Sex Therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sex Therapy - Essay Example A sex therapist has professional training and the required practice to solve sexual problems. They generally have an educational background in other fields like psychology, medicine or social work. Many people have inhibitions in discussing their sexual problems but sex therapists help them overcome it. During their sessions they ask the patient to read various sex related books, practice better sexual communication skills and do touching exercises which are so designed so as to reduce their problem they have during intercourse. Sex therapy does not give a medical degree but has a separate course with its own rules and regulations (Indiadiets.com, 1999). Many women all over the world are facing childbirth problems which can be solved through sex therapy. The sex therapist helps in determining the exact problems that a couple faces in childbirth. He assesses the whole situation and provides the solution accordingly. There are people who have been sexually abused and are suffering from depression. A sex therapist through proper counseling can help such people overcome the problem. Thus sex therapy also helps in clinical works. In a case, a wife had been refered to a sex therapist by a pshcologist.

Post Confederation Canada Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Post Confederation Canada - Research Paper Example Although Canada was already an independent colony, British felt that there were internal political obstacles that she needed to solve. Consequently, the two conflicting parties, the Tories and the Clear Grits, came to unite in 18672. Nevertheless, this essay will describe Quasi-Federalism (and the subsequent types of federalisms) an aspect of Post Confederation Canada. To begin with, activities surrounding the Post Confederation Canada shaped Canadian history in many ways. One of the aspects of Post Confederation Canada that contributes to the shape of this country is the quasi federalism. Quasi federalism occurs when a state appears as if is divided into jurisdictions however is in fact a unitary state without any divided authority. Quasi federalism features involved contrasts between federalism and conservatism. For instance, immediately after confederation in Canada, the emerging partisan politics claimed that the strongest support for decentralization actually came from Ontario n ot Quebec or the Maritimes. In this instance, Canadian authority appeared as divided but in real sense, it was a pattern of rights between centralist’s supporters and conservatism, but whose view was same3. Quasi federalism in Post Confederation Canada produced another feature of partisan politics whereby the patterns of governance portrayed dominance in different levels of administration. In Post Confederation, features of political atmosphere dominance in Canada were prevalent. In this case, one political dominated the provincial level whereas opposition affirmed control at the federal level. Quasi federalism comprised of such features whereby, of the thirty years following Confederation in Canada, the Conservatives reigned in power for twenty-six years. A political scientist, Russell, argues that, in the case of contemporary politics Canada has experienced the same pattern of federal Conservative control even after the Mulroney Conservatives4. The major purpose of Russellà ¢â‚¬â„¢s point of this observation is to assert that provincial politics transcend significantly into federal politics. It is worthwhile to note that, quasi federalism in Post Confederation Canada was different from the American state governance. While American state governors faced restriction via series of strict checks and balances, it was ultimately different from quasi federalism state governance by which the main restrictive force found within the Canadian case was the continued rivalry found among regional interests5. However, even though quasi federalism led to economic transformation, however, dominated by the elites who did little to appeal to the wider public was constructive and contributed to a significant and essential period of nation building directly after the confederation. Cognitively, this economic growth in Post Confederation Canada helped shape the overall structure of the nation and the living standards of the fortunate. The evolution process of quasi federali sm in Post Confederation Canada is one of the most important features shaping the structure and functions of state governance. Throughout quasi federalism evolution, people could consider it hierarchical since its structural composition had central authority and regional subordinates. Instead, people considered quasi federalism as a system

Effects of Changes to International Accounting Standards

