What is the greatest issue of our time? The answer is climate change. The extreme effects are felt in the 2004 tsunami incidence where the whole world attention on effects of climate change was drawn. Imagine the world was a bed and layers of gases on it were blankets. These blankets would hinder or regulate the amount of sunlight that gets into the earth and that which gets out of the earth. Increasing the layers of blankets would translate into more heat being retained into the earth’s surface. Regulation of this heat is what has caused the dramatic changes in the fairly stable predictable state of weather. Weather refers to the condition of the atmosphere at a certain point and includes aspects like wind and sun. Visualize a situation where very many blankets were laid between the earth and the sun. There would be a lot of heat or temperatures that would result to melting of ice or glaciers. According to geologists the earth has a self-regulating system of operations. (Rowden-Rich, pp39)

The system ensures that there is regulated precipitation so that floods are checked. Again during winter condensation of snow is at a level equivalent to what will melt during summer. Influencing the layers of blankets will to a great effect interfere with this mechanism causing the glaciers to melt at higher rates than normal. Floods are as a result of excessive precipitation and have diverse effects on the people. Have you ever imagined that there were excessive floods and t here was nowhere to go as there is water everywhere? Property worth billions would be destroyed or rendered inaccessible interfering with business.( Keller, pp 231)

Ever wondered why butterflies are moving towards the north where there are higher attitudes? Or why there are concerns that the diversity of wildlife could decline in future? Have you ever wondered why there are long term trends towards earlier spring or why flowering and reproduction of plants and birds species has reduced its long process? All this are evidence that climate as was before has been changing. This takes us back to the issue of blankets and their layers. (Houghton, pp 250)

Improved technology has led to creation of more industries, which are responsible for the blanket gases. You must be wondering whether the remedy would be to close such industries. Industries have counter interactive importances to the economy and to the entrepreneurs. They are beneficial to man as they ensure supply of goods or services that are demanded by people but they also emit the greenhouse gases effect. I agree with Professor Diana Liverman the director of Oxford University Environmental change that “carbon offsets are an excellent way to manage emissions that we cannot reduce ourselves”. The idea of abatement is therefore very important in trying to balance the benefits and the costs. If the governments of specific countries work with clear regulations then such problems will not be faced. The Bush government has adopted mechanisms to this respect through intensive research and development plans on energy use and also through carbon taxes.

The blankets are however very important as they protect us from very minimal temperatures. Most of you must have watched the films of people arguing that climate change is fiction. You ought to know better that such claims are not true. Change is here is with us and although we cannot change our behavior at least we try to adapt to fit in well into the environment without harming it. Now that you know climate change is here and scientists argue that it is here to stay you can be part of the solution.

The adverse effects of climate change for instance the tsunami have global effects and thus call for a global approach in finding their solutions. Curbing this issue will require multiple forces to act. It needs to mind of an individual, companies and governments at large. Many people do not know the effect their actions or activities contribute to global climate change. Industries emit gases that have effects on climate. Companies would be making millions of profits but at the expense of the environment, which affects everyone. (O’Hare et al, pp230)

Most governments especially in LDC’s lack well articulated policies to control air pollution by companies. Did you know that every time you are in a traffic jam you are slowly igniting the vehicle towards disastrous uncontrolled disruptions of ecology and natural systems? Ask me how I will answer you. A research inSan Franciscoshowed that gallons of gas were lost as people were held in traffic jams. This translates to more gases being emitted into the atmosphere. To curb this public transportation, use of bicycles or one car per family would suffice (Hardy J.T 41).

Organic farming is attaining much appraisal today. This is not only because people are afraid of the crops having chemicals but due to the fact that production of fertilizers would have hazardous effects on climate. Factories that produce it emit nitric acid, which has adverse effects on climate. Coal burning produce electricity is said to contribute to global warming. I understand that electricity is a source of energy in many organizations in all sectors of economy. It is not easy to do away with this source of energy but people should conserve the energy that is already produced. If you switched off light that is not in use would be reducing the amount of energy lost.

My greatest worry is what would happen if temperatures kept rising. People are likely to loose a lot of money and property. It would affect the economy at large. The world insurance estimated that economic costs would double, as the demand for insurance services would increase. most schools have introduced a mechanism where they can instill the minds of the children the importance of being cautious with climate. Disastrous effects will occur with climate change plants and animals risks facing extinction if temperatures continue to rise. Agriculture will be affected negatively and this is a threat to food security. As precipitation increases in the higher latitude areas it would decline in the sub tropical regions.

Investment in low carbon technologies especially in the developing countries will go along way in ensuring that the climate is sage we have the power to limit the scope and severity of climate change by stabilizing emissions. The importance of recycling should not be undermined. Fast pods that pack their foods in papers are a threat to climate. This is because such papers cause deforestation whilst trees are important in regulating the carbon cycle. Natural regulatory mechanisms should be allowed to take place for benefit of all.  Type of vehicle one uses also affects the climate.

Sporty cars more fuel thus increasing the effects of climate change. We should not think that it is trendy to buy expensive sporty cars we should remember the disastrous effects likely to occur due to this act. We would all like stability and peace in our environment no one would like to recurrent of the tsunamis experience like that which happened in 2004, or the continued flooding, the next time you think of using different cars for the whole family or learning you switches on after use think of the factors discussed today and their effects on climate.

References:

The future in our hands. Climate change at a glance 2007. Retrieved on 23^rd October 2007 from http://www.unep.org/themes/climatechange/pdf/factsheets-english.pdf

Hardy J.T climate change causes effects solutions New York J. Wiley, C2003 pg 38-169.

Houghton, John Theodore. Global warming: the complete briefing 3^rd ed.Cambridge,

University, 2004 P. 120-262

O’Hare, Greg, John.sweeney and Rob.Wilby weather, climate and climate change:

Human perspectives, Harlow, Eng, New York Pearson Prentice hall. 2005 pg 168-320

Keller, Klaus.Avoiding dangerous antropogenic.interference with the climate

System.climate v 73, dec.2005:227-238

Rowden-Rich, Murry.Antartic ice &Australia Antarctic science: are they collapsing?

Energy & environment V.17 Jan 2006:37-52

Radical transformations were witnessed in the United States following a mass influx of the Jewish community evidenced in the 20^th century.

The first wave of Jewish community immigration dates back to the 19^th century between 1880 and 1920, when Jews from Eastern Europe were migrating to America alongside their Russian counterparts. Despite the big role that Jews had played in shaping the cultural norms in Eastern Europe, the danger posed to them by eminent annihilation necessitated their migration. This was the key reason behind their exodus. Despite this region being multi ethnic, the dynasty of the Russian czars had been to the detriment of this community who became the soft target by the repressive regimes. They had been secluded and alienated due to the broad differences they had with other communities largely emanating from religion and language. They had not been accepted socially and politically as Russians. The regimes were very repressive and the laws punitive to the Jews not allowing them to make a living (Takaki, Ronald, 1993).

They were also targets of hostility from the non-Jewish communities. The assassination of Czar in 1881 was the last straw that broke the camels back and could see the intensification of violence and hostility towards the Jewish community that was being falsely accused of conspiring to the assassination. Russian soldiers and other non-Jewish peasants renewed an onslaught on the Jews. This is the reason behind the movement of Jews out of Eastern Europe towards the United States in droves to escape the eminent annihilation. Thousands of Jews would escape Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe in clear defiance of the anti immigration law conveniently put in place to curb their influx out of Europe.

A look at the immigration pattern and reasons by Jews in to America reveals a great variance from those of their counterparts the Japanese, Chinese and the Irish. The Irish, for example were moving out of Ireland to escape hunger and famine that was threatening to wipe out a large portion of the community. The Irish, Japanese and the Chinese were moving out of their homes the United States in search of greener pastures and not being motivated by hostility at home.

One major difference that exists between these three groups from the Jews was that their rate of return to Eastern Europe was non-existent. The Jews had vowed to move out but not return to their homeland. They were in search of peace and tranquility in the United States and had no plans of going back. The other groups like the Chinese and the Japanese had come to the United States to make a living, hoping to repatriate back and build their motherland through repatriation. The Eastern Europe Jews also chose to remain in one area where they could carry on with their own way of life and religion. This community became close knit.

Unlike the other immigrants, they also arrived in droves, in great numbers not witnessed before. Between 1900 and 1915 over one and a half million Jews had migrated to the united state with many more landing afterwards

 

Question Two.

The United States of America has a history of discriminating against immigrants, these ranging from the Chinese Japanese and the Irish. Although the hostility faced by the Jews was not as pronounced as that of some others like the Chinese, they to were not left behind. The United States was particularly categorical about the immigration of the Chinese, even having passed an act outlawing their immigration There was a growing sense of anti Semitism spreading across the areas they chose to settle in. At the early times of the civil war, one general Ulysses S. Grant had ordered the removal of Jews from the states where the early immigrants had camped in, ranging from Mississippi and Tennessee. This was as a result of the divisions that existed between the Jewish community that settled in the north and those that settled in the south and their perceived support for against slave ownership. This however was to be retracted later by the United States president Abraham Lincoln.

