Free Euthanasia Essays: Assisted Suicide :: Free Euthanasia Essay

Assisted Suicide To sanction the taking of innocent human lifespan is to contradict a uncreated purpose of law in an ordered society. A law or court decision allowing assisted suicide would demean the lives of vulnerable patients and expose them to victimization by those who feel they are better off dead. Such a policy would corrupt the medical profession, whose ethical code calls on physicians to serve life and never to kill. The voiceless(prenominal) or marginalized in our society -- the poor, the frail elderly, racial minorities, millions of pot who lack health insurance -- would be the first to feel insistence to die. What about competent, terminally ill people who say they really want assisted suicide? Suicidal lackes among the terminally ill are no less due to treatable depression than the same wishes among the able-bodied. When their pain, depression and other problems are addressed, there is generally no more talk of suicide. If we respond to a death wish in one group of people with counseling and suicide prevention, and respond to the same wish in another group by offering them deadly drugs, we have made our own tragic choice as a society that some peoples lives are objectively not worth protecting. How does cost set down into this issue? In an era of cost control and managed care, patients with lingering illnesses may be branded an economic liability, and decisions to encourage death can be compulsive by cost. As Acting U.S. Solicitor General Walter Dellinger warned in urging the Supreme Court to uphold laws against assisted suicide The least costly treatment for any illness is lethal medication. Why are people with disabilities worried about assisted suicide? Many people with disabilities have long flummox with prejudicial attitudes on the part of able-bodied people, including physicians, who say they would rather be dead than disabled. Such prejudices could easily lead families, physicians and society to encourage death for people who a re depressed and emotionally vulnerable as they adjust to life with a serious illness or disability. To speak here of a slack choice for suicide is a dangerously misguided abstraction. What is the view of the medical profession? The American Medical Association holds that physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physicians occasion as healer. The AMA, along with the American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Association and dozens of other medical groups, has urged the Supreme Court to uphold laws against assisted suicide, arguing that the index to assist in taking patients lives is a power that most health care professionals do not want and could not control.

Pat Barkers Regeneration Essay -- Pat Barker Regeneration Essays

Pat bow-wows RegenerationPat Barkers Regeneration focuses on the troubled soldiers mental status during World War One. Barker introduces the feelings soldiers had about the war and militarys involvement with the war effort. While Regeneration mainly looks at the male perspective, Barker includes a small but important pistillate presence. While Second Lieutenant Billy Prior breaks away from Craiglockhart War Hospital for an evening, he finds women at a cafe in the Edinburgh district (Barker 86). He comes to the understanding that the women are munitions workers. Womens involvement in war work in Regeneration shows the potential growth in womens independence, but at the expense of restrictions place on men while they were on the front lines of battle.Munition-ettes during World War One took the places of their husbands, fathers, and brothers in order for the men to take up positions in the fortify services (Braybon 45). Women working in munitions factories were mainly of the lower c lass yet, roughly 9 percent of women working in the factories came from the middle to upper classes (Robb 45). Munition-ettes held responsibilities for making and filling shells and cartridges along with other basic cleaning duties, driving, and intense labor (Twentieth Century). They acquired some engineering skills that helped them in producing various weapons (Twentieth Century). Munition-ettes took the deployed soldiers places in the factories as a way to show their patriotism as well as to earn a better living than in domestic jobs.Munition-ettes suffered the flaws in the system of gender bias when looking at equal pay many women left low-skill, low-wage jobs, especially in domestic service, for better paying versatile labor in ... ...atriots or strictly worked to increase their economic status, all these women were a testimonial to the home front effort as well as the effort to further their independence.Works CitedBarker, Pat. Regeneration. modernistic York Plume, 1993.Br aybon, Gail. Women Workers in the First World War. Totowa, New Jersey Barnes & Noble Books, 1981.Robb, George. British Culture and the First World War. New York Palgrave, 2002.Twentieth Century Military The First World War 1914-18. Dartford Town Archive. 13 April 2003 <http//www.dartfordarchive.org.uk/20th_century/military_ww1.shtml.Home By Category By Page Number designation Last update 30 April 2003Site Editor Karin E. Westman, Assistant Professor of English, Kansas State UniversityContact Site EditorKarin Westmans Homepage Department of English Kansas State University

Essay --

There are many drug cartels in the country of Mexico, but maven of the roughly powerful drug trafficking organization in the world being the Sinaloa Cartel. A drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime group that still remains the strongest in the country and has the largest presence nationwide. It was founded in 1989 in the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa. The youngest city just up the northwest of Mexico. Not only is it know as the Sinaloa Cartel, it was also known as La Alianza de Sangre, meaning Blood Alliance. Hector Palma, a drug lord that was in charge of the cartel was arrested in the year of 1995 and passed it on to one of his well known business partner, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. In that time period, he took leadership and is now currently running it. He is considered to be the second contemporaries of drug smugglers along with many other individuals such as Rafael Quintero, Ernesto Carrillo, and Miguel Gallardo. These second generations were brought to the cartel through connections from family relations, especially Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. The first generation dates b...

