Commercial Position of UK Banks Free-Samplesâ€Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Analysis the Commercial Position of UK Banks in the UK and Global Market. Answer: Introduction UK banks have become a major player in economic growth within the UK and the globe. The banking sector has grown to accommodate all customers which would result in a strong economy. The UK banking industry has contributed to employment opportunities, increased personal banking services, and a source of government revenue. This report gives an overview of the position of the banking industry within the UK and global market using PESTEL and SWOT frameworks. The analysis gives the influence of the industry on the markets and how it has adapted to the changing global needs. Background of the banking sector The banking sector has existed for centuries, playing a significant role in changing the economic environment both within the UK and the globe. It has generated employment opportunities for the population, revenue for the government, and banking services to the society. The banking industry that started in the 17th century provide the local English community with banking services, and during the industrial revolution in 18th century, many banks were established in London due to increased international trade activities (Bennett, and Kottasz 2012). Banking industry were private enterprises during this era, and during the 19th century, the government took control over the industry as the need for control and regulation grew hence the formulation of the Bank Charter Act. Major improvements had been made to the sector including the accounts and the record keeping systems. The technology advancement led to a revolution in the banking sector: ATM and credit card services were established. T he sector has expanded over the year to include insurance, investments, and stock exchange. The banks have become a major contributor to economic growth in different markets globally. PESTEL analysis This framework analyzes factors that affect the banking industry considering both internal factors and the external factors. For the sector to operate normally, it has to navigate through these factors and provide expected services to the customers (Chalabi 2014). PESTEL is an acronym that stands for different environments that banking industry has work in political factors, economic factors, social factors, technological factors, economic factors and legal factors. Political factors These are factors that originate from the government that may include political stability, policies, and regulations. Stability in government gives the banking sector a favorable environment to operate. The pressure facing banks in the UK currently is Brexit and the uncertainty of Scotland being part of the UK in the future. Brexit has affected the normal operations of the sector due to the changes in relations with partners within the region. The uncertainty of the future relations with countries in Europe is likely to affect the operations of the UK banks in Europe and around the globe. The major financial crisis has been as a result of political interference through regulations that undermine operations of the banks. As a result of the interferences, it is a responsibility of managements in the industry to formulate strategies that would aid in compliance with the regulations established. Economic factors The sector is under pressure to offer quality services while the management is only in the hands of a few. Many customers are increasingly using the online platform to access the banking services hence the expansion of bank branches is becoming expensive and difficult. The Lloyds Bank, for example, has faced major setbacks in attempts to sell its branches because of sophistication in technology and increased expenses (David 2005). Barclays banks have branches in many countries, and in 2009, its credit rating dropped which affected its services. Banks have grown and have become an important part of different sectors within the UK and around the globe. The scale at which banks occupy the market is large therefore customers expect them to be crisis-free. Social factors Banks are becoming part of social influencers in the society by meeting their needs. To achieve sustainable growth, the banks have to transform the lives of the society members to the expected current living standards. This can be achieved by providing job opportunities for the society members, and as of 2014, 7% of employees within the UK worked in the banking industry. UK banks have been established in various countries and have become contributors to job opportunities and transformation of societies (El-Manstrly, Paton, Veloutsou, and Moutinho 2011). The presence of UK banks in third world countries has contributed to economic growth and improvement of living standards of the citizens. London has been a leader in the financial industry, but with Brexit, it faces the uncertainty of holding on to the position as neutral cities are rising to challenge it. Some of these cities include Glasgow, Manchester, and Edinburg. Technological factors From the time of banking services inception, technology has become a change agent that drives the dynamics of the industry. The technological advancement has significantly improved banking services across the globe. The ease of access to services has become a positive attribute to technology, but it also comes with setbacks to the industry. Increased online access of services has increased vulnerability to attacks from hackers who take personal bank information to steal money from personal bank accounts. Environmental factors This refers to completion among banks in the market both regionally and