The twentieth century, witnessed increased discrimination against the Jews. This discrimination was extending to areas such as employment and schools. They were not allowed to join the exclusive member clubs. They were facing quotas in the institutions of learning as well as not being allowed to possess some properties

Contrary to other minority groups that immigrated to the United States, Jews rarely had any hostility or violence turned against them. The Ku Klux Klan and hate speeches in the radio stations had heightened tension against the Jewish community during the interwar period. Of late, the African- American community poses the greatest source of discrimination, accusing the Jews of exploitation (Takaki, Ronald, 1993).

The immigration and assimilation of the Jewish community has not been a smooth fete. The interwar period was marked by a period of momentary anti-Semitism. The United States was undergoing social and economic upheavals consequenced by the Great Depression. Henry Ford is in record as having publicly and blatantly issued remarks against the Jews aimed at questioning their patriotic sense. Individuals also holding high public offices could also be heard to be issuing anti-Semitic sentiments. This would lead to the Jewish community coalescing around welfare organizations and associations for their own defense. These are some of the factors that would impede on the assimilation process of the Jewish community.

At the moment, however, intermarriages in the United States have led to intense assimilation and attitude changes from the rest of the communities. They continue to prosper, politically and economically and have become dispersed geographically, moving out of their stronghold in New York to other areas such as California.

Reference

Takaki, Ronald (1993). A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. New York: Back Bay Books.

A business start-up can be formed either in any of the following forms; a partnership, sole proprietorship or a corporation. Each of the business forms above has distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Corporation

Incorporating a business leads to a separate legal entity i.e. the company and its owners are two different persons.

Advantages

Separate legal entity creates a limited liability to the owner since both the company and the owner are separate entities. Therefore, if the company incurs liabilities, it does not extend to the owners. The corporate entity can initiate legal proceedings and can be sued also.

Corporations can be listed in the stock exchange and can also issue shares and therefore can obtain capital by issuing shares as compared to sole proprietorship which ca not issue shares. A corporation can also borrow loans.

Since corporations are separate legal entities, distinct from their owners, then their existence does not depend on the owners. Corporations can continue to exist even the owner die or the business is sold off. Sole proprietorships and partnerships can cease in case of the death of owners.

Other advantages of incorporating a company include the fact that the company may be granted some tax allowances which is given to small business.

The corporations accounting year (the date of preparation of books) is determined by the company and hence the company may receive tax savings by designing their financial year to end when the taxes are lower.

Incorporation also leads to greater business for the company since other business or customers prefer to deal with companies rather that sole proprietorships or partnerships because of their perceived stability.

Disadvantages

The initial start-up and registration of the corporation is costly and includes a lot of complexities hence making partnership or sole proprietorship less expensive in this regard.

The owner is forced to file two tax returns since the company and the owner are separate legal entities. The preparation of separate tax returns increases the costs to the owner.

When borrowing a loan, the lender may demand for extra guarantee from the owner and therefore in case of default, the limited liability may not apply.

Other disadvantages include lack of tax credits to the corporations in case of losses, high costs due to increased paper work and reduced tax flexibility (Ward S Pg 3)

Sole proprietorship

This is a form of business run by a one person under his or her name or a name of their choosing. It is a simple form of business to run and set-up

Advantages

A sole proprietorship is simple to run as its operations are not huge as compared to a corporation. Hence it is less costly to operate. The sole proprietorship set-up is less expensive because it lacks all the complexities of a corporation or a partnership.

The other advantage of a sole proprietorship is that of not filing a separate tax return and therefore in case of losses, the owner can reduce his tax liability by the amount of the loss (Ward pg 1)

Disadvantages

The lack of separate legal status between the sole proprietorship and the owner will lead to unlimited liability in case of debts by the sole proprietorship and therefore the owners assets are subject to liability.

Another disadvantage is that of limited access to capital because it cannot issue shares in the stock market and even bank loans will require large collateral which the business may not have.

Partnerships

It is a legal association between two or more persons carrying out activities with the aim of making profits. A partnership is a legal entity and hence can enter in to contract etc. There are two forms of partnerships; the limited partnership and general partnership.

In the limited form, the liability of the partners is pegged on the amount contributed to the partnership. The limited partner can opt not to participate in the operations of the company.

The general partnership allows the liability of the partners to extend their personal assets also the general partner can participate in the operations of the partnership and hence can be held responsible for the operations of the partnership (Ward pg 2)

Advantages

Partnerships are not required to file separate tax re turns and therefore saves on costs to the partners.

Liabilities are shared amongst partners and therefore no one single partner can mismanage the partnership because he knows he will bear the loss.

Disadvantages

The main draw back of a partnership is the fact that the liability of the partners is unlimited in general partnership and limited to the amount contributed in limited partnership.

Recommendation

Natalie can opt for a sole proprietorship because it is easy to set up with less complicated operations. The initial start-up cost is also much lower as compared to corporation or partnership.

Accounting information

Yes. The accounting information she will require include the cost of offering the services to the customers, the cost of hiring extra staff to run the school and cost of premises (rent)

Natalie requires all these information because it will help her in decision making e.g. setting the price to charge per person or session so as to cover the costs.

The accounting information should be available regularly decisions need to be made in a timely manner.

Accounts

Asset accounts

Appliances account- for recording the appliances used in the business.

Fees account- for recording the amount charged for the services.

Liabilities account

Creditors account –to record the items taken on credit

Equity accounts

Capital account- record amount injected in to the business

Income retained- amount of profits the business made

 

Need for separate bank account

Natalie will need a separate bank account. A separate bank account will be used to deposit cash from different sources apart from the business. It will be used to pay personal expenses.

The business bank account should be separate in that Natalie will want to determine how the business is performing and by combining the cash from her personal activities with that the business, it will be difficult to do so.

Journal entries

Date                details                                                  Dr                                Cr

Nov 11                        investment a/c-common stock             500

Bank account                                                             500

To record the investment in common stock

11             expenses a/c- brochures                       95

Bank a/c                                                                      95

To record payment of expenses

14              assets a/c-baking equipment                300

Capital a/c                                                                   300

To record the capital injected into the business

16              Bank account                                      2000

Notes payable                                                             2000

To record the receipt of cash from notes

17               Asset a/c- baking equipment               900

Cash- bank a/c                                                             900

25               Bank account                                      25

Income in advance                                                      25

To record the receipt of income in advance

29              Bank a/c                                              100

Income a/c                                                                   100

To record receipt of income

30              Asset a/c –website                              600

Expenses a/c- website design                                      600

To record the creation of website

30             Insurance prepaid                                1200

Bank a/c                                                                      1200

To record prepayment of insurance premiums

Ledgers

 

Common stock a/c- investment

Balance 500

 

Notes payable a/c

Bank a/c 2000

Baking asset- investment a/c

Capital a/c 300

Cash-bank 900

 

Capital a/c

Baking asset-investment a/c-300

Income in advance a/c

Bank a/c 25

 

Prepaid insurance a/c

Bank a/c 1200

  

Bank account

Notes a/c 2000                  common stock 500

Income in advance 25       expenses a/c-brochures 95

Income a/c 100                 baking assets 900

Prepaid insurance 1200

 

 

 

Expenses- brochures a/c                  

Bank a/c 95      website a/c 600

 

 

Income a/c

Bank a/c 100

 

Website a/c

Expenses a/c 600

  

Works cited

 

Ward S, 2007. Choosing a Form of Business ownership About Inc. retrieved on 15/1/2008 from

 

http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/startup/a/formsbusiness.htm

 

Alco Corporate Services, 2008 Types of Businesses retrieved on 15/1/2008 from

 

http://www.alcoinc.com/Web/General%20Information/Types%20of%20Businesses.htm

Healthcare is the treatment, preventions and management of diseases. It is also the preservation of mental and physical well being. Healthcare entails palliative, prevention and curative intervention. This research paper is about health care in America. Its main focus will be to establish whether Americans have access to cheap and quality healthcare and whether patients get the attention they deserve from the physicians when they go to hospitals. This paper will try to find answers to all these questions.

Forty years after medical care and medical acts were passed, and afterClinton’s administration failed to provide health care to all parts the American health care funding system is on the verge of breaking down. The health care bill is growing six times the rate of inflation and employers, consumers and the government are finding it hard to provide free healthcare to all people. Its citizens cannot get quality health care for les. Businesses can’t afford to provide health insurance to its employees. They share the cost of hospital bills with their clients and thus forcing employees to dig deeper in their pockets.

This makes people to assume that their families will not be attacked by diseases. It is not their wish not to have health insurance cover but the problem is that they cannot afford it. About forty five million do not have access to the health insurance cover and therefore they have no other alternative but to frequent hospital emergency rooms for regular medical check ups. The government is projected to be unable to provide healthcare to its citizens if the expenditure growth rate continues to increase at the rate at which it is growing now.

