Smoking Ban

The Smoking Ban Brandon Samuel January 24, 2013 The Smoking Ban Smoking is a popular pass time. At the same time, it also threatens the lives of millions of people, smoker and non-smokers alike. Smoking kills more people each year than any other disease. Smoking kills 2 out 10 people each year in developed countries. (PAHO, 2007) Secondhand smoke puts non-smokers at similar risk to that of smokers. Retrospectively non-smokers feel their rights are being violated. Smokers want to have a choice to smoke where they want.Smokers claim smoking is a legal act so why ban it? Forty Six million smokers make their own health decisions to smoke. However, the Environmental Protection agency drafted a report, in May of 1992, stating that second hand smoke is a carcinogen. Every state in America should address this problem on a national level and local level. Smoking should be banned from all public facilities. Several states have passed smoking laws making it illegal to smoke in any public facili ty. In California, it's illegal to smoke in a car with children under the age of 18 aboard.Other states such as Maine, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and Arkansas have similar car smoking laws- with different ages that apply. Many variations of policies have been set locally to support a nationwide movement to have smoke free laws in every state. Among these states Michigan is also among these states jumping on board for smoke free environments. The clean air act was established to protect citizens against harmful effects of smoking or second hand smoke. There are currently 13 states that have no statewide ban and simply rely on the clean air act to restrict smoking.These laws of the clean air act are very broad and may restrict per county but it is up to the state to apply specifics to their area. As Smoking has been a habit of choice for many Americans, laws and policies are set in place to protect those who wish not to be affected by second hand smoke. Michigan has been among many state s adapting to the change. Jennifer Granholm signed a bill on December 18, 2009 which was put into place on May 1, 2010 where all public areas including workplaces, restaurants, and bars ill be smoke free. The policy also states, unlike California and other states that you may not smoke on any patio of these establishments as well. Opinions of others feel that this is quite harsh as people feel they should be able to smoke outside on a patio at the establishment. The bill defines and explains all appropriate measures which must be taken in order to uphold the law. The sections describe actions for company owners to prohibit smoking in these areas and to also post signs around the establishment. (Mulder, 2010)There are two exceptions to the smoking ban which includes cigar bars and tobacco specialty stores. Both of these businesses must file an affidavit with the department and await approval. The bill is very specific about what is allowed and what not allowed for these establishment s is. For example, you may not smoke cigarettes in the cigar bar, only cigars. The second exception to the policy is casinos. If the casino was established before the bill was called into action then patrons may smoke in the facility. However, casinos that are established after May, 1, 2010 must be smoke free.Penalties of this bill are determined to be no more than 100 for the first offense and no more than 500 for the second offense. Food establishments that do not permit smoking as according to the law may not discriminate against employees who do smoke. (Mulder, 2010) Below are a list of state and local laws that pertain to the United States and the participation of this policy. †¢ Across the United States, 21,884 municipalities are covered by a 100% smoke free provision in non-hospitality workplaces, and/or restaurants, and/or bars, by either a state, commonwealth, territorial, or local law, representing 79. % of the US population. †¢ 39 states and the District of Colu mbia have local laws in effect that requires non-hospitality workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars to be 100% smoke free. There are 2,140 states, commonwealths, territories, cities, and counties with a law that restricts smoking in one or more outdoor areas, including 1,056 that restrict smoking near entrances, windows, and ventilation systems of enclosed places; 1,497 that restrict smoking in public outdoor places such as parks and beaches; 253 that prohibit smoking in all outdoor stadiums and other sports and entertainment enues, and 361 that restrict smoking in some areas within outdoor stadiums and other sports and entertainment venues. (ANRF, 2012) †¢ Smoking is a habit that many people engage in throughout America. It can also be thought of as a social activity, and many people who do not smoke normally will smoke especially when they go to bars, restaurants, and casinos. At the same time, smoking is a great health risk, which endangers not only the user, but also eve ryone who is in the same area as the user.In this context, this paper will examine the pros and cons of banning smoking in bars and restaurants and will provide an ethical solution to this debatable issue. Looking at ethical solutions to this problem depends on how you view the issue at hand. Quit smoking in enclosed spaces or continue the way we have always done things. What about giving people the choice not to be engulfed by SHS? Does the smoker’s right to smoke trump the right to not smoke or be affected by SHS? If no, then set rules and regulations. Those who don’t follow will have consequences.Clarks article states that an amazing 88% of Americans feel that smoking is annoying. Too much surprise, most smokers support a smoking ban as well. We could cater to the 88% and develop solutions to these problems such as; make it illegal to smoke in any public facility. Another solution would be to install advanced air filtering systems to enable smokers to continue to sm oke indoors as long – as the filtering systems prove to be efficient. This may be the key to help the smokers, less likely to feel isolated and attacked.Another possible solution would be to spend money on outdoor areas (patios) where customers may eat or socialize outside together. This would actually draw non-smokers and smokers together in an environment where they could mingle together without feeling like they are being harmed physically or emotionally. If your business was located in a cold area, the owners could also install outdoors heaters to allow year round patios. To clarify misconceptions even further, the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, written by Michael L.Marlow, reports that the best evidence reported that smoking bans put into place does not pose an economical threat to the any business. (Marlow, 2009) In addition to public smoking remedies, there should be a smoking ban in any vehicle that transports a child under the age of 18 years old. By ma king the age 18, there is no question of rights that are infringed. You have to be 18 to buy and smoke cigarettes, so lets keep it consistent and simple. Given scientific information on the effects of smoking a non-objectivist would agree that sometimes simplicity is the key. Waller, 2008, p. 175) As stated previously smoking is a greater cause of death and disability than any single disease, says the World Health Organization. According to their figures, it is responsible for approximately 3. 5 million deaths worldwide every year – or about 7% of all deaths. (BBC News: Smoking) Moreover, the World Health Organization says that by 2020 17. 7 percent of all deaths in developed countries will be the result of smoking (BBC News: Smoking). This means that out of every 10 people who die roughly two people die because of smoking.The WHO is currently working on a global level to achieve 100 % smoke free environment in any enclosed space. This is to include airlines, schools, workpla ce, health facilities, bars, restaurants, and all public facilities. This global organization recognizes the dangers that come from smoking and also would like to help educate our youth on the effects of smoking. This type of action would focus on preventative measures to lower the percentages of smokers in the years to come. WHO, 1999) There was also a recent study done by the United States Societies actuary and it reported that a combination of direct and indirect medical costs estimated about 10 billion dollars in health care costs associated with smoking. To sup port this estimate, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported that a clean air act would save US employers 15 billion dollars annually and the workforce productivity would raise about 3. 5 %. (PAHO, 2007) To begin, the argument for allowing smoking in bars and restaurants is that many people go to bars and restaurants to relax and socialize.Historically, smoking has been a part of these activities, espec ially drinking and socializing in bars, pubs and nightclubs. Charles Clark writes in his article about the desperate attempts to cut down smoking in public facilities. Politicians, administrators, and supervisors are looking for policies that they can move forward with- in order to â€Å"crackdown on smoking†. Clark notes that since the smoking ban issue has been pushed so heavily and been in the forefront of everyone’s minds, smokers have been feeling publicly humiliated, vilified, and ridiculed. Clark, 1992) The ban of smoking could, in this context, jeopardize businesses by forcing businesses to ban activities in which their customers engage. This economic factor is potentially problematic, since it is often a good thing for businesses to further profits by catering to the wishes and desires of the customer. Secondly, bars are places where everyone knows that people smoke and so they enter into this environment of their own free will. Thus, smoking in this case is n ot a malicious activity, since everyone freely chooses to visit a place that allows smoking.Thirdly, it is potentially problematic to dissuade what is often considered a social activity in a social environment. In the context of the pros to banning smoking in bars and restaurant, these cons to banning smoking in a bars and restaurants hold up different viewpoints. First of all, smoking is a serious health risk both to all customers and the people who serve them. Studies have also proven that the smoking bans have not affected the businesses that are on board. In fact, it has increased business and people are generally supporting the change. PAHO, 2007) This also brings up another issue of whether or not to ban smoking in every workplace establishment and vehicles with children as well. Overall, according to the World Health Organization, smoking kills and disables more people worldwide than any other disease. This means that smoking, which is a chosen habit, kills more people than s erious worldwide disease such as AIDS. Tynan’s article reports that the American Nonsmokers ‘ Rights Foundation estimated 33% of US residents live in areas where smoking bans have already been set in place. Tynan, Babb,  , 2008,  May). When looking at the smoking ban we can include the smoking ban to incorporate all public facilities, transportation (airplanes, trains, buses), and also vehicles with children aboard. Right now children are suffering from second hand smoke. In many states it is still legal to smoke in your car with children. But what isn’t exploited is that the World Health Organization reports that 700 million children are exposed to second hand smoke. SHS exposure causes upper respiratory infections and increases the chance of asthma. PAHO, 2007) Shouldn’t America fight for protecting adult non-smokers, but also the children too? In regards to SHS in the workplace The Employee Relations Law Journal (2006) Tomkowicz and Lessack make cla ims that workers who smoke, take longer and more frequent breaks. In addition, to longer breaks there is a rise in the cost of health care, which is more expensive for everyone because of smoking and its many effects. The World Health organization supports this claim as well, adding that economically the businesses are at higher risk for fire, more expensive cleaning fees, and higher insurance premiums. PAHO, 2007) Non-smokers feel the smoking ban has a positive impact on the health of everyone, so let’s continue the progression and move forward with a nationwide ban. These reasons alone should show that public establishments and society should support a clean air act. A habit, which kills and injures so many people worldwide and in the US, is hard to embrace. In a larger respect, one could argue that, considering these facts, it is the duty of our United States government to protect people when they go to public places from the awful effects of smoking.The biggest reason, mo reover, that smoking should be banned from restaurants, bars, public places, and transportation is that we need to find a way to protect the rights of individuals asking for a choice to stay healthy. Why should smokers infringe their choice on others? It would be safe to say that the opposing views of the smoking bans derive from a universal ethical egoism viewpoint where as Bruce Waller’s text Consider Ethics (2008) describes ethical egoism as everybody does what benefits them, not considering others views or values. Waller, 2008, p. 87) Although ethical egoism deserves consideration society should also consider utilitarianism as another ethical viewpoint. Although these negative myths about the smoking ban can be refuted, and smokers understand consequences of smoking tot heir own health, smokers have to also calculate the consequences to non-smokers as well. Assuming the United States Government fights these battles locally, nationally, and statewide, many of the Americans will continue to decline in health and continue to die each year from tobacco and SHS.If society looks at second hand smoke in an ethical manner they could see that SHS is detrimental to ones health and we have a moral obligation to our fellow humans to not impose serious health risks upon others. Another aspect to point out is that most of America does not smoke. There are more non smoker s that there are smokers. Also smokers generally want to quit but still smoke because of nicotine addition. A lot of smokers support a clean air act. There are several myths that are brought about from the tobacco industry.Cleary looking at the difference between right and wrong is this case is key. People should have the right NOT to smoke, even passively. Simply, have rules and regulations on where smokers can and cannot smoke. Based on scientific knowledge, many Americans and organizations that support the smoking ban has begun to campaign against second hand smoke. If the smoking ban does not progress, we may see backlash of an angry population. We could also see US studies providing that second hand smoke increases the number of people with lung cancer and heart disease.People who are addicted to smoking should be treated with compassion in order to help their habit. However, they should not be permitted to harm others by chemical means. If America cannot agree to enforce public smoking laws, then we will continue to see declines in smoker’s health including cancer and fatal deaths resulting from a carcinogenic agent, such as cigarette smoke. In regards to smoking in the workforce, employees who are continually and routinely exposed to a lot of second-hand smoke may end up walking away from their jobs, due to the health risks.In this respect, non-smokers can be subjected to the same ailments and risks that smokers are subject to. This fact in itself makes it plainly evident that smokers endanger others by smoking, and that in view of public health, the governmen t must pass laws which protect its citizens from health hazards, especially ones which kill more people so violently. Conclusion To conclude, the arguments for allowing smoking in bars and restaurants rest on the assumptions of the past, that smoking is a social activity and should be allowed in public places.But since that time in the early 20th century when smoking was much more prevalent among adults, medicine has discovered absolutely that smoking greatly jeopardizes the life and quality of life of millions of people, smokers and non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke alike. M. Tynan says that the 2006 Surgeons General’s Report concluded that SHS causes premature death and disease in young children and nonsmoking adults. This means that the government must enact changes in the law to reflect this scientific knowledge.Overall, however, when weighing both the pros and cons, it becomes very evident that smoking is too harmful to people’s health and must be publicly c ensured as much as possible. Given all these factors of smoking the US government should provide a universal ban for smoking in public facilities. With the exception of those establishments who provide an area, which is sealed off, and the air current is ventilated away from the general public. Only then would a bar or restaurant owner be able to allow smoking in this space.Millions of Americans chooses not to smoke. However, they are not given the chance to get away from second hand smoke. In most states it is still legal to smoke in restaurants, bars, casinos, and public facilities. Why is the law taking their right away to be healthy, but yet not taking the right away from smokers all the while letting them blow smoke in their way? What is more important the right to smoke or your right to good health? References ANRF. (2012, January 02). Overview list – how many smoke free laws?.Retrieved from http://www. no-smoke. org/pdf/mediaordlist. pdf Clark, Charles. (1992). Are ban s on tobacco use unfair to smokers? Crackdown on smoking, 2(45), Retrieved from http://library. cqpress. com. ezproxy. falcon. edu/cqresearcher/document. php? id=cqresrre1992120400=hitlist=0 doi: cqresrre1992120400 Marlow, Michael L. (Summer 2009). Epidemiologic and economic research, and the question of smoking bans. (Essay). Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons  14. 2  :  58(3). Health Reference Center Academic.Gale. Baker College. 23 Oct. 2009   . Gale Document Number:A201551415 Mulder, M. (2010, February 04). Michigan smoking ban exemptions and enforcement. Retrieved from http://www. michiganpolicy. com/index. php? option=com_content=article=693:michigan-smoking-ban-exemptions-and-enforcement=43:health-care-policy-briefs=159 Pan American Health Organization, PAHO (2007, May 23). Smoke free inside. Retrieved from http://www. paho. org/english/ad/sde/ra/Engbrochure. pdf Slovak, Lila E. (Fall 2007).Smoke screens: why state laws making it a crime to smoke in cars cont aining children are a bad idea. Family Law Quarterly  41. 3  :  601(21). Health Reference Center Academic. Gale. Baker College. 23 Oct. 2009   . Gale Document Number:A175284505 Tomkowicz, Sandra M. ,  and  Susan K. Lessack. (Winter 2006). Where there's smoke: employer policies on smoking. Employee Relations Law Journal  32. 3:  48(18). Health Reference Center Academic. Gale. Baker College. 23 Oct. 2009 Gale Document Number:A156054991. Tynan,  M. ,  Babb,  S. ,  &  MacNeil,  A.. (2008,  May).State Smoking Restrictions for Private-Sector Worksites, Restaurants, and Bars – United States, 2004 and 2007. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,  57(20),  549-552. Retrieved October 23, 2009, from ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. (Document ID:  1500262111). Waller, N. B. (2008). Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings, and Contemporary Issues (2nd ed. ). Pearson Education, Inc. World Health Organization, WHO, (1999, August 6). Action plan on tobacco or health. Retrieved from http://www. wpro. who. int/NR/rdonlyres/1167BB28-E2D2-4C61-A5CB-234BD303C3BC/0/RC5011. pdf