Ghost Story of the Green Rat Essay -- Ghost Stories Urban Legends

The Green RatThis story was get-go told to me and my older brother by my uncle when we were still relatively young children (about 4 and 8 years old). We were riding in the car and he was telling the story to entertain and scare us. At the time he was in his mid-30s and living in Olney, MD, as were we. He called the story The Green Rat, and after I talked to him about the story, he said that it was a scary tale that he first heard on a camping trip with the Boy Scouts in California when he was in 7th grade (approximately 1966 when he was about 12 years old).Four kids stayed overnight in a supposedly haunted house. Here the teller made his description of the house match one of the older houses in my neighborhood (the house was historical, the neighborhood was relatively new). On a dare. In one of the rooms, there was a creepy painting of the green rat with a ball and chain on one of its legs. The boys thought they were really tough and chose to stay in separate bedrooms--one may have stayed in the room with the painting. offend way through the night, the boys heard a chain being drug along the floor. Teller makes a chain noise and later remarks that one time when he recorded the story for one of our cousins he used an actual chain to make the expert. There was a scream Teller screams along with the sound of someone being attacked. Quietly When the noise subsided, the boys came out of their rooms to find one of them missing--pause it was the boy who was in the room with painting. They went to check in the room and noticed that the look of the green rat in the painting were now glowing and there seemed to be a little blood around its mouth. There was now a skull in the corner of the picture of the green... ...house with my friends. Works CitedAnonymous. The Clown Doll An Urban Legend. University of Maryland Legends Collection. Accessed 4/01/06. http//www.wam.umd.edu/dschloss/Legends/clown.htm. Brunvand, Jan Harold. Encyclopedia of Urban Legen ds. bracing York W. W. Norton, 2001.Brunvand, Jan Harold. The Vanishing Hitchhiker American Urban Legends & Their Meanings. New York W. W. Norton, 1981.Eeeek-NET Designed and Maintained by Kryss.com Web Services. 2000-2006. Accessed 4/01/06. http//www.eeeek.com/true_stories1.html.Ellis, Bill. Adolescent Legend-Tripping, in Psychology Today. August 1983. 68-69. Thompson, Stith. Motif-Index of Folk-Literature A Classification of Narrative Elements in Folktales, Ballads, Myths, Fables, Mediaeval Romances, Exempla, Fabliaux, Jest-Books, and topical anesthetic Legends. Indiana University. 6 vols. 1955-1958.

Music Listening Report :: essays research papers

When I sat down to do a Listening report last night, I startedthinking, "Who am I kidding?". I am never going to pushmyself to listen to 15 Jazz CDs in a week and a half, so Iam going to do the remainder of my listening reports onmusic that I exchangeable to listen to. You may think it defeats the manipulation of listening reports, tho thats not true. What theseguys play may sound like heavily distorted noise, and toomuch yelling played at way too high of volumes to theaverage adult, and honestly, it is. But there is music, andevery day 1000s of kids are trying to teach themselves theirfavorite headliners, and thats how we learn to play ourinstruments in the first place. So, now that Ive convincedyou WHY I am doing this listening report, here is the actualthingThe vociferation (the only one by this free radical) on the CD isNew Skin by Incubus which is really cool, becauseto most people it sounds a lot like hydrant, but to me it isa really fast-paced alternative music s ong becauseof the actual instrument playing (not featured in thebasic drum tracks of rap music) and the repeatedchorus, which sounds really cool because thebassist and lead vocals play and sing on a perfect4th. The second group on the tour is bust. Their biggestheadliner is raunchy Monday, which is a really kickassremake of the David Bowie Original. Its about someguy who hated Mondays, so he went out and shot abunch people, mostly kids I think, at someconvention WAY back in the day. Then David Bowiewrote a song about it, and it was under a lot of heat.But now, Orgy made the song HUGE. It is anamazing song. Orgy has a very unique sound. Theyare sort of an Electro-Punk band. They have somereally hardcore guitar riffs, but they to a fault got somesweet Synth tracks and stuff like that. The best thingabout them, though, has got to be their VocalDistortions. They got this cool echo-y noise addedto their voice. Orgy also performs Dissention andGender.The next group is Limp Bizkit. These guysco-starred the tour, and performed such songs asFaith, youve probably heard people singing thissong. Its another remake, I have no idea who wrotethe original or why, but its a cool song, "Wouldnt itbe nice, If I could touch your body . . . ." Thats theopening of the song. They also redid an old Houseof Pain song, " dancing Around".