globally. There are fewer banks in the UK which result in an increased competition to occupy the market. The UK Bank has faced stiff competition from other world leading banks who want to occupy the leading global space for the industry. Financial crisis has influenced how banks operate and strategies they have formulated to aid in recovery. Legal factors The Bank Act was enacted by the government to make banks safe and strong to continuously provide services as expected by the customers. The reform act regulates banking culture and change is structures. The UK government introduced a bank account switching service that allows people to switch banks at any time. The introduction of the service is a competition agent between the banks. The government introduced Independent Commission aimed at reviewing the industry and giving suggestions on adjustments or changes that could be mad to the industry. The financial service Act that was established in 2013 regulates banking services and formulates changes that could improve the industry. SWOT analysis Strengths Banks have been part of the society from centuries ago which makes it an integral part of human race. This is an industrial and to an extent an organizational strength as they determine the financial course of societies and is a major influence on the economic growth. This role is unlikely to be replaced by any industry or any other form of service. Economic growth has been realized through the banking industry. Through banking services, sustainable growth in a country can be realized through creating an environment that allows growth. The industry is a key player involved in fostering financial stability, international trade, and reduce poverty levels in the society. Banks reduce effects of calamities by reclaiming and rebuilding destroyed properties. Banks are central to economic restoration and fostering reconstruction of human lives. Regardless of the cause of calamities, bank has always been part of restoration teams. With new technologies, banks have adopted their efficient use to make it easier for people to access services. Banks have also influenced how businesses operate by providing services that support more investments consequently growing these businesses. Weaknesses The lack of coordination between banks has to lead to major financial crisis. The difference in the value of currencies has challenged the operation of UK banks in other countries (Figueira, Nellis, and Parker 2007). The banking industry is an integral part of any sector. Therefore, it can influence the activities of these sectors in case of any change in the industry. The banks operate in areas where infrastructures are fully developed therefore they are not operational in areas that are underdeveloped. In many African countries, UK banks are only located in major cities. This reduces the penetration of banking markets in developing countries where many of the banks have tried to commit to helping in the development activities. Opportunities UK Banks have an opportunity to expand to different markets globally. Many potential customers could benefit from the presence of the banks in their regions. The demographic shifts in different regions provide markets for these banks as many young people across the world are getting more financial educational hence the need for banking systems. The rise in private banking services has been facilitated by favorable conditions provided by the company. The customers have become beneficiaries of the change due to competition between the private and public sector which results in quality services. Threats The recession is a major threat that banks may face which lead to economic crises and almost total collapse in financial systems. This could adversely affect businesses and affect domestic lives of the societies. Small banks have been affected by the use of weak systems which have threatened their stability. Competition between banks and non-banking financial institutions has affected the operations of banks as both industries are competing for the same customer segments. The table below shows the major banks in the UK and their values Bank Market Value(Billion) Assets(Billion) HSBC 122.2 1736 RBS 49.9 2508 TSB 44.5 1195 Barclays 38.3 2320 Threats facing UK internal business functions Mobile banking risks The use of mobile phones for banking purposes is on the rise, and most traditional regulations do not adjust to this communication tool. According to Researchandmarkets.com (2014), the use of mobile phones creates vulnerability to attacks as personal information can be compromised through an exposed protected interface. The use of mobile phones is on the rise globally, which has increased innovation to cater for banking systems. With limited regulations in the market. The internet of things risks the security of connected devices and privacy of individuals. In this era, most of the home appliances could be connected to a single server that controls them. The intranet created could be compromised by hackers to collect data from unsuspecting users. Many banks create their interconnectivity that allows transfer of information and eases their retrieval. This risk is one of the newest because the technology was created without considering potential risks it might pose to the individuals or institutions. Response to change From the time the UK experienced the credit crunch, financial institutions have tightened the operations within the sector. Public funds were used to save the banking sector from collapsing which angered many people. New systems have since been introduced that seek to make management take responsibility for their actions. Changes introduced to the sector include imposed