Effects of Changes to International Accounting Standards CONTENTS PAGE (Jump to) (1)(a) REQUIRED CHANGES UNDER INTERNATIONAL  ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (1)(b) MERITS AND DEMERITS OF EXTINCTION OF  EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS (1)(c) RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES AND HISTORICAL  COSTS (1)(d) CLASSIFICATION OF PREFERENCE SHARES  AND DIVIDENDS (2)(a) OBJECTIVES OF IAS 7 AND DISTINCTION  BETWEEN IAS 7 FRS (2)(b) PREPARATION OF A CASH FLOW STATEMENT UNDER  A DIRECT METHOD UNDER IAS7 FRS (2)(c) ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPANY’S LIQUIDITY IN  ACCORDANCE WITH THE INFORMATION ON THE CASH FLOW BIBLIOGRAPHY This report relates to the recent changes in the International Accounting Standards. Furthermore, it underlines the primary principles that Sky Corporation must comply with. (1)(a) REQUIRED CHANGES UNDER INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS After the introduction of the International Accountant Standards, all public limited companies must comply with these provisions. Sky Corporation must adhere to the IAS 1, effective on all financial statements dating on and from 1st January 2005. In effect the Sky plc will have to prepare its financial statements on a going concern basis unless there is an intension to liquidate the entity, accrual basis of accounting must be used in the preparation of financial statements except for cash flow statements, presentation and classification of items must be obtained from one period to the next, material class of similar items must be presented separately and dissimilar items must be included separately unless they are immaterial, items (individually or collectively) that are likely to influence the economic decision of the user must not be omitted or misstated, assets, liabilities, income and expenses must not be offset unless approved by an IFRS, financial statements must be presented a t least annually, all amounts relating to comparative information must be disclosed in financial statements. Furthermore, Sky must adhere to the disclosure requirements on the face of or in the notes to the balance sheet BS, income statement and statement of changes in equity. Current and non-current assets and liabilities must be present as separate classification on the face of the BS. Additionally, financial statements must include specified disclosure in relation to information, judgements, estimations, uncertainties and accounting policies. At present, Sky’s accountant made a statement indicating that the financial statements in the forthcoming November 2005 accounts will comply with the principles of IAS. In addition, the company’s financial statements included audited reconciliation of the 2005 Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow to UK GAAP from IFRS detailing the impact of the Company’s new accounting policies, and unaudited quarterly 2005 Income Statements to provide comparatives for 2006. (1)(b) MERITS AND DEMERITS OF EXTINCTION OF EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS ISA 1 regarding the presentation of financial statements was issued in December 2003 and is applicable for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005. International Accounting Standard (IAS 1) prescribes the grounds for presentation of general-purpose financial statements, to ensure comparability both with entity’s financial statements of previous periods and with financial statements of other entities. ISA 1 does not serve any application to interim financial statements prepared in accordance with the ISA 34. Under the SSAP 6 extraordinary items are material items which are transaction that fall outside the ordinary activities of the company and thus not expected to recur frequently or regularly. By excluding extraordinary items from the PL, this will reflect on the EPS. Exclusion of extraordinary items will benefit the current operating performance. As far as Sky Communications Plc is, concern there appears to be no extraordinary items in their PL account. Additionally, EPS will be greater than expected if extraordinary items were included since the EPS is used by investors to calculate PE ratio. The exclusion of extraordinary items could also lead to an increase in corporation tax. (1)(c) RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES AND HISTORICAL COSTS Under the FRED 22 (revision of FRS3)which aim to reflect the international shift, makes provisions for reporting comprehensive income such as reporting all recognised gains and losses in a sole statement instead of splitting these gains and losses between the performance statement and the STRGL. There is a need for the display of recognised gains and losses as they are part of the company’s operating activities and some are financial in nature. There is a list of recognised gains and losses that should appear in the treasury section of the performance statement. According to Sky’s accounts for 2004 and 2005, there were no recognised gains or losses in either year other than those included within the profit and loss account. Primarily, statement of total recognised gains and losses are financial statements that enable users to consider all