Hemp Legalization Essays - Biofuels, Hemp, Herbs,

Hemp Legalization Hemp Legalization As I read over this article, I became more and more furious with the government. Ralph Nadar, the presidential candidate for the green party, talked about his plan to legalize the growth of commercial grade hemp, but the government showed how overbearing it is. One thing that the government said was that if the growth of commercial grade hemp did become legalized, then there would be so man rules and regulations on the growth of it that if would be virtually impossible to grow. The article mentioned that by legalizing the growth of commercial grade hemp, it would raise the economy of the U.S. by bringing in more money by producing stronger rope and more paper than and tree or plant. One fact that the article failed to mention that the growth of commercial grade hemp would produce more oxygen in the air and also make the ground more fertile in off seasons. The article shows that the government is just trying to find ways to keep the economy from booming and the environment from being clean.

Exterminate All the Brutes essays

Exterminate All the Brutes essays In the early 1800s, European nations played a minor role in Africa, controlling only areas along the coast. Areas which provided markets for trade and an opportunity to increase their economy were concentrated upon. Although there was little monetary value, Europe renewed its interest in Africa by the mid-1800s. Colonial claims were established while ignoring the claims of African ethnic groups, kingdoms, and city-states. Although many Africans resisted, many of these attempts failed. In his book Exterminate All the Brutes, Sven Lindqvist explains European imperialism as well as the brutality of the time. Europeans renewed interest in Africa, stemmed partly from a desire to create overseas empires. By controlling these lands, they had access to raw materials needed for their industrial economies. Markets were also opened up for the goods they produced. Sven Lindqvist agrees with this idea by summarizing Benjamin Kidd s Social Evolution, Driven by the inbuilt forces of his own civilization, the Anglo-Saxon goes to the foreign country to develop its natural resourcesand the consequences seem to be inescapable 138-9). The Europeans began to build plantations where they grew peanuts, cocoa, rubber, and palm oil. The discovery of minerals in Africa increased European interest in the continent. The Congo produced copper and tin, and South Africa produced gold and diamonds. Another factor was nationalism. It was often thought that a countrys greatness could be measured by the number of colonies it controlled. Europe had the power to control many territories; this power rested upon military superiority. A European specialty was the art of killing from a distance (46). Although Europe was poorly resourced in the sixteenth century, they produced ocean-going ships with guns capable of spreading death and destruction across huge distances. Three hundred years later, the gods o...

Strategic Management and Sustainability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Management and Sustainability - Essay Example specifically. Political: Apple operates across multiple geographies, which imply that the organization is subject to political influence of multiple countries. When an organization operates in a particular nation, it is bound by the country’s predefined business policies. It has been found that in case of Apple, a majority of product sales had originated from countries outside the U.S. market particularly after the recession of 2008 (Apple, 2013). In order to utilize opportunities outside U.S., Apple has steadily spread its manufacturing operations in countries like, Korea, Czech Republic, Ireland and Cork. Diplomatic political relations of U.S. government with the governments in other countries benefits Apple’s operation in dissimilar regions (Hassan, 2014). Tax regulations are also an important determinant of profitability. For instance, introduction of taxes by the Chinese government against foreign companies had significant impact on profitability of the organization. Similarly, the U.K. government had raised VAT by 20%, which is expected to lower consumer spending on luxury items. So, a reduction in purchase of Apple products is likely (BBC News Business, 2011). Economic: There are mainly three important parameters that impact business prospects of Apple, namely inflation, value of currency and recessionary trends. The operations of Apple are subject to currency and exchange rate risks as foreign exchange market remains volatile after recession. One of the major trends since recession of 2008 was contraction in the demand for expensive electronic gadgets in countries of European Union like, Greece, Portugal and Italy (Berglof, E., 2011). However, the impact of recession on emerging countries has been lesser to an extent. It has been observed that rising rate of GDP and per capita income in the emerging countries like, Brazil, India and China, has been