Music Listening Report :: essays research papers

When I sat down to do a Listening communicate last night, I startedthinking, "Who am I kidding?". I am never going to pushmyself to take heed to 15 Jazz CDs in a week and a half, so Iam going to do the remainder of my listening reports onmusic that I like to listen to. You may think it defeats thepurpose of listening reports, but thats not true. What theseguys play may sound like heavily distorted noise, and too unt obsolescent yelling played at way too high of volumes to theaverage adult, and honestly, it is. But t present is music, andevery day 1000s of kids are essay to teach themselves theirfavorite headliners, and thats how we learn to play ourinstruments in the first place. So, now that Ive convincedyou WHY I am doing this listening report, here is the actualthingThe song (the only one by this group) on the CD isNew Skin by Incubus which is rightfully cool, becauseto most spate it sounds a lot like rap, but to me it isa really fast-paced alternative music song bec auseof the actual instrument playing (not featured in thebasic drum tracks of rap music) and the repeatedchorus, which sounds really cool because thebassist and lead vocals play and sing on a perfect4th. The second group on the tour is public violence. Their biggestheadliner is Blue Monday, which is a really kickassremake of the David Bowie Original. Its about someguy who hated Mondays, so he went out and shot abunch people, mostly kids I think, at someconvention WAY back in the day. Then David Bowiewrote a song about it, and it was under a lot of heat.But now, Orgy made the song HUGE. It is anamazing song. Orgy has a very unique sound. Theyare sort of an Electro-Punk band. They have somereally hardcore guitar riffs, but they also got somesweet Synth tracks and stuff like that. The best thingabout them, though, has got to be their VocalDistortions. They got this cool echo-y noise addedto their voice. Orgy also performs Dissention andGender.The next group is Limp Bizkit. These guysc o-starred the tour, and performed such songs asFaith, youve probably heard people singing thissong. Its another remake, I have no imagination who wrotethe original or why, but its a cool song, "Wouldnt itbe nice, If I could touch your body . . . ." Thats theopening of the song. They also redid an old Houseof Pain song, "Jump Around".

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 15. Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock

15. Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick TockHey Jake, thought you utter you essentialed me at dusk. How tot up you didnt overhear Leah wake me up forward she crashed?Cause I didnt train you. Im still good.He was already picking up the north half of the circle. Anything? nary(prenominal)e. Nothing just now nonhing.You did some sc bying?Hedcaught the leap of integrity of my side touch reachs. He resulted up the new trail.Yeah ran a few spokes. You know, just checking. If the Cullens are freeing to make a hunting tripGood c tot eachy. bent looped spinal column toward the main perimeter.It was easier to run with him than it was to do the same with Leah. Though she was testifying trying hard in that location was always an edge to her thoughts. She didnt want to be here. She didnt want to feel the softening toward the vampires that was t ane ending on in my head. She didnt want to masses with Seths cozy friendship with them, a friendship that was only acquiring unwaveringer.Fu nny, though, Idve thought her unfitgest issue would just be me. Wed always gotten on each others nerves when we were in Sams pack. scarce there was no antagonism toward me now at all, just the Cullens andBella. I wondered why. perchance it was simply gratitude that I wasnt forcing her to leave. Maybe it was because I unders in like mannerd her hostility go bad now. Whichever, running with Leah wasnt nearly as bad as Id expected.Of course, she hadnt eased up that much. The food and clothes Esme had sent for her were all taking a trip obliterateriver right now. withal after Id eaten my share not because it smelled nearly irresistible away from the vampire burn, barely to narrow a good example of self-sacrificing tolerance for Leah shed refused. The small elk shed taken down around noon had not totally satisfied her appetite. Did make her mood worse, though. Leah hated eating raw.Maybe we should runa sweep east? Seth suggested. Go deep, down if theyre let on there waiting.I was thinking almost that,I agreed. But lets do it when were all awake. I dont want to let down our guard. We should do it in front the Cullens interpret it a try, though. Soon.Right.That got me thinking.If the Cullens were able to get issue of the immediate area safely, they really ought to keep on going. They probably should have taken off the second wed come to warn them. They had to be able to afford other digs. And they had friends up north, right? Take Bella and run. It externalisemed alike an obvious answer to their problems.I probably ought to suggest that, but I was afraid they would listen to me. And I didnt wantto haveBella disappear to never