regulations on the pay and bonuses given to staff. This was a result of the public outcry following the pay the staffs were entitled to, which formed part of the factors that led almost collapse of financial institutions (Wall 2014). Regulations have been put in place, and banks have to comply with them. Regulation on compensation requires bank employees to access it only if deemed worthy. The UK government has established some regulatory policies that include the financial services act replacing the Tripartite. The Act is responsible for consumer protection by supervising individual banks through financial assistance from the Treasury (Treanor 2010). The Act regulates financial systems within the UK through watchdog committees. The committee is responsible for supervising financial institutions by checking their safety and soundness of operations. Technology has affected how banks operate as customers are increasingly becoming tech savvy. Banks have adapted to the changes by having innovations that could be applied to the sector. Companies like Google and Apple have utilized their platforms to expand their services which have prompted the banks to change their approach to consumer strategies. This has resulted in a development of online pay activities. According to Gov.uk (2013), the emergence of the bitcoin has impacted banking dynamics, and many banks are considering the same application into their businesses. This ecosystem is being integrated into banking systems which are likely to broaden the services that banks offer. References Bennett, R, and Kottasz, R, 2012, Public attitudes towards the UK banking industry following the global financial crisis.International Journal of Bank Marketing, 30(2), pp.128--147. Chalabi, M 2014,UK banks: how powerful are they? London publishers. David, F, 2005,Strategic management. 1st ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall. El-Manstrly, D Paton, R Veloutsou, C and Moutinho, L 2011, An empirical investigation of the relative effect of trust and switching costs on service loyalty in the UK retail banking industry.Journal of Financial Services Marketing, 16(2), pp.101--110. Figueira, C Nellis, J and Parker, D 2007, Challenges facing the Polish banking industry: A comparative study with UK banks.Managing Global Transitions, 5(1), pp.25--44. PwC, 2014,What now for the UK banking industry? Implementing the Independent Commission on Banking recommendations. Pearson Researchandmarkets.com, 2014,UK Retail Banking Sector: Industry Profile - Research and Markets. Researchandmarkets.com, (2014).UK Retail Banking Sector: Industry Profile - Research and Markets. Gov.uk, 2013,Creating stronger and safer banks - Policy - GOV.UK. London Press Treanor, J 2010,Political prying biggest risk facing banks, say bankers. London Press Wall, M 2014, Start-ups challenge big banks' technology. London Press

Writing Essays - How to Choose Powerful Topic Ideas for Elementary School

Writing Essays - How to Choose Powerful Topic Ideas for Elementary SchoolIf you are planning to write a persuasive essay for elementary school, you need to choose a topic that is of interest to your readers. However, you need to be careful in choosing the subject matter as this will affect your essay's overall quality. You should consider several factors before choosing a topic for your essay. Read on to find out how you can be sure that your essay is of good quality and not boring.One of the first things you should do is to make sure that the topic you have chosen is interesting. You need to write a persuasive essay that will grab the attention of your readers. This means that you need to use persuasive techniques in your essay, use keywords and engage your readers in a dialog. Here are some ideas to guide you in choosing a topic for your essay.You need to make sure that the topic you choose can be used in your final document. It is not necessary that the topic you choose can be use d in an elementary school curriculum. For example, you can use a persuasive essay on how to find cheap holiday deals for school children but not on a topic that is related to economy and finance. You should make sure that the topic is relevant to the topic that you choose.On the other hand, it is not necessary that the topic you choose is also one that can be used in an elementary school curriculum. You should also consider if the topic you chose has enough coverage in the curriculum. If not, you should consider alternatives such as reading or participating in group discussions. You should also ensure that the topic you choose has enough coverage in your school's curriculum.When it comes to your persuasive essay, you need to know if your essay topic is going to be interesting enough to be read by your readers. It is not necessary that the topic you choose isone that is of interest to your readers. However, it is necessary that the topic you choose is one that can be read well.Also, you need to make sure that the topics in your essay can be used in your elementary school curriculum. This will help you a lot in writing your essay as you do not have to spend time on rewriting it. However, it is important that the topics in your essay do not have too much content. In fact, you need to make sure that you do not get too detailed in your essay.Moreover, you need to make sure that you are able to write effectively without any errors or spelling mistakes. You need to make sure that your writing skills are not lacking. It is also not necessary that you have to be a professional writer.Make sure that you are able to combine your persuasive strategies with your writing skills. You should also ensure that you are able to write on different topics in different essays.