According to a survey that was conducted by the Kaiser foundation and the health research and educational trust revealed how health care insurance premiums in 2004 jumped at an average of 11.2. This was an increase from 2003’s results. In 2003, the insurance premium were at an average of 13.9 percent which was more than five times the inflation rate (Mayes R., 2006)

According to the same research theUSAgovernment spends about 5,000 dollars per person in providing healthcare. This amount is twice the amount that is spent by other industrialized countries. A country likeCanadawhich is already industrialized spends 60% less when compared withAmerica’s and yet its citizens have longer life expectancies.

In 2003, the number of people without health care coverage was more than forty five million. This was an increase from that of 2002. Californiais one of the states that have so many uninsured populations. 18.2% of its population or about 6.4 million people are not covered. Working families are experiencing the increase of health care cost in double lights. The cost of paying doctor visits and for meeting the prescription has gone up beyond the Americans capabilities (www.pnhp.org)

The intention of employers to slash health care coverage is a major concern to the Americans. In fact there was a strike inCalifornia. The lack of quality health care in theUnited States of Americais as a result of lacking proper insurance programs and comprehensive quality measure. Again an American healthcare system lacks safety control mechanism that would protect frontline workers and patients.

Healthcare in the  united states(Herzlinger R.E., 2004) is provided by various legal entities which are separate and it spends more healthcare as a proportion of GDP- gross domestic product and on per capital income compared to other nations in the world. The health care cost ofAmericais projected to reach 19.6% of gross domestic product by 2016. USA is the only country that lacks government run and subsidized healthcare for all people amongst the industrialized nations about 84% of USA citizens are covered by health insurance either through employer’s efforts, their own efforts or provided by the government programs. There are some publicly funded health care programs that take care of the disabled, children, veterans and the poor. The federal law ensures public access to emergency services whether you can afford to pay or not.

In the United Nation’s top ten highest spenders who are members of the UN,USAis amongst them. In 2006, Americans without health care insurance coverage were about 16% of the whole population or about forty seven million people. The high cost of health care insurance and medical bills are the main reason for personal bankruptcy in theUnited States.

Many debates in USAabout health care touch on access and on the quality guaranteed by high sums that are spent. In 2000, the world health organization ranked USAas 37^th by overall performance, first by expenditure, 72^nd by health quality amongst the 191 countries which were analyzed in the study. The results were severely criticized by the conservatists. According to the CIA world fact book United States was ranked to position 41 in the world nations with the lowest mortality rate and 45^th for the countries with the highest life expectancy rate. As per the national health interview center for health statistics which are released annually by the centers for disease control 66% of those who were interviewed in 2006 said that they were in good health (Press Release:

June 21, 2000)

The American health care provision system is taken care of by diverse individuals and legal entities commercial, charitable and governmental entities offer services to inpatients and outpatients. This system is not fully funded but it is provided by both public and private bodies. In 2004, the private insurance paid 36% of personal health expenditures 15% were paid out of private pockets while the federal, state, and the local government paid 44%.

InUSA(Cutler D.M., 2005) there is what is called ‘ambulatory care’ this refers to the health care that is given without staying in the hospital. Majority of those who receive health care attention are out patient. There are also home health care services. These are mostly enterprises though they are run by physicians. Another health care provider is private sectors which take care of outpatients. There is medical care that is provided by personal primary care physicians who are specialists in internal medicines, family medicines and pediatric medicine. There are also subspecialty physicians who are people like cardiologists and gastroenterologists. Still under personal primary, care physicians we have non-physician like nurse, practitioners and physician helper.

InUSA, there are both private and public hospitals. The private operated hospitals are profit oriented as opposed to the public ones. The public ones are allover the country and are operated by the county government, state government, religious denominations and independent non-profit making organizations. Outpatients are provided with health care in emergency rooms and clinics but these are basically meant to provide health care to inpatients only. Hospice services are given to those who are terminally ill. They receive subsidized health care services from charities and government. These are people who are expected to live for less than six months. The prenatal family planning and “dysphasia” clinics are obstetric and gynecologic specialty clinics respectively which are government funded and are run by staffed nurses’ practitioners.

In this year, the workers who are single pay an average of 16% of insurance premiums when compared to that of for the family which is 28% but still they get additional charges in the form of co-payments and deductible. The employer pain health is subsidized by the government by exempting their contributions from taxation as income 36.7 million of those who are not insured against health risks are legal U.S citizens, 10.2 million are non-citizens this is according to the Census Bureau (Mayes R.,2005)

The provision of health care is greatly commercialized inUSA. It is “a fee for service” strategy. A patient must dig into his/her pocket to pay for all services rendered. This makes access to health care for all impossible because the poor Americans cannot afford these services.

Most of the big private companies that offer health insurance cover are Medicare and Medicaid and the Veterans administration. In 2006 for example, 38.3 low income American earners were given health insurance by Medicare and Medicaid provided to 40.3 million elderly and disabled Americans. There is also what is called the state children’s health insurance program (SCHIP) that was formed in 1997 by the federal government. It takes care of children of families that earn a lot to quality for medical aid but they cannot afford health insurance. The program is still running though it is facing funding problems.

According to the free market advocates, there is a relationship between the much the government spends in health care provision, the interventions in health care and the health care costs. Increased utilization is the main cause of increasing cost of the health care. Government intervention sometimes have unintended results for example in 1973 the US federal government passed the health maintenance organization act which was supposed to create market incentives that would lower health care costs though these health maintenance have achieved nothing so far. To the study done on market based reform policy packages, it was concluded that when market reforms are not implemented systematically with appropriate safeguards, they can cause result to more shortcomings that can solve (Coombs J.G., 2005)

The healthcare provision to Americans differs from that of White Americans to that of Black Americans, Native Americans, Asian American and Hispanics. This may be as a result of racism. Racial bias in medical care poverty, racial discrimination stress and inferiority complex may have serious consequences on health. According to the former majority leader Tom Delay (RTX) there are 47 million people who do not have health insurance but that doesn’t mean American are ever denied health care inAmerica.

InAmerica, physicians and hospital staff do more work for less pay. This drives some institutions out of business and force doctors to retire earlier than they should. These patients do not get enough attention from physicians as they deserve. About a century ago there were enough physicians in both urban and rural areas. Today, rural countries with a population of below 25,000 do not receive more physicians. There is shortage of physicians which is attributed to the social and professional isolation of rural people and is also because of well paying hospitals in the city and well equipped.

According to the American medical association, some states obstetricians and rural family physician they do not help women in delivering babies. Also high risk specialists no longer provide counseling to the traumatized or take surgery procedures. The most affected are those in rural areas.

In the recent past (Derickson A. 2005; 58) the management of health is delivery is deeply affected. Managed care such as restrictions, on physician choice, productivity requirements do reduce the time patients would spend with their physicians but according to the AM news report published in the health affairs in 2005, the access to health care and quality in is the same as that of urban areas. The study is in centrally to the widespread perception of shortage of enough physicians in rural areas. However, according to the August Medicine Report, there is shortage of medical care in rural communities. Some researchers argue that though there are fewer physicians in rural areas compared to the population does not mean that there are no enough physicians to meet the need.

InAmericaonly 30% percent of Americans get access to daily care. When Americans are compared with Dutch find it hard to access to health care at right and during the weekends. According to a report released by the national association of community health centers shown that about one in five Americans do not have access to primary care this is due to lack of shortage of health physicians.

Let me conclude this by saying that inAmericait is very hard to get cheap and quality health care. The strategy that is used inAmericais “fee-service”. So, if you do not have enough money, then you cannot get proper health care. The cost sharing of paying health insurance premiums and hospital bills, have rendered many people bankrupt. ThoughAmericais one of the big spenders in health care, the access to health care is limited. It has the lowest life expectancy rate amongst industrialized nations in the world. Also inAmericapatients do not get the attention they deserve from physicians though there are many doctors.  Those in rural areas are more affected than those in urban areas. In fact during nights and weekends it’s hard to get medical attention from doctors according to the findings.

 Reference:

Derickson A. Healthcare Security for All: Dreams of Universal Healthcare in America.      John.HopkinsUniversity Press, 2005

Herzlinger R.E. Consumer Driven Healthcare: implications for Providers, Payers and         policy makers. Jossey-Bass, 2004

Mayes R. Universal Coverage: The Elusive Quest for National Heath Insurance.   University ofMichigan Press, 2005

Press Release: World health organizations assess the world’s health system. WHO/44        June 21, 2000.

Cutler D.M. Your money or Your life: Strong Medicine for America’s Healthcare System.OxfordUniversityPress,USA; 2005

Coombs J.G. Rise and fall of HMOs: University ofWisconsin Press, 2005

www.pnhp.org: Physicians for a National Health program-Healthcare is a Human Rights

Food Stamp Usage

The United States Food Stamp Program is a federal assistance program that makes food items available, accessible and affordable to low income people living in theUnited States. Food stamp program as laid in the implementation policy aims at assisting low-income households in obtaining adequate and nutritious diets. The program rests on the assumption that households with restricted incomes may deny on food purchases and live on diets that are inadequate in quantity and quality. Food stamps are used not only for increasing food but also as income maintenance.