know whether shed made it or not.No, that was stupid. I wouldtell them togo. It made no sense for them to stay, and it would be better not less painful, but curethier for me if Bella leave.Easyto say now, when Bella wasnt right there, bearinging all thrilled to see me and also clinging to emotional state by her fingerna ils at the same timeOh, I already asked Edward about that,Seth thought.What?I asked him why they hadnt taken off yet. Gone up to Tanyas place or something. Somewhere too furthermost for Sam to come after them.I had to remind myself that Id just decided to give the Cullens that exact advice. That it was best. So I shouldnt be mad at Seth for taking the chore out of my pass alongs. Not mad at all.So what did he say? Are they waiting for a window?No. Theyre not leaving.And that shouldnt sound like good news.Why not? Thats just stupid.Not really,Seth give tongue to, defensive now. It takes some time to build up the considerate of medical attack that Carlisle has here. Hes got all the stuff he needs to take care of Bella, and the credentials to get more. Thats one of the reasons they want to make a hunting run. Carlisle thinks theyre going to need more blood for Bella soon. Shes using up all the O negative they stored for her. He doesnt like depleting the stockpile. Hes going to b ar ca-ca for some more. Did you know you can buy blood? If youre a doctor.I wasnt ready to be logical yet. Still seems stupid. They could bring most of it with them, right? And steal what they need wherever they go. Who cares about statutory crap when youre the undead?Edward doesnt want to take any risks moving her.Shes better than she was.Seriously,Seth agreed. In his head, he was comparing my memories of Bella hooked up to the tubes with thelast time hed seen her as hed left the house. Shed smiled at him and waved. But she cant move around much, you know. That thing is kicking the booby hatch out of her.I swallowed hold the potbelly acid in my throat. Yeah, I know. stony-broke another of her ribs,he told me somberly.My stride faltered, and I staggered a step before I regained my rhythm.Carlisle taped her up again. Just another crack, he said. Then Rosalie said something about how caput sane human babies have been known to crack ribs. Edward asked like he was gonna rip her head off.Too bad he didntSeth was in full report mode now knowing it was all vitally inte sticking to me, though Id neverve asked to hear it. Bellas been running a fever off and on today. Just low grade sweats and then chills. Carlisles not certain what to make of it shemightjust be sick. Her immune system cant be in peak traffic pattern right now.Yeah, Im sure its just a coincidence.Shes in a good mood, though. She was chatting with Charlie, laughing and all CharlieWhat? What do you mean, she was talking to Charlie?Now Seths pace stuttered my fury strike him. Guess he calls e precise day to talk to her. Sometimes her mom calls, too. Bella sounds so much better now, so she was reassuring him that she was on the mend-On the mend? What the hell are they thinking? Get Charlies hopes up just so that he can be destroyed even worse when she dies? I thought they were acquiring him ready for that Trying to prepare him Why would she set him up like this?She might not die,Seth thought q uietly.I took deep breath, trying to calm myself. Seth. Even if she pulls through this, shes not doing it human. She knows that, and so do the rest of them. If she doesnt die, shes going to have to do a pretty convincing imsomebodyation of a corpse, kid. Either that, or disappear. I thought they were trying to make this easier on Charlie. Why ?Think its Bellas idea. No one said anything, but Edwards face kinda went right on with what youre thinking now.On the same wavelength with the bloodsucker yet again.We ran in silence for a few minutes. I started off along a new line, investigate south.Dont get too far.Why?Bella asked me to ask you to stop by.My teeth locked together.Alice wants you, too. She says shes tired of hanging out in the attic like the vampire bat in the belfry. Seth snorted a laugh. was switching off with Edward before. Trying to keep Bellas temperature stable. Cold to hot, as needed. I guess, if you dont want to do it, I could go back No. I got it,I snapped.Okay.Se th didnt make any more comments. He concentrated really hard on the empty forest.I kept my southern course, searching for anything new. I turned around when I got close to the first signs of habitation. Not near the town yet, but I didnt want to get any wolf rumors going again. Wed been nice and invisible for a long while now.I passed right through the perimeter on my way back, heading for the house. As much as I knew it was a stupid thing to do, I couldnt stop myself. I must be some kind of masochist.Theres nothing defame with you, Jake. This isnt the most normal situation.Shut up, please, Seth.Shutting.I didnt hesitate at the door this time I just walked through like I owned the place. I figured that would produce Rosalie off, but it was a wasted effort. Nevery Rosalie or Bella were anywhere in sight. I looked around wildly, hoping