Utility Essay Example For Students

Utility Essay Utility: An Impartial and Equitable StandpointThe foundation of Utility is based on John Stuart Mill’s notion that one must strive to act in such a way to produce the greatest good of the greatest number. Utility itself relies on the responsibility of the individual to remain impartial in his endeavor to produce the greatest good, looking past such extrinsic influences that may render the individual to seek a biased sense of satisfaction. In order for Utility to function as Mill wanted it to, honest judgment and objectivity must be an essential part of one’s drive for the acquisition of the greatest good. We will write a custom essay on Utility specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In order for the insistence that equity and impartiality to hold true to Mill’s Utility, we must find a foundation from within his argumentation that will support it. Thus we turn to Mill’s sanctions, or incentives that he proposes to drive one towards the path of Utility. Mill’s first sanction, the internal sanction, leads one to act ethically because of the fear of displeasure that might arise from other people if one does not act in this manner. Mill justifies that individuals desire the warmness of others as an incentive to acting unselfishly in the attempt to acquire the greatest good, and fear the dissatisfaction of others. Mill’s second sanction, the internal sanction, is in essence an individual’s inner conscience. With the assumption that the conscience is pure and free from corruption, Mill implies that satisfaction is brought forth to the conscience when one successfully and ethically commits to one’s duties, the duty of Utility. W hat is undesired is the feeling of dissatisfaction that spawns when one does not act dutifully. In order for this rationale to make sense, one must do what is almost unavoidable when propositioning such an enormous concept such as the ethical standard of morality, and that is to presuppose, In almost all forms and interpretations of morality, there has been the presupposition that takes place to initialize the concept. Mill’s Utilitarianism presupposes that human beings do have a concept for general well being, and that is genuinely by nature good and willfully ethical. It is this generalization that spawns for these sanctions that he has addressed, and it is the role of the good nature of man that determines the worth of his actions. This is also the pivot in Mill’s mechanics that is probably most argued upon. Kant, Neibhor, and Plato would have had much to say on Mill’s assumption of the natural goodness of mankind and his given instinct to do good. If imparti ality and equity are what good will and duty bring forth, Mill has provided a basis within utilitarianism that reinforces this. Aside from distinct sanctions, many other aspects of Utility lead to the notion that impartiality and equity are set boldly within the framework of Mill’s interpretation. According to Mill, all people are, ethically speaking, equal in all situations. When considering the value of happiness from one individual to another, the issue is proposed to be a straight line representing the equality the value from individual to individual. One person’s happiness is just as important as another’s. With this in mind, there is no such reason to even consider a biased view on the distribution of happiness, for in the beholder’s eyes, it is nothing but equal. Utility also states that the greater number that acquires happiness is most desired, so there is no real reason to consider any other way to distribute it but evenly. A biased approach would prove inefficient, and with the concept in mind that Mill is only concerned with the results of ones actions, not the intentio n, it would only make sense to be impartial. How is impartiality and equity in utility possible? First and foremost, are no ethical principles that are agreed on by everyone, but there is a distinct level of agreement as to what is right and what is wrong. Among the obvious are the notions that generosity, equality, and truthfulness are right, and this supports the presupposition that Mill makes about the good -nature of human morality. Thus impartiality and equity can be argued to pervade Utility. Second, the person who seeks to distribute happiness to only a certain group or type

Dónde pedir información migratoria de todo tipo