In addition, Food Stamp Program (FSP) makes nutritious food more readily available. Most of the food items provided are fortified and enriched with vitamins and minerals ensuring that the foods available to poor families are more than adequately nutritious. According to the study carried in theUniversityofMarylandin 2002, individuals in food stamp program differed significantly from those living in non-recipient households in income maintenance as well as nutritional quality of the food they consumed. Therefore, most of the households in FSP rarely slid back into poverty or re-enrolled in to welfare programs as it were evidenced in those who were not in the program.

The critics of the Food Stamp Programs have argued that these programs have encouraged unhealthy eating habits as well as extravagant spending on food items resulting into malnutrition and other food related illnesses in the majority of the residents of theUnited States. However, a study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the effects of food stamp purchases have found out that  program participants in a larger extent spend more of their income in the purchase of fruits vegetables and healthy foods than low income consumers who do not participate in the program(Rossi, peter H. 1998).

Reference

Rossi, peter H. (1998). Feeding The Poor: Assessing Federal Food Aid.Washington: AEI

Press.

Income statement

The company was established in the mid 19^th century (precisely in the 1860s) as a milling company. The establishment of General Mills changed the way flour was manufactured with the introduction of flour with better baking abilities which showed the company’s innovativeness even at its inception years.

A century later, the company added to its product range of children’s products including Play- Doh, Easy Bake Ovens, Spiro graph, Monopoly and Next balls with the company also partnering with Betty Crocker, Bullwinkle, the Lone Ranger as well as Pillsbury doughboy. These are American most remembered icons.

In 1930s, the company was sponsoring baseball through its trusted brand the Wheaties. This sponsorship led to the labeling of the Wheaties brand as the breakfast of champions with one of the company’s baseball announcer Ronald ‘Dutch’ Reagan being chosen the best announcer in 1937. This opened doors for him from an announcer, actor to being the president of the country.

The company is also credited with great innovation like theAlvin-a three person submarine which was used in the rescue mission when Titanic sank in 1985

The company has however, focused on food with its mantra being ensuring a healthier, easy and rich living.

As seen above, the company has focused on food production with its presence being felt in over 100 countries which has helped the company achieve the number six position in the world.

The company trades in well known global brands like Green giant vegetable, Old El Paso Mexican food and Haagen- Dazs ice cream

Back home, the company sells Yoplait yogurt, Cheerios, Wheaties and Big G cereals

The company also deals in local products e.g. Diablitos meat speared inVenezuela,Latinapasta inAustraliaand La Saltena dough inArgentina.

Basically, the company trades in the following business lines

Baking products under the names Betty Crocker dessert mixes, Cakes and Frostings, Bisquick baking mixes and Gold medal flour.

The big G cereals brands include Cheerios, Wheaties and Lucky-charms which are ready to eat.

Meals that the company manufactures trade under Helper dinner Kits, Betty Crocker potato mixes, Progresso soups, Green giant vegetables and meal starters and old El Paso Mexican foods brand names.

Under the organic food business, the company has Carcadian Farm and Muir Glen

The company’s Pillsbury business line deals with refrigerated products which include Pillsbury home baked classics, Pillsbury frozen breakfast items and Totino’s frozen pizza and snacks.

The snack category includes Fruit roll-ups, Chex mix snacks, Pop secret popcorn, Nature valley and Bugle brand,

Under the yogurt business line, brands like Yoplait Go-Gurt andColomboare traded.

The bakeries and Food services line include products like baked, unbaked dough product sold on cafeteria, convenience states and restaurants.

Under the international brands are the Haagen-Dazs ice cream Pillsbury, Betty Crocker desserts and mixes, Green giant vegetables, Old El Paso foods and other localized products.

The company has also formed joint ventures with Nestle, DuPont and the Suntory and Takanashi dairy.

The company facts

General mills name

http://www.generalmills.com/officialwebsite

Food-industry

Traded in NYSE –GIS (ticker symbol)

The head office isMinneapolis,MN)

Review income statement

a) Gross profit rate, profit margin ratios and trends for 3 years

Gross profit margin

= Gross profit

Sales

$m                               $m                                           $m

2007                            2006                                        2005

=4487                          4167                                        3982

12442=36.06%          11,712=35.58%                       11,308=35.21%

The gross profit margin rate has been increasing over the last 3 financial years which means that company’s profitability has been increasing. In 2005 the gross profit margin rate was 35.21% increasing to 53.58% and 36.06% in year 2007.

Profit margins

=net profit

Sales

$m                               $m                               $m

2007                            2006                            2005

=1144                               1090                            1240

12,444 =9.31%                11,719=9.31%            11308=10.97%

The profit margins have been dropping and this shows that the expenses have been increasing. The gross profit margin, as seen above, has been increased and therefore it is expected that the net profit margins should have increased but that is not the case

The margin ratios decreased from 10.97 % in 2005, 9.31% in 2006 and to 9.19% in 2007.

 

 

b) % increasing in sales and net profit for years 2006/2005 and 2007/2006.

 

 

% increase in sales

2007/2006                                           2006/2007

12.442-11,712                                     11712-11308

11712 =6.23%                                     11308 =3.57%

 

 

%charge in net profit

2007/2006                               2006/2005

=1144-1090                             1090-1240 = 12.1%

Increase in net sales

The introduction of new products of more than 400 contributed to the increase in sales of the company.

The company was able to increase in sales in year 2007 through the introduction of new channels and also due to the increase in demand of international markets.

Another reason for the improved sales of the company was due to get rejuvenated interest in products like Big G to cereals and Pillsbury in theUSAmarket in year 2007.

In the 2007, sales increase was largely due to the increase in sales units both local and international markets with pricing strategies and good product mix being another factor.

The foreign exchange currency charges which favored the company also contributed to the increase in sales

 

 

 

Changes in income

One of the business lines- the joint-ventures earnings increased in year 2007. Part of the net income in year 2006 and 2007 were reduced by the restructuring costs that were incurred during those two financial years.

Inflation is another factor that has caused the profit margin to reduce with restructuring costs incurred by the company leading to the reduced net profits. (Page 35 annual reports 2007)

The net income in 2006 decreased primarily due to net benefits gains on divestitures and debt repurchase costs in the year 2005

Review of the balance sheet

a) Current and debt ratios

Current ratio

Current ratio measures the ability of the company to meet its present short term obligations e.g. creditors, overdrafts etc. The recommended current ratio is at least 2:1 i.e. current assets 2 to current liabilities 1.

Current ratio = current assets

Current liabilities

$m                   $m                   $m                   $m

2007                2006                2005                2004

3054                3041                3055                3215

5845=0.522     6138 =0.495    4184 = 0.73       2757 = 1.167

The current ratio for financial year 2006 is 0.522 up from 0.495 in year 2005. The rates however are far below the recommended 2:1. The trend is positive i.e. the ratio improved for the last 3 years.

Reasons

One of the reasons for the recent positive trend is due to the fact that most of the current liabilities have been decreasing with the most of the net assets also increasing.

Debt ratio

It shows the level of gearing i.e. the amount of debt that is used in the company’s balance sheet. It also shows the amount of debt that is used in the operations of the company.

The formula for the debt to assets ratio is as follows;

Debt ratio = total debt

Total assets

$m                   $m                   $m                   $m

2007                2006                2005                2004

(1734+3218)   (2131+2415)   (1638+4255)   (233+7410)

18184=0.27     18075=0.25     18066=0.33     18448=0.41

The general trend over the 4 years from 2004 to 2007 has been decreasing which is a positive trend. Too much debt in the company’s books may create cash flow problems due to the high interest payments to be made by the company.

Reasons

The rate of debt to assets ratio has been dropping due to the reduced debt use by the company over the period under review.

The total amount of debt has reduced from $ 7643 million in 2004 to $ 4950 million in 2007.

 

 

b) Inventory costing and depreciation of plant assets

All inventory except Grain stock of the company in theUSAare carried at the lower of cost using Last-in-First out (LIFO)

Grain stock derivatives and all cash based contracts are valued at market price with any decrease or increment being recorded in the income statement.

Stocks outside theUSAare valued at First-in-First-out (FIFO) or at market rates.

Shipping costs on sales are recorded as part of the cost of goods sold and recorded when the product is shipped to the buyer.

Depreciation

The depreciation on plant (building equipment and any capitalized cost) is depreciated using the straight line method.

Buildings are depreciated over a range of 40-50 years while equipments, furniture, and software are depreciated over a period of between 3 to 15 years.