State of the Philippine Agrarian Reform Program

STATE OF THE PHILIPPINE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM Final examination in Economics 1 Room 642 5:31-6:31 Submitted by: Cresanelle Polo Submitted to  : Mr. Ceferino Manigos INTRODUCTION â€Å"Tuwid na Daan†Ã‚  or the Straight Path is a phrase repeatedly mentioned by President Benigno S. Aquino III to pertain to his governance direction for the country. Essential to this concept of  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Tuwid na Daan†Ã‚  is the battle cry  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap.   The administration believes that corruption is the root cause of the country’s woes, and eliminating corruption will necessarily lead to renewed investor confidence, eventual growth and development, poverty reduction, and attainment of peace. The straight path, however, does not only pertain to the President’s anti-corruption campaign. It also encompasses a way of doing things right, where the process is participatory; the programs are holistic; growth is sustained; the peace policy is com prehensive; and development is sustainable. Through the living examples of our leaders, led by the President, this re-awakened sense of right and wrong continues to be translated to economic value. Before going to the main purpose of this report which is to inform the reader on the present state of the Philippine Agrarian Reform Program for the year 2011, let’s tackle first the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Comprehensive Agrarian Reform- Birth, Struggle & Future   The Philippine comprehensive agrarian reform program (CARP) was envisioned shortly after the Filipino liberation from martial rule in 1986. It was designed to free the majority of the Filipino poor from the bondage of the soil by making them owners of the land they till. It also aims to grant economic-size land to the landless. Comprehensive enough, it covers farmers’ education, skills training and strong farmers' organization, application of improved technology, and support by the government. The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides in Article 14, Sec. 4. that: The State shall, by law, undertake an agrarian reform program founded on the right of farmers and regular farm workers, who are landless, to own directly or collectively the lands they till or, in the case of other farm workers, to receive a just share of the fruits thereof. To this end, the State shall encourage and undertake the just distribution of all agricultural lands, subject to such priorities and reasonable retention limits as the congress may prescribe, taking into account ecological, developmental, or equity considerations, and subject to the payment of just compensation. In determining retention limits the State, shall respect the right of small landowners, The State shall further provide incentives for voluntary land-sharing. The overriding idea under the Philippine constitution is the preservation of the concept of an â€Å"economic family-size farm† as embodied in the past land reform laws. ( the law prescribes 3 hectares to be a family size farm enough to sustain a family) It is also important to note that ownership by beneficiaries can be individually or collectively. Even in collective ownership however, the constitutional mandate is to preserve the control of the tiller over the land a farmer tills. This is so because, agrarian reform is essentially a land-to-the-tiller program; it is based on the right of farmers and regular farm workers to own the lands they till. (pp. 1200-1201 The 1987Constitution of the Philippines, A Commentary; 2003 Edition by Rev. Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S. J. ) In the pursuit of the above constitutional provision, the COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW (CARL), R. A. 657 was signed into law by President Corazon Aquino on June 9, 1988. The soul of CARL, R. A. 6657 is embodied in Section 2 which is reproduced below. SECTION 2. Declaration of Principles and Policies. – It is the policy of the State to pursue a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The welfare of the landless farmers and farm workers will receive the highest consideration to promote social justice and to move the nation towards sound rural devel opment and industrialization, and the establishment of owner cultivatorship of economic-sized farms as the basis of Philippine agriculture. To this end, a more equitable distribution and ownership of land, with due regard to the rights of landowners to just compensation and to the ecological needs of the nation, shall be undertaken to provide farmers and farm workers with the opportunity to enhance their dignity and improve the quality of their lives through greater productivity of agricultural lands. The agrarian reform program is founded on the right of farmers and regular farm workers, who are landless, to own directly or collectively the lands they till or, in the case of other farm workers, to receive a share of the fruits thereof. To this end, the State shall encourage the just distribution of all agricultural lands, subject to the priorities and retention limits set forth in this Act, having taken into account ecological, developmental, and equity considerations, and subject to the payment of just compensation. The State shall respect the right of small landowners and shall provide incentives for voluntary land-sharing. The State shall recognize the right of farmers, farm workers and landowners, as well as cooperatives and other independent farmers' organization, to participate in the planning, organization, and management of the program, and shall provide support to agriculture through appropriate technology and research, and adequate financial, production, marketing and other support services. The State shall apply the principles of agrarian reform or stewardship, whenever applicable, in accordance with law, in the disposition or tilization of other natural resources, including lands of the public domain, under lease or concession, suitable to agriculture, subject to prior rights, homestead rights of small settlers and the rights of indigenous communities to their ancestral lands. The State may resettle landless farmers and farm workers in its own agricultural estates, which shall be distributed to them in the manner provided by law. By means of appropriate incentives, the State shall encourage th e formation and maintenance of economic-sized family farms to be constituted by individual beneficiaries and small landowners. The State shall protect the rights of subsistence fishermen, especially of local communities, to the preferential use of communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore. It shall provide support to such fishermen through appropriate technology and research, adequate financial, production and marketing assistance and other services, The State shall also protect, develop and conserve such resources. The protection shall extend to offshore fishing grounds of subsistence fishermen against foreign intrusion. Fishworkers shall receive a just share from their labor in the utilization of marine and fishing resources. The State shall be guided by the principles that land has a social function and land ownership has a social responsibility. Owners of agricultural land have the obligation to cultivate directly or through labor administration the lands they own and thereby make the land productive. The State shall provide incentives to landowners to invest the proceeds of the agrarian reform program to promote industrialization, employment and privatization of public sector enterprises. Financial instruments used as payment for lands shall contain features that shall enhance negotiability and acceptability in the marketplace. The State may lease undeveloped lands of the public domain to qualified entities for the development of capital-intensive farms, traditional and pioneering crops especially those for exports subject to the prior rights of the beneficiaries under this Act. The intent of the Philippine Constitution and R. A. 6657 is crystal clear: the promotion of social justice through an equitable distribution of land by making it easier for the disadvantaged to be able to acquire land. Agrarian reform is meant to reduce inequalities as social justice demands. And in its pursuit, land is to be taken for redistribution to the landless. In the process of taking, the law provides for just compensation. As suggested by Rev. Father Joaquin Bernas. S. J. ,just compensation should depend on the farmers’ ability to pay and not on the standard fair market value or it will not be in accord with the thrust of the law. Fr. Bernas cited land reform in Japan where just compensation was dictated by law and amounted to less than the market value In Japan, according to him, land reform embodied recognition of the reality that expropriation for land reform was not eminent domain pure and simple, but also exercise of police power which necessarily entails loss on the part of those regulated. An analogous situation he said, is the police power of the state to impose price control on essential commodities for the benefit of the public but at the expense of the sellers. ( pp. 1203- 1205, Bernas) The COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM (CARP) under CARL has a 10-year implementation period. It is expiring this year, 2008, after a second extension. The report of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) shows that from July, 1987 to December, 2004, it has only 75% rate of ccomplishment. Out of the 4,676,017 hectares of targeted private agricultural land, only 3,499,790 have been distributed. Approximately 1. 2Million hectares remain untouched. Furthermore, according to the University of the Philippines, Los Banos Micro Study, 2007, 75% of the farmer beneficiaries till their land and improve their lives despite palpable lack of support from the government. These farmers are left with the burden of generating capital and are oftentimes forced to make use of their Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) as collaterals for loans. Among the other problems obstructing the success of land reform in the Philippines are: â€Å"problematic† landholdings, such as areas with missing titles, erroneous technical descriptions, and court disputes; insufficient funds for land acquisition and support services. Protest and oppositions by big landowners is a big stumbling block as well. Furthermore, dissatisfaction on the part of the farmer beneficiaries is another blot on the program. The heading of Philippine Daily Inquirer Mindanao (02/10/2008) says: â€Å"Farmers awarded CARP lands seek way out of ‘bad deals’. The 662 farm workers of the 3,900-hectares Guthrie Estates in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, Negros Occidental found the deal so onerous as they have not been receiving enough share from the produce of the land assigned to them under a cooperative structure. The farmers have been protesting and negotiating for better arrangements. One cooperative member warned: â€Å"If they will not listen to us, blood will spill over in our land. We have been long dead anyway. † Ironically, CARP suffered a setback during the term of President Corazon Aquino. Hacienda Luisita, the Aquino family's own 6,000- hectare estate was exempted from distribution. The hacienda was placed under what is termed the corporative scheme where the farmers were given shares of stocks and instead of owning the land they till, they receive dividends from the net profit of the operation of the hacienda as one intact landholding. A lot more is necessary to implement CARP effectively even at this time when the program period is at its tail end. Among them are: decisiveness on the part of government to implement the law against the mighty and powerful landowners; strict safeguards against land-use conversion; sufficient amount and better management of funds; stronger community-based organization; creative and effective programs for big landholdings. There is an ongoing massive call for CARP extension to be coupled with reforms and more decisive land distribution. On the other hand, landowners are pointing to the flaws and failures of CARP as a basis for terminating the program. Since the birth of CARP, they have been deriding its existence, have been exerting efforts to thwart its implementation and plotting ways to defeat the spirit of land reform. Farmers now pin their hopes on House Bill No. 3059, or the proposed â€Å"Genuine Agrarian Reform Act of 2007†. It was filed by representatives of party-list groups Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women’s Party. The bill seeks to distribute land for free and expand agrarian reform coverage to all agricultural lands in the country. According to the former DAR Secretary Butch Abad, agrarian reform will not succeed if government and business sector will not do their part. And he believes that poverty and social conflict such as the secession movement are due to landlessness to a significant degree. According to Sec. Abad, the present state of things show land reform has failed. Tenants can not be owner-cultivator and farm manager overnight. After acquiring the farm, they need training, support services, capital. One proof that agrarian reform is not yet a success is that countless farmers have not been given a piece of the land as yet. From the official website of the government we gather some bits of information and here they are†¦ http://www. gov. ph/2011/07/25/the-2011-state-of-the-nation-address-technical-report/ The 2011 State of the Nation Address Technical Report 3. 