Dà ³nde pedir informacià ³n migratoria de todo tipo Es muy comà ºn que los migrantes o los extranjeros con visas no inmigrantes tengan dudas sobre cul es exactamente su estatus migratorio o sobre asuntos que pueden afectarlo. En este artà ­culo se explica cà ³mo obtener informacià ³n de primera mano sobre situacià ³n de casos pendientes ante el Servicio de Inmigracià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) y con las embajadas o consulados. Asimismo, cà ³mo saber si una persona est detenida, tiene una orden de deportacià ³n o de arresto, cà ³mo comunicarse con el Servicio Nacional de Visas, cà ³mo consultar si se es ciudadano americano. cà ³mo se puede solicitar un pasaporte o dà ³nde estn las oficinas locales del ICE. Y otros otros telà ©fonos importantes sobre asuntos que afectan muy de cerca a migrantes. Consultar con el USCIS Si se tiene un caso pendiente con el USCIS, existen diferentes modos de comunicarse y buscar informacià ³n. En persona Todos los extranjeros que se encuentren legalmente en Estados Unidos pueden usar el servicio de InfoPass.  Se pide una cita y en un corto plazo de tiempo se puede acudir a una oficina de Inmigracià ³n. Allà ­ un oficial con conocimiento del tipo de casos sobre el que existe la duda examinar la documentacià ³n que se le presenta y ofrecer una opinià ³n profesional. Es importante subrayar que los inmigrantes indocumentados no pueden utilizar este servicio. Y que puede tener consecuencias muy adversas presentarse voluntariamente en unas oficinas de Inmigracià ³n, como por ejemplo, ser arrestado en el momento. Por internet, correo electrà ³nico, mensaje de texto Se puede utilizar el sistema del USCIS de My Case Status para verificar cà ³mo est la tramitacià ³n. Es necesario saber el nà ºmero de caso que es el que aparece en la primera carta que se recibe del USCIS. Por correo Si se ha enviado una peticià ³n o solicitud a una Oficina de Campo (Field Office), se puede enviar una carta preguntando por el caso. Incluir los siguiente: Nombre completo y direccià ³nAlien Registration NumberFecha de nacimientoFecha y lugar de la aplicacià ³n sobre la que se preguntaEl Nà ºmero del caso Fotocopia legible de la à ºltima carta que se recibià ³ del USCISY, si ya ha tenido lugar una entrevista o la toma de huellas digitales, indicar la fecha y el lugar donde se realizà ³. Militares Los miembros del Ejà ©rcito de los Estados Unidos tienen reglas especiales en algunos asuntos migratorios. Para informarse y resolver inquietudes que les afecten directamente o a familiares pueden marcar gratis al 1-877-247-4645, de lunes a viernes de 8.am a 4.30 pm hora CST. Tambià ©n pueden escribir un correo a: militaryinfo.nscdhs.gov. Recordar que algunos familiares de militares o reservistas o veteranos que se encuentran en situacià ³n de indocumentados pueden beneficiarse del Parole in Place y obtener asà ­ los papeles. Centro Nacional de Visas (NVC) Las personas que estn pendientes de una visa de inmigrante pueden ponerse en contacto con el NVC siguiendo pautas establecidas. Si la inquietud que se tiene es sobre cunto tiempo hay que esperar, la informacià ³n puede saberse verificando cada vez las fechas de prioridad que publica el Departamento de Estado en el Boletà ­n de Visas. Detenidos y à ³rdenes Existe una base de datos donde es posible verificar si una persona est detenida por las autoridades migratorias. Y si no aparece en el sistema, existen telà ©fonos en los que los familiares o los abogados de la persona que se cree que puede estar detenida pueden pedir informacià ³n. Si una persona est detenida se puede averiguar informacià ³n sobre la prisià ³n y su direccià ³n en esta aplicacià ³n. Recordar que a los detenidos se les puede enviar dinero y paquetes. Adems, si se cree que se puede tener una orden de deportacià ³n en contra, es conveniente verificarlo.   Cortes de Inmigracià ³n Si se quiere saber el estatus de un caso, se puede marcar a cualquiera de los dos telà ©fonos siguientes: 800-898-7180240-314-1500 Si se desea pedir informacià ³n sobre el rà ©cord migratorio que pueden tener las cortes, marcar al 703-605-1297. Tramitacià ³n Visas no inmigrantes Asà ­ se puede verificar los tiempos que tardan en tramitarse las distintas visas no inmigrantes segà ºn el consulado o embajada en la que se aplica.   Si existe la tentacià ³n de aplicar en una oficina consular distinta a la del lugar habitual al que se reside, conviene tener en cuenta cules son los posibles inconvenientes. Verificacià ³n de Resultados de la loterà ­a de Visas (green card) Todos los aà ±os el gobierno de Estados Unidos celebra una loterà ­a gratuita de tarjetas de residencia. El sorteo se conoce como Visas de la Diversidad y los resultados se dan a conocer en mayo.   