Unit 4 Individual Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Unit 4 Individual Project - Essay Example This is because the two primary reasons firms face which obstruct their profit margins are reduced significantly. A large part of the Chinese economy is dependent on international trade. This is why the laws in this particular business function are very carefully designed so as to keep a strict eye on the processes but also but let it harm the economy by discouraging anyone. USA is the biggest international trader in the Chinese economy with an export percentage of 21.0% and 7.9% imports share. A total of $1216 billion exports in 2007 o every type of commodity from machinery and equipment to textiles to iron and steel as raw material, China really makes extremely good use of all its resources. Imports are a little lesser than exports. Measuring at $953.9 billion in 2007, the country imports many of the things it exports too. This is due to the reason for high flow of materials required in the domestic production. Whenever material is needed it sometimes is not available therefore it has to e imported to save time. This is a place where China has outdone every other country and left everyone speechless. With an unemployment rate of only 4% in a huge population and having a labour force of 803.3 million workers in 2007 the country has the unmistakable figures of having put a lot of thought and work in the development into this sector. However, labour abuse is a common practice in China. Many big multinationals have even been caught practicing this unethical act. Laws are there, but they are not fully and properly enforced. This is lagging on part on the government who are still oblivious to the importance of their workforce. The workforce in many areas is so poor that even though they can get a meal for themselves daily, they do so by being exploited by small and medium sized businesses who make them work for as low as one dollar an hour and since they are desperate, they

Persuasion and Public Opinion in Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Persuasion and Public Opinion in Society - Essay Example that compete furiously for attention and support of the masses in shaping public opinion, which implies that public communications seek to frame issues in particular ways to influence public considerations, thereby discrediting all other competing considerations. On the other hand, public opinions regarding issues of public concern in public discourses and debates often exert a considerable level of influence on the ultimate considerations that eventually gain popularity thereby shaping public policies. However, public opinions keep shifting from time to time2, especially due to the decaying effect of communications over time, leading to the potential implication that professional public communicators should be cautious of public opinions. This paper will highlight why professional public communicators might need to be wary of public opinions by focusing on a thorough exploration of public opinion, private opinion, cultural perspectives, as well as the role of rhetoric in discourse a nd debate. Public opinion refers to the sum total of attitudes and beliefs held by individuals collectively, and though this term has shifted in meaning over the years, it has remained a focal aspect in political spheres all over the world since the 17th century. Whereas public opinion in any society could be a synthesis of views held by all, or a section of the society in question, it could also be an aggregate of multiple contrasting views from different corners of the society. Historians and political scientists alike have often conceptualized public opinion as the most fundamental tool in the practice of governance and politics claiming that it plays a significant role in shaping government policy3. Public opinion has been equated to national will, which implies that there can only be one opinion on an issue at a time; the political elite are obliged to grant the people what they will in the true spirit of democracy4, since failure to heed the voice of the people might be

Gender Differences in Body Image

Gender Differences in Body Image Body Image and Gender Difference: A Study of Epic Proportions Introduction Body image is defined as â€Å"The subjective picture or mental image of one’s own body†, with a statement as broad as this it is easy to see how there are discrepancies when it comes to how one chooses to view themselves. The constant input of ideal body types from the media and outside sources bombards one’s mind and can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and a longing for change. This study aimed to closely examine body image, gender differences, and confidence to perform physical activity in relation to students attending their first-year program at university. This correlation is important to study because it addresses topics such as body image and the role physical activity plays in the lives of individuals which can be applied to everyday life. Predicting that females will have a stronger relationship with negative body image than males is a valid expectation when it is formed on the basis that women have a biological predisposition to higher body fat percentages, along