recognised gains and losses of a reporting company in assessing the company’s overall performance. Notes of historical costs are necessary as it identifies the resources acquired by the company at their original price. In effect, this identifies how the items are actually measured over a period. Additionally, it assists with the understanding of capital maintenance adjustments. Firstly, assets are recorded at the value of the consideration given to acquire them at the time of acquisition. Liabilities are recorded at the amount of proceeds received in exchange for the obligation. The purpose for this is to measure the process of determining the monetary amounts in which the element of the financial statements are to be recognised and carried in the balance sheet and in the income statement. (1)(d) CLASSIFICATION OF PREFERENCE SHARES AND DIVIDENDS According to the IAS 1 preference shares are reclassified to borrowings and the preference dividends are reclassified to finance costs. However, when preference shares are non-redeemable, the appropriate classification is determined by the rights attached to the preference shares. Classification is dependent upon an assessment of the substance of the contractual arrangements, equity instrument and the definition of financial liability. Furthermore, the classification of preference shares as an equity instrument or a financial liability is unaffected by a history of making distributions and an intention to make distribution in the future. Under IAS 10, a company must not recognise a liability for dividends in respect of dividends declared after the balance sheet date as it is not a current liability at the balance sheets date under IAS 37. In the event that a company purchases its preference shares for cancellation for more than their carrying amount (premium) then this should be treated as preferred dividend in the calculation of EPS. (2)(a) OBJECTIVES OF IAS 7 AND DISTINCTION BETWEEN IAS 7 FRS1 The structure of the IAS 7 had an influence on the revision of FRS 1. The objective of IAS 7 is that a cash flow statement of a company must correspond to the requirements and identifications under IAS1. In addition, the cash flow must identify movement in cash and cash equivalents during the financial period (cash equivalents are short term and highly liquid investments). Furthermore, there must be a provision identifying and classifying the changes in cash and cash equivalents to operating, investing and financing activities. In a number of cases, there are conflicting factors between the framework of the Financial Reporting Standards and the International Accounting Standards. In the event of conflict, the framework of the International Accounting Standards prevails over the Financial Reporting Standards. IAS 7 requires companies to present cash flow statements as part of a company’s financial statement. International Accounting Standards (IAS 7) is a mechanism that provide additional information on the company’s business activities, assess the present liquidity of the business activities, demonstrate substantial cash flow sources, assist with the estimation of future cash flows and finally will identify cash flow accumulated from trading activities rather than sources of finance. (2)(b) PREPARATION OF A CASH FLOW STATEMENT UNDER A DIRECT METHOD UNDER IAS7 FRS1 The following is a cash flow for Sky plc prepared in accordance with the direct method IAS 7: Notes for Guidance (1) Net profit before tax is taken from the extract of the income statement. (2) Depreciation is shown as a note to the income statement. (3) Loss on sale of the non-current asset; proceeds minus (cost less depreciation to date) see note A1 below. (4) Interest expense is shown on income statement. Changes in Working Capital Structure: Inventory, receivables and payables are differences in opening and closing balances shown on the balance sheet. Disposal Account ( £000’s) Non-Current Assets Notes: (A2, A3 and A4) The interest paid is the net interest cost shown on the income statement and is the 10% charge on loan notes shown on the balance sheet for June 2000. The dividend and tax paid in the year are those shown on the 1999 balance sheet extract under the heading Current Liabilities. (A5) Purchase of Non-Current Assets (A6 A7) Proceeds from the issue of shares and loan notes are the increases shown on the difference between the two balance sheet figures for 2004 and 2005. (A8) This is the net effect from operating activities  £7,975, net cash used in investing activities (8,525) and the net cash flow from financing activities 1,550. (A9) This is the bank figure under current assets 2004 balance sheet. (A10) Bank balance on 2005 balance sheet. (2)(c) ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPANY’S LIQUIDITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INFORMATION ON THE CASH FLOW. Having examined the accounts and financial statements of Sky plc, there is clear evidence reflecting on the company’s liquidity level. Firstly, the measurement