Oficinas   La direccià ³n de las oficinas de campo del USCIS se puede verificar aquà ­. Hacia el final de la pgina aparece un mapa, clickar en el estado en el que se busca la informacià ³n. Para buscar la direccià ³n exacta de los Centro de Apoyo, donde entre otras cosas se toman las huellas digitales y las fotos, se puede utilizar esta aplicacià ³n.   Y aquà ­ se puede buscar por estado la direccià ³n de las oficinas en las que se llevan a cabo entrevistas de asilo que han sido previamente pautadas. Si se busca contactar con la oficina local de Aplicacià ³n y Expulsià ³n (ERO, por sus siglas en inglà ©s), aquà ­ estn las direcciones fà ­sicas y las de correo electrà ³nico, por estado. Pasaporte americano En ocasiones es necesario obtener urgentemente un pasaporte porque se viaja con carcter inmediato y o bien no se tiene o bien est expirado. En estos casos, cerrar una cita marcando al 1-877-987-2778, antes de presentarse en una de las Agencias de Pasaporte Regionales.   Si se sigue el procedimiento ordinario, en tiempo normal o acelerado, estas son las oficinas en las que se puede aplicar.   Tener en cuenta los casos en los que se puede renovar por correo y los requerimientos especiales para menores.  Si se est fuera de los Estados Unidos, contactar con nuestra embajada o consulado ms cercano. Por à ºltimo, si se ha solicitado un pasaporte, aquà ­ se puede verificar online el estatus del caso.   Dudas sobre ciudadanà ­a Aunque parezca increà ­ble, lo cierto es que muchas personas creen que pueden ser ciudadanas americanas pero no lo saben con certeza. El principal problema es que la ley ha cambiado en varias ocasiones y por esos algunas personas no tienen claro si conservan la ciudadanà ­a o la adquirieron sin saberlo. Siempre que se tenga una duda razonable sobre la posibilidad de ser ciudadano americano se puede marcar al  1800-375-5282.  Ahà ­ encontrar ayuda. Tambià ©n es importante informase sobre quà © hacer para saber sobre si es posible recuperar la ciudadanà ­a que en aplicacià ³n de leyes pasadas se perdià ³ involuntariamente. En todo caso, antes de preguntar es aconsejable informarse sobre las reglas bsicas que regulan la ciudadanà ­a y cà ³mo se adquiere. Embajadas y Consulados Las Embajadas y los consulados americanos tienen al servicio del pà ºblico pginas webs donde brindan importante informacià ³n. Tambià ©n ofrecen sus telà ©fonos de contacto y correo electrà ³nico. Pero hay que entender que las oficinas consulares de los Estados Unidos no son los abogados particulares de nadie.   Las Embajadas y los consulados sà ­ que brindan ayuda a los ciudadanos estadounidenses que residen en el exterior. Para facilitar su labor es altamente recomendable inscribirse para tal fin. Reportar un ilà ­cito migratorio Se puede marcar al 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, o lo que es lo mismo: 1-866-347-2423. Tambià ©n se puede llenar en inglà ©s este formulario.   Telà ©fono para reportar abuso laboral En el 1-888-7581 se puede denunciar todo tipo de abuso, desde el no pagar salarios legales a acosos laborales o sexuales. Pueden denunciar todos los trabajadores, sin importar su estatus legal.   Violencia domà ©stica y otros tipos de crà ­menes Cualquier persona puede denunciar, tambià ©n sin que se tenga en consideracià ³n el estatus legal. Pero como aquà ­ se explica, salvo en casos en los que por seguridad hay que llamar inmediatamente, las và ­ctimas indocumentadas deberà ­an consultar antes con un abogado migratorio.   Los telà ©fonos a los que se puede marcar son: Là ­nea abierta nacional contra la violencia domà ©stica: 1-800-799-7233Là ­nea abierta de la red nacional contra el asalto sexual, violacià ³n, abuso e incesto (RAINN, por sus siglas en inglà ©s): 1-800-656-4673Centro nacional de nià ±os desaparecidos y explotados: 1-800-843-5678Centro nacional para và ­ctimas de crà ­menes: 1-800-394-2255 Otros telà ©fonos importantes En todo Estados Unidos y sus territorios se puede marcar al 911 para contactar con la policà ­a.   Para asuntos migratorios lo ms adecuado es contar con un abogado reputado. Y, si no se puede pagarlo, intentar obtener ayuda a travà ©s de organizaciones que brindan asistencia legal a migrantes. Por à ºltimo, el sistema consular mexicano en los Estados Unidos ha habilitado un telà ©fono gratis al que se puede marcar desde cualquier paà ­s para ayudar a su migrantes nacionales. Funciona muy bien y presta ayuda beneficiosa. Este artà ­culo no es asesorà ­a legal. Sà ³lo tiene carcter informativo.