Id missed them somewhere, my heart squeezing against my ribs in a weird, uncomfortable way.Shes all right, Edward whispered. Or, the same, I should say.Edward was on the couch with his face in his detention he hadnt looked up to speak. Esme was next to him, her arm wrapped tight around his shoulders.Hello, Jacob, she said. Im so glad you came back.Me, too, Alice said with a deep sigh. She came prancing down the stairs, making a face. want 1 was late for an appointment.Uh, hey, I said. It felt weird to try to be polished.Wheres Bella?Bathroom, Alice told me. Mostly fluid diet, you know. Plus, the firm pregnancy thing does that to you, I hear.Ah.I stood there awkwardly, rocking back and forth on my heels.Oh, wonderful, Rosalie grumbled. I whipped my head around and precept her coming from a hall half-hidden behind the stairway. She had Bella cradled gently in her arm, a harsh sneer on her face for me. I knew I smelled something nasty.And, just like before, Bellas face lit up like a kids on Christmas morning. Like Id brought her the greatest gift ever.It was so unfair.Jacob, she breathed. You came.Hi, Bells.Esme and Edward bo th got up. I watched how carefully Rosalie laid Bella out on the couch. I watched how, despite that, Bella turned white and held her breath like she was set on not making any noise no study how much it hurt.Edward brushed his hand across her forehead and then along her neck. He tried to make it look as if he wasjust sweeping her hair back, but it looked like a doctors examination to me.Are you cold? he murmured.Im fine.Bella, you know what Carlisle told you, Rosalie said. Dont downplay anything. It doesnt help us take care of either of you.Okay, Im a little cold. Edward, can you hand me that blanket?I rolled my eye. Isnt that sort of the point of me being here?You just walked in, Bella said. After running all day, Id bet. Put your feet up for a minute. Ill probably warm up again in no time.I ignored her, going to sit on the beautify next the sofa while she was still telling me what to do. At that point, though, I wasnt sure how. She looked pretty brittle, and I was afraid to mo ve her, even to put my arms around her. So I just leaned carefully against her side, letting my arm rest along the length of hers, and held her hand. Then I put my other hand against her face. It was hard to tell if she felt colder than usual.Thanks, Jake, she said, and I felt her shiver once.Yeah, I said.Edward sat on the arm of the sofa by Bellas feet, his eyes always on her face.It was too much to hope, with all the super-hearing in the room, that no one would notice my stomach rumbling.Rosalie, why dont you get Jacob something from the kitchen? Alice said. She was invisible now, sitting quietly behind the back of the sofa.Rosalie stared at the place Alices voice had come from in disbelief.Thanks, anyway, Alice, but I dont think Id want to eat something Blondies spit in. Id bet my system wouldnt take too kindly to venom.Rosalie would never embarrass Esme by displaying such a lack of hospitality.Of course not, Blondie said in a sugar-sweet voice that I immediately distrusted. She got up and breezed out of the room.Edward sighed.Youd tell me if she poisoned it, right? I asked.Yes, Edward promised.And for some reason I believed him.There was a lot of ten-strikeing in the kitchen, and weirdly the sound of coat protesting as it was abused. Edward sighed again, but smiled just a little, too. Then Rosalie was back before I could think much more about it. With a pleased smirk, she set a silver bowl on the floor next to me.Enjoy, mongrel.It had once probably been a big mixing bowl, but shed bent the bowl back in on itself until it was shaped almost only like a dog dish. I had to be impressed with her quick craftsmanship. And her attention to detail. Shedscratched the word Fido into the side. pure handwriting.Because the food looked pretty good steak, no less, and a big baked potato with all the fixings I told her, Thanks, Blondie.She snorted.Hey, do you know what you call a blonde with a brain? I asked, and then continued on the same breath, a golden retriev er.Ive heard that one, too, she said, no longer smiling.Ill keep trying, I promised, and then I dug in.She made a disgusted face and rolled her eyes. Then she sat in one of the armchairs and started flicking through channels on the big TV so fast that there was no way she could really be surfing for something to watch.The food was good, even with the vampire stink in the air. I was acquire really used to that. Huh. Not something Id been wanting to do, exactlyWhen I was finished though I was considering licking the bowl, just to give Rosalie something to murmur about I felt Bellas cold fingers pulling softly through my hair. She patted it down against the back of my neck.Time for a haircut, huh?Youre getting a little shaggy, she said. Maybe Let me guess, someone around here used to cut hair in a salon in Paris?She chuckled. Probably.No thanks, I said before she could really offer. Im good for a few more weeks.Which made me wonder how long she was good for. I tried to think of a polite way to ask.So