with societies idealized standard of beauty which increasingly insists on women being thin (Cash, Morrow, Hrabosky & Perry, 2004). The study Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Health-Related Behaviors Among Male and Female First-Year College Students (Lowery et al., 2005) supports this prediction. Men displayed more positive body image than women, which may be influenced by societal expectations for women being more extreme than those for men. These findings are consistent with other studies (Silberstein, Striegel-Moore, Timko, & Rodin, 1988) where despite the majority of both male and female participants selecting an ideal body that differed from their perceived figures, twice as many females had chosen an ideal figure that was two or more figures apart from thei r perceived figure.   Compared to men, women reported more body surveillance, greater body shame, a greater discrepancy between their ideal and real body figures, and more dissatisfaction with their weight and physical appearance (Lowery et al., 2005). Evidence in studies also suggests that there is a positive relationship between physical activity and body image (Alfermann & Stoll, 2000) (Campbell & Hausenblas, 2009). A six-month exercise program composed of 24 males and 24 females, compared to a control group, produced results that showed that the exercise group improved in physical self-concept significantly in comparison to the control group. Further analysis determined that the only variable that differed considerably between males and females was perceived physical fitness (Alfermann & Stoll, 2000). All other dependent variables were similar between participants of both sexes at the beginning of the study. Therefore, while both males and females increased in positive body image consistently with each other throughout the study, the difference in body image between men and women also remained consistent throughout the study. Another similar study (Sà ¡nchez-Miguel, Leo, Amado, Pulido, & Sà ¡nchez-Oliva, 2017) showed that not only did females have a more negative body image than males, regardless of the effects of physical activity, but that intrinsic motivation towards exercise was greater in males while amotivation was more prominent in females. Research suggests that this may be explained due to women’s tendency to associate body dissatisfaction with the concept of self-esteem (Furnham, Badmin & Sneade, 2002), which could potentially discourage women from exercising, while male self-esteem seemed to have no correlation with body dissatisfaction, thus had no effect on motivation to exercise. Additional research can be used to associate poor self-esteem adversely influencing women’s lower levels of motivation to exercise with the consensus that females have a more negative body image.   A relevant study showed patterns that indicated that those with a higher positive body image were more likely to engage in physical activity in comparison to those with a predominantly negative body image (Kruger, Lee, Ainsworth & Marcera, 2008). Dr. Kruger’s study, Body Size Satisfaction, and Physical Activity Levels Among Men and Women, tested the correlation between body image and physical exercise. The results of this study found that 55.8% of men and 53.3% of women with positive body image exercised regularly. Regardless of participants actual weight, those who were satisfied with their body had a higher probability of engaging in physical activity than those less satisfied. The main questions this study is looking to answer are; how satisfied are students with their bodies, are confidence to manage and perform physical activity, body mass index (BMI) or actual physical activity levels related to body-image satisfaction in this population and lastly, do men have more positive body-image satisfaction than women. It is also predicted that females will have lower body satisfaction and overall body image scores than males based off prior results from other similar studies. Methods Participants The sample for this study consisted of 112 first year students, with 73 females and 39 males. Ranging in ages from 18-24, the average age for females was 18.5 and the average age for males was 18.7, with an overall average age of 18.6 years. Measures The approach used for this study was a one-time qualitative online questionnaire filled out by the first year students enrolled in the course. The questionnaire assessed the psychological variables by using a modified version of the self-efficacy measures (Shields & Brawley, 2007) to look at confidence to manage and perform physical activity. It also uses The Adult Body Satisfaction Questionnaire based on the body-cathexis scale (Secord & Jourard, 1953) to measure body image, and The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin, 2011) to measure physical activity. Finally, it calculates BMI (measured by weight in kg/height in meters squared) and individual demographics such as age and sex. The results were then combined into a spreadsheet that compiled all of the given information (sex, age, height, weight, level of physical activity, years in sport, confidence levels and