, extension bulletin number 78 forestry series no 11 Market News service (MNS) quarterly edition Sep 2008 Gum Arabic Rosemary O. Nigeria’s non-oil export product mix and the competitive global market place. Sonja V. and Lorenzo C. 2010. Making the most of agricultural investment: a survey of business models that provide opportunities for small holders. Truman P., Daphne S., Lateef S. and Malachy O. 2004. A cassava industrial revolution in Nigeria. IFAD. Xinshen D., Dorosh P., Sheikh M.R 2007. Market opportunities for African agriculture: General equilibrium examination of demand-side constraints on agricultural growth in east and southernAfrica.

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Most Abundant Types of Insect Fossils

The Most Abundant Types of Insect Fossils Since insects lack bones, they didnt leave behind skeletons for paleontologists to unearth millions of years later. How do scientists learn about ancient insects without fossilized bones to study? They examine the abundant evidence found in the different types of insect fossils described below. For the purpose of this article, weve defined a fossil as any preserved physical evidence of insect life from a time period prior to recorded human history. Preserved in Amber Much of what we know about prehistoric insects is derived from evidence trapped in amber, or ancient tree resin. Because tree resin is a sticky substance – think of a time when youve touched pine bark and come away with sap on your hands – insects, mites, or other tiny invertebrates would quickly become trapped upon landing on the weeping resin. As the resin continued to ooze, it would soon encase the insect, preserving its body. Amber inclusions date as far back as the Carboniferous period. Scientists can also find preserved insects in resin dated just a few hundred years old; these resins are called copal, not amber. Because amber inclusions form only where trees or other resinous plants grew, the insect evidence recorded in amber documents the relationship between ancient insects and forests. Put simply, insects trapped in amber lived in or near wooded areas. Studying Impressions If youve ever pressed your hand into a freshly poured bed of cement, youve created the modern equivalent of an impression fossil. An impression fossil is a mold of an ancient insect, or more often, a part of an ancient insect. The most durable parts of the insect, the hard sclerites, and wings, comprise the majority of impression fossils. Because impressions are just a mold of an object that was once pressed in the mud, and not the object itself, these fossils assume the color of the minerals in which they are formed. Typically, insect impressions include only a mold of the wing, frequently with sufficiently detailed wing venation to identify the organism to order or even family. Birds and other predators that might have eaten the insect would find the wings unpalatable, or perhaps even indigestible, and leave them behind. Long after the wing or cuticle has decayed, a copy of it remains etched in stone. Impression fossils date back to the Carboniferous period, providing scientists with snapshots of insect life from up to 299 million years ago. Compressions Some fossil evidence formed when the insect (or part of the insect) was physically compressed in sedimentary rock. In a compression, the fossil contains organic matter from the insect. These organic residues in the rock retain their color, so the fossilized organism is conspicuous. Depending on how coarse or fine the mineral comprising the fossil is, an insect preserved by compression may appear in extraordinary detail. Chitin, which makes up part of the insects cuticle, is a very durable substance. When the rest of the insect body decays, the chitinous components often remain. These structures, such as the hard wing covers of beetles, comprise most of the fossil record of insects found as compressions. Like impressions, compression fossils date back as far as the Carboniferous period. Trace Fossils Paleontologists describe dinosaur behavior based on their study of fossilized footprints, tail tracks, and coprolites – trace evidence of dinosaur life. Similarly, scientists studying prehistoric insects can learn a great deal about insect behavior through the study of trace fossils. Trace fossils capture clues to how insects lived in different geologic time periods. Just as hardened minerals can preserve a wing or cuticle, such fossilization can preserve burrows, frass, larval cases, and galls. Trace fossils provide some of the richest information about the co-evolution of plants and insects. Leaves and stems with obvious insect feeding damage comprise some of the most abundant fossil evidence. The trails of leaf miners, too, are captured in stone. Sediment Traps Younger fossils – if one can call 1.7 million-year-old fossils young – are recovered from sediment traps representing the Quaternary period. Insects and other arthropods immobilized in peat, paraffin, or even asphalt were entombed as layers of sediment accumulated over their bodies. Excavations of such fossiliferous sites often yield tens of thousands of beetles, flies, and other invertebrates. The La Brea tar pits, located in Los Angeles, is a famous sediment trap. Scientists there have excavated well over 100,000 arthropods, many of them carrion feeders that were preserved along with the large vertebrate carcasses on which they fed. Sediment traps provide scientists with more than a catalog of species from a certain geological time frame. Quite often, such sites also offer evidence of climate change. Many, if not most, of the invertebrate species found in sediment traps, are extant. Paleontologists can compare their fossil finds with the current known distributions of living species, and extrapolate information about the climate at the time those insects were entombed. Fossils recovered from the La Brea tar pits, for example, represent terrestrial species that inhabit higher elevations today. This evidence suggests the area was once cooler and moister than it is now. Mineral Replications In some fossil beds, paleontologists find perfect mineralized copies of insects. As the insects body decayed, dissolved minerals precipitated out of solution, filling the void left as the body disintegrated. A mineral replication is an accurate and often detailed 3-dimensional replica of the organism, in part or whole. Such fossils typically form in places where water is rich with minerals, so animals represented by mineral replications are often marine species. Mineral replications give paleontologists an advantage when excavating fossils. Because the fossil is usually formed of a different mineral than the surrounding rock, they can often dissolve the outer rock bed to remove the embedded fossil. For example, silicate replications can be extracted from limestone using an acid. The acid will dissolve the calcareous limestone, leaving the silicate fossil unscathed.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