Any fully depreciated assets are still recorded in the books until disposed off with any gain or loss on disposal being shown as profits

A part from depreciation assets are also periodically reviewed for impairment.

c) Preferred or common stock

The company has five million authorized preferred stock, which has not been issued and with par value of zero.

The company has 502 million common stock issued of par value $ 0.0996

When multiplied with the par value, the value of common stock is equal to the one recorded in the balance sheet (502 million x 0.0996)

 

d) Account receivable

2007                                    2006

953,000,000                            912,000,000

Allowance for doubtful accounts

16,000,000                              18,000,000

Gross receivable 969,000,000                         930,000,000

% of doubtful receivable

=16000000                  18000,000

969,000,000                930,000,000

=1.65%                        =1.94%

(Page 83 of 2007 Annual Report note 17)

Part 3

a) Cash flow from operating activities

$m                   $m                   $m

2007                2006                2005

Net cash from operating activities      1765                1848                1794

The cash flow from operating activities followed the same trend as that of net income

 

 

 

b) Investing activities

$m                   $m                   $m

2007                2006                2005

Net investing cash flow                      (597)                (369)                (413)

The purchase of land, building and equipment accounted for the largest movement in the investing cash flow

2007                2006                2005

Purchase of land, building equipment (460)               (360)                (434)

 

 

Another item that affected investing cash flow is the disposal of business

2007                2006                2005

____                ____                799

c) Total amount spent on capital expenditures

$m                               $m                               $m

2007                            2006                            2005

Purchase of land building &equipment 460                           360                              434

Acquisitions                                           85                             26                                ___

Investment in affiliates                         100                            1                                  1

  645                           387                               435

d) Dividend                                        $m                               $m                               $m

2007                            2006                            2005

Dividend paid                                     506                              485                              461

 

 

 

Part4

Company news and assessment

a)      The rising cost of raw materials has affected the compact’s profit margin which has forced the company to increase price of its products at the same time reducing the quantity.

If the prices of inputs continue to rise, it will reach a point where the company will have to increase the prices if its products hence affect the revenues. (The products will be expensive)

Decreasing revenues will lead to lower margins due the reduction of profits by fixed costs

Another factor that could positively affect the company’s profitability is the pricing strategy used by the company. The company products are priced almost 10% lower as compared to its main competitors-Kellogg and Ralcorp.

If the company were to increase the prices of the products, the revenues will definitely shoot up and thus increase its profit margins.

The share repurchase that the company is undertaking will reduce the number of outstanding common stock and therefore increasing the earnings per share. Higher earning per share is the aim objective of any company’s management. Better earnings also will lead to increased demand of the company’s stock and therefore rise in prices which will lead to increased market capitalization.

The shareholders equity will definitely increase as a result of increased EPS.

Product recalls like the recent recall of Totino’s and Jeno’s brands could negatively impact on the company’s profitability and image which may lead to loss of revenue and market segment. Loss of revenues will reduce the incomes of the company and therefore reduced profitability which in turn affects the earnings to stockholders (leads to less earnings being paid out to shareholders).

b)      Yes. The company’s earnings in terms of EPS have been increasing and therefore it shows the company is rewarding its investors well as the profitability rises. The return on capital invested has also been increasing and therefore it indicates the management ability to use efficiently the available resources to maximize the generation of earnings

The recent common stock shares repurchase leads to less outstanding shares and therefore with the increasing profitability it means that the shareholders will earn more.

Based on dividends per share and the expected fore casts, the company’s dividends pay outs will increase and therefore holding shares of such a company means better returns.

Another factor that could also entice any investor is the share price appreciation which recently has been rising. Based on the projected forecasts, the company’s share price is expected to rise and therefore, investors will benefit from capital appreciation.

Based on al of the above estimates and news I would invest in the company.

c) Yes. I would lend money to the company for the following reasons.

There payment history of the company is good. The company has not defaulted on its repayments of the loans the company has.

The notes payable yield has increased from the 2006 figures, and this, therefore indicates the high returns expected on any of the company’s notes.

The company’s debt to asset ratio has decreased from 41% in 2004 to 27% in 2007. This indicates less dependency as debt capital as compared to total assets therefore reduced financial risks and risk of default because the debt amount is lower.

Reference:

http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/news/article.asp?docKey=600-200711021112KRTRIB__BUSNEWS_26932-1N82GNFBQMN5SFJPURLTJN2QGQ&timestamp=11/02/2007%2011:12%20AM%20ET&headline=Totino%27s%2C%20Jeno%27s%20pizzas%20recalled%3B%20E.%20coli%20feared%20%5BStar%20Tribune%2C%20Minneapolis%5D&docSource=Knight%20Ridder/Tribune&provider=ACQUIREMEDIA&realtedsyms=%7CUS%3BGIS&symbol=GIS

http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/74/74271/GIS_AR07.pdf

http://www.cnbc.com/id/20866861/

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/general-mills-profit-top-wall/story.aspx?guid=%7B4C384701-52AD-4502-B33F-AA6E79004D0A%7D

http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/company/overview.aspx

http://www.nndb.com/company/720/000053561/

The second world II was a world wide conflict. One started in Asia at around 1937, the others in Europein 1939 with the invasion. It was also fought in Africa continent. It led the nations split into two, that is allies-Britain andAmericaand the axis which were Germany and Italy.

The Second World War sparked off when Hitler invadedPolandon September first in 1939. About million Australians fought in the Second World War in campaigns againstGermanyandItalyin Europe, North Africa, Mediterranean and againstJapaninSouth East Asiaas well as in other parts of the Pacific. My main focus in this paper will be to discuss on theUSmilitary involvement inNorth Africaduring the Second World War.

In 1942, November,United Kingdommilitary forces in conjunction with US military forces staged war against the France North Africa. To be precise, they attackedAlgeria,Tunisiaand morocco. It was the result of the long contentious argument between American planners of war and those ofBritain. The turbulence of this argument was calmed by the American president’s Franklin D Roosevelt intervention. This attack inevitably postponed the landing inFrancenot until 1944 though it allowed US to continue with accumulation of its big battles that were common to the allied campaigns of 1944.

American dream about the Second World War in 1942 was to attack and defeatGermanybefore proceeding toAsiato see the harm the Japanese were causing to Pacific territories. As Marshal C. the army chief of staff viewed the in order further American to succeed in the war inEuropethat they had to first of all concentrate on the army building.

In the same year, the Soviet Army was far much pressed by the Germany-panzers division who were leveling attacks onRussia. Some American planners thought it was not necessary to attackNorth Western Europe. They planned that come 1943, the American army would be well prepared, trained and equipped to meet theGermany’s aggressive troops. The American planners believed that its army’s knowledge and resources could help them to accomplish their mission of bringing theGermanytroops down.

The British military leaders under the field marshal Alan Brooke (Dennis P. 2002; 78) adopted a different approach. They never thought it wise to start launching their attacks in 1942. The main reason why they were opposed to this idea is because, by taking such a move would forceUnited Kingdomto bear much of the military burden. At this time, they could not have afforded to have a division in the army because they were experiencing a fierce fight againstGermanywhich had already inflicted a lot of harm to their army. Most of their military had met stiff resistance of the Wehrmatch inFranceduring the disastrous 1940 campaign. At this time their forces under field marshal Erwin Rommel, they had done practically nothing to end or reduce the German military process in North Africa and inLibya.

After the war, Brooke said he found the strategy of the marshal very incompatible and that he did not appreciated what the operations inFrancewould mean. He could not figure out how the Germans could reinforce their attacks about three to four times faster than theirs and he could not just understand that they could suffer from the shortage of sea transport if theMediterraneanwas not opened. The British opposed this idea thoughAmericawould have supplied the invading forces. They wanted the Americans to clear the axis force in the Mediterranean shores ofNorth Americaand open up that great inland sea for the allied convoys to move in.

This culminated into a deadlock that made Brooke to consider switching theAmericaarmy’s emphasis from European theatre of operations to the pacific, but Roosevelt the then president ofAmericawould not accept such an idea that was centrally to their war strategy. This emphasy fromBritainnever worked to the Americans instead it ledRooseveltto do something that Winston Churchill would never dream of doing. In fact he intervened and overruled his advisers who used to advise him on war matters. This was in the summer of 1942. He ordered his generals to direct their forces to the French North Africa to support the British proposal for landing along the coast ofNorth Africa. He did this so that he could reduce his concentration on what the Germans were doing inEurope. He wanted to divide his concentration on German because he though that if he did not do that, then he had to come face to face with German some where inEurope.

He knew that his move would be embraced byBritainthough it was only done with political necessity and interests.

At this time the British soldiers had no choice but to gang withUSAin attacking morocco andAlgeria. From this time the attention that was being given off German half of it shifted to the battle for the control of theMediterranean.

This plan was well strategised; about 65,000 men under lieutenant General Durlght D. Eisenhower were to be transported by the allies to invadeCasablanca, Roan and Algers. These were the possessions of theFranceNorth Africa. Everything went according o the plan and they had a lot of success. This is attributed to the fact that the Axis attention was focused elsewhere. That is in Western Europe as well as inEastern Europe. This time the Germans were trying to subjugate Stalingrad and theCaucasus.

