Are Hunters Environmentalists

Hunters call themselves conservationists and environmentalists, but an examination of the true effects of hunting on the environment calls these claims into question. Hunters and Habitat Protection In general, hunters support habitat protection and want to see wildlife and wild lands protected so that there will be plenty of hunting opportunities. However, many hunters view the lands in the same way that they view animals - they have little intrinsic value and exist to serve the hunters purposes. An article about a massive proposal for the management of over a million acres of Colville National Forest in Northeastern Washington, including logging on 400,000 acres, sums up the position of hunters: In a nutshell, hunters want to know, will the hunts of tomorrow be as good, better or worse than they were yesterday? Hunting and Habitat Manipulation From hearing hunters talk about the overpopulations of deer, bears and other game animals, one would think they are practically tripping over this megafauna in the American wilderness. However, this is not the case, and both public and private lands are managed in a variety of ways to increase hunting opportunities, regardless of what is natural or necessary. The most egregious example is probably clearcutting. In an attempt to boost deer populations, state wildlife management agencies, which are run by hunters for hunters and make their money from the sales of hunting licenses, will clearcut the forests on public lands in order to create the edge habitat that is favored by deer. In their literature, they seldom admit that this is the purpose of the clearcutting, and often vaguely claim that it benefits wildlife or game. Many Americans believe we already have too many deer, and would not tolerate attempts to increase the deer population. Hunters also tend to support logging on public lands because like clearcutting, logging creates edge habitat for deer. Additionally, some hunters plant food plots to feed and attract wildlife, especially deer. Food plots artificially boost the deer population, cause deer to grow larger, and attract deer to the area. They are not good for wildlife and the ecosystem in general because they tend to be monocultures, which decrease biodiversity and foster the spread of crop diseases. Another common method of habitat manipulation is baiting. Hunters begin baiting wildlife days or even weeks before they plan to hunt, to increase the chances that theyll be able to kill an animal on the day of their hunt. Everything from corn to apples to stale donuts is used to bait wildlife. Baiting is dangerous because the food can be unhealthy for all wildlife and accustoms the animals to human food. Bait piles also cause animals and their feces to concentrate in a small area, which spreads disease. Some hunters do not consider baiting to be ethical. Ironically, many states ban or restrict wildlife feeding by the general population but allow baiting by hunters. Hunting and Lead Hunters have repeatedly opposed attempts to regulate or ban lead ammunition. The fear is that regulations on lead ammunition will lead to other regulations of hunting and arms in general, despite clear evidence that lead is a poison to humans and wildlife. Lead ammunition has been proven to poison wildlife directly and also contaminates the water and soil. To their credit, the California Department of Fish and Game has now banned lead ammunition for hunting in condor habitat. Hunting and the Wildlife Overpopulation Myth Hunters claim to take the place of other predators in controlling the populations of prey species. There are several problems with this argument: The populations of prey species do not need to be controlled. As discussed above, deer populations are artificially increased to maximize hunting opportunities. Hunters increase the deer population to create the illusion of deer overpopulation in order to gain public support for hunting.Hunters do not act like other predators. While other predators target the old, the young, the sick and the weak, hunters target the largest specimens with the biggest tusks, antlers or horns. Instead of culling the weakest members of the species and helping the species to evolve to be stronger, hunters are what Newsweek magazine calls evolution in reverse and survival of the weak and scrawny. Bighorn sheep now have smaller horns compared to thirty years ago, and fewer African and Asian elephants have tusks.If the deer in a certain area become overpopulated and the food is scarce, the lack of food will cause weaker individuals to starve to death and the fawns will absorb more embryos and have fewer off spring.In addition to artificially increasing wild populations of deer, state wildlife management agencies also breed animals specifically to be hunted. Predators do not breed pheasant and quail so they can be hunted.Hunters often say that a population of animals is overabundant, which is not a scientific term but misleads the public into thinking that the animals are overpopulated. Overpopulation is a scientific concept and exists when a species exceeds its biological carrying capacity. This deceptive terminology gains public sympathy for hunting and creates an illusion that hunting is desirable or even necessary. Hunting Stocked Animals Any possible argument that hunting benefits the ecosystem or controls wildlife populations go completely out the window when it comes to stocked animals. Pheasant, quail and chukar partridge are bred and raised in captivity by state wildlife management agencies, transported to pre-announced sites at pre-announced times, and released so that they can be shot by hunters. Do Hunters Pay for Land Conservation? Hunters claim that they pay for public lands but the amount they pay is trivial compared to what comes out of general funds. They are also constantly trying to pay even less (e.g. Paul Ryans legislation lowering the federal tax on arrows). Almost 90% of the lands in our National Wildlife Refuge system came from the public domain. They werent purchased at all. Only 3% of National Wildlife Refuge lands was purchased with funds from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which has various sources of funding, one of which is the sale of duck stamps that hunters and stamp collectors buy. This means that hunters paid for less than 3% of the land in our National Wildlife Refuges. Funds from the sales of hunting licenses go to state wildlife management agencies, and some of those funds may go toward purchasing land. An excise tax on the sale of weapons and ammunition goes into the Pittman-Robertson fund, which is distributed to state wildlife management agencies and may be used for land acquisition. However, most gun owners are not hunters, and only 14% to 22% of gun owners who pay into the Pittman-Robertson fund are hunters. Furthermore, hunters are unlikely to support habitat protection unless they are also allowed to hunt in that area. They generally do not support the protection of wild lands merely for the sake of the wildlife or the ecosystem.