individual physical appearance satisfaction). This method of data collection is seen as an accessible way of composing a large set of data quickly and easily. Procedures The study conducted was cross-sectional involving first-year students completing a one-time, anonymous, online questionnaire specific to body image, confidence, physical activity, body mass index and demographics such as age and gender. The participants were asked to rank their satisfaction on a scale of 1-7 relating to specific questions. Some of the questions included; In the past 4 weeks how satisfied have you been with your overall level of physical fitness? In the past 4 weeks, how satisfied have you been with your physical ability to do what you want or need to do? In the past 4 weeks, how satisfied have you been with your overall physical appearance? The dependent variable was the students completing the online questionnaire. The independent variable was the questionnaire that was created for the study, this is because the questions did not change at any point, therefore, staying consistent throughout the study no matter whether the students completed the questionnaire or not.    Results Table 1 shows the total number of students enrolled in first-yearthat completed the survey. The table has been separated by gender as well as combined to give an overall view. Demographics such as age, height, weight, and body mass index have also been included to give background information as to who is representing the population. In general, there is an observable difference in the number of females versus males that participated in the study as can be seen in Table 1. Table 1: General Population Information Table 2 represents the male, female and overall average involvement in sport and physical activity, as well as reported confidence levels and body satisfaction. On average with regard to the population, females had a slightly lower body satisfaction score when compared to males, as well as a significantly lower reported confidence than the males. Overall females scored lower than males in each category. This data shows that students had an overall body satisfaction of 64.29%, with males averaging 73.29% and females averaging 59.57%. This shows that in the population males have a 13.72% higher body satisfaction than females and an overall more positive body image. Table 2: Physical Activity and Body Image Scores Both male and female students were represented as different populations in this study, using a two-sample equal variance T-test with a two-tail distribution the average body satisfaction of male and female students at Acadia University was calculated. The test had an alpha value of 0.05 (probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when the hypothesis is true) and a p-value of 0.0002 (the result of the T-test). The null hypothesis (Ho) should be rejected because the p-value is less than the alpha value, also represented as 0.0002 ≠¤ 0.05. The null hypothesis is that neither male or female students will have any difference in body satisfaction when compared to each other. The Pearsons correlation (represented by r) was used to calculate the strength of a relationship between two variables. Average body satisfaction and total physical activity for the entire population presented a moderate, positive, linear relationship (r= 0.22). For males, the relationship is weak, negative, linear (r= -0.1) and with females, the relationship is moderate, positive, linear (r= 0.38). Average body satisfaction and BMI overall shows a moderate, negative, linear correlation (r= -0.19), males presented a moderate, positive, linear correlation (r= 0.24) and females presented a strong, negative, linear correlation (r= -0.39). Average body image satisfaction and confidence to manage PA (physical activity) presented an overall strong, positive, linear correlation (r=0.48), males presented a weak, positive, linear correlation (r= 0.13) and females presented a strong, positive, linear correlation (r= 0.48). The correlation between body image satisfaction and confidence to perform PA (physical activity) presented an overall moderate, positive, linear correlation (r=0.3) men presented a weak, negative, linear correlation (r= -0.11) and females presented a strong, positive, linear correlation (r= 0.32). In addition, average body satisfaction and total MVPA (moderate to vigorous physical activity) presented a moderate, positive linear relationship (r= 0.38). When the population was split into male and female it showed that males have a weak, negative, linear relationship (r= 0.09) and females have a strong, positive, linear relationship (r= 0.54). Overall average body satisfaction and confidence presented a strong, positive, linear relationship (r= 0.44) when the population was split into male and female, however, the results change slightly. Males presented a weak, positive, linear relationship (r= 0.045) and females present a strong, positive, linear relationship (r= 0.46). These results indicate that the relationship between average body satisfaction and reported confidence is a much stronger correlation for females than males. Average confidence to manage PA (physical activity) and years in sport is a moderate, positive, linear relationship (r=0.37). The correlation between confidence to perform PA (physical activity) and years in sport have a moderate, positive, linear relationship (r= 0.22), with very little difference when the population was split into male and female. The correlation scale is based on r≠¤ 0.2 representing a weak correlation, 0.2 ≠¤ r >0.4 representing a moderate correlation and r >0.4 being a strong correlation. As shown in Graph 1 females tend to decrease in body satisfaction as BMI increases. Graph 1 As shown in Graph 2 males tend to increase in body satisfaction as BMI increases. Graph 2 Discussion The overall findings showed that first-year students have an overall body satisfaction of 64.29%, where males tend to score 73.29% in contrast to females who average 59.57%. This shows that in the population males have a 13.72% higher body satisfaction than females and an overall more positive body image. This supports the original hypothesis that females will have a lower body satisfaction and overall body image scores than males. When looking at the relationship between average body satisfaction and total physical activity there was a moderate positive relationship for the overall population. Looking at the men, the relationship was weak and negative and for the females, it was similar to the overall population with a moderate positive relationship. This means that for women there is a connection between how they feel about their bodies and the amount of physical activity they do in a week, the opposite can be said for men. Looking at the correlation between body satisfaction and body mass index shows that on average there is a moderate negative relationship. Meaning that the lower the BMI the higher the body satisfaction, this is especially true for females. Body image satisfaction and confidence to manage physical activity had an overall strong relationship but when the population was split up into men and women it showed that the correlation was much stronger for females than it was for males. Meaning that for women the more comfortable they are in their bodies the more comfortable they are managing physical activity. Similar to the last findings when looking at body image and confidence to perform instead of managing physical activity females had a much stronger correlation between the two variables than men did. As predicted, this study found that women tend to have more negative body image than men. These findings are consistent with several studies that also concluded that males displayed higher body satisfaction than females (Lowery et al., 2005; Alfermann & Stoll, 2000; Kruger et al., 2008). The results of this study also suggest that societal expectations for women to be thin could be a factor in why females exhibit negative body image more than men. The findings of this study show that when BMI increases, average body satisfaction decreases in females, but increases in males or is unaffected by BMI. This directly corresponds with the findings of (Lowery et al., 2005) who found the same correlations. Additionally, our results which found a lower average confidence to perform in females (72.60) than in males (86.15) coincide with those of (Alfermann & Stoll, 2000) which stated that when there were no sex differences in dependent variables, they found a significant difference in perceived physical fitness where in females were much lower than males. Another similarity between our study and the one of (Alfermann & Stoll, 2000) is that of increased body satisfaction in those who are more physically active regardless of gender. Alfermann explains, â€Å"†¦exercise intervention conditions had improved body image compared to control conditions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Alfermann & Stoll, 2000) which can be translated in to our study, which takes place in day-to-day life, by concluding that those who exercise more regularly would similarly resemble that of those partaking in the exercise and those who exercise less would closer resemble the control group. Due to the fact that these findings are similar to the results from other studies, it is not hard to believe these results. With that, these findings can be applied to real-world scenarios focusing on body image in general for both men and women or looking more closely at the effects (positive and negative) physical activity has on women. Due to the fact that this study was conducted on first-year students ranging from ages 18-24, it would be easy to apply these principles to others of the same age range or close to it. It would also be possible to use these findings to try and proactively educate girls about these findings at a young age. This could potentially help them learn to be more satisfied with their bodies throughout their lives, which would hopefully pass on to future generations. It is important to note that even though this study follows the trend of other similar studies there are always discrepancies, and due to the fact that this data is based solely on a one-time survey there is definitely room for error. Meaning that there is no way to draw a final conclusion, simply use this information as an additional source. A next step to build off of this study could be to add 2nd, 3rd and 4th-year students, which would expand the population giving a broader understanding of the results.   References Alfermann, D., & Stoll, O. (2000). Effects of physical exercise on self-concept and well-being.   Ã‚  Ã‚   International Journal of Sport Psychology, 31(1), 47-65 Campbell, A., & Hausenblas, H. A. (2009). Effects of Exercise Interventions on Body Image. Journal of Health Psychology, 14(6), 780-793. doi:10.1177/1359105309338977   Cash, T. F., Morrow, J. A., Hrabosky, J. I., & Perry, A. A. (2004). How Has Body Image Changed? A Cross-Sectional Investigation of College Women and Men From 1983 to    2001. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(6), 10811089.doi:10.1037/0022-006x.72.6.1081 Furnham, A., Badmin, N., & Sneade, I. (2002). Body Image Dissatisfaction: Gender Differences  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   in Eating Attitudes, Self-Esteem, and Reasons for Exercise. The Journal of Psychology,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   136(6), 581-596. doi:10.1080/00223980209604820   Kirkcaldy, B. D., Shephard, R. J., & Siefen, R. G. (2002). The relationship between physical   activity and self-image and problem behaviour among adolescents. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 37(11), 544-550. doi:10.1007/s00127-002-0554-7 Kruger, J., Lee, C., Ainsworth, B. E., & Macera, C. A. (2008). Body Size Satisfaction and Physical Activity Levels Among Men and Women. Obesity, 16(8), 1976-1979. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.311 Lowery, S. E., Kurpius, S. E., Befort, C., Blanks, E. H., Sollenberger, S., Nicpon, M. F., & Huser, L. (2005). Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Health-Related Behaviors Among Male and Female First Year College Students. Journal of College Student Development, 46(6), 612 623. doi:10.1353/csd.2005.0062   Sà ¡nchez-Miguel, P. A., Leo, F. M., Amado, D., Pulido, J. J., & Sà ¡nchez-Oliva, D. (2017). Relationships Between Physical Activity Levels, Self-Identity, Body Dissatisfaction and Motivation Among Spanish High School Students. Journal of Human Kinetics, 59(1).    doi:10.1515/hukin-2017-0145   Silberstein, L. R., Striegel-Moore, R. H., Timko, C., & Rodin, J. (1988). Behavioral and psychological implications of body dissatisfaction: Do men and women differ? Sex Roles, 19(3-4), 219-232. doi:10.1007/bf00290156

The Three Gorges Dam Essay -- China Gorges Dam Essays

The Three Gorges Dam The Three Gorges Dam is an unfinished project which will be the largest dam ever constructed on the planet Earth. It is situated in China on the third largest river in the world – the Yangtze. The dam has been debated over since the 1919 and is still a hot topic of debate because of its many pros and cons. In 1994 construction began on the dam, and it is expected to be finished by the year 2009. The massive dimensions of the dam are mind boggling and its functions – if the dam actually works – are truly remarkable; however, with such a large structure also comes difficulties, sacrifices, and cynics. The goal of this essay is to lend an understanding of the dam itself, the prospective benefits of the dam, and the potential drawbacks; this will provide the reader with a solid knowledge base to ascertain whether the dam will be advantageous or detrimental to the country of China. The debates started in 1919 when a man named Sun Yatsen proposed the idea of a dam on the Yangtze for power generation.[1] Since then the debates over whether or not to build the dam have not stopped. Since the early nineties when the project was finally approved the mission has seemed to be very scandalous. â€Å"It was believed that contractors have won bids through bribery and then skimped on equipment and materials to siphon off construction costs.†[2] Because of these corrupt cost cuts the parts of the dam have been poorly built. â€Å"The Chinese media recently reported several incidents in which corruption and poor construction have led to disasters at major building sites. Notable among the reports was the collapse of a steel bridge in the city of Chongqing in January 1999 that killed 40 people.†... ...tml [13] Ibid. www.pbs.org/itvs/greatwall/yangtze.html [14] Adams, Patricia, Haggart, Kelly. Whose Behind China’s Three Gorges Dam, http://www.nextcity.com/probeinternational/ThreeGorges/who.html [15] Ibid. www.pbs.org/itvs/greatwall/yangtze.html [16] Schmidt, Jeremy. China’s coming Flood. International wildlife v26 p34-43. S/O ’96 http://O-vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.sculib.scu.edu/hww/results/results_si... [17] Ibid. www.pbs.org/itvs/greatwall/yangtze.html [18] Ibid. www.pbs.org/itvs/greatwall/yangtze.html [19] Ibid. www.pbs.org/itvs/greatwall/yangtze.html [20] Ibid www.pbs.org/itvs/greatwall/yangtze.html [21] Ibid www.pbs.org/itvs/greatwall/yangtze.html [22] Ibid www.chinaonline.com/refer/ministry_profiles/threegorgesdam.asp [23] Ibid www.pbs.org/itvs/greatwall/yangtze.html [24] Ibid www.pbs.org/itvs/greatwall/yangtze.html