Global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Global warming - Essay Example Consequently, the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere increases and thickens the ozone layer which in turn prevents the infrared radiation from escaping the earth’s atmosphere. This in turn results to warmer temperatures around the world. To make his presentation believable, Al Gore used statistical data. For instance, he mentioned about the top ten hottest years ever measured which occurred in the last fourteen years as of 2005 with the hottest of all in the said year. This shows the relentless increase in atmospheric temperature which is affecting the world. Moreover, Gore also compares photographs of glaciers in the past and in more recent times to impress in the minds of the listeners what he is trying to point out. He notes that the glaciers in Kilimanjaro, Glacier National Park, Columbia Glacier in Alaska, the Italian Alps and the Rhone Glacier in Switzerland are evidences of the results of global warming. The once majestic glaciers that attracted many scientists and tourists alike have all been decreased to nothing and more glaciers on the North Pole are at the brink of extinction as well. The effects of the aforementioned consequences of global warming are floods and droughts. This is due to increased precipitation and relocation of precipitation. For instance, in Africa alone, more droughts have worsened because of lack of rain while other places would have strong rains that are actually unusual. Moreover, it is not only sea water that evaporates and cause increased precipitation that in turn cause floods but the heat of the sun also sucks moisture from the soil which leads to droughts. In addition, the melting of the glaciers and Arctic ice caps are predicted to someday cause major floods in low areas and this should cause alarm today. This is explained by the result of studies that show that when the rays of the sun hit the ice caps, they are reflected back to the atmosphere just like in a mirror. On the other hand, when the rays of the sun hit the sea water; they are absorbed and therefore make the water warmer. As a result, the ice near the water melts and increases the volume of sea water. With the data presented by Gore which have obviously been carefully studied and are scientifically based, I strongly agree with all his arguments. The presentation does not just appeal to common sense but it also demands responsibility and accountability from listeners appealing to their moral senses. Indeed, global warming is not just a political issue but it also is an ethical issue which presents itself as the responsibility of every individual regardless of age, gender, political affiliations or beliefs. On another angle, on a more personal perspective, environmentalist Bill McKibben suggests that global warming is caused by people’s desires to have more. Economically, it is a good thing for individuals to want to succeed because it affects the nation’s economic stability. However, the want to have more things a ctually is increasing the carbon dioxide that is polluting the atmosphere. For instance, as more people are able to afford to buy more cars and appliances, more carbon dioxide is emitted from these machines. Moreover, with the fast-paced lifestyles of people wanting to earn more money, they are forced to eat processed foods which encourage more manufacturing processes that contribute to air pollution. Therefore, McKibben suggests people to live simpler

Key trends in the financial services market Essay

Key trends in the financial services market - Essay Example The Harpenden Building society offers a range of financial services from primarily savings accounts and mortgages to business banking solutions.( Harpenden Building Society. 2010) This paper will examine a number of questions surrounding the performance of the Harpenden building society and some key trends in the banking and financial services market, as well as how the building society differs from traditional banks in the market, opportunities and threats facing the bank, a closer look at the success of the bank and how the society can succeed from a marketing standpoint. There are several key trends in the financial services market. One of the latest trends that is gripping the financial industry like a bruding storm is the level and impact of the global interest rate. ``As interest rates are expected to rise globally, albeit slowly, and current steep yield curves may soon flatten, such risks may materialise surrounding the performance   in the near future. At the same time, wea knesses in the banking sector still exist, especially for some segments of the European banking sector. While the effects of changes in interest rates and their structure on financial institutions differ, recent changes in asset and funding structures of banks make them generally more vulnerable to a changing interest rate environment. Currency risk exposure has also grown, and regional concentration may pose specific risks. An unravelling of carry trades will have a negative effect on some institutions.`` (OECD.2009)