Coleridges Romantic Imagination Essay - 2896 Words

Coleridges Romantic Imagination The concept of the romantic imagination is subject to varied interpretation due to the varied and changing perceptions of romantic artists. There are several ways through which the concept of the romantic imagination in Samuel Taylor Coleridges poetry can be perceived. This difference in perception is a result of the readers personal interpretation of the subject matter, which varies from person to person. Therefore, the focus of this analytical discussion will be based upon my own personal rendition of Coleridges romantic imagination. This personal interpretation of the romantic imagination will be revealed through an analysis of Coleridges state of mind as he interacts with nature.†¦show more content†¦Lastly, once one is able to recognize that the diversity and purity of nature puts Coleridge in a virtuous and individualistic state of mind, one is able to perceive of how these connections with nature, in turn allow him to achieve an affiliated state of mind. Many of Coleridges poems present detailed accounts of his interactions with nature. Though it is easy to assume that this detail is simply an attempt to make his poetry more beautiful and pleasing to the average reader, one must contemplate Coleridges true intent. Coleridge, in Aids to Reflection (1829), several years after writing Frost at Midnight (1798), believes that The reason of [for] the variety and infinity of objects is given in the doctrine that external objects are mere signs of internal essences. (Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. quoted in Gardner, Joseph H., Emerson, ANQ, Coleridge, and a Phantom Quotation., Spring2000, Vol. 13 Issue 2, p32.) Coleridges view can be applied to his preceding poetic works in order to give one a clearer comprehension of the state of mind that has resulted from his interaction with nature. If one is to relate Coleridges latter view to his previous poetry, Coleridges painted account of nature can be seen as a manifestation of his inner self. This connection leads us to see how Coleridges identification with individual aspects of nature, define his individuality. Once one is able toShow MoreRelatedHow Is ‚Äà ºThis Lime-Tree Bower My Prison‚Äà ¹ Reflective of Romantic Ideologies?1041 Words   |  5 PagesSamuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, â€Å"This Lime-tree bower my prison† is one of the most quoted examples of romanticism. 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This allowed them to ignore the strict rules in regard to diction, style and form that the enlightenments were so enthralled with. Samuel T Coleridge, one of the most popular Romantics, in his time and ours is well known to have had a substance

Economics for a Sustainable World

Question: Explain about the market demand and supply and market efficiency. Answer: 1A With the change in the demand of a particular product (per unit), there is going to be a change in the equilibrium price and the quantity demanded in the similar direction. In illustrating the law of demand, it is observed that a decline in the quantity demanded would certainly cause a decline in the equilibrium price and quantity of a product (Arnold, 2001). On the other hand, an increase in the quantity demanded would increase the equilibrium price and quantity of a product. 1B A change in supply curve would cause in shift in the equilibrium price and output in the opposite directions, i.e. an increase in the supply will cause a deduction in the equilibrium price and quantity of goods supplied and vice versa (Ashenfelter, , 2006). Due to the increase in the supply, the firm is able to supply at an excess quantity at initial price of the product and surplus supply causes the price to get reduced and the demand increases and as the demand increases the firm is able to boost up its revenue and vice versa. 1C A price floor is regarded as economically significant, provided the former is greater than the free market equilibrium price. As a result, price floors may lead to excess supply of the product. A higher base price might lead to higher quantity supplied in the market (Baye, 2000). Thus that creates nominal market demand and hardly few people are willing to pay off higher price for the products. Thus the firm is said to be inefficient to participate in the market. References Arnold, R. (2001).Economics. Cincinnati, Ohio: South-Western College Pub. Ashenfelter, O., Layard, R., Card, D. (2006).Handbook of labor economics. Amsterdam: North-Holland. Baye, M. (2000).Managerial economics business strategy. Boston: Irwin/McGraw-Hill. Mason, R., Lind, D., Marchal, W. (2009).Statistical techniques in business and economics. Boston, Mass.: Irwin/McGraw Hill.