of the liquidity ratio revealed that the company was in healthy liquid position. Current Ratio= Current Assets / Current Liabilities Current Ratio of Sky = current assets  £1,830m/ current liabilities  £1,481m= 1.24 times The current ratio measures a company’s ability to meets its financial obligations as they fall due. A normal current ratio is two. Sky’s current ratio is relatively stable considering the type of industry of Sky plc. Acid Ratio= Current Assets- stock/current liabilities Acid Ratio of Sky= Current Assets  £1,830m- Stock  £627m/ Current liabilities  £1,482m=0.81 times The acid ratio clearly indicate that Sky has a high levels of stack and this also demonstrates that the current ratio overstated Sky’s ability to meet its financial obligations because of the inclusion of the stock in the numerator. The information provided in the cash flow, demonstrated clear evidence of liquidity in the flowing of cash. For example, there was a dramatic net increase in cash and cash equivalents of  £1,000m over a year. Furthermore, this indicate that the company’s economic activities are performing well in comparison to the previous year. However, amount  £8525m was invested in investing activities, this figure being greater than the company’s net cash flow from operating activities amounting to  £7975m. Nevertheless, the short fall in the financing of investing activity was meet by new issue of shares  £50m and issue of bank loans  £1500m. Inevitably, the bank loan increases company’s debt and the gearing level of the company. Nevertheless, over a year company’s bank balance increased from  £1250 to  £2250m. In conclusion, the accounts of Sky plc indicate substantial development but there are great expenditure resulting from investment in activities. However, there is not a real concern over the liquidity of the company nor any chances of bankruptcy. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cox .D. 1999 â€Å"Business Accounts† 2nd Edt Osborn Business Naylor.J. 1999 â€Å"Management† Financial Times Prentice Hall Pendlebury. M Groves .R . 2000 â€Å" Company Accounts, Analysis, Interpretation and Understanding† 5th Edt Thompson Russell. D et al 2002 â€Å"Cost Accounting an Essential Guide† Financial Times Prentice Hall. Watson . D Head. A. 2001 â€Å"Corporate Finance Principles and Practice† 2nd Edt Financial Times Prentice Hall.

Leo’s Barber Shop Essay -- Observation Essays

Leo’s Barber Shop As the glass door opens, the din from Second Street fades from your ears. The clean crisp cut of scissors, the flick of combs through wet hair, the buzz of electric clipping shears, and the occasional blast of air from a blow dryer captivate your sense of sound. Joe, a large, bald man, wearing an aqua T-shirt and blue jeans tied up with an old brown leather belt, gives his customary greeting, â€Å"Howdy there,† to a man who has just entered. The sign above Joe’s mirror reads: â€Å"Hair cuts—ten dollars, Seniors—eight dollars.† It is Saturday morning, and at Leo’s Barber Shop business is brisk. Joe and two other barbers are working at a fast clip, keeping their eyes on the scalps of the customers and periodically throwing quick glances to the line that is forming in the waiting area. Hector, wearing a maroon wind-breaker and baseball cap, is putting an apron on a kid to the right of Joe. Chris is trimming a man’s sideburns, leveling h er green, contact-lens covered eye to the shears. Four chairs near the entrance are occupied by men of various sorts. Some are reading newspapers or magazines, while others sit looking out the front window. One man clad in denim is standing outside the shop with a cigarette held to his mouth. The barbers at Leo’s have their work cut out for them today. Inside, Joe puts the clipping shears to the locks of a slumbering child, whose head is being propped up by his mother’s hands. The child awakens to find his lamb-like curls falling to the checkered floor; his large chocolate brown eyes begin to swell with tears. Fortunately for Joe, the boy’s mother is able to shut off the water works with a few words of reassurance in Spanish. The youngster stoically endures the procedure. Ju... ...s asks. â€Å"That looks good,† the student replies, looking into the mirror. â€Å"Here,† she gives him the comb, â€Å"brush it the way you like to.† Finding the part, he combs it down. Afterwards he compliments her on a job well done. After paying, the student tells Chris that he will see her in another six weeks, and to take care. Before opening the glass door Joe throws the student a wave. â€Å"Hey, when you’re done with that English paper bring us a copy, I’ll put it up on my wall and make yah famous!† he says. Returning his wave, the student walks into the light of the setting sun; the sounds of the barber shop diminish. Looking through the shop window, he sees Hector sweeping up the hair of his last customer. Shouts from the nearby Cantina, interrupted by a blast from a car horn, take the place of the low, metallic murmur of the clipping shears.