urn whats the, er, date? You know, the due date for the little monster.She smacked the back of my head with about as much force as a rootless feather, but didnt answer.Im serious, I told her. I want to know how long Im gonna have to be here. How long youre gonna be here, I added in my head. I turned to look at her then. Her eyes were thoughtful the stress line was there between her brows again.I dont know, she murmured. Not exactly. Obviously, were not going with the nine-month model here, and we cant get an ultrasound, so Carlisle is guesstimating from how big I am. Normal people are supposed to be about forty centimeters here she ran her finger right down the middle of her bulging stomach when the baby is fully grown. One centimeter for every week. I was thirty this morning, and Ive been gaining about two centimeters a day, sometimes more___Two weeks to a day, the days agile by. Her life speeding by in fast-forward. How many days did that give her, if she w as counting to forty? Four? It took me a minute to figure out how to swallow.You O.K.? she asked.I nodded, not really sure how my voice would come out.Edwards face was turned away from us as he listened to my thoughts, but I could see his reflection in the glasswall. He was the burning man again.Funny how having a deadline made it harder to think about leaving, or having her leave. I was glad Sethd brought that up, so I knew they were staying here. It would be intolerable, wondering if they were about to go, to take away one or two or three of those four days. My four days.Also funny remark how, even knowing that it was almost over, the hold she had on me only got harder to break. Almost like it was related to her expanding belly as if by getting bigger, she was gaining gravitational force.For a minute I tried to look at her from a distance, to separate myself from the pull. I knew it wasnt my imagination that my need for her was stronger than ever. Why was that? Because she was d ying? Or knowing that even if she didnt, still best case scenario shed be changing into something else that I wouldnt know or understand?She ran her finger across my cheekbone, and my skin was wet where she touched it.Its going to be okay, she sort of crooned. It didnt matter that the words meant nothing. She said it the way people sang those senseless nursery rhymes to kids. Rock-a-bye, baby.Right, I muttered.She curled against my arm, resting her head on my shoulder. I didnt think you would come. Seth said you would, and so did Edward, but I didnt believe them.Why not? I asked gruffly.Youre not happy here. But you came anyway. You wanted me here.I know. But you didnt have to come, because its not fair for me to want you here. I would have understood.It was quiet for a minute. Edwardd put his face back together. He looked at the TV as Rosalie went on flipping through the channels. She was into the six hundreds. I wondered how long it would take to get back to the beginning.Thank you for coming, Bella whispered.Can I ask you something? I asked.Of course.Edward didnt look like he was paying attention to us at all, but he knew what I was about to ask, so he didnt fool me.Why do you want me here? Seth could keep you warm, and hes probably easier to be around, happy little punk. But when walk in the door, you smile like Im your favorite person in the world.Youre one of them.That sucks, you know.Yeah. She sighed. Sorry.Why, though? You didnt answer that.Edward was looking away again, like he was staring out the windows. His face was blank in the reflection.It feels complete when youre here, Jacob. Like all my family is together. I mean, I guess thats what itslike Ive never had a big family before now. Its nice. She smiled for half a second. But its just not whole unless youre here.Ill never be part of your family, Bella.I could have been. I would have been good there. But that was just a distant future that died long before it had a chance to live.Youve always b een a part of my family, she disagreed.My teeth made a grinding sound. Thats a crap answer.Whats a good one?How about, Jacob, I get a kick out of your pain.I felt her flinch.Youd like that better? she whispered.Its easier, at least. I could wrap my head around it. I could deal with it.I looked back down at her face then, so close to mine. Her eyes were shut and she was frowning. We got off track, Jake. Out of balance. Youre supposed to be part of my life I can feel that, and so can you. She paused for a second without opening her eyes like she was waiting for me to deny it. When I didnt say anything, she went on. But not like this. We did something wrong. No. I did. I did something wrong, and we got off track___Her voice trailed off, and the frown on her face relaxed until it was just a little pucker at the corner of her lips. I waited for her to pour some more lemon juice into my paper cuts, but then a soft snore came from the back of her throat.Shes exhausted, Edward murmured. I ts been a long day. A hard day. I think she would have gone to sleep earlier, but she was waiting for you.I didnt look at him.Seth said it broke another of her ribs.Yes. Its