InEgyptin the same period, the Rummel’s African Korps renewed their offensive attacks on the British area of interests. The British forces under Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery organized his army to liaise the move of the Rummel’s theMontgomery’s force entered into a fierce battle with the axis forces. The axis powers had no hope of winning this war and by early November Rummer’s armies yielded back toLibya. This move they took was against the wishes of Hitler who had ordered them to keep soldering on. Hitler never at any time contemplated of defeat. He would rather die that witness such humiliations (Ambrose S

York.2001; 58)

At the onset of November 1942, the allied forces had started to build up their ships atGibraltar. The German spies had noted this but they down played the idea as simply as another large supply convoy for reinforcingMalta.

TheGermany’s companion had a different view,Italywas not so sure of this thoughGermanynever thought about this seriously. He had been ignoringItaly’s decision. In November eighth 1942 the foreign German foreign minister Ulrich Joachim who was also known as Von Ribbentrop was so sure about the American troops had landed in Algerian as well as in Moroccan ports.

The allied forces attack had positive results as it was expected, the allied forces thought that the dissident France military officers who had supported them would turn against them however, this did not happen but to their surprise the richly France government just as it happened in Dakar and in Syria in the following year, they fought against the allied forces though they did not manage to keep off the invading Germans in France and in Tunisia in the same year, that is 1942.

The Vichy French military men couldn’t have resisted the German who were very adamant and determined to crash the French’s down. TheVichy’s weapons were not up to the standard when compared with those of the Germans. They used tanks while he German possessed combat aircrafts though they were not enough. The Germans never trusted the French Vichy government and that was why they could never let them to modify their war technology. They thought that French’s would rise up against them if let to acquire modern weapons. Due to lack of proper weapons the Vichy French’s were unable to keep sustained resistance against the allied forces who comprised of British soldiers and America soldiers(Atkinson R 2003;152)

In the initial stage of the war,Americathought the French North Africa would not attack the Americans though this is not what resulted. Though they tried to resist they could never stand up to the American’s advancements. They had no effective troops that would manage to keep Americans at bay. Though the American’s landings defeated the Frenchs, not all of them were successful. In fact a landing at Fedela costed the transport Leonard wood its 21 landing crafts and a lot of lives perished. Also in another landing, the transport Thomas Jefferson 16 crafts was destroyed completely beyond revival. The most affected landing was of the transport canal which lost 18 out of its 25 crafts and in the second wave; five of them were ruined leaving only two boats that could carry troops and other supplies.

There was serious landing opposition at Mehdia by the French forces. The landing was not safe and was very dangerous. By November 10^th, the Americans under major general Lucian Truscott were able to capture the airfield from the hands of French military men. This was as a result of a very heavy naval gun fire between French’s and Americans but later after the negotiations between French leader and the allies inAlgeria, fighting stopped.

The landing forces along the coast ofAlgeriaalso met a lot of resistance which that ofOranwas successful. Some how the Americans were supported by the fact that French’s had no air back up favored the Americans.

On 8^th November 1992, the infantry division had already actualized its dreams in almost all areas apart from St. Cloud where they met a very strong French force. During this time the combat was spearheaded by Roosevelt who was by then who was brigadier general. However, the landings begun to be interfered with by the rising surfs on 8^th of November, the landing activities were to be suspended.

In the following day theVichygovernment tried to counter attack but they met a lot of resistance from allied force who had support from air bases and naval base

Oranwas secured from the hands by the American though the French looked like they would never go but an armistice was signed when the confronting parties came together. The most operation assignment that the allied forces faced was at theportofAlgiers. The French had enough ground force plus 52 fighter aircrafts. They also had 39 bombers.

The port was heavily guarded so there was no way the British’s and Americans could have had an easy access to the port. The American troops of the 168^th regimental combat landed on the West while the 39^th combat team went to the East of the port and they raided the port. They used two British destroyers which carried the royal navy personnel and the American troops. Before they could succeed, one of the destroyers was destroyed and it had to go back immediately while the other one succeeded and crossed the barriers.

These forces that succeeded captured the power station and petroleum tank farm. The French responded to this attack. After some time when the 168^th combat group failed to turn up the American commander was forced to surrender his troops. The attack that was going on in North Africa betweenBritain andAmerica was called “operation torch” and the city that was their target wasCasablanca. It was bombarded under the command of Eisenhower.

The North Africa battle (Sam M. 2006; 102) struggle for the control of the Suez Canal because it linked Africa with theMiddle East. This means that Suez Canal was the inlet of the oil from the Middle East and other raw materials fromAsia. Due to the mechanization of their armies, oil was a very crucial commodity and becauseBritainwhich had already a mechanized army it totally relied on oil from theMiddle East.BritainusedSuez Canalas a link to her overseas dominions. This was all made possible by theMediterranean Sea. Hence, the struggle over theMediterranean Seacontrols.

This struggle sparked off at around 1935 whenEthiopiawas invaded byItalywhich by then had made Somali land its colony. The move frightenedEgyptwhich was not yet a British colony. They started getting worried of its imperialistic aspirations. So, in order to protect its interest and country, it allowedBritainto station its army in its territory so as to keep any advances that would result fromItalythereafter,BritainandFrancetook upon themselves the responsibility of maintaining naval control of the Mediterranean with the main British base located atAlexandria,Egypt.

The British and American troops met little resistance atAlgiers,OranandCasablancaon November 8 1942, American troops were for the first time narrow Mediterranean full of islands and peninsular ships always faced attack from land as well as air and sea. The war took place in the North African desert. By the time the war took place the Italian dictator Bennito Mussolini had better equipped army than that of theBritainandAmerica. He had about a million soldiers who were based inLibyawhileBritainhad only 3600 soldiers who were based inEgypt. They were supposed to protect the Suez Canal and the oil fields inArabia. At this time the Italians were a threat toBritain. They had already started showing interest in the red sea andSuez Canalsupply routes. TheNorth Africacampaign in the beginning was hampered by lack of enough supplies on both sides. Tough battles took place which either rendered one group to advance against the other along the supply routes. Many of the fights took place in the Far East region out of theMediterraneanwhere they enjoyed free transport (Breuer W. 1985; 26)

In April 1941(Funk A.L. 1974; 86) the allied forces were under the leadership of General Bernard Montgomery. While the British troops worked to keep Germans forces at bay to the West. The US forces were supposed to confront the Frenchs in North Africa under” Operation Touch” The main reason for this reason for this operation was to take over Morocco which was already a French colony, to take Algeria and Tunisia. They wanted to offer support to their colleague in theLibyan Desert. They also wanted to make Mediterranean in theLibyan Desert. They also wanted to make Mediterranean shipping route free to their ships and for other major operations inNorth Africa. They hoped that they would force the axis of power out of the region. They also wanted the axis to reduce their concentration on the Russian forces or in other words, they wanted the Axis forces to divide their war attention between North Africa andRussia.

The attack took Germans by surprise because they did not expect it to happen. Later, the French stopped to be very hostile to the allied forces and allowed them to nave an access toTunisia.

Rommel who steered the ‘operation torch’ led his armies to various defensive operations. One of the most key operations was of the Kasserine pass where American defenses were crashed by Germans modern tanks. This operation saw 1000 allied troops dead and hundred of them were held prisoners by Germans. They also lost most of their fighting equipments. Though the axis powers thought they were winners, to the allied forces was an awakening call. They went back to their drawing board, assessed their weaknesses and came up with the way forward (Funk A.L.1974; 86)

Americans never gave up; they sent Rommel back to conquer the Kasserine pass so that they could get the Merith line. This time, the axis forces gained morale and suppressed the resistance that they met until they let 275000 prisoners free. The axis forces inAfricasurrendered on may 2 1943 after about 350,000 soldiers were captured by the allied forces and 70,000 were casualties. After they quit from the war, the stage was left open for Italian campaign.

The axis surrendered because of ruthlessness of the operation retribution which was designed to evacuate German and Italian forces fromTunisia. About 897 were held captives, 653 escaped the wrath and it was assumed that might have drowned.

In conclusion, we can say that the North African war costed a lot of lives. Many people perished and others were injured. Though the war was taking place in Africa, it was not as fierce as it was inEurope. Most of these wars were based on national interests. No country wanted another country to go near its spheres of influence. Another reason was fight for supremacy. The Allied Forces were determined to silenceGermanywhich was proving to a threat inEurope.

Reference:

 

Dennis P. The oxford Companion to Australian Military History.Melbourne.Oxford        University press.2002; 78

Breuer W. Operation Torch: The Allied Gamble to Invade North.St. Martins Press.1985; 26

Funk A.L. The Politics of Torch, University press.1974; 86

Sam M. At all costs: How crippled and two American Merchant mariners Turned the         Tide of world WarII.Random House.2006; 102

Ambrose S. The good Fight: How World War II Was Won. Atheneum.New          York.2001; 58

Atkinson R.An army at Dawn The war in North Africa 1942-1943.Newyork: Henry          Holt.2003;152

What is the current presidential administration stance on community policing?