Effects of Mercury Contaminated Fish on Consumer’s Health Essay

Mercury is an element that comes naturally in nature, or manufactured by humans.   It comes in different forms.   According to the New Jersey Department of Health, mercury may be found as metallic mercury, a kind of silver-gray liquid that is harmful when exposed into the air and breathed in; methylmercury, which may be ingested by eating fish; inorganic mercury which can be found in over-the-counter drugs, batteries, and other pharmaceuticals, and is harmful when breathed in or swallowed; and phenylmercury in household products like paints, cosmetics   and toiletries and is harmful when breathed in, swallowed or passed through the skin (Kapsch, et. al, 1999).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This paper delves into the mercury and its harmful effects on the fish population and ultimately, adverse effects on   human health. Mercury in the Environment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As noted above, mercury is found naturally in the environment.  Ã‚   Paul Kapsch, Matt Landi and Sarah Scwartz writes that natural incidents and accidents like forest fires and volcanic eruptions spew mercury into the air (1999).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Natural Resource Defense Council adds that   power plants and certain chemicals manufacturers, as well as other industrial facilities release mercury into the air through their daily operations.   The released mercury eventually ends up in the waterways and oceans.   Fish in these ecosystems ingest the mercury, which people, in turn ingest by eating the fish. (NRDC, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mercury is also present in many things that one has at home like fluorescent and neon lamps, mercury switches in chest freezes, thermostat probes, thermometers, barometers and other gauges, laboratory solutions and even dental amalgam (Kapsch, et. al, 1999).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Paul Kapsch and his partners outlined the environmental impact of mercury.   Citing ExtoxNet (1999), Kapsch, et. al, stated that while mercury enters the environment, concentrations in the air and atmosphere is generally very low.   Mercury, however, is deposited into forest ecosystems where it accumulates in highly toxic forms.   Eventually it leads up to aquatic ecosystems, which in some cases contribute to human health problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Natural Resource Defense Council added that when mercury enters into the various water systems, bacteria take it in and convert it into a type of methyl mercury, which is easily absorbed by humans (1999).   The NRDC also explained that the mercury then â€Å"works it way up the food chain† as larger fish eat smaller contaminated fish.   Mercury, however, does not break down.   Instead it accumulates in fish (1999).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To illustrate the point, the NRDC stated that predatory fishes like sharks and mackerel have been found to have 10,000 times higher mercury concentration (1999). How Mercury Enters the Body   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mercury can enter the body by breathing it in, swallowing or eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water , or through the skin (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2008).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Consumption of contaminated fish, however, is one of the most dangerous way of getting mercury in the body since it involves methylmercury, which is easily absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract into a person’s bloodstream (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2008).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 2003, Dr. Jane Hightower, doctor of internal medicine at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, found that 89% of participating patients had high mercury levels.   Most of these participants had as much as four times the safe level of mercury in their blood stream.   Participants in Dr. Hightower’s study were chosen precisely because of their fish-heavy diets. (NRDC, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Once in the bloodstream, the mercury goes into various parts of the body.   Methylmercury in pregnant women gets passed on into the child’s blood stream and then into the child’s brain.   A nursing mother may pass the methylmercury through breast milk. (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2008). Health Risks   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The NRDC says that mercury exposure can be particularly hazardous for pregnant women and small children.  Ã‚   The NRDC adds that mercury exposure can lead to cerebral palsy, mental retardation, blindness and deafness in infants and fetuses.   Even with a minimal exposure, the child may be delayed in learning how to walk and talk, have low attention span and may later on develop learning disabilities   (NRDC, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And the numbers are alarming.   In July 2005, researchers at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 1 in 17 women of childbearing age have more than 5.8 micrograms of mercury per liter of blood.   The CDC stated that this level may pose a risk to the developing child (NRDC, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mercury-contaminated fish is not just dangerous for children and pregnant women but it is also dangerous for adults (Mercola.Com, 2003).   