2 Completed projects to strengthen the agricultural sector 3. 2. 1. Under the continuing regular fund from the DA, a total of 1,814 kilometers of Farm to Market Roads (FMRs) were completed from July 2010 to May 2011, out of the targeted 2,567 kilometers. In addition, 687 kms more FMRs were completed under the locally-funded and foreign assisted projects. Overall, a total of 2,501 kms of completed FMRs provide better access to markets and social services and boost economic activities by allowing goods and products to flow in and out of the barangays. FMRs also help reduce transport costs, spoilage and deterioration of quality of agricultural products, and facilitate delivery of farm inputs. 3. 2. 2. From July 2010 to June 2011, a total of 65  tramlines were completed connecting remote areas to FMRs. A total of  67  agricultural tramlines were completed since project start-up in 2009, which is 63%  of the targeted  107  units to be completed by December 2011. The use of these tramlines cuts the cost of hauling by half from P2 to P1 per kilogram of produce and reduces hauling time significantly from hours to just a few minutes. Inaugurated on 13 April 2011 at Twin Peaks, Tuba, Benguet, a 400-meter tramline has reduced hauling time from 2 hours to five minutes. Farmers pay P1 per kilo of produce to cover the cost of diesel fuel, engine maintenance and other repairs and allowance for the tramline operator. On 25 February 2011, a tramline built by DA-Philmech at a cost of P1. 6 million was inaugurated in La Paz, Zamboanga City, a barangay located 970 meters above sea level. A 370 meter distance between the barangay and the closest national road used to take 12 hours to traverse. With the tramline, travel time over this distance has been reduced to three minutes. A local group, the La Paz Farmers’ Association operates the tramline collecting a fee of one peso for a load of 350 kilos of corn and vegetables. 3. 2. 3. All in all, in the first 11 months of the Aquino Administration (July 2010 to May 2011), 11,611 hectares of new areas were irrigated, 40,053 hectares were restored, and 171,910 hectares were rehabilitated both for current and carry over projects. Restoration entails repairing the irrigation facility that is currently not functional while rehabilitation means upgrading or improving the facility, which is currently working but has not attained the maximum or designed irrigation efficiency. 3. 2. 4. Put up the following post-harvest facilities: * One hundred eighty seven (187) food terminals from July 2010 to April 2011 benefiting 1,155 small farmers and fishers. These food terminals provide affordable basic food commodities to around 457,859 households who are able to save not only from low-priced commodities but also from cuts in transportation expenses and reduction of middlemen costs. The savings on transportation cost ranges from P8–P200 for every trip to the market. * Thirteen (13) or 68% of the targeted 19 Corn Post Harvest Trading Centers (CPHTC) in major corn producing areas nationwide. These centers ensure continuous supply of corn even during the wet season, guarantee premium quality, and open opportunity for other investments in the corn industry. A total of 1,342 small scale composting facilities in the different regions nationwide, reaching 100% of the target, and generating 5,368 jobs. This forms part of the government’s promotion of organic farming through the Organic Fertilizer Production Project, which will enable farmers to produce their own organic fertilizer to reduce dependence on expensive synthetic fertil izers. * A total of 56 units of flatbed dryers from July 2010 to April 2011, attaining 100% of the target and generating 402 jobs. These will reduce post-harvest losses during the drying stage of palay and ensure quality drying during the rainy season. Four (4) cold chain facilities[20]  from July 2010 to May 2011 would enable farmers of high value crops to store their fruits and vegetables in the appropriate temperature and prolong the quality and shelf life of perishable crops, obtaining for the farmers a better selling price for their produce. These facilities were turned over to three (3) cooperatives in Benguet, Palayan City, and San Jose City, benefiting 139 farmers. * Ten (10) units of Village-Type post-harvest facilities as of June 2011, in key corn production areas and strategic demand sites nationwide. Thirty-one (31) more units are expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2011. 3. 3. Fostered a culture of self-reliance 3. 3. 1 Some of the strategies under the Food Staple Self-Sufficiency program include the termination of direct input subsidies to farmers and front-loading of irrigation investments in 2012 and 2013 to increase output as early as possible, thus decreasing the need to import rice. These actions are already bearing fruit as seen in the bumper crop harvest from January to March 2011. 3. 3. 2 The country’s rice importation dropped significantly by 80% from an import volume of 2. 2 million MT from July 2009 to June 2010 to 386,243 MT from July 2010 to June 2011. The decrease in volume of actual rice import arrivals can be attributed to the good harvest and the comfortable stock position of the country. Likewise, rice shipments were scheduled better. From here on, NFA buffer stocks will consist mainly of palay purchased from local farmers—a lo ng standing demand of the rice farmers. From January to June 2011, the government through the NFA has procured some P7. 64 billion worth of palay from all over the country. This is 16% of the NFA stock. The NFA targets to increase this volume from the harvest from the main cropping season later this year. The total rice imported in 2010 was 2. 38 million MT. For 2011, the government shall import 64% less or 860,000 MT, with 200,000 MT imported by the government, and 660,000 MT by the private sector. For 2012, rice imports shall further decline to 500,000 MT, with 100,000 MT imported by the government and 400,000 MT imported by the private sector. 3. 3. 2. The government was able to increase the average farm gate price of palay by 2. 89% within a short period, thereby immediately increasing the farmer’s income. Strategic reserves and placements made it possible for the price of rice to remain stable, thereby assuring the affordability and availability of rice to the public. 3. 3. 3. Production in the crops subsector was also up by 8. 19% and the main contributors were palay, corn, sugarcane, and banana. The country has regained its status as net sugar exporter for the current crop year, having recovered from the sugar shortage in 2009-2010 when the country imported raw and refined sugar. news From the official website of department of agriculture†¦ HOUSE  APPROVES DAR’S P18. -B BUDGET THE Department Agrarian Reform (DAR) prevailed upon the House of Representatives during the plenary hearing Wednesday for its 2012 budget, thanks largely to Pampanga Rep. Anna York C. Bondoc, who took the cudgels for the agency and pulled it off with poise even as she endured almost six hours of grilling from her colleagues Bondoc, who stood as the sponsor for DAR’s budget, eloquently just ified its P18. 3-billion proposed budget, saying that the agency, despite operating on lean budget each year in the past, has managed to deliver the tasks expected of it. How much more if DAR is provided with sufficient funds,† Bondoc said even as she rallied her fellow lawmakers to come in support of DAR, which is in dire need for more funds to complete the distribution of some 1 million hectares of agricultural lands and deliver much-needed support services in the form of basic rural infrastructure projects and skills development program. The DAR said that P10 billion of its total budget for next year will go to land tenure’s improvement, which include landowners’ compensation; P7. billion to program beneficiaries’ development made up of support services in the form of basic rural infrastructure projects and skills development program; and P1 billion to agrarian justice delivery. Bondoc found an ally in the course defending the department’s budget through former DAR Secretary-turned-partylist representatives Nasser Pangandaman of the AA Kasosyo Partylist. Pangandaman sought the replenishment of the credit facility in the DAR’s budget, which was left unfunded, to enable the agency to serve the needs of farmer-beneficiaries for much-needed capital for farm inputs. Coop-Natcco Partylist Rep. Cresente Paez joined Pangandaman in his move, saying that the lack of capital is one of the major obstacles to improving the lives of farmer-beneficiaries, most of them are forced to approach loan sharks for farm inputs. Bondoc agreed with Pangandaman and Paez on the need to restore the budget for credit facility and even asked them to join her in lobbying the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) about it. She said she would furnish the DBM with minutes of what had transpired during the budget hearing at the plenary to give it an insight on the issue. DAR  HOSTS SEMINAR ON CLIMATE PROOFING FOR AGRARIAN REFORM COMMUNITIES The warning is dire. Scientists say that even if the earth’s hot temperature on global warming is reduced significantly in the coming years, climate change impacts such as droughts, floods, and other severe weather events are likely to result in food shortages, increase in water and air-borne diseases, infrastructure damage and the of natural resources degradation. To help farmers adapt to these inevitable eventualities, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation ; Development (or GIZ) recently conducted a five-day seminar-workshop on â€Å"Climate Proofing for Development: Practical application for agrarian reform communities† at the Century Park Hotel in Malate, Manila. The GIZ, Adaptation to Climate Change ; Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCBio) trainers and the Phil. Atmospheric Geophysical ; Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) presented to DAR studies made on the ill effects of climate change on farms and farming communities in the country. Undersecretary for Special Programs ; Agrarian Relations Rosalina Bistoyong said the seminar-workshop seeks to understand and learn how to adapt to the climate changes and integrate it in development plans for agrarian reform communities. We at DAR believe that we cannot delay making adaptation plans and actions to ensure that maladaptation [by farmers] will not worsen adverse climate change effects and impede their sustainable development,† said Bistoyong. â€Å"Climate adaptation ways like planting trees, composting, using bio-friendly fertilizers, organic farming, are just some of the ways the farmers can use to help mitigate climate change,† said Corrine Canlas of GIZ. With the climate change impacts we have been experiencing like floods, typhoons and the el nino and la nina phenome na, implementers need to learn the ways and means to adapt to these [eventualities], so that they can put strategies to add development plans for farmers in the agrarian reform communities,† added Canlas. Bistoyong said that the implementers will also teach farmers measures to avoid the bad effects of chemicals on the environment and contribute in minimizing global warming. This course will help our implementers in making necessary developments plans so that our farmers will be able to cope, adapt and sustain their livelihood in the face of climate change,† Bistoyong said. AGRARIAN  BENEFICIARIES TO BENEFIT FROM IRRIGATION AND ROAD PROJECTS CABUCGAYAN, BILIRAN – Rice production and farmers’ income in this fifth class municipality are expected to increase once the rehabilitation of the communal irrigation system (CIS) and a farm-to-market road in the area are completed. Biliran Agrarian Reform Officer Elisea Orapa said rehabilitation works by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) started early last month, and is expected to be completed in three months time. Orapa cited the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for rehabilitating the 1. 