National Food free essay sample

The National Foods: National Foods is a  well-known name in market. It was  founded in 1970 and  started out as a Spice company. 3 decades later it has diversified into a versatile Food Company with over 150 and above products and 100 and above SKUs (Stock Keeping Unit) for the domestic market and over 100  different products for the international markets. The  vision  to  see  National  Foods  as  a  professionally  managed Human  Resource company, set more then 7 years ago, was realized by transforming a local company into Avery dynamic and progressive management structure in line with industry practices. Competent Human Resources from within the company have fuelled tremendous growth  by excelling in Functional Management. Even after 3 decades the companys focal point still  remains  on. Customers needs  through: Product Development  in  line  with  the changing market trends . In this innovative age of ever changing lifestyles, fuelled by the rampant development of  technology; consumers have been compelled to change their eating habits. We will write a custom essay sample on National Food or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page NationalFoods  responds  to  this  challenge  of  developing  innovative  food   Products  based  on convenience and fast preparation in line with modern lifestyles and yet retains traditional values through its impressive collection of food products. The brand delivers its ultimate promise by consistently delivering value to its consumers. National Foods enriches family relationships by bringing people together for family traditions, feasts, and seasonal holidays and of course everyday life . As National food is a known name in market, it has already different brands  in market like   * Jams * Ketchup * Achar * Kheer mix * Custard powder etc. Now National food is introducing a new brand named Rivaaj. National  food  is  introducing  the  six  different Rivaaj pastes. * Biryani Paste * Bombay Biryani Paste * Karahi Paste * Quorma Paste * Shahi Curry Paste * Chicken Jalfrezi Paste National Food  Marketing mix Four Ps are the most important factors for  any company in making the  marketing plan. To  be specific, these 4 Ps are 1) Product your product(s)and services 2) Price what youll charge customers for products and services ) Place (distribution) how you will bring your product(s) together with your customers 4) Promotion how you will promote or create awareness of your product in the marketplace SUPPLY CHAIN OF NATIONAL FOOD * Distribution Channel Role of Distribution Channel: Middleman  is of  lot  of  concern  for  the  distrib ution  of  our  product. Middle  man involvement is necessary for our product because our product is not that kind of in which we direct contact with end user, so that’s why we need the role of middle man which specifies the role of our distribution channel. Type of Distribution Channel: Our product is a consumer good. So our distribution chain is: This distribution chain will be for Karachi. In Karachi those wholesalers will be selected who deal with the major  markets and big stores of all the parts of Karachi. ’ This distribution chain will be used outside Karachi for different other cities. From where agents will be used to  distribute our product in different other cities Intensity of Distribution Channel: We can say that intensity of our distribution channel will be selective, so that we can spread our product throughout Karachi. Because our goal is to capture the maximum share of market. But after graet success we started our

Saul Perkins U.S. Multicultural Visions Essays - Chinatown

Saul Perkins U.S. Multicultural Visions Essays - Chinatown Saul Perkins U.S. Multicultural Visions November 4th 1998 Paper 3 Ask any typical-looking Asian students around campus whether they are Chinese or Japanese and the reply will probably be universal: ?Neither, I?m Chinese-American.? In reality, developing a clear concept of exactly how they define themselves as a ?race? has become a difficult thing to do in this day and age for most Chinese-Americans. Many have become so well adjusted to the American way of life, that the only thing still tying them to their ancestral roots is physical appearance and the answer to the SAT questionnaire about ethnicity background. This is the basis for the overall theme of The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. The Joy Luck Club is a group of varied stories rooted in the culture clash between four women whom adamantly follow Chinese refinement and their respective daughters, who are Americanized. Throughout the story, it becomes obvious that the daughters have become Americanized and are veering away from the sacred culture with which the mothers have come to appreciate as the basis for what keeps them stable throughout the endless trails and hardships they face. The differences in the upbringing of those women born during the first quarter of this century in China, and their daughters, born in the American atmosphere of California, are differences that form a metaphorical brick wall between the two generations? lives. Faced with this wall, both sides have a hard time relating to one another. From the beginning of the novel, Suyuan Woo tells the story of "The Joy Luck Club," a group started by the four Chinese mothers during World War II, where "we feasted, we laughed, we played games, lost and won, we told the best stories. And each week, we could hope to be lucky. That hope was our only joy." (p. 12). It is obvious that over the years this weekly event has become more than just a game of Mah Jong and an extra helping of dinner for these women. It is the tie that binds them together; it is what keeps them grounded in what little Chinese culture is left for them to have and hold. Growing up during perilous times in China, they all were taught "to desire nothing, to swallow other people?s misery, to eat [their] own bitterness." (p. 241). Though not many of them grew up terribly