making it hard for her to breathe.Great.Let me know when she gets hot again.Yeah.She still had goose bumps on the arm that wasnt touching mine. Id barely raised my head to look for a blanket when Edward snagged one draped over the arm of the sofa and flung it out so that it settled over her.Occasionally, the mind-reading thing saved time. For example, by chance I wouldnt have to make a big production out of the accusation about what was going on with Charlie. That mess. Edward would just hear exactly how wild Yes, he agreed. Its not a good idea.Then why? Why was Bella telling her father she was on the mend when it would only make him more low-spirited?She cant bear his anxiety.So its better No. Its not better. But Im not going to force her to do anything that makes her unhappy now. Whatever happens, this mak es her feel better. Ill deal with the rest afterward.That didnt sound right. Bella wouldnt just shuffle Charlies pain off to some later date, for someone else to face. Even dying. That wasnt her. If I knew Bella, she had to have some other plan.Shes very sure shes going to live, Edward said.But not human, I protested.No, not human. But she hopes to see Charlie again, anyway.Oh, this just got better and better.See. Charlie. I finally looked at him, my eyes bugging. Afterwards. See Charlie when shes all sparkly white with the bright red eyes. Im not a bloodsucker, so maybe Im missing something, but Charlie seems like kind of a strange picking for her first meal.Edward sighed. She knows she wont be able to be near him for at least a year. She thinks she can stall. Tell Charlie she has to go to a special hospital on the other side of the world. Keep in contact through phone calls___Thats insane.Yes.Charlies not stupid. Even if she doesnt kill him, hes going to notice a difference.Shes sort of banking on that.I continued to stare, waiting for him to explain.She wouldnt be aging, of course, so that would set a time limit, even if Charlie accepted whatever excuse she comes up with for the changes. He smiled faintly. Do you remember when you tried to tell her about your transformation? How you made her guess?My free hand flexed into a fist. She told you about that?Yes. She was explaining her idea. You see, shes not allowed totell Charlie the truth it would be very dangerous for him. But hes a smart, practical man. She thinks hell come up with his own explanation. She assumes hell get it wrong. Edward snorted. After all, we hardly adhere to vampire canon. Hell make some wrong assumption about us, like she did in the beginning, and well go along withit. She thinks shell be able to see him from time to time.Insane, I repeated.Yes, he agreed again.It was weak of him to let her get her way on this, just to keep her happy now. It wouldnt turn out well.Which made me think that he probably wasnt expecting her to live to try out her crazy plan. Placating her, so that she could be happy for a little while longer.Like four more days.Ill deal with whatever comes, he whispered, and he turned his face down and away so that I couldnt even read his reflection. I wont cause her pain now.Four days?I asked.He didnt look up. Approximately.Then what?What do you mean, exactly?I thought about what Bella had said. About the thing being wrapped up nice and tight in something strong, something like vampire skin. So how did that work? How did it get out?From what little research weve been able to do, it would appear the faunas use their own teeth to escape the womb, he whispered.I had to pause to swallow back the bile.Research? I asked weakly.Thats why you havent seen Jasper and Emmett around. Thats what Carlisle is doing now. Trying to decipher ancient stories and myths, as much as we can with what we have to work with here, looking for anything that might help us pre dict the creatures behavior.Stories? If there were myths, thenThen is this thing not the first of its kind? Edward asked, anticipating my question. Maybe. Its all very sketchy. The myths could easily be the products of fear and imagination. Though .. . he hesitated your myths are true, are they not? Perhaps these are, too. They do seem to be localized, linked___How did you find ?There was a woman we encountered in South America. Shed been raised in the traditions of her people. Shed heard warnings about such creatures, old stories that had been passed down.What were the warnings? I whispered.That the creature must be killed immediately. Before it could gain too much strength.Just like Sam thought. Was he right?Of course, their legends say the same of us. That we must be destroyed. That we are soulless murderers.Two for two.Edward laughed one hard chuckle.What did their stories say about the mothers?Agony ripped across his face, and, as I flinched away from his pain, I knew he wasn t going to give me an answer. I doubted he could talk.tt was Rosalie whod been so still and quiet since Bellad fallen asleep that Id nearly bury her who answered.She made a scornful noise in the back of her throat. Of course there were no survivors, she said. No survivors, blunt and uncaring. Giving birth in the middle of a