Community policing revolves around the engagement and the involvement of the community that relate to local security. It is meant to enhance the relationship between the government and the people on the ground by offering home based solutions to local problems. The role of community policing as a solution to many social evils like crime and drug abuse in the American society cannot be underscored. This is so especially in these days of intensified terror threats. Through community policing, people are able to identify social problems early enough and discuss on the strategy to be undertaken to curb such problems.

Bush’s stand on community oriented policing services is on the limitation of the amount of funding allocated by the federal states. In his budgetary plan of 2003, he proposed that huge changes be introduced in the department of justice. Both the justice assistance grants and the community oriental policing service (COPS) were to undergo changes. Justice Assistance Grants has been on the forefront in fighting against drugs. On the other hand community-policing programs have been helping the police authorities in the war against crimes (David B. M. and Ralph R., 2002).

Bush stand on the issue of community policing has been rather controversial and enjoyed a railroad of criticism. His argument is based on some three reasons, which some claim make sense if looked at objectively. He claims that the community oriented policing services goes a long way in usurping the role and powers that lie within the individual states’ jurisdiction. Bush also further states that a close look at the community policing programs reveals they have not been able to meet the recommended standards in their performance as it has been expected. He also says that community oriented policing services have rather been ineffective and funding would be shifted to other programs that will be able to handle issues such as terrorism at the community level.

Bush’s stand on community policing emanates from the well founded belief that COPS programs have not been efficient enough in handling and curbing crime in the street or in increasing more law enforcement officers to a tune of 100,000 as recommended. For the community oriented policing serves to be tenable and enjoy budgetary support, they should meet the target bar as had been priory recommended by Bush. This, the administration maintains, is the criteria for identifying which government program is to receive more support or which is to be done away with.

A national evaluation on the success behind COPS indicated that it had failed to increase the number of offices in the streets since the community oriented policing services started being operational in 1994. The planned increase was at 57,000 by 2001 but the program was only able to add 40,000 offices. This hence has been impeding on the ability of the programs to fight and reduce crime on the street.  This program also had not been able to lay out proper strategies on how crime could be rooted out. These are the reasons that have prompted President George Bush decision to reduce funding of community policing programs. He claims that the funding given to the programs is not commensurate to the performance; the performance is below the set standards. Since Bush placed the fund cutting proposal, his administration has been receiving criticism from cross section of leaders who says that he is ignorant of the successes that have been recorded in some of the states.

What does the advent of homeland security mean for the future of community policing programs in current today us?

The post 9/11 period in the United States has been casting huge doubts on the tenability of community oriented policing and whether it will survive. The fears on the survival of COP however have been quelled down with time; the establishment of the homeland security does not in any way affect the running of these programs. Community policing is key to the success of the espoused objectives of homeland security. Focus of homeland security is on the prevention and arresting of terrorism and ensuring public safety. Just like other types of crime, terrorism is a national problem as it is to the local states. It hence becomes important that vital information and responsibility be properly apportioned between the national and the grass root level.

To achieve this, it is only prudent that there be a radical shift in the now predominant culture by the agents of law in regard to community policing. Community policing remains the most important tool for crime prevention. Community policing is all about creating an understanding and partnership between the community and the government. It is the joining of hand between the law enforcement agencies and the community in debunking the myths of policing and in encouraging traditional approach to solving crime.

Security analysts are in agreement that community policing remains a key strategy through which to maintain homeland security. This can be done through the specific communities bonding with the law enforcement agents and volunteering information that can be used to curb acts of terrorism in the United States. Bonding of the police with the community exposes the officers on the existing structure of the community as wells as the local activities. Such intelligence can go a long way in arresting or exposing any terrorist activities or plans within a specific community. Where the police and the local community have reached a partnership and an understanding, people will be vigilant of the activities carried out in the neighborhood and report on any unusual happenings (Matthew C. S. and Robert C., 2003).

Police and community partnerships revolve around empowering the citizenry and instilling them with the belief that they should be at the forefront in fighting social ills. This is a relationship based on trust and goes further to provide with a framework through which intelligence can be collected and properly executed. Both community policing and homeland security seek to accomplish similar objectives, only differently.  They are geared towards eliminating fear and threats to the public. Community policing encompasses the use of the local citizenry to tackle head-on, and provide solutions to the domestic problems. This goes a long way in curbing and deterring crime.

Homeland security also takes the same approach. It is hence prudent enough to say that the future of community policing remains bright and it is an effective strategy to accomplishing the objectives of homeland security. The existing community policing programs are evidence that both can co-exist with immense success.

Neighborhood Watch is one such program that has been in existence for almost 30 years and has been successful especially in the post 9/11 period. The Volunteers in Police Service is another program that facilitates the involvement of trained civilians in some non-crucial responsibilities.

 

Reference

David B. Muhlhausen and Ralph Rector, May 22, 2002. Will the bush administration hold the line on COPS? The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved on 03/12/2007 from http://www.heritage.org/research/crime/BG1550.cfm

Matthew C. Scheider and Robert Chapman, April 2003. “Community Policing and Terrorism,” Journal of Homeland

Security, http://www.homelandsecurity.org/journal/articles/Scheider-Chapman.html. Accessed on 3/12/2007.

 

Park Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex or chronic disorder of the central nervous system and it is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world today. People suffering from this disease have impaired coordination and balance and their movements are slow. PD was first described in 1817 by Dr James Parkinson but it was not until after 1960 that the medication was established. It entails the loss of brain cells which are responsible for the production of dopamine a chemical that helps in coordination and control of the muscle activity. (http://www.biobasics.gc.ca/english/View.asp?x=771)

Complete cure has not been established but researches are being carried out intensively. PD first affects the substancia nigra (SN) which contains the specialized neurons that send signals in the form of a neurotransmitter, the dopamine. When the neurons degenerate they cause a loss of dopamine and consequently making it difficult to control movement. (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2004).

Frequency of occurrence of PD is equal for both men and women. It affects the older people more than the younger people and it mostly develops when people are in their late fifties or early sixties. The rate among people between 75-84 years is approximately 30%.

Symptoms

Symptoms include tremors and stiffness while walking. Some people experience shuffling of their feet as they walk and unusual swinging of the arms. The body becomes rigid affecting movements. Speech impairments can also be noted which reduces or limits one’s social interactions. At the progressed stages patients experience difficulties in walking, talking or performing simple tasks effectively. Depression may also be experienced and insomnia problems may occur. (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2004).

Other symptoms include difficulties when swallowing or chewing, urinary problems or constipation, excessive sweating and other skin problems. However, the symptoms vary with different people. Falls may be experienced when people lose balance and have problems with their postures. The rate of eye blinking reduces and they seem to lack facial expression. Changes in the way people speak and others experience restlessness and nightmares. (NHS, 2006).

Emotional changes may also occur for instance, increased fear, irritability and feeling insecure. Others may suffer from inconsistency where they lose their bladder control. Some patients change their handwritings. Dementia which refers to increased problems with the mental functions could also occur. Again symptoms like sweating, problems maintaining an erection, dribbling and difficulties when swallowing are experienced by some PD patients. (Ramig O et al, 2001)

Diagnosis

PD diagnosis is done after a visit to the GP who may refer someone to a Parkinson’s specialist for further diagnosis on suspecting one could be suffering from PD. The specialist ought to be sought between 2-6 weeks depending on the stage that one is in. Since there lacks a definite test to tell if one is suffering from PD, the specialist uses a trial method where he compares one’s present condition with previous health conditions. Clinical observations are used. Thorough assessment and examination is done to establish if one is actually suffering from PD. (NHS, 2006)

 

Treatment

PD treatment can be through drugs or surgery. Drugs administered could have a direct or indirect impact on increasing the amount of dopamine. Treatment should not be started if a specialist is not consulted. People suffering from tremors can be offered the SPECT brain scan to verify if the tremor is caused by PD. The scan will establish the causes of the tremor. The structural MRI test used to further establish the causes of the tremor. Other tests should be done only if one is under clinical trial. (NHS, 2006)

Upon diagnosis that one is suffering from PD one needs to be reviewed regularly by their specialist. The review will clarify if one is actually suffering from PD for if new symptoms not linked to PD arise they could be due to the other causes.

Other treatments of PD include regular, moderate exercises to improve the motor control. These exercises can be used to improve someone’s circulation, increase their appetite and free up stiff muscles. Since PD patients may lose their appetite or feel nausea due to their drugs good nutrition would be very appropriate. Inclusion of more fiber and soft foods in their diet would be a plus in their digestive system.