poor, they all had a certain respect for their elders, and for life itself. These Chinese mothers were all taught to be honorable, to the point of sacrificing their own lives to keep any family memb ers? promise. They all were taught "to desire nothing, to swallow other people?s misery, to eat [their] own bitterness." (p. 241). This is in comparison to the American daughters who grew up with little to almost no culture. Lindo Jong, whose daughter, Waverly, doesn?t even know four Chinese words, describes the complete difference and incompatibility of the two worlds she tried to connect for her daughter, American circumstances and Chinese character. She explains that there is no lasting feeling in being born in America, and that all being a minority means is that you are the first in line for scholarships. Most importantly, she notes that "In America, nobody says you have to keep the circumstances somebody else gives you." (p. 289). Living in America, it was easy for Waverly to accept American circumstances and to grow up as any other American citizen. As a Chinese mother, Lindo wanted her daughter to learn the importance of Chinese character. She tried to teach her Chinese-Ameri can daughter "How to obey parents and listen to your mother?s mind. How not to show your own thoughts, to put your feelings behind your face so you can take advantage of hidden opportunities . . . How to know your own worth and polish it, never flashing it around like a cheap ring." (p. 289). The American-born daughters never grasp on to these traits, partly why their story lines become so different from their purely Chinese parents. ?Rules of the Game? is a set example in which the mother-daughter cultural conflict is evident. Waverly?s mother is constantly showing off her daughter because she is a national chess champion. In a

Inequality of Development of Saudi Arabia

Inequality of Development of Saudi Arabia Introduction Development involves integration of modern advances in technology, democracy, social organizations, values, as well as, ethics into a single humanitarian project of making the world a better place to live. In the strongest sense, development involves using the resources of a country to improve the living standards of the poorest citizens.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Inequality of Development of Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the weakest sense, development can be described as the use of a country’s productive resources for the benefit of a few individuals. Economic development refers to â€Å"a multi-dimensional process that not only involves economic growth but also a re-organization of the entire economic system alongside the social, political and economic spheres†. Consequently, development involves both economic growth and change. In this context, change means attai nment of specific ideals of modernization which include increase in productivity, modern knowledge, social/ economic equality, as well as, improved institutions. In strict economic sense, development has traditionally been associated with an increase in the production capacity of a country as measured by its GDP. However, GDP is not a good measure of development since it does not take into account issues such as, health, urbanization, equality, external dependence and institutional development. A more effective measure of development is the human development index (HDI). Using the HDI involves assessing a country’s level of poverty, unemployment, delivery of basic services, as well as, inequality. This paper focuses on development by assessing the level of inequality in Saudi Arabia. The distribution of national income and delivery of basic services will be discussed. Overview of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is the second largest Arab country in the world and the largest in west ern Asia. Saudi Arabia is bordered by Jordan, as well as, Iraq in the north. It is also bordered by Kuwait, Qatar, as well as, United Arab Emirates in the east. The Red sea borders the country in the west while Oman and Yemen lay to the east of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia covers a land area of approximately 2.2 million km2. The country has a population of approximately 27 million people.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Since its inception in 1932, Saudi Arabia operates under an absolute monarchy system of government. The king performs legislative, executive, as well as, judicial functions. The king also serves as the country’s prime minister. Consequently, he leads the council of ministers with the aid of two deputy prime ministers. Key positions in the government are held by the members of the royal family. Islam is the official religion in Saudi Arabia. The social, political and even economic policies are based on Islamic principles such as Islamic banking system. Saudi Arabia has a relatively stable political environment as compared to other Arab countries. It also enjoys strong political ties with foreign countries. However, Saudi Arabia has recently been associated with terrorist activities. This has negatively impacted its relationship with western countries, especially, the United States of America. Saudi Arabia possesses the second largest oil reserve in the world. Thus, it is also the second largest exporter of oil in the world. Currently, the oil industry accounts for nearly 90% of the country’s exports. The government of Saudi Arabia derives 75% of its revenue from oil exports. Inequality and Economic Growth in Saudi Arabia In development, inequality refers to the disparities or differences in the distribution of income and economic resources of a country. It also includes disparities in the provision of basic services . Thus, inequality can be witnessed among citizens (vertical inequality) and between different regions in the country (horizontal inequality). In 2010, Saudi Arabia’s economic growth (GDP) was estimated to be 6.4%. Through years of investments and increased