Police scandals are an untallied cost of the drug war Essay Example for Free

Police scandals are an untallied cost of the drug war Essay The FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and even the Coast Guard have had to admit to corruption. The gravity of the police crimes is as disturbing as the volume. In New Orleans, a uniformed cop in league with a drug dealer has been convicted of murdering her partner and shop owners during a robbery committed while she was on patrol. In Washington, D. C. , and in Atlanta, cops in drug stings were arrested for stealing and taking bribes. New York State troopers falsified drug evidence that sent people to prison. And it is not just the rank and file. The former police chief of Detroit went to prison for stealing police drug-buy money. In a small New England town, the chief stole drugs from the evidence locker for his own use. And the DEA agent who arrested Panamas General Noriega is in jail for stealing laundered drug money. The drug war is as lethal as it is corrupting. And the police and drug criminals are not the only casualties. An innocent 75-year-old African-American minister died of a heart attack struggling with Boston cops who were mistakenly arresting him because an informant had given them the wrong address. A rancher in Ventura County, California, was killed by a police SWAT team serving a search warrant in the mistaken belief that he was growing marijuana. In Los Angeles, a three-year-old girl died of gunshot wounds after her mother took a wrong turn into a street controlled by a drug-dealing gang. They fired on the car because it had invaded their marketplace. The violence comes from the competition for illegal profits among dealers, not from crazed drug users. Professor Milton Friedman has estimated that as many as 10,000 additional homicides a year are plausibly attributed to the drug war. Worse still, the drug war has become a race war in which non-whites are arrested and imprisoned at 4 to 5 times the rate whites are, even though most drug crimes are committed by whites. The Sentencing Research Project reports that one-third of black men are in jail or under penal supervision, largely because of drug arrests. The drug war has established thriving criminal enterprises which recruit teenagers into criminal careers. It was such issues that engaged law-enforcement leaders most of them police chiefs from fifty agencies during a two-day conference at the Hoover Institution in May 1995. Among the speakers was our colleague in this symposium, Mayor Kurt Schmoke, who told the group that he had visited a high school and asked the students if the high dropout rate was due to kids being hooked on drugs. He was told that the kids were dropping out because they were hooked on drug money, not drugs. He also told us that when he went to community meetings he would ask the audience three questions. 1) Have we won the drug war? People laughed. 2) Are we winning the drug war? People shook their heads. 3) If we keep doing what we are doing will we have won the drug war in ten years? The answer was a resounding No. At the end of the conference, the police participants completed an evaluation form. Ninety per cent voted no confidence in the war on drugs. They were unanimous in favoring more treatment and education over more arrests and prisons. They were unanimous in recommending a presidential blue-ribbon commission to evaluate the drug war and to explore alternative methods of drug control. In sum, the tough-minded law-enforcement officials took positions directly contrary to those of Congress and the President. One hopes that politicians will realize that no one can accuse them of being soft on drugs if they vote for changes suggested by many thoughtful people in law enforcement. If the politicians tone down their rhetoric it will permit police leaders to expose the costs of our present drug-control policies. Public opinion will then allow policy changes to decriminalize marijuana and stop the arrest of hundreds of thousands of people every year. The enormous savings can be used for what the public really wants the prevention of violent crime.