The efficiency and effectiveness of drugs largely depend on the patient, their chemical composition, rate of PD progression and duration of drug use. Side effects could limit the drugs efficiency. Drugs used can be to replace dopamine. This approach is however, faced by the challenge of the body’s blood-brain barrier (BBB) which controls entry of substances into the brain.  It may prohibit important or helpful chemicals from entering into the brain.

Parkinson disease cannot be treated by injecting someone with dopamine because it is a neurotransmitter which will be barred entry into the brain by the blood brain barrier. Levodopa (L-Dopa) can be used as it can pass the BBB and then it can be turned to dopamine. It can be effective for 5 years after which it can cause detrimental effects. Enzyme prohibitors can also be used to prevent the breakdown of dopamine. Dopamine agonist can be used which perform the same functions as dopamine. This drug can restore the imbalance caused by changes in the dopamine levels. Again since dementia entails memory loss, confusion and speech problems they should be addressed. Cholinesterase inhibitors are most preferred for Dementia.

Surgical option is sought when drugs no longer seem to work. In the 60’s surgical treatments for PD were pallidotomy and thalamotomy which involve destroying of some brain portions. This exercise works to improve the body strength so that patients can better handle their disabilities. Through surgery some region of the brain can be prevented from being over active and others controlled to become more active. Today they have been replaced by deep brain stimulation (BDS) which blocks tremors in patients. It is reversible and widely used. (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2004).

Prognosis

Doctors should let the patients know that the disease has no cure and that the drugs used would only work to suppress the effects. Supportive therapies should be made available for people with PD to help them adjust to their new roles. Speech and language therapies are sought to help one’s voice become loud, more natural and easier to understand. Since there is no cure, selegiline is used to slow down destruction of SN brain cells. (NHS, 2006)

 

Treating depression of PD patients should suit their individual circumstances. The PD specialist should be careful to offer treatment that does not cause hallucinations or psychotic problems. Care is taken to ensure that antipsychotic symptoms do not aggregate the effects of PD. Health care professionals have the duty of explaining what the PD care entails especially at the advanced stages. Family members are also affected if one of their members is affected and they should also seek support. (NHS, 2006).

 

References:

Government of Canada. 2006. The science and the issues. Parkinson’s disease. Retrieved on 3^rd December 2007 from

http://www.biobasics.gc.ca/english/View.asp?x=771

Ramig O., Countryman S., Fox A., and Sapir S. 2001. Speech, voice and swallowing disorders. Parkinson’s disease: Diagnosis and clinical management.New York.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. NHS. 2006. Parkinsons Disease. High Holborn.London.

US Department of Health and Human Services.2004. Parkinson’s disease: Challenges, Progress and promise. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NationalInstituteofHealth. NH Publication.

 

In the recent past, there have been several debates about how media influences the behavior of the government and how they affect the political landscape in general. It has been said that mass media if it is not used appropriately, it can distort the country’s national agenda. In contemporary politics, mass media plays a key role in enlightening and informing people about politics. They are used in many nations which are seeking for liberal transition in their governments. They are mostly used to influence the public opinion on a particular issue. The media should remain neutral in political matters but this is not what happens in most countries. For example inAmerica, media are what keep the political arena going. Now the questions arise; do media influence American politics or influence governmental behaviors? This is what exactly this paper will focus on. It will try to look for answers to these questions.

Politics rely on mass media for liberal demands, information and manipulation of ‘public opinion’. Media as it has been noted before, empowers citizens and is used to pressurize the government on specific areas that need to be changed. During the 2000 presidential election inUSA, it was reportedly said that there were problems with the way the media covered and performed their duties. Some media starved voters with relevant information they needed to make informed choices (Wayne S. J., 2001)

On 7^th November 2000, some televisions and other types of media based inFlorida lied that Al Gore had managed to win the majority of the votes inFlorida which was a stronghold of republicans. It was unbelievable that Gore had won because this state was governed by Bush’s brother, Jeb. Media with all their ignorance went ahead to say that Gore was ahead of bush but this was later clarified at night by CNN which showed that bush had already scooped 52% of the votes while Al Gore had managed to get 46% of all the votes cast (Maisel L. S., 2002)

This was organized by Gore and his camp to mobilize votes in the west. It was meant to deceive voters so that Gore would amass more votes. He knew very well that this would have a lot of significance to him. As media houses, you are not supposed to show one as the winner unless the uncounted votes are less than the number of votes that would make the following candidate to win. This is one way that media use to distort the perception of people. Though Gore was defeated, he refused to accept the results because he believed in what was announced before the recounting of votes.

Most of the big media in theUnited States of Americaare owned by wealthy people who own big businesses. This is why they compromise the events coverage. Television can have a very big impact on some candidates for example when they give some candidates wider coverage than others. Also omissions, distortions and biasness in coverage are something that is common inUSAmedia. InAmericait is very hard to get an objective report on the issue that is affecting people.

Radio stations as well as TVs can be used to enlighten people. For example in 2000 November 4^th, just a few days before the presidential polls, Radio 5’s late night presenter Hayes Brain  and Lehrer Will together with BBC held a program to straighten up the issues concerning polls with the help of guests and different live calls that were made. Basically, Bush and Al Gore differed in matters concerning foreign policy, health provision and educations. The above mentioned presenters enlightened people on the characters of a good leader and then they asked people who they would prefer between Al gore and Bush.

In 2000 (Wire B., 2006) Bush and Al Gore were chosen as the presidential candidates for republican and democratic parties respectively in pre-primary elections. To make sure they emerged winners of their respective parties, both of them visited media houses, bought advertising spaces in the daily papers and were featured in news more than anyone else. There were no doubts that this publicity helped to sell their candidature. The media exposure made them the only key players in the political arena. There were others who lacked enough money to buy airtime, and good exposure to make themselves popular. These were candidates like John McCain and Bill Bradley who withdrew themselves from the race after they lost in the primary race on 7^th march.

Today party leaders have little influence on voters when compared with the latest communication technology like radios, internet-emails, satellites and televisions. They have realized that it is easier to campaign over this latest technology than organizing party followers at local, state, and national levels. An exposure of one candidate by the media do influence who people will voted for in elections. Some media rely on money that they earn on election campaigns. That is the money that politicians pay to media houses. So, it is very hard for them to avoid politics, they can do anything so long as they earn some money.

In October 12, 2004 (Decierico R.E., 2002) newspaper vendors were using Mr. Jim Dickson, a lobbyist on the American Association of People with Disabilities. He was supposed to travel around the country to preach the benefits of electronic voting-torch screen voting over paper based voting. He agreed having received money from the vendors for that purpose. His organization received about 26,000 US dollars from the countries voting companies though at first he denied having received it. This was masterminded by the Elections Centre in August 2004 in a conference that was sponsored by vendors. Here the individuals were fed with propagandas by the vendors. Vendors then used him to influence the citizens on electronic based voting system instead of paper based voting system.

Again media commentaries can woo voters into taking a particular political direction this is according to (Wire B., 2006 ) For example Jesus Esquivel; a columnist for the most international online media argued that John Kerry the then aspiring candidate should with new strategies that would bring on halt all imperialistic and belligerent goals that were pursued by Bush’s government. Many people seemed to agree on this though the opinion polls reflected otherwise. It was alleged that he lagged behind because he was unable to articulate well how he differed with Bush. The question of who was to blame was posed. Was it the voters, unworkableUSAwar policies inIraqor the car bombings, beheadings that were going on inIraq? Some leading newspapers described Kelly as a drift who was incapable of selling his opinions outsideUSA, yet Bush according to them, Bush capable to sell because he had war policies. All these propagandas which were spread by media houses had profound effects on Kerry.

In 2004, the time magazine tried to influence the presidential election in favor of Bush. It had written a story on the conversation it had between Karl Rovel “scooter”, lebby, Cooper Matt and Novak R. It was something that could have affected Bush so much and therefore it was kept a secret. Cooper waited until elections were over so that he could talk to the jury and to the public at large. The results were released after Bush succeeded.

During the 2004 elections, bush and Kerry received different backings from the corporations. It was revealed by Corp Watch Investigators such as live reports and current news disclosed that there were some details that co-operate media didn’t make public. These are stories involving big industries like tobacco and finance, about the sponsors, the profiles of the main donors, what and why they gave. This means that the information that reached the public was biased and manipulated.

In 2000 and 2004 election, internet campaign was eminent and was used in transforming democracy in Washington D.C. Internet had a lot of influence on voters. Blogs, meet ups and forums are some of services that internet offered to the campaigners.

Reference:

Wayne S. J., 2001: The Road to the White House 2000: The Politics of Presidential             Election.Bedford / St.Martins (Wads Worth)

Maisel L. S., 2002: Parties and Elections in America. The Electoral Process,           Rowman and Littlefield.

Decierico R.E., 2002. Political Parties, Campaigns and Elections: Prentice Hall.

Wire B., 2006. Lessons leaned from the 2004 Election.

Wire B., 2006, April 20. Missed opportunity: Gore, Incumbency and Television in Election