oil exports, Saudi Arabia has always experienced steady economic growth. The rapid economic growth stimulated development in various sectors of the country. However, the development resulting from the rapid economic growth varies from region to region and from sector to sector. To begin with, the government has always focused on developing the public sector at the expense of the private sector. Oil as the main source of revenue in Saudi Arabia is considered a national resource. The oil industry contributes up to 45% of the country’s gross domestic product. The private sector, on the other hand, contributes only 40% of the gross domestic product. Given the significance of oil in the country’s economic growth, the government channels most of its funds towards the development of the oil industry. However, the public sector where the oil industry is classified is mainly dominated by the royal family.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Inequality of Development of Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The royal family has great control over the companies that drill and market the country’s oil. Thus, a large percentage of the oil and gas resources are controlled by the royal family and a few influential business men who account for less than five percent of the country’s population. Additionally, massive investments in the public sector in terms of jobs and salary increments have only benefited a few. This is because majority of Saudi Arabians are employed in the private sector. In light of these disparities, the government through its fourth development plan began to encourage private enterprise in 1950s. The government supported private investments by offering financial assistance and economic incentives to promote the growth of private firms. Consequently, the contribution of the private sector to non-oil GDP rose to 70%. However, the growth in the private sector has since been realized only in the agriculture, banking, as well as, construction industries. The oil industry is still dominated by the royal family. The first two development plans that were implemented in Saudi Arabia focused on building infrastructure. Consequently, the road network and electricity generation expanded three fold. However, infrastructure development was mainly undertaken in the cities/ urban areas and the oil mining centers. The rural areas where the poorest and minority groups live still lack adequate infrastructure in terms of roads, railways and electricity. Regional development in Saudi Arabia is relatively fair compared to other Arab countries. The government promotes development in all regions i n order to ensure equality. For instance, the government has announced plans to build six new industrialized cities by 2020. The cities will be spread across the country and will increase per capita income in each region to $33, 500 by 2020. Income Distribution Income distribution describes the manner in which a country’s GDP is shared among its population. In 2010, Saudi Arabia’s per capita income was $24,200, which was among the highest in the world. However, per capita income is not a good measure of income distribution since the actual funds might not necessarily reach the poorest citizens. The high poverty rate in Saudi Arabia is an indication of the inequality in income distribution.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The number of Saudi Arabians who can not afford food and decent housing continues to rise annually. However, the government denies claims of high poverty rates and hardly issues data on the country’s poverty levels. In 2010, over 11% of Saudi Arabians were not employed. The unemployment rate is likely to be higher since women are never included in Saudi Arabia’s statistics. The royal family that comprises approximately 6,000 individuals controls over $400 billion of the country’s currency. In general, 90% of the country’s income benefits only one third of the population. The royal family is the upper class, and approximately 20 million out of 27 million citizens belong to the lower and lower-middle class. Following the decline in economic growth in 1950s, and rising discontent among the citizens, the government decided to improve distribution of the country’s wealth. Thus, in the fourth development plan, the government embarked on privatization of state owned corporations. Additionally, the private sector was allowed to participate in the telecommunication and energy industries. The aim was to increase the private sector’s ownership of state enterprises to 70%. Through privatization, many Saudi Arabians have had a chance to own state corporations and share the income generated by such corporations. However, not all citizens are able to participate in the privatization due to the high poverty levels. Additionally, corruption in the government limits the citizens’ chances of owning state corporations through privatization. In most countries, the tax system is used to influence the distribution of national income. Governments often use progressive taxes to redistribute income from the rich to the poor. Tax rebates and subsidies are often given to the poor in order to improve their disposable incomes. As a planned economy, Saudi Arabia focuses on equal income distribution through fair taxes. The government does not levy taxes on incomes earned through employment. Additionally, individuals who are not involved in any business activity are exempted from interest and dividend taxes. However, only residents of Saudi enjoy the income tax relief. Saudi nationals who operate businesses involving commercial goods within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are subject to an Islamic tax. The tax is referred to as Zakat and is charged at a flat rate of 2.5% on both property and income. Corporations and individuals who engage in business activities pay an income interest of 20%. In this context, business activities include financial services, professional activity and trading