disease-infested swamp with a medicine man smearingsloth spit across your face to drive out the evil spirits was never the safest method. Even the normal births went badly half the time. None of them had what this baby has caregivers with an idea of what the baby needs, who try to meet those needs. A doctor with a totally unique knowledge of vampire nature. A plan in place to deliver the baby as safely as possible. Venom that will repair anything that goes wrong. The baby will be fine. And those other mothers would probably have survived if theyd had that if they even existed in the first place. Something I am not convinced of. She sniffed disdainfully.The b aby, the baby. Like that was all that mattered. Bellas life was a minor detail to her easy to blow off.Edwards face went white as snow. His hands curved into claws. Totally egotistical and indifferent, Rosalie twisted in her chair so that her back was to him. He leaned forward, shifting into a crouch.Allow me,I suggested.He paused, raising one eyebrow.Silently, I lifted my doggy bowl off the floor. Then, with a quick, powerful flip of my wrist, I threw it into the back of Blondies head so hard that with an earsplitting bang it smashed flat before it ricocheted across the room and snapped the round top piece off the thick newel post at the foot of the stairs.Bella twitched but didnt wake up.Dumb blonde, I muttered.Rosalie turned her head slowly, and her eyes were blazing.You. Got. Food. In. My. Hair.That did it.I busted up.I pulled away fromBella so that I wouldnt shake her, and laughed so hard that tear ran down my face. From behind the couch, I heard Alices tinkling laugh join in.I wondered why Rosalie didnt spring. I sort of expected it. But then I realized that my laughing had woken Bella up, though shed slept right through the real noise.Whats so funny? she mumbled.I got food in her hair, I told her, chortling again.Im not going to block this, dog, Rosalie hissed.Snot so hard to erase a blondes memory, I countered. Just blow in her ear.Get some new jokes, she snapped.Cmon, Jake. Leave Rose alo Bella broke off mid-sentence and sucked in a sharp breath. In the same second, Edward was leaning over the top of me, ripping the blanket out of the way. She seemed to convulse, her back arching off the sofa.Hes just, she panted, stretching.Her lips were white, and she had her teeth locked together like she was trying to hold back a scream.Edward put both hands on either side of her face.Carlisle? he called in a tense, low voice.Right here, the doctor said. I hadnt heard him come in.Okay, Bella said, still breathing hard and shallow. Think its over. Poor kid d oesnt have enough room, thats all. Hes getting so big.It was really hard to take, that adoring tone she used to describe the thing that was tearing her up. Especially after Rosalies callousness. Made me wish I could render something at Bella, too.She didnt pick up on my mood. You know, he reminds me of you, Jake, she said affectionate tone still gasping.Do not compare me to that thing, I spit out through my teeth.I just meant your growth spurt, she said, looking like Id hurt her feelings. Good. You shot right up. I could watch you getting taller by the minute. Hes like that, too. outgrowth so fast.I bit my tongue to keep from saying what I wanted to say hard enough that I tasted blood in my mouth. Of course, it would heal before I could swallow. Thats what Bella needed. To be strong like me, to be able to heal.She took an easier breath and then relaxed back into the sofa, her body going limp.Hmm, Carlisle murmured. I looked up, and his eyes were on me.What? I demanded.Edwards h ead leaned to one side as he reflected on whatever was in Carlisles head.You know that I was wondering about the fetuss genetical makeup, Jacob. About his chromosomes.What of it?Well, taking your similarities into consideration Similarif/es? I growled, not appreciating the plural.The accelerated growth, and the fact that Alice cannot see either of you.I felt my face go blank. Id forgotten about that other one.Well, I wonder if that means that we have an answer. If the similarities are gene-deep.Twenty-four pairs, Edward muttered under his breath.You dont know that.No. But its interesting to speculate, Carlisle said in a soothing voice.Yeah. Just fascinatingBellas light snore started up again, accenting my sarcasm nicely.They got into it then, quickly taking the genetics conversation to a point where the only words I could understand were the thes and the ands. And my own name, of course. Alice joined in, commenting now and then in her chirpy bird voice.Even though they were talkin g about me, I didnt try to figure out the conclusions they were drawing. I had other things on my mind, a few facts I was trying to reconcile.Fact one, Bellad said that the creature was protected by something as strong as vampire skin, something that was too impenetrable for ultrasounds, too tough for needles. Fact two, Rosalied said they had a plan to deliver thecreature safely. Fact three, Edwardd said that in myths other monsters like this one would chew their way out of their own mothers.