Mercola.Com related that mercury destroys the nerve tissues, the visual cortex and the cerebellum.   It affects complex movements and balance.   It also leads to problems in attention span and language.   It also decreases concentration, deftness and verbal memory in adults.   (Mercola.Com, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For some adults, mercury poisoning can lead to fertility problems and blood pressure regulation problems.   It also causes memory loss, vision loss, numbness in the fingers and toes, and tremors.   It is suspected that mercury exposure also leads to heart disease (NRDC, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry warned that the nervous system is prone to mercury contamination.   The Agency said that in this type of mercury poisoning, some people who consumed seed grains and fish contaminated with large amounts of methyl mercury developed severe brain and kidneys damage.  Ã‚   The Agency explains that mercury accumulates in the kidneys, so it damages it more.   (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2008).   * * *   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The above discussion shows that consumption of mercury contaminated fish is very dangerous for consumer’s health, and is a source of different diseases especially in   (but not limited to) children and pregnant women. Studies have concluded that mercury poisoning have caused several conditions and diseases from simple memory loss, loss of concentration, fertility problems to something as grave and irreparable as mental retardation and kidney ailments.   And studies on the relationship between mercury and other, more life-threatening diseases like heart ailments are currently underway.   The growing body of evidence all points to some disease that can be traced to mercury poisoning.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Consumers have to actively control their fish diets.   If they are fond of eating fish, they might find it useful to regularly check and look for advisories regarding mercury contamination in their area.   It is also recommended that they regularly check their own mercury levels and if they found their mercury levels higher they have to consult with their doctors immediately.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Since mercury poisoning is more dangerous to pregnant women and small children, it might be best to veer away from eating fish altogether, and take up healthier choices such as vegetables and dairy products.   Being more vigilant with regards to one’s diet can reap long-term prevention that would help ensure optimum health.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Authorities need to take much stronger steps to protect a far greater portion of people.   Authorities must examine their antiquated safeguards designed to protect an average person   from an average amount of methyl mercury in fish and take more protective and realistic actions against exposure to methyl mercury through food. Authorities need to constantly update themselves, as â€Å"safe levels† of mercury in the diet are constantly changing.   In fact, the trend is that the required safe levels are getting higher with each new research that goes out of the pipeline.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Public health authorities, as well as community leaders, or any health-related organization, must come together to inform, educate and empower the public about the dangers of fish consumption, mercury contamination, and adverse health effects.   Information is the best weapon against mercury contamination, without it, no amount of public policy will be sufficient or effective.   The public needs to be aware of what mercury does to the body, the diseases associated with it, where mercury could be found, how it gets into your body, what measures are to be done.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   More than anything, it is high time to look at more efficient ways of disposing all types of mercury.   Since mercury could be found in nature, it will be next to impossible to eradicate it.   What one could hope for is to reduce environmental damage from the mercury that we can control.   If people could somehow take care and reduce the amount of mercury that goes into the environment as waste, people would be protecting not only the oceans and the fish, but also themselves.   Taking care of the environment would ensure sustainability in the future and would drastically decrease mercury–and in fact and principle–all types of contamination.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In effect, stopping or greatly reducing mercury contamination and all the ill effects associated with it takes the effort of everybody in the community, but it starts mainly with your self.          References Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (Content source); Sidney Draggan and Emily Monosson (Topic Editors). 2008. â€Å"Public Health Statement for Mercury.† In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth November 13, 2007; Last revised January 24, 2008; Retrieved April 2, 2008]. Jeremy Laurence, (8 March, 2007) Fish Contaminated With Mercury ‘Pose Worldwide Threat to Health. The Independent.   Retrieved on 3 April 2008. Kapsch, Paul, Landi, Matt and Schwartz Sarah. (1999). Mercury. University of Vermont. Retrieved on 3 April 2008. Learn About Mercury and Its Effects, (2006) Natural Resource Defense Council. Retrieved on 23rd March 2008. Mercury-Contaminated Fish Poses Health Risks to Adults, (2003) Mercola.com. Retrieved on 25th March, 2008.      