7-kilometer farm-to-market road in Sitio Kasabangan where some 562 meters of this will be concreted for easier and farther conveyance of farm products to the market. Eliasem Castillo, Regional Director of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Eastern Visayas, said the projects, courtesy of the Japan International Cooperation Agency-Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (JICA-ARISP), would help double farm produce of farmer-beneficiaries in the Balaquid Agrarian Reform Community (ARC). Castillo added that the two projects cost about P8-million, with the local government unit providing 50 percent as its counterpart equity. Ismael Aya-ay, chief of the Beneficiaries Development Coordinating Division (BDCD) of the DAR-Biliran said that about 60 of the 530 ARBs in the ARC will directly benefit from the irrigation project, while some 1,686 residents here and in nearby villages will be benefited by the farm-to-market road. ARCs are group of barangays with farmers awarded with land titles where there is a convergence of support services provided by the national and local governments, non-government organizations and foreign-donor communities. PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LAND  TENURE IMPROVEMENT The LTI component seeks to secure the tenurial status of the farmers and farmworkers in the lands they till. This is operationalized either through land acquisition and distribution (LAD) and leasehold operations. LAD involves the redistribution of government and private agricultural lands to landless farmers and farmworkers. This  is the essence of land reform. It secures farmers' tenure, promotes social equity, and provides them with necessary productive resources needed to ensure their economic viability and productivity. Leasehold operations, on the other hand, is the alternative non-land transfer scheme. It covers all tenanted agricultural lands such those in the retained areas, not yet acquired for distribution under CARP, and those which may be validly covered  under existing laws. With the enactment of RA 9700 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms in 2009, LAD should be completed by June 30, 2014 on a province-by-province basis. All remaining unacquired and undistributed agricultural lands shall be acquired and distributed as follows: Phase I (01 July 2009 to 30 June 2012) * All remaining lands above fifty (50) hectares; All private agricultural lands with aggregate landholdings in excess of fifty (50) hectares which have already been issued Notices of Coverage (NOCs) on or before Dec. 10, 2008; * Rice and corn lands under PD 27; idle and abandoned lands; Voluntary Offer to Sell (VOS) lands; * All lands foreclosed by government financial institutions (GFIs), PCGG-acquired lands and other government-owned lands; * Voluntary Land Transfer (VLT) submit ted by June 30, 2009 (before effectivity); * Only VOS & Compulsory Acquisition (CA) are allowed after June 30, 2009; Phase II-A (01 July 2009 to 30 June 2012) * All alienable and disposable, arable public agricultural lands; * All public agricultural lands which are to be opened for new development and resettlement; * Aggregate above 24-50 hectares issued NOCs on or before 10 December 2008) Phase II-B (01 July 2012 to 30 June 2013) * Remaining lands in excess of 24 hectares whether or not issued with NOCs Phase III-A (01 July 2012 to 30 June 2013) * 10-24 hectares, insofar as excess of 10 hectares Phase III-B (01 July 2013 to 30 June 2014) above 5 hectares to 10 hectares * Schedule of LAD shall be in accordance with the above order of priority with the ff: * EXCEPTION: priority land reform areas as declared by PARC (Presidential Agrarian Reform Council) ExCom upon recommendation of the PARCCOM (Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee) may be covered in advance provided that prior phases have been completed * Phase III-B (5-10 hectares) shall not be implemented until 90% of the provincial balance as of Jan. 1, 2009 has been completed. Under RA 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (from 1987 to June 2009), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) covered 2,321,064 has. of private agricultural lands and 1, 727, 054 has. non-private agricultural lands covering a total of 4, 049, 018 has. This is equivalent to 2, 396, 857 ARBs installed. Congruently, under RA 9700 (July 2009 – December 2010) , 78, 145 has. private agricultural lands and 75, 862 has. of non-private agricultural lands were distributed. This totals to 154,007 has. equivalent to 97, 712 ARBs installed. Strategic Directions up to 2014 To substantially complete asset reform as mandated by RA 9700, the DAR shall: *   Complete land acquisition and distribution (LAD) in the CARPER balance; *   Prioritize the subdivision of collective Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) involving LBP-compensable lands; *   Fast track the documentation and settlement of landowner compensation for already distributed lands; *   Synergize and rationalize the efforts of the CARP implementing agencies in all processes of LAD; * Partner with the civil society organizations in the delivery of LTI services, particularly the large-sized private agricultural lands; *   Adopt a job-sharing scheme under the ONE-DAR Concept; and * Increase the utilization of the services of geodetic engineers to assist in land acquisition. PROGRAM  BENEFICIARIES DEVELOPMENT PBD is the support services component of CARP. It aims to capacitate ARBs and provide them access to the necessary support services to make their lands more productive, ena ble them to venture in income generating livelihood projects and actively participate in community governance. Agrarian reform does not rely on land distribution alone, but also on the delivery of support services, including farm-to-market roads, bridges, irrigation, post harvest facilities, rural electrification, potable water supply, school buildings, multi-purpose buildings; extension services, credit assistance, and trainings. * 709,187 ARBs fully served under the foreign-assisted projects * 7,170 infrastructure projects * 976 communal irrigation projects completed * 3018 functional ARB-organizations operate (ALDA Level 3,4,5) * 316,610 ARB members are already managing their own farm & non-farm enterprises Support services delivered through the Foreign Assisted Projects (FAPs) and Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF): * 13,259 kilometers of FMR * 226,015 hectares serviced by irrigation systems * 194 multi-purpose buildings * 174 bridge projects (10,473 linear meters) * 428 units of post harvest facilities * 999 units of potable water systems Other infrastructure projects provided: * Health centers, school buildings, flood control, rural electrification,& sanitation systems. Non-infrastructure programs include: * Demonstration farms, rural micro-enterprises, training of ARB leaders, & health and nutrition The DAR adopted the development of agrarian reform communities (ARC) in 1993 to improve the lives of  agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). It was the department's key strategy to accelerate and sustain economic growth in agrarian reform and rural areas through a people-centered, holistic and area focused approach in community development. Since then, the DAR has launched 2,100 ARCs covering 1. million of ARBs in 9,076 barangays. Because of the size limitation of ARCs and the increasing number of ARBs in need of basic support services, the DAR expanded the coverage of its support services through the KALAHI (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan) Agrarian Reform Zones (KARZones). A KARZone is a contiguous area which embraces both ARC barangays and non-ARC barangays within the zone. Strategic Directions up to 2014: The agrarian reform must be able to lift the ARBs out of poverty and transform them into drivers of rural economic growth. Land distribution is only the first step. Provision of adequate and timely support services are impetus to make the awarded lands productive. Thus, PBD priorities for 2012-2014 shall be to: *   Undertake convergence initiatives with rural development agencies to complement the resources and streamline the efforts of DAR and DENR; *   Ink public-private partnerships (PPPs), develop models of collaboration and design business models in the agrarian reform areas with the participation of the CSOs, academe, research and development institutions and LGUs; *   Expand the ODA portfolio in order to augment funds for PBD; *   Operationalize the LTI-PBD integration on a province-to-province basis; *   Shift focus of low LAD-balance provinces to PBD; and   * Unlock credit facilities for the agrarian reform beneficiaries through capacity development for credit providers and farmer-borrowers, providing support to risk mitigating institutions and making available credit information to credit providers AGRARIAN  JUSTICE DELIVERY Delivery of agrarian justice has two features: the agrarian legal assistance and adjudication of cases. Agrarian legal assistance is comprised of resolution of agrarian law implementation (ALI) cases, ARB representation before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, and mediation and conciliation. On the other hand, Adjudication of cases involves the resolution of cases by the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) and any of its salas. Under RA 6657, the DAR is vested with the primary jurisdiction to determine and adjudicate agrarian reform matters and to extend free legal assistance to farmer-beneficiaries affected by agrarian cases. There are three types of cases under this program namely: judicial or court cases, quasi-judicial, and cases related to agrarian law implementation (ALI). The first two types involve representation of farmers by DAR lawyers before the regular courts and DAR Adjudication Board, respectively. The third type involves the administrative rendering of decision on exemption, conversion and retention. The DAR at present utilizes more aggressive alternative dispute resolution techniques in mediation to reduce conflicts maturing into court cases. The general objective is to persuade the contending parties to settle their disputes amicably or out of court before the DAR. Strategic Directives: The legal sector intends to provide effective and timely support not only for agrarian reform frontliners in the field of operations and support services but also for the ARBs. Hence, to speed up the resolution of agrarian-related cases, the sector shall: *   Put the legal framework in place to expedite the LAD process and undertake PBD lawyering; *   Rationalize DAR lawyers’ and paralegals’ appreciation and decision on cases by developing common templates and legal outlines; *   Improve capabilities of DAR lawyers and legal officers to adequately address AR challenges; and * Tap information and communication technology to enhance legal work.