activities. Employed Saudi Arabians are expected to contribute 9% of their income to the national social security fund. The fund caters for old age, disability, and death. However, civil servants, farmers and domestic savants are exempted from these contributions. The tax system is fair since it leaves citizens with high disposable income. H owever, it promotes inequality since it can not redistribute income from the high income earners to the low income earners. Additionally, only the employed citizens are able to benefit from the tax reliefs. Provision of Basic Needs A country is considered to be developing if its citizens are able to access basic services such as education, health care and security. In most countries, the basic services are defined as public goods. Consequently, they are provided by the government in order to reduce inequality in accessing them. The commitment of the government of Saudi Arabia to provide basic services and social safety nets to its citizens can be illustrated by the country’s development plans. Saudi’s third development plan which was implemented from 1980 to 1985 promoted development of infrastructure in education, health, as well as, social services. The fifth development plan was implemented between 1990 and 1995. The plan led to the improvement of the countryâ€℠¢s internal security. It also led to efficiency improvements in the provision of social services, as well as, regional development. Between 1996 and 2000, the government implemented the sixth development plan. The sixth plan focused on reducing the cost of providing basic services without reducing the number of services provided by the government. From 2005 to 2010, the government implemented the eighth plan which focused on education and empowerment of women. The plan led to construction of new universities and collages. The current plan focuses on expansion of education, health and housing sectors. The objectives of the current development plan will be achieved by 2014. In the context of equality, the effectiveness of these development plans can be explained as follows. Education The government of Saudi Arabia has taken cognizance of the importance of education in development. Consequently, free education is provided by the government in order to enhance access. Enrollment in Saud i’s primary schools is at 98.1%. In order to proceed from primary to intermediate level, students must qualify by passing an exam. This leads to a reduction in enrollment at the intermediate level to 95.9%. At the secondary level, the enrolment further drops to 91.8%. In general, these percentages indicate that there is equality in accessing basic education. Additionally, the literacy rate is above 90%. Even though access to basic education is high, the quality is still low. In particular, the curricular is dominated by religious teachings and rote learning. Consequently, most high school and collage students lack technical skills that are needed at the workplace. Access to high quality education remains the preserve of the rich who are able to send their children to overseas universities. Health Care Health care services are financed by the government. However, the medical services are delivered by both the government and the private sector. The ministry of health oversees t he provision of preventive, curative, as well as, rehabilitative health care services. The services are provided through a network of over 1900 public medical centers. There are also 220 public referral hospitals that offer specialized treatment. The ministry of education provides health care to students while the ministry of labor and social affairs provides rehabilitation health care. Overall, good access, as well as, effective care has been reported for services such as immunization, maternal care, as well as, disease control. The high access rate is an indication of equality. However, the poor access to treatment for chronic diseases is an indication of inequality. Water Water is a very important commodity due to its scarcity in Saudi Arabia. In order to increase access to clean water, the government has invested heavily in water distribution, treatment of waste water and desalination. Additionally, the government finances the provision of water for domestic use. However, majori ty of Saudi Arabians can not access clean water on a regular basis. For instance, statistics for 2011 indicates that residents of Riyadh, Saudi’s capital, were able to access water only once in every three days. In Jeddah, the citizens were able to access clean water only once in every nine days. It is only the rich, especially, the royal family who can access clean water on a daily basis. Human Rights The socio-cultural norms and the Islamic laws that govern Saudi Arabia restrict the freedom of women. Such restrictions are reflected in women’s participation in economic activities and the political process. The law in Saudi Arabia grants women the right to own land, property, as well as, to enter financial contracts. However, women’s rights to ownership can hardly be exercised due to social norms and other laws. For instance, women who intend to operate a business must employ male managers before receiving licenses for their businesses. Additionally, women are l egally under the guardianship of their male counterparts. This limits women’s ability to independently own property or a business. Apart from access to economic resources, the inequality between men and women also exists in education. For instance, the literacy rate for men is 95% while that for women is 89%. Saudi Arabia’s Relationship with the World Globalization is an integral aspect of every country’s development. As economies embark on economic growth, they must also search for new markets for their surplus produce. This has necessitated international trade and globalization. For a country to effectively participate in international trade, it must have good foreign relations with its trading partners. In light of this requirement, the government of