End of Cold War and Collapse of Soviet Union Essay

End of Cold War and Collapse of Soviet Union - Essay Example e 1980s in order to determine why the Soviet Union left Eastern Europe and the extent to which Gorbachev can be held responsible for the subsequent collapse of communism. Though the reasons for the collapse of communism in the CEE countries are numerous, Gorbachev is at the heart of the said event. Historians have examined the dramatic end of the Cold War almost since the day the Berlin Wall came crashing down. Some, most notably Karen Dawisha, predicted the event earlier. She released her book Eastern Europe, Gorbachev, and Reform in 1988, and understood that Gorbachev knew the regimes in Eastern Europe were illegitimate, placed in power by the Soviet Union on the coattails of the Red Army's entrance into the area during the closing days of World War II.2 However, she argued that if Gorbachev was serious in his intentions concerning noninterference in the affairs of sovereign states, then Eastern Europe would likely soon break away from the Soviet grasp and attempt to move west.3 Charles Gati theorized in his important work The Bloc that Failed: Soviet-East European Relations in Transition, that the Soviet Union lost control of Eastern Europe due to an extraordinary domestic crisis which consumed their attention and resources.4 Moreover, The Warsaw Pact was an ineffective mec hanism for collective security, according to Gati, since its member states each had different perceived enemies, oftentimes another member of the Warsaw Pact.5 Joseph Rothschild stated that the stability of Eastern Europe depended directly on the economic performance of the country in question.6 By the time Gorbachev came to power, he realized that a serious overhaul of the system was necessary due to the flagging economies of the Eastern Europe satellite states, in crisis before but never this severely. Like Charles Gati, Rothschild stated that by the 1980s, Eastern Europe had broken out of the conformist mold placed on it after World War II by Joseph Stalin, and each country began to pursue its own different interests.7 Thus the "Soviet bloc" was a collection of different states each moving in its own direction; Gorbachev had very limited choices, and ultimately let them Return to Diversity. These views hold to the tenet that the breakup of the Soviet bloc was due to internal fact ors in the countries of Eastern Europe.8 Other authors have studied the internal demise of the Soviet Union, placing the emphasis on themes ranging from the nationalities problem to incorrect decisions by the General Secretary. Helene Carrere d' Encausse examined the former in her work The End of the Soviet Empire, in which she chronicled the difficulty of governing an empire