Ilm Motivating to Perform Essay

Introduction In the following assignment I am going to describe the value of formal and informal performance assessments within ***** and identify ways that will ensure that it is a fair and objective process. Following this I will highlight the factors that influence how people behave in the workplace, and how I would apply a recognised theory of motivation to my team, to improve their performance. I will explain why feedback is important to improve communication and the performance in my team and compare the effectiveness of different types of feedback used in the workplace. Performance Assessment Performance Management is a continuous process that involves informal and formal reviews as required. As Plachy and Plachy explained ‘Performance review occurs whenever a manager and an employee conï ¬ rm, adjust, or correct their understanding of work performance during routine work contacts.1’ this is the best way to manage performance. The objective of a performance review is to improve the performance of the individual which will in turn improve the performance of the company. Performance reviews are very effective to both individual and the organisation. It can identify an individual’s strengths and areas of development and indicate how their strengths can be used within the company and how to overcome the individual’s weaknesses. This can also improve communications by giving staff the opportunity to talk and their ideas and expectations and how well they think they are progressing. Currently *****is going through a lot of procedural changes. There are no formal systems for appraisals currently with ****** but they are looking at introducing and implementing Formal Performance and Appraisal Reviews. When implemented each employee will have an appraisal three times within a 12 month period. This will be with a member of HR and the employee’s line manager. Currently we have very little is the way of formal appraisals, It is important to have formal appraisals annually once introduced as it shows the employee what their strengths and weaknesses are, in finding this we can then turn the weaknesses into their strengths enable the management team to improve the team and KPI’s. This said personally as a Team Lead I do try to have regular informal appraisals with my Team Members. This is beneficial to them and also to myself as it gives the opportunity to identify and deal with issues which they may have. We can agree and set new objectives which can be achieved or even exceeded. On each informal appraisal I make point of recognising the achievements which were made during the last period, by doing this I feel that the team member knows the work that has been done is appreciated and good work is always noted. This will create motivation and they will want to develop and achieve more. Performance appraisals should be based on trust and mutual respect. An appraisal works best when the team lead and employee know each other and there is mutual respect between the two. Team Motivation There are many different factors which influence how people behave at work and it can depend on the type of work that they do. The environment that people work in is very influential of how people behave at work as they are going to feel a lot better if the environment that they work in is nice and if they like it. If people are not going to get along with one another at work then they are not going to be happy when they are working, therefore they may not perform to the best of their ability and may struggle to meet the demands that ***** has in place. If you have happy workers, then you are going to have a successful organisation. It may be that the employees are not happy with certain factors and motions that are in place at the work place and therefore they are not going to feel passionate about what they are doing and therefore will be less productive. If I was to apply one recognised theory to my team I would choose Job enrichment. The focuses of job enrichment is giving people more control over their work and where possible, allow them to take on tasks that are typically done by supervisors. This means that they have more influence over planning, executing, and evaluating the jobs they do. I would do this by rotating roles on a periodic basis, this will give employees the opportunity to use and gain a variety of skills. I would move employees through different types of jobs that allow them to see different parts *****. This would enable them to learn what different areas in the company do and how each task affects their own work. I believe by doing this it will also increase communication among teams which will in time break down the current silo effect we currently have within ******. ‘Treat people the way they are and they will stay that way. Treat people the way they can become and they will become that way. 2’ – Johann Wolfgang Communication in the workplace Communication skills are important because the way we interact with employees affects how well employees receive the feedback given. A supervisor who can communicate work directives and employee feedback clearly, in a manner that motivates employees instead of alienating them is a more effective leader. Feedback is a main part of the communication process. We may misunderstand the receiver and therefore not fully understand the task or information that has been given, if we did not have some type of feedback from the other party we may never know whether what was done was correct and was completed in the way intended. As a Team leader, part of my role is to give feedback. Feedback is important to individuals and teams. They want to know what they are doing well and where they need to develop. Positive feedback When giving positive feedback full recognition and credit should be given to let employees know that the Team Leader appreciates them. Positive feedback on good performance is a strong motivator, employees are more likely to accept and respond to constructive criticism. When an individual takes pride in their work they need to be recognised and told that they are performing well. This is effective as the employee will want to work harder as they feel they are recognised and appreciated and will want to progress. Negative/Corrective Feedback Corrective Feedback is used to highlight what has been done wrong and indicates where the employee needs to spend their effort, This offers an insight into where and how the individual can improve. When receiving negative feedback the employee tends to remember the bad points and ignore the good this can demotivate them and make them feel insufficient. That said Corrective feedback can give the individual the information they need to correct this and take their performance to the next level. Conclusion To Conclude I have described the value of formal and informal performance assessments within *******.I explained the value of each and identified ways that will ensure that it is a fair and objective process. Following this I highlighted the factors that influence how people behave in the workplace,  and how I apply a recognised theory of motivation to my team to improve their performance. I have explained why feedback is important to improve communication and the performance in my team and compared the effectiveness of different types of feedback used in the workplace. References 1. Title – Performance Management: Getting Results from Your Performance Planning and Appraisal SystemAuthor – Roger J. Plachy and Sandra J. Plachy 2. Title – Faust Author – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832

Employee drug testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Employee drug testing - Essay Example The most extreme action that an employer can take is to terminate employment or refusing to hire (as the case may be). The scope of actions on part of employers are provisioned in the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, promoted and passed by President Ronald Reagan during his final year of presidency. There are other federal and state regulations which allow termination only if it is inevitable. On detection of an employee drug problem, employers are required to â€Å"encourage or require employers to allow offenders to choose a substance-abuse treatment program in place of employment termination. For example, instead of outright firing you, your employer might ban you from performing safety-sensitive duties until you successfully complete a course, counseling or treatment program and then pass a return-to-duty drug test. That's particularly so if you work in an industry regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or for a company that follows Department of Transportation workplace drug testing rules.† (www.employeeissues.com, 2011) Testing positive for drugs have a whole array of disincentives for the guilty. For example, such employees cannot claim unemployment benefits. Provisions under CORBA would deny the guilty prolonged health-insurance coverage during the recovery stage. The state workers' compensation law is also unfavorable to those found guilty, for it denies any workers' compensation benefits. All this is not to say that the laws are favored toward employers. For example, however grievous the drug-abuse and however malefic its effects were on the organization, employers still cannot get the guilty arrested, unless the drug-abuse happens in the premises of the organization.

The purpose of this assignment is to discover the roles of an Essay

The purpose of this assignment is to discover the roles of an operations manager (first-line, middle or top) in Singapore and ho - Essay Example In this study the focus has been on the study of the roles and responsibilities of the operation manager working for Wilmar International Ltd. headquartered at Singapore. The study shows that the role of the operations managers are becoming more and more challenging due to the globalization that is making the organizations to open their businesses in other nation across the border. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Company Profile and Background 5 Company Mission and Vision 5 Integrity 6 Excellence 6 Passion 6 Innovation 7 Teamwork 7 Safety 7 Manager’s Profile 8 Interview Transcript 9 Analysis of the responses given by the Operations Manager 11 Conclusion 13 REFERENCES 15 Introduction In modern organizations the role of the operation managers in framing the strategy of the firm is gaining huge importance. The decisions related to operations is also playing significant role in achieving the competitive advantage. The responsibility of an o perations manager of an organization is to oversee the process that transforms the input into a greater value output. The main concern areas of the operations manager is manufacturing, development of new products, procurement, distribution, research, technology, customer service and distribution. The business strategy of the firm is implemented in the operations. ... long with willingness to change is required, which needs to be relentless and continuous process to improve the performance of the firm (Bruner, 2003). As emphasized by Wild (1979) the decision of the operations manager influences not only the entire organization but also the work with it and the way all the functions are managed. In case of manufacturing firms Armistead and Mapes (1992) claimed that the roles of the operation manager in a manufacturing farm are more beleaguered towards the corporate target rather than the performance measures. This follows the consequence that the focus of the manager should be shifted from scheduling, production planning and control (Gerwin, 1993) to coordination and design of network of knowledge (Mak and Ramaprasad, 2003) or to organization of task connected to marketing and production. The study focuses on in depth analysis on the role of the operational managers of Wilmar International Limited. The analysis will be based on interview that will be conducted on the operation managers of the organization. Company Profile and Background Wilmar International Limited was founded in the year 1991 and is headquartered at Singapore, which is the leading agribusiness group of Asia. Wilmar is ranked as the largest listed company in the Singapore Exchange with regards to the market capitalization. The business activities of Wilmar International includes oilseed crushing, oil palm cultivation, edible oil, specialty fats, sugar milling and refining, biodiesel, oleo chemicals, grain processing and fertilizer manufacturing. The core strategy of Wilmar International is a flexible incorporated agribusiness model that surrounds the whole value chain of processing business dealing with agricultural commodity staring from processing to distribution,

Impression of view Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Impression of view - Movie Review Example A bootleg South African phenomenon presented two South African fans who sort to find the roots of South African apartheid rule and what happened to their superhero (Bendjelloul 1). This paper critically examines how and why the story of searching for sugar man appealed to the audience. Many of the lyrics of Rodriguez told of the daily challenges of the homeless and the working poor and the story of a society that was in decline â€Å"Cause.† While Rodriguez was deemed as a commercial failure at home, his rock musical records were extremely popular in South Africa.. His intriguing story particularly touched many of his audience. For example, as an artist, Rodriguez artist message considering his talents could have firstly been welcomed in his birthplace more than anywhere in the world. Throughout its performance, the story has in numerous occasions sparked standing ovation with some members of audience left cheering and crying. One of the ways through which the story touches the audience is the use of Rodriguez’s outstanding music characterized by prophetic lyrics and soulful melodies. â€Å"He is like a poet and from his lyrics, I know his sorrow.† †¦. â€Å"Because I lost my job two weeks before Christmas........†(From the song â €Å"cause†). Additionally, being one of the greatest rock and pop music icon by 1970s, the use of Rodriguez’s music may have contributed to the Searching for Sugar Man’s captivating touch on the audience. Generally, Bendjelloul’s film provided the fans of the â€Å"Searching for Sugar Man† with the continued inspiration that they needed. The inspirational content rediscovered in Sixto music finally would be touchy. For someone to blindly follow your musical career routes, you must have been a greater influence in their lives. Segerman is a music store owner. As much as he lacks the knowledge of recording and distribution, he feels touched by Rodriguez expertise in the entertainment industry.

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

Hinduism - Essay Example Current study examines the methods that can be used for the treatment of diabetes during the Ramadan fasting time. Regarding this issue several other themes – related with the specific subject - are going to be presented and evaluated. Under these terms, this paper is going to extensively refer to its main subject – as stated above – presenting at the same time the main aspects and the particular characteristics of a series of issues, which could be summarized to the following ones: a) What is diabetes and which are its main types? b) which are the most known – and the most developed – methods for the treatment of diabetes, c) is there any relationship between the development of diabetes and the nutrition habits of the population, d) the nutrition followed during fasting periods, especially the Ramadan, has been proved to have any impact on the progress of the treatment of diabetes and if yes, which are the main aspects of this impact? e) is the med ical staff prepared and trained appropriately in order to handle effectively the treatment of diabetes? A special reference to the competence of medical staff to adapt the diabetes’ treatment to the nutrition ‘ethics’ of the Ramadan fasting period is going to be made at this point, f) which are the prospects for the development of diabetes’ treatment during the Ramadan fasting period (reference to experiments made in the relevant field).

Energy Sources In the 21st Century Research Paper

Energy Sources In the 21st Century - Research Paper Example lly and it is a mixture of hydrocarbons primarily methane and other higher alkanes in various proportion and it also contains nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide in lesser proportions. It is found in deep underground formations of natural rock along with other hydrocarbons like coal, methane clathrates, etc. (b) Natural Gas Reserves According to a recent assessment by the Potential Gas Committee the reserves of natural gas in the US have increased by 26 percent by the end of 2012 than it used to be in 2010. Now the present estimated reserve is 2,384 trillion cubic feet. The reserves of the natural gas in the US are primarily located in Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, Federal Offshore, Alaska, California, and North Dakota and Texas is the largest reserve (Cathy Proctor, 2013). Extracting natural gas from the ground is a complicated and expensive process. The gas is odorless and colorless requiring extra precautions. Extracting the gas from deep underground decreases the pressure in the reservoir and decrease in pressure might cause sinking of the above ground affecting ecosystem, water and sewer systems, water ways, foundations, etc. The process used to release the natural gas from low-permeability reservoir is called hydraulic fracturing or "hydrofracking". Water is forced inside the shale to release the natural gas which breaks or fracks the shale for releasing the gas. Sand and chemicals are added to the frack fluid for reducing friction and combating corrosion. It is a challenge to deal with fracking fluid (Cathy Proctor, 2013). (c) Transportation The reserves of the natural gas in the US are primarily located in Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, Federal Offshore, Alaska, California, and North Dakota and fortunately most of them are close to either major cities or... This essay stresses that the major sources of energy in the United States are fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal which are used for generating electricity, driving cars and other vehicles, running industries, etc. The fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy which constitute for major consumption while renewable sources such as solar energy or wind energy contribute marginally to the total energy consumption in the United States. This paper makes a conclusion that extracting natural gas from the ground is a complicated and expensive process. The gas is odorless and colorless requiring extra precautions. Extracting the gas from deep underground decreases the pressure in the reservoir and decrease in pressure might cause sinking of the above ground affecting ecosystem, water and sewer systems, water ways, foundations, etc. The process used to release the natural gas from low-permeability reservoir is called hydraulic fracturing or "hydrofracking". Water is forced insid e the shale to release the natural gas which breaks or fracks the shale for releasing the gas. Sand and chemicals are added to the frack fluid for reducing friction and combating corrosion. It is a challenge to deal with fracking fluid. natural gas can help in solving some major environmental issues like Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Smog, Air Quality and Acid Rain, Industrial and Electric Generation Emissions, Pollution from the Transportation Sector - Natural Gas Vehicles. Etc.