Kentucky v. King case Brief

Facts: In Lexington, Kentucky, police officers followed a suspected drug dealer to an apartment building where he went. When they arrived outside of the door to the apartment where the suspect was they reportedly could smell marajuana. The police then knocked and shouted they they were there and in return they could hear what sounded like people destroying the evidence and running around. The police then knocked down the door and saw the respondent as well as drugs laying out without having to look anywhere. Later the police found more drugs and paraphernalia doing a more in-depth search. â€Å"The Circuit Court denied respondent’s motion to suppress the evidence, holding that exigent circumstances—the need to prevent destruction of evidence—justified the warrantless entry. Respondent entered a conditional guilty plea, reserving his right to appeal the suppression ruling, and the Kentucky Court of Appeals affirmed. † The Supreme Court of Kentucky also assumed that there was an exigent circumstance but it still invalidated the search. The court stated that the police should have foreseen that their conduct would most likely result in the tenants attempting to destroy the evidence therefore they should have had a warrant before going there. Issue: A warrantless entry based on exigent circumstances is reasonable when the police did not create the exigency by engaging or threatening to engage in conduct violating the Fourth Amendment. Meaning in this case, if the police had not busted down the door there would have never been destruction of drugs and paraphernalia. Kentucky Supreme Court actually asked whether officers deliberately created the exigent circumstances with the bad faith intent to avoid the warrant requirement. Obviously warrants require paperwork and time and many police officers feel that it is a hassle and takes too long; the exigent circumstance could have been purposely made so the police officers could avoid waiting or waisting time as some see it. Rule: Assuming that an exigency existed here, there is no evidence that the officers either violated the Fourth Amendment or threatened to do so prior to the point when they entered the apartment. From what was brought to the Supreme Courts attention the police did everything properly, they knocked on the door loudly and told the tenants they were the police. If they do not do those two things the tenants may not hear them or they may not open the door because they do not know who it is. This is where the situation became exigent because then the tenants inside began running around and obviously destroying evidence. The police then shouted they were going to enter the apartment and busted the door down to get it. The respondent pointed to no evidence supporting his argument that the officers made any sort of demand to enter the apartment, much less a demand that amounts to a threat to violate the Fourth Amendment. The record was made clear that the officers’ announcement that they were going to enter the apartment was made after the exigency arose, therefore everything that happened was just. Analysis: There was much controversy with this case because police officers did enter an apartment with no warrant. Since there were no bystanders or other evidence except the police officers and the tenants involved it was very difficult to come out with a verdict. Of course the police officers stated that there were exigent circumstances occurring before they enter the apartment and the tenants states that there were no exigent circumstances until they entered the apartment. Unfortunately, both could have been true because both have occurred before. In this case, the police officers did everything correctly and were not trying to avoid getting a search warrants. The knocked on the door because they smelled marajuana and after the tenants began destroying evidence the police entered due to the exigency of the situation. Conclusion: The tenants were going to try to do anything to get away with what they had been caught with. They felt like their privacy was violated because even though they were conducting illegal activities, they were doing so behind closed doors and in the privacy of their home. What they failed to realize is that even if you are in your home with the door locked if you create a situation in which arises police officers attention then escalates to a level of exigency they can enter your home if you do not open the door. Their Fourth Amendment was not violated and the tenants were in the wrong.