Saudi Arabia has focused on fostering strong political and economic ties with the rest of the world. This can be illustrated by the country’s membership in world organizations. In 1945, Saudi Arabia became a member of the United Nations (UN). Saudi Arabia is also a â€Å"member of the Arab League, Gulf Cooperation Council, Muslim World League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference†. As a leading oil producer, Saudi Arabia belongs to the OPEC group of countries. Saudi Arabia plays a key role in the formulation of OPEC’s pricing policy. Generally, the country focuses on stabilization of international oil prices through OPEC in order to protect the interest of Western economies. Saudi Arabia is also a member of the World Trade Order (WTO). From 1970s to 2002, the government of Saudi Arabia spent over $70 billion in foreign aid. The funds were used to support development projects in various countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. However, Saudi Arabia’s generous foreign aid has been associated with promotion of Wahhabism. Wahhabism is an Islamic sect that is linked to terrorist attacks and intolerance to non-Muslims. Most Arab countries consider Saudi Arabia to be a close ally of western countries, especially, America. For instance, in 1991, Saudi Arabia assisted the US in the Gulf War by hosting the latter’s troops. Saudi Arabia’s association with America has always been opposed by other Arab countries and some Saudi nationals. Consequently, Saudi Arabia has since limited its association with America. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and America suffered a major setback when the latter associated the former with the Al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorist groups. In the Arab world, Saudi plays an important role in promoting peace. For instance, the country supports America’s inversion of Iran in order to destroy Iranian nuclear program. Saudi Arabia has also helped to mediate peace between Palestine and Israel. Currently, the main trading partners of Saudi Arabia include USA, Japan, China, as well as, South Korea. Overall, Saudi Arabia has a good relationship with the rest of the world. This has promoted equalit y in Saudi Arabia by enabling its citizens to benefit from globalization. For instance, Saudi nationals are able to access higher education in foreign countries. Additionally, the country’s citizens can access foreign goods and markets. Causes of Inequality in Saudi Arabia Political system The monarchy system of governance is partly blamed for the escalation of inequality in Saudi Arabia. To begin with, non- royal family members have been locked-out of the leadership of the country. The democratic space is limited and views that contradict the perspectives of the ruling class are never tolerated. Additionally, formulation of economic policy is dominated by the ruling class. Lack of public participation in policy formulation has resulted into implementation of policies that promote inequality instead of reducing it. Lack of democracy also promotes corruption within the royal family and government cycles. The ruling class takes advantage of their positions to enrich themselves with the country’s oil and gas resources at the expense of the citizens. Expenditure by the royal family, for instance, accounts for a large portion of the country’s budget. Corrupt government officials also illegally acquire resources that are meant to benefit the most vulnerable groups. Wealth Concentration Less than a quarter of Saudi Arabia’s population controls more than three quarters of the country’s wealth. In particular, the royal family and a few business men control most of the country’s wealth. Concentration of wealth in the hands of a few is partly promoted by the tax system. The government charges a fixed income tax for all income groups and businesses. Since the tax is not progressive, income can not be redistricted from the rich to the poor. The tax system has significantly contributed to the development of an extremely rich class and an extremely poor class in the same economy. The middle class is consistently reducing in size. Dev elopment Patterns Empirical studies reveal that countries experiencing slow development have relatively low levels of inequality. However, as a country begins to experience rapid growth, more wealth is generated and owned by the owners of capital, thereby causing inequality. As a rapidly growing economy, Saudi Arabia has been able to generate a lot of wealth in the last decade. The government’s commitment to expand the private sector has promoted capitalism and ownership of private property. Consequently, the balk of the country’s income is controlled by the owners of capital. Inequality is perpetuated by the lack of effective social welfare programs to reverse the inequality in wealth distribution. Responses to Inequality The government of Saudi Arabia can consider the following recommendations to reduce both vertical and horizontal inequality in the country. First, equity can be achieved by dispensing the revenues accruing from oil and gas directly to the citizens. I n this case, the uniform transfer of cash to citizens will act as a progressive tax. Thus, it will help in reducing the rich to poor disposable income ratio, thereby reducing vertical inequality. Second, in order to prevent widening of the gap between the rich citizens and their poor counterparts, the government should promote productivity, as well as, export growth in the manufacturing and agricultural sector. The government can also create jobs in the public sector for the citizens rendered jobless in the private sector. Pro-poor policies can also be adopted by the government to improve the socio-economic status of the poor groups. Third, horizontal inequality can be reduced through equitable sharing of revenue between the central government and the local governments. In a nutshell, the oil revenue should be decentralized. Conclusion Saudi Arabia is one of the richest and fastest growing economies in the Arab world. The country derives over 75% of its revenues from its vast oil re serves. Despite having a lot of wealth, inequality and poverty still exist in Saudi Arabia. High levels of inequality exist in the distribution of the country’s income. Most of the financial and other economic resources are controlled by the royal family and a few business men who account for less than one quarter of the population. Even though basic services are provided with relatively high levels of equality, the quality of most services such as education and health is still poor. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world remains strong. The main causes of inequality in Saudi Arabia include the political system, wealth concentration and development patterns. The inequalities can be addressed through equitable distribution of national income and implementation of pro-poor policies. Ahmed, Syed. Professional Insights: Business Women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 30.7 (2011): 610-614. Print. Alb atel, Abdullah. Government Activity and Policy and Economic Development in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Economic and Administrative Science 19.2 (2003): 1-2. Print. Al-Sakran, Sulaiman. Leverage Determinants in the Absence of Corporate Tax System: the Case of Non-Financial Publicly Traded Corporates in Saudi Arabia. Managerial Finance 27.10 (2001): 58-86. Print. Basu, Kaushik. Analytical Development Economics. New York: Cengage Learning, 2003. Print. Boscheck, Ralf. The Governance of Oil Supply: an Institutional Pespective on NOC Central and the Questions it Poses. International Journal of Energy Sector Management 1.4 (2007): 366-389. Hayami, Yujiro and Yoshihisa Godo. Development Economics. New York: Cengage , 2005. Print. Hosad, Soraya. The Rise of Consumerism in Saudi Arabian Society. International Journal of Commerce and Management 17.1 (2008): 73-104. Print. Jasimaddin, Sajjad. Analyzing the Competitive Advanatges of Saudi Arabia with Porters Model. Journal of Business and Industri al Marketing 16.1 (2001): 59-68. Print. Kayed, Rusem and Kabir Hassan. Saudi Arabias Economic Development: Entrepreneurship as Strategy. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management 4.1 (2011): 52-73. Print. Niblock, Tim. Saudi Arabia: Power, Legimacy and Survival. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2006. Print. Nixson, Felix. Development Economics. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001. Print. Sigel, Eckhard. Development Economics. New York: Cengage, 2005. Print.

Race and Racism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Race and Racism - Essay Example Thesis statement: An investigation by exploring the factors, historical evolution, and ways that changed the meaning of race to racism. I. The factors that change the meaning of race throughout history The factors that change the meaning of race mainly include phenotypic /geographic features, cultural characteristics, ethnic characteristics, and socio-economic status. A. Phenotypic /geographic features: One can easily identify that the phenotypic characteristics of human race is closely related to its physiological properties which deeply influence behaviour traits and genetic characteristics. To be specific, the phenotypic characteristics of a race differentiate the same from other races. But the phenotypic features that can be seen among different races are not based upon scientific foundation (Rattansi, 2007, p.75). Still, the physical features that can be seen among the members of different human groups are different. From a different angle of view, the phenotypic characteristics of a specific race are forwarded to the next generation by the means of inheritance. Besides, this continuation of genetic peculiarities undergoes modification and deeply influenced hereditary and environmental factors in general. The geographic features that can be seen among different races are closely related to their surroundings. These geographic features are helpful to differentiate and identify the similarities and differences among different races with innumerable numbers of genetic features. B. Cultural characteristics: The cultural characteristics acquired by different races are indebted to its origin, growth and development. Besides, the term/concept of culture was originated in Europe (18th and 19th Centuries) and is related to the sphere of improvement in different fields of human development. The concept of cultural characteristics within the evolution of different races can be defined as the development through education, by means of folklore culture or literature. E thnic groups can be defined on the basis of specific cultural characteristics (Ritzer, 2009, p.439). To be specific, the people who share certain genetic and cultural characteristics can be termed under a specific ethnic group. Within this scenario, cultural characteristics of the evolution of race transformed itself into national aspirations. Later in 20th century, the term culture acquired importance in the field of anthropology. The importance of cultural characteristics of a specific race can be evaluated as the human capacity to encompass almost all the experiences and to act according basic instincts and to transfer it into imagination and creativity. In addition, the cultural characteristics are closely related to the living condition of different races. After the World War II, the term cultural characteristics acquired a different meaning and importance by connecting it with the development of human race as a whole. C. Ethnic characteristics: The ethnic feature of different races within human race is an important factor that did change the meaning of race throughout history. For instance, one’s ethnic feature helps one to differentiate oneself from other races or to find similarities within one’s own race. Besides, the ethnic feature helps different races to create cohesiveness within a specific ethnic