Motivation paper self assessment . I have included in the previous Assignment

Motivation paper self assessment . I have included in the previous order with you the self assessment questions pages - Assignment Example Therefore, managers should learn to listen to their employees and adjust their goals with respect to what matters most to them. An employee would want to be in command whenever he/she is working in a group. On the other side, the manager should not assume that all employees have all the training, tools and support they required. He should check out from them personally to find out. Good pay would make one feel much motivated (Daft et al. 4). The manager should communicate well thereby offering training sessions, newsletters, memos and regular meetings so as to present their vision. They should make sure that employees participate by asking questions and get answers. The last aspect to ensure a successful motivation is by ensuring that the manager awards every achievement of the employee with respect to their dominant needs. All efforts should be acknowledged and awarded. Mistakes should be corrected in a friendly manner. Humans have some set of motivation system that is unrelated to rewards. We need motivation to achieve certain desires. The fulfillment of one dominant need leads to the desire to fulfill the next one. Such needs like physiological needs, safety and the need of love, as well as esteem may affect management in the sense that, the fulfillment one particular need seeks to fulfill the next need. In this situation, the achievement needs may serve a greater purpose for success. As an employee, one would mostly value the lifestyle benefits. The employee places a higher priority to the rewards that are directed to their lifestyle benefits such as a discount on their health insurance as well as in cars. An employee would work well for improvement is such areas as their capabilities, their behaviors and attitudes. Such information can be useful to the managers in understanding the type of lifestyle benefits that they would offer to their employees for their awards so that they can feel motivated and

Project Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Project Management - Case Study Example In addition, the acquisition of the best and most competent people to manage projects ensures that the stakeholders of the organization stay up to date with the current knowledge about it as well as ensuring that they take advantage of all offers that the organization has to give, hence giving the organization a competitive edge over other’s. The hiring of competent staff ensures that an organization is able to make adjustments quickly, according to the changes in the marketing scene in the world and it does this for the purpose of assisting its stakeholders keep up to speed of things so that they do not lose any opportunities if there are any unexpected changes. Having competent people managing an organization’s projects provides a swift means through which individuals can easily be able to make connections with people and resources which they have need of in order receive the services they want from the organization. It has been stated that the acquisition of competen t managers for projects is one of the reasons why many organizations in the world today have become successful and are able to retain this success. One only has to log onto the internet to see the scale of success that many companies have been able to acquire and all of this due to competent project management that has been prevalent within them (Mauro, Plinio, Gilmar and Mamerto, 2012). It has been found that competent management is a means through which an organization can be able to ensure that it does not face any damaging scandals because of mismanagement (Baird and Riggins, 2012). While previously it was a subject which was not taken based on merit, the selection of project managers has now developed into a massive undertaking which has created the need to have competence in working on projects, because to not do so would be to doom the project or the organization to failure, like the case of Gary Allison in the Orion Shield project. As the years have progressed, project manag ement is moving from being a profession where individuals can survive without a lack of skills to one where there is plenty of opportunity for those who take a direct hand and are dedicated to it (Cruceru, 2012). When managing a project, managers have to be able to ensure that they have complete control of the project, otherwise, there is likely to be failures due to incompetence. In addition, project managers should adopt a strategy that is so well done it touches the emotions of those who witness it and as long as more people continue to the activities being done within the project, then the influence of this project is likely to be immense. It has become common knowledge that effective project management is essential and this belief has developed to such an extent that many organizations have actually come to believe that it is the solution to the diverse problems that they have been experiencing with their own projects. More organizations than ever today are making a bid to ensu re that they not only have competent managers, but also that their projects are done in the most professional way possible. The lack of professionalism has created a situation where organizations

The Declaration of Independence and Its Irony for Equality Term Paper

The Declaration of Independence and Its Irony for Equality - Term Paper Example Its primary goal is to discuss how the Declaration departs from its true essence based on the undermined state of the minorities within the society throughout history. For research materials, this paper will deal with the American Political Thought by Kenneth M. Dolbeare and Michael S. Cummings as its primary source of information for the Declaration of Independence. It will also use several internet and magazine articles as other sources of information. Keywords: Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence, equality and the rights of men, racial discrimination, women, gays, lesbians The Declaration of Independence and its Irony for Equality The Declaration of Independence portrays literal power in the usage of rhetoric devices that clearly stands out throughout the document. Thomas Jefferson, as its writer, had such proficiency beyond doubt that he was a very learned and skilled person. The rhetoric devices used to point at the possibility of a good education and literal skill s well developed throughout the writer’s experiences. As the studies of the Declaration of Independence find attest, the document is perhaps one of the most creatively designed state documents. Distinctively enumerated into exceptional divisions, Jefferson demonstrated some rare writing skills that make it one of the best literal state papers. The Declaration of Independence can be divided into an introduction, a clearly developed preamble, a section describing the indictment of the Crown, denunciation of the American oppressors - the British - and a good conclusion (Dolbeare & Cummings, 2009, pp. 49-52). Any paper passing the test of good writing must at least show such organization. With skill in rhetoric and a steadfast soul for nationalism, Jefferson had created some of the most messianic, heroic and memorable lines contained within the Declaration of Independence. Even down to his choice of words, Jefferson managed to immortalize this document throughout the annals of th e United States. Usage of terms such as â€Å"necessary† creates an impression of the strong need for the Americans to take the proposed action, which is well connected to their human nature. The line, â€Å"One people† can be translated to send a strong message that the Americans and the British were different people brought together politically and breaking the â€Å"political bands† which was a necessity for the survival of the Americans. This choice of words was intended to capture the attention of America’s friends. However, there is one line in the Declaration that gathers much controversy and debate. The usage of the line, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among them are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness† poses an intention that could have well been deeply thought to bring a diverse interpretation by the Americans, the British and possible allies who could assist the Americans in their quest for independence. This line consists of a group of principles pertaining to human rights that are naturally and rhetorically read and interpreted together.  

The Women of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay Example for Free

The Women of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay William Shakespeares plays often pitted men against their women in order to move the action of his plays. Strong women, however, often seemed to move against each other, as well as moving against the their male relatives and the current or future mates. The women in Shakespeares plays were not afraid to compete for knowledge, power, men, or any or all of the three. Both Titanias persistence and the competition between Hermia and Helena are evidence of how the so-called weaker sex is actually the controlling sex in Shakespeares play A Midsummer Nights Dream. It Hermia’s own series of choices that lead to the four lovers being present in the woods. Demetrius, Egeus, and Theseus might believe that they are in control of her future when they sequester themselves to converse, their control over her ends the moment that they leave. The contrast between Hermia and the men is evident, even in that scene; although she is willful, the older men are guided only by laws, Demetrius is arrogant and willing to see her put to death if he defies her, and Lysander is weak-willed. Although his idea is that which is implemented as the resolution to Hermia’s problem, it is he who laments all of the difficulties that come with love, while Hermia is the one who points out that it is necessary to persevere (1.1.132–134). It is also Hermia’s willingness to pass her plan on to her former friend, Helena, that encourages Helena to develop a plan of her own, with Demetrius being none the wiser over being manipulated. The women’s power may extend, at least somewhat, from loyalty. When Hermia and Helena were friends they had a strong union, sharing everything. Shakespeare describes them as unified, Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion, Both warbling of one song, both in one key, (3.2.205-206). Maturity, however, changes this relationship as sexual politics takes the place of their original loyalty. The bond between dissolves when a man, Demetrius, comes between them. Without this loyalty, the women lose much of their power. When Helena makes plans to manipulate Demetrius without concern over Hermia’s safety it is then that events put into play by Oberon’s machinations, overwhelm them. Similarly, Oberon perceives Tatiana’s strength as coming from the loyalty to a woman, the Indian prince’s mother, who was a worshipper of hers. When she refuses to give Oberon the child to be his knight, Oberon plans to take the child by force. As with Demetrius, Egeus, and Theseus in the beginning, Oberon wishes to seize loyalty through force. Oberon’s decision has far-reaching and chaotic effects, just as Helena’s plan to force affection does. Interestingly, although love moves the action of the play it is manipulation that eventually brings the events to a close. Lysander’s plan to manipulate the law, Helena’s plan to manipulate Demetrius, and Oberon’s plan to manipulate Titania all succeed, while the original bonds of loyalty are lost in the chaos that takes place in Act 3. Ultimately, this play shows that loyalty can shift; however, the individuals are stronger when they are loyal to someone than when they are not. Helena and Hermia, once so close are now completely at odds. Hermia has not only attacked Helena over her loss of Lysander, but she also mocks Helena’s desire to repair their relationship (3.2.317). Because of Oberon’s successful manipulation, Titania’s loyalty to the child is also severed. However, it is only after this destruction that newor renewedbonds of loyalty are forged. The four lovers are successfully paired with their â€Å"correct† mate. Titania is no longer at odds with Oberon. The only thing that remains lost, however, is the loyalty between women. Having lost that bond, all three of the women, strong at the beginning of this play, find themselves under the control of their husbands. Love, loyalty, and feminine strength are apparently only part of a dream, which, as Shakespeare has demonstrated, is not always a pleasant dream.

The Four Different Spheres

The Four Different Spheres The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system in the world, stretching around 2300 kilometres. It is located on the North East Australian coastline and due to its area faces both positive and negative interactions with the atmosphere. The reef lies in an area classified as Australias Cyclone Zone, and for many thousands of years the reef has been struck by severe tropical cyclones, that have resulted in the changing nature of the ecosystem. The degree of impact on the reef is subject to the intensity and extent of the storm, though the overall outcome of a storm is damage for the living and non-living organisms like the coral. The damage occurs due to the large storm waves that are produced from strong winds and low-pressure systems. The forceful waves rip apart the more fragile coral and create chips and imperfections in the harder coral. In severe cyclone cases the cyclone can cause a whole reef ecosystem to be buried under sediment. Tropical cyclones also bring with them heavi ly-induced rain cycles. The extra volume of fresh water means that the salinity of the reef ecosystem is then distorted, and could affect the growth of the coral, as coral reefs are highly specialised and need certain conditions to thrive. The turbidity of the water can also intensify and result in coral bleaching. The atmosphere can also be a constructive interaction with the Greater Barrier Reef. For example in 2006 Cyclone Larry hit the shores of North Queensland and destroyed many homes and businesses of the surrounding area. The cyclone also struck the reef, but instead of causing destructing within the ecosystem, the cyclone prevented mass coral bleaching to occur by lowering the temperature of the water. Lithosphere The Great Barrier Reef is aided in its functioning and transforming by the lithosphere. The reef itself produces limestone, the exoskeleton of the deceased coral polyp. This limestone is then weathered down and reallocated by the 4 biophysical environments to other parts of the reef. The limestone is then able to create new landforms like coral cay. The limestone is also used as a defence mechanism by coral against the violent and erosive waves. Like all living organisms coral die and the death of one coral could mean the birth of new coral, as new coral will use the limestone structures created by the deceased coral to grow on. Another lithospheric factor affecting coral functioning is sediment. Sediment like sand can have the effect of clouding up the water of the reef resulting in increased turbidity levels of the water. There is then less sunlight penetration into the reef, affecting the process of photosynthesis and coral bleaching is more likely to occur. Sediment can also over whelm the coral reefs through sediment runoff. The sediment runoff could bring with it many natural and threatening chemicals that could harm the functioning of the Great Barrier Reef. Hydrosphere The Great Barrier Reef tends to have best coral growth when hydrosphere conditions are at their greatest. For example coral reefs tend to have optimal growth when wave energy is high. The wave energy is broken by reef through the seaward, and produces an area of peaceful, protected water behind the reef. The waters of the Great Barrier Reef tend to flow in a northerly direction most of the year, though during monsoonal, wet seasons the formation of the waters changes, and there is a reversal in the direction of the waters. This reversal allows for the cooler southern ocean current to flow into the reef. The reversal in water direction is a key component for the ecology of the reef. The waters that run from the north are warm and highly in salinity, they provide the reef with high nutrient levels and are major influences for the diversity of the ecosystem. Biosphere The biosphere element of the Great Barrier Reef is how the reef grows and obtains its wonderful features. One animal that has been credited for helping to develop the reef is the polyp. Polyps are simple organisms that have a stomach and their calcium carbonate exoskeleton. Within the polyp is an interdependent alga called zooxanthallae. The two organisms provide mutual benefits with the zooxanthallae providing sugars and oxygen through the process of photosynthesis and the polyp in turn supplying nutrients. Polyp regrowth occurs with the use of the deceased polyps exoskeleton. Although coral reproduction is different, where the coral will release their eggs into the warm, summer water, and instantaneously corals release mass amounts of sperm. The fertilised eggs develop into larvae and the larvae continue the reef-building procedure on the dead corals skeleton. The diverse range of species within the Great Barrier Reef also has an impact on its functioning. For example crustaceans a re great at executing the nutrient recycling role, while the crown of thorn star fish is known for attaching itself to coral and eating it to death. Coastal Dunes Atmosphere The four spheres play a decisive role when it comes to the structure, extent and the complexion of coastal dunes. The most pivotal biophysical interaction is the atmosphere. The atmospheres main components impacting coastal dunes are wind, temperature and precipitation, as well as climate. Wind is a major contributor to shaping dunes through aeolion transport, where sand grains are picked up and transported to another location. The amount of sand removed from a dune is dependent on the size of the sand particles, velocity of the wind, nature of vegetation cover and more. For sand particles to be displaced they must be of a certain diameter, around 0.15mm. The faster the velocity of the wind the more likely sand grains will be moved, as there is more force behind the wind. The type of local vegetation and amount of vegetation on the sand dunes also impacts aeolian transport, as the vegetation becomes a barrier against the wind for the sand, and the greater the vegetation the less sand taken. Through the vegetation the dunes are able to continue to grow and increase their diversity. Temperature plays the role of influencing the rate of sand dryness, and type of vegetation on the dunes. Temperature values also determine the functioning of ocean currents. As temperature increases the dryness of sand increases resulting in only few vegetation that are able to live on the dunes, which then affects the rate of aeolian transport. Precipitation is also an atmospheric component that impacts coastal dunes, through the level of rainfall. The amount of vegetation on dunes is dependent on the level of rainfall, with regular rainfall meaning a greater variety and denser vegetation, and little to no rainfall putting the ecosystem at risk, through the little vegetation to protect the sand from aeolian transport. Hydrosphere Hydrological processes are one of the most significant components on earth for change to occur. The hydrological processes that have an impact on coastal dune ecosystems include wind-induced waves, longshore drift and rainfall. Wind-induced waves are important for developing coastal dunes, and combine both the hydrosphere and lithosphere. When there are periods of calmness within the ocean, this means sand is able to be transported from offshore deposits to the beaches. This gives supply to dunes where the winds transport the sand. On the other hand when there are treacherous conditions in the oceans the waves become powerful and crash into the coastline with such force that there able to remove sand from beaches and foredunes. Another hydrological process impacting coastal dunes ecosystems is longshore drift. Longshore drift is the transportation of sediment by currents that are running at parallel to the shoreline. Through longshore drift sediment is able to be produced in one loca tion of a coastal system and then transferred to another location. Longshore drift allows dunes to be created by sediment that has been transported over a long distance. Longshore drift is quite common on the East side of Australia, with many of the islands up in Queensland having been made from sediment that came from New South Wales. The final hydrological process to impact coastal dunes is rainfall. The amount of rainfall has a bearing on the erosion of the sand. When there is high rainfall runoff starts to occur which in turn erodes at the surface of the sand, the surface is then vulnerable to the effects of atmospheric winds. Biosphere The biosphere influences coastal dunes through flora and fauna. There are three species to flora, primary species, secondary species and tertiary species. The primary species are those that are closest to the sea. These areas are only colonised by specialised plants that are able to handle salt spray, sand blast and strong winds. The main role of the pioneer species like Marram Grass is to stabilise any incoming sand. These species of fauna spread at a rapid pace, with strong root systems, and so their able to protect much of a sand dune from its various vulnerabilities. The pioneering plants as their referred to, are vital in reducing wind erosion and stabilising the sand, leading to a better functioning coastal dune ecosystem. The secondary species is the foredune vegetation. They are usually comprised of shrubs and small trees like the coastal wattle, and help in maintaining foredune sand mass. The tertiary species are those that go beyond the coastal moorland, like tall trees. Th e vegetation in this zone is protected from the atmospheric and hydrological processes affecting the ecosystem. The vegetation in this area is not fixed, with variables being the local topography and climate. The development of humus and growth of plants occur, the sunlight exposure and soil conditions start to change. When the soil becomes richer, it attracts shrub and woodland plants, thus changing the vegetation. This process is known as succession. Fauna on coastal dunes is not very evident. Not many fauna live on the dunes closest to the beach, as the conditions are too extreme for them to handle, with maybe only few crabs calling this area home. Along with crabs the only likely animal seen on dunes closest to beaches are striped skink. Towards the back of the dune systems an increasing number of bird species can be found. Lithosphere Question 2. Analyse the impacts due to both human-induced modifications and natural stress on both ecosystems at risk. How does each ecosystem adjust in response to natural stress? Coral Reefs Human Modifications Human dependence on the Great Barrier Reef has been for many thousands of years, dating back to the times of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. As human populations grow the demand for coral reef resources will increase as well. The main human induced modifications are over-fishing and tourism. Over-fishing of the coral reef often occurs when there is an increase in the human population, as there is a now a greater demand for seafood and unique marine life. Fishermen usually target those fish that are closely connected with the coral, like the large wrasses and snappers. When the captures for these species decrease, the fishermen then target all species of fish using more efficient methods of capturing, like spears or mesh nets. As they fish down the food chain fishermen bring great vulnerability to the coral reef ecosystem. Through observation and research its proven that coral with no fish are more prone to overgrowth by macro-algae and increases in coral diseases. There is also physical damage sustained by the coral, through the anchors, nets and traps, which ends up causing more complications for the coral reef. Tourism is the other major human induced factor impacting coral reefs, and especially the Great Barrier Reef. Tourism is a key contributor to the Australian economy, with one of its foremost assets, the Great Barrier Reef bringing in $4 billion a year. Research performed by James Cook University of Cairns found several comprehensive impacts of tourism on the reef. The first being coastal tourism development, where many people visiting the reef want to stay as close to the reef as possible. The coastal developments and building of groynes and marinas near and around the Great Barrier Reef disrupts currents and frequently gravitates to the displacement of sediment. There is also increase tourism on the islands near the reef causing problems linked with sewage and rubbish. Marine based tourism also occurs in the Great Barrier Reef with the anchors and anchor chains of boats having catastrophic effects on the coral, like physical damage. Although operators are very careful when it comes to tourist interaction with coral animals, some tourists negatively interact with the wildlife causing complications in the breeding cycles and natural interactions. Another human impact towards the Great Barrier Reef is land clearing. Approximately 25% of all land in Queensland drains out into the reef. The runoff is a major contributor to degradation in the reef, with agriculture; urban development and aqua culture all impacting the quality of the reef water. The rate of sediment runoff is dramatically increasing through greater urban populations moving to the reef and intensified agriculture. The increase sediment means in a reduction in light energy for photosynthesis to occur, resulting in greater disease and overtime the suppression of the reef. The increase in wetland clearing has also obstructed in the reef development. The wetlands provide many species of the reef habitats and nurseries. When the wetlands for example estuaries are destroyed these species will then need to find new environments and new nurseries disrupting equilibrium within he ecosystem. The wetlands also house a significant amount of water when heavy rainfall occurs. Wi th depleting wetlands this means more fresh water will flow into the reef having damaging effects on the salinity levels of the reef water. Natural Stresses Great Barrier Reef natural stresses!!!!!!! Coastal Dunes Human Modifications Humans have also have dramatic impacts on coastal dune ecosystems. The main reasons to human induced modifications are the ever growing desires of humans to live on the coasts, and the increase in human population. Coastal dunes are used by humans for mining, waste-water disposal, housing and many more. The activities create problems including sand inundation and species loss. Coastal development is occurring all over the world, due to the demand of humans to live near water. Most coastal development involves the process of flattening the parallel dunes to build, and sometimes even the foredune. These actions result in the flow of sand inland being disrupted, and the protective barrier situated between the land and the sea vanishes. Another form of coastal development affecting coastal dunes is reclamation. Reclamation involves building a wall that is some distance off the coast and filling in behind the wall. It is done to extend the land out into water, and although it is positive for humans it is extremely harmful to dune ecosystems, as it alters the movement of sediment along the coast. The areas that are reclaimed are usually tidal floats that often provide sand for dune development and growth. Humans also destroy the coastal dunes through the recreational practices that take place. When people try to make their way to beaches they usually along the plants. This creates holes in the dunes and invites resilient weeds who can cope with trampling to grow. Most vegetation degradation occurs in the foredune, which happens to be the most important part of the dune system, as it protects the least stable component of the dune system. The weight of vehicles and other means of transport compact the sand, resulting in the sand having less oxygen and therefore less plant growth. For example in Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada research has found that the increase number of vehicles having access to the dunes and beaches has caused the deeper sand to become compact, and surface sand to loosen. The loosened sand becomes vulnerable to wind erosion, and causes a decrease in the rate of organic decay and consequently the rate of soil formation is reduced. The research also found that where vehic les had treded on the vegetation, there was greater wind velocity, as there was less vegetation to be a force slowing the wind. Coastal dunes are very specialised and tenuous. When there is an introduction in a flora and/or fauna species, this creates havoc in the dune ecosystem, as the ecosystem has certain needs to properly function. Some species were once introduced to stabilise the dunes but end up becoming the vulnerability of the dune system. One species that has caused major dune damage is the rabbit. The rabbits were introduced to Australia by the First Fleet and have been destructive ever since their introduction. Rabbits impact coastal dunes through eating the grasses and other vegetation, reducing the ground cover and they expose sand to wind erosion. An example of floral impact on the coastal dunes is the detrimental bitou bush. The bitou bush a native of Southern Africa was first introduced in the 1920s. Once the bitou bush has entered the dune system it quickly takes over and kills all the native plants. The bitou bush is so successful due to its high-volume of seed production, large root system s and having no predators in Australia. The major problem with the bitou bush is the monoculture it creates on the dune system, with there being no diversity on the ecosystem. If the bitou bush is removed then the sand is left exposed to wind erosion, causing greater problems. Although, the problems created by leaving the bitou bush are far greater than those eliminating the bitou bush, so much of the bitou bush on the coast is being killed. Natural Stresses Coastal environments are constantly changing, especially coastal dunes. These changes are brought on by humans actions and natural stresses placed on the dunes. The major natural factor impacting coastal dunes is storm damage. Storm-induced waves are able to cause a great deal of damage to the structure of the dune system. The ferocious power of the storm can leave the beaches degraded with little sediment, for dune reconstruction to occur, and sometimes even erode the foredune. Structural damage comes in two main forms, one being washovers, and the other being washouts. An example of a major storm damage that has happened was in 1999 where there destruction on the coastline of Byron Bay, New South Wales. The storms were ruthless and the waves were as high as 3-metres. The storms created mass coastal erosion, with washovers taking place in several locations, generating widespread erosion in the adjacent parallel dune system. There was also recently a series of storms that occurred in Byron Bay in 2009. The strong storms meant the New South Wales Government had to fork out around$740,000 for rebuilding and repairs. The seawalls needed repairs while many houses in the area needed rebuilding and money was needed to regenerate the dunes at Belongil Beach. A further example of storms impacting coastal dunes was in Stockton Beach, Newcastle in 2007. The storms occurred over the June long weekend and resulted in approximately 100,000 cubic metres worth of sand being lost, as well as structural damage like erosion around sea walls. This caused major disturbance to the coastal dune functioning, as will take a long time to recover. Dune systems dont have perfectly shaped surfaces. The dunes often have recessions and elevations along the tops of the dunes. When a storm-waves height surpasses the height of a recession in the dune, water seeps into the dune creating a washover. With consecutive, formidable storm-induced waves the washover impression deepens and widens. This results in a greater volume of water being able to spill over and flow inland. In some intense storm events like tropical cyclones, the washover may continue into the inland dunes. Luckily coastal dunes redevelop over time through constructive waves transporting sand to the beach. Although, areas hit by intense, frequent storms go through the rebuilding process much slower, due to a considerable quantity of sand being removed. Recurring, powerful storms also cause damage to the flora of the dune, further decelerating the process of regeneration. An example of how washovers have caused damage to dunes was the major storm damage that occurred at the Newcastle Port in 1974. The storm was called the Sygna Storm due to its ability to shipwreck the MV Sygna heading for Europe. The strom has wind gusts up to 165 kilometres/per hour, and swells were up to and over 17 metres high. The impact of the storm on the dunes was the well-built foredunes had been completely flattened. Washouts are linked with the penetration of sand barriers like those that segregate coastal lagoon from the open sea, after there has been a period of substantial rainfall. Washouts can also occur in dune systems, when there is a build-up of water in the swales that separate dunes. When there are slumps in the dunes surfaces, the water gets directed through the low points and overspills onto the beach, sometimes transport sand with it. ADJUSTMENT IN RESPONSE TO CHANGE Question 3. Compare and contrast the vulnerability and resilience of the two ecosystems at risk. Question 4. Evaluate the traditional and contemporary approaches to management and protection of both ecosystems. The two ecosystems at risk, coral reefs and sand dunes, are both highly specialised, and for this reason there have been many traditional and contemporary management strategies used to sustain them, and keep them as risk free as possible. Coral Reefs Traditional Management Strategies Traditional management approaches were mostly used by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The Aboriginals focused on preserving the reefs and maintaining equilibrium in the ecosystem. The first traditional management plan was season hunting. Season hunting involves hunting only occurring at specific designated times of the year, for example summer. This strategy guarantees that there will be flora and fauna available for the future generations, as well as not severely impacting the process in the food web. The Aboriginals and Islanders only took what resources they needed from the reef, which helped in maintaining dynamic equilibrium in the reef. The strategy has close links to ecological sustainability, as it focuses on protection and fostering the ecosystem. Another impressive traditional management tactic used by the Aboriginals in maintaining the reefs was restrictions on fish sizes. This practice involves only catching fish of a certain length of above. Through this practice the fish of the Great Barrier Reef are given the chance to reproduce at least once before their caught. This lets the ecosystem maintain levels of fauna and as much equilibrium as possible. Add more. Third Traditional Management Strategy Contemporary Management Strategies Coral reefs are also maintained through contemporary management strategies, with one being zoning. Zoning involves establishing what can be done and where it can be done. The purpose of zoning is to diminish stress placed on certain areas of the reef and maintain their ecological sustainability. An example of zoning is allowing commercial fishing to occur in some parts of the reef, while tourism developments can occur in the outer reef area. If imposed properly zoning is a very successful tool in managing and protecting the reefs, as well as allowing present generations to access its natural resources without compromising the reef for future generations. Another way in which reefs can be preserved is through benchmark data. Benchmark data is comparing the ecosystem that is at risk with the standard of that ecosystem. Benchmark data helps in understanding whether the reef ecosystem is at the standard that it should be to be regarded as healthy. For example the standard level globally for the amount of dissolved nitrogen in the water of coral reefs is 0.014ppm. This knowledge would help in knowing if there is too much nitrogen or not enough nitrogen in the water, and humans may then be able to influence its level of nitrogen. Benchmark data is important in interpreting the risk factor the reef ecosystem has. The managing of tourism on the reef is also a significant factor of contemporary management strategies. Tourism generally has a negative impact on the reef, so its important that these tourists learn more about the reefs and the need to manage them. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) makes all tourists pay a certain fee when visiting the reefs, so they can reinvest the money into education about the reefs and to manage them. One of the major issues regarding tourism in reefs is the concentration on certain areas. For example, around 85% of all Great Barrier Reef tourism occurs in the areas of Cairns and Whitsunday Islands. Though they only make up 7% of the entire Great Barrier Reef putting immense risk on these areas. Tourism in the Great Barrier Reef is usually a day trip and mostly spent on reef pontoons. Over the years there have been many pontoon accidents and so the GBRMPA decided to ban all pontoon activity unless granted otherwise. The GBRMPA has also impos ed speed limits in the reef as a way of managing the risks of the reefs. As there are thousands of boats passing through the reef every day, the GBRMPA made speed limits for boats so that the risk faced by the reefs be minimised. Tourism also impacts the wildlife and breeding cycles. Fauna have certain places and times when they are breeding and sometimes humans disturb their cycles, creating disequilibrium in that area. For example research found that many bird species that regularly bred on Michaelmas Cays had stopped breeding due to the growing tourist activity on the island. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) are in charge of most islands on which birds breed, and so if there irregularities in bird breeding on an island due to human activity, then the QPWS permanently close the island from humans. Coastal Dunes Traditional Management Strategies Very little is known on the traditional Aboriginal ways of the management of coastal dunes. There is archaeological proof that the Aborigines did frequent the dunes but would have only been used as camp sites or for special ceremonial occasions. The findings of middens, which are mounds of shells that indicate a seafood-based meal had occurred, are indicators to the type of marine environment in the area, and the time that the Aborigines used the resources. ASK MISS ABOUT MANAGEMENT THROUGH MIDDENS. Another traditional management strategy though to be used by the Aborigines was the use of totems. Totems are animals assumed as an emblem to an individual or family. For many Aborigines the totems were an animal ancestor of theirs. Their role was to look after and try to preserve their totem. They were not allowed to eat their totem animals or harm it in anyway. This management strategy helped in making sure species were not overhunted. The most known form of Aboriginal management of coa stal dunes was back-burning or cool burning. Back-burning occurred through fires or fire stick farming, and would occur during cool periods so the fires would not get out of hand and kill the whole ecosystem. ASK MISS ABOUT MANAGEMENT THROUGH FIRES. Contemporary Management Strategies For successful dune protection to occur, the natural functioning of the dune must be sustained, while allowing humans to use the coastal dune ecosystem in a sustainable manner. As dune restoration is extremely costly many bodies of power have used strategies that protect the current dunes, and keep them in the best possible condition. One strategy imposed is land-use controls. Through state and local governments there is the ability to have stricter planning laws on human activities, as undertakings on the coastal ecosystem like residential development has extremely negative consequences on the dunes. Local governments have the power to accept or decline any development applications on the dunes. With this power given to local governments the dune system, and specifically the foredune would be able to function in a more natural state. Fencing is another management strategy against human activities, especially trampling from beach users. Dune fences are usually built around the foredune area, and assist in stopping people from trampling the dune vegetation. Particularly when the vegetation is immature and fragile, as its at its most vulnerable state. The fences are made of timber and wire, allowing wind and sand sediment easy access in and out. Along with fencing, fenced access ways are used for people to get to and from the beach. Fenced access ways are built through the dune, and at an angle to the prevailing wind as it minimises funnelling. They are fenced off to further protect the vegetation. With the fenced access ways many dunes have board and chain paths. The chain and board paths help the coastal dunes through reducing trampling by humans, as well as the timber slats being an obstacle to wind erosion to the exposed sand. http://www.mrstevennewman.com/geo/Stockton/nature_change/Washover.JPG Rise in mean annual sea temperature Water temperature is one of the most important variables determining ecosystem function in the marine environment. External temperature controls metabolic rates, which, during non-stress conditions, increase with increasing temperatures in all but warm-blooded organisms. Consequently, persistent warmer temperatures can accelerate life history and population parameters such as growth and reproductive age, and ecosystem properties such as rates of calcification and community metabolism, until they reach a level where temperature stress accumulates and rates start to decline75. While warmer sea temperatures increase growth rates in some organisms such as fleshy macroalgae, they may slow down growth in others because of the relative lower nutrient concentrations in warmer compared to cooler water. At higher temperatures, water column productivity accelerates, depleting the standing stock of dissolved and particulate nutrients including phyto- and zooplankton (McKinnon et al. chapter 6). For example, kelp and other temperate brown macroalgae grow most prolifically at cooler temperatures where nutrient concentrations are higher than in warmer nutrient-depleted waters18, while the productivity of other macroalgae might increase at higher temperatures (DiazPulido et al. chapter 7). Similar responses are likely to occur in other species groups, exemplifying that shifts in the relative abundances of species are to be expected, with profound but yet poorly understood consequences for ecosystem properties and species interactions. Altered reproductive timing has bee n linked to rising mean annual sea temperature. Of particular concern is a potential desynchronisation of the mass-spawning event of corals that occurs annually in the GBR. Thousands of coral species from unrelated taxa synchronise their annual spawning based on sea temperature and moon phase5. The role temperature plays is demonstrated at Magnetic Island off Townsville, where waters are approximately 1Â °C warmer than in the surrounding region and a proportion of species spawn one month earlier on this reef than conspecifics in cooler waters near-by. Similarly, reproduction of fishes on the GBR appears to be triggered by increasing sea temperature in at least some tropical reef fishes16,17,98,49, including coral trout102. Increased temperature could cause an earlier start to the breeding season in these species, and possibly a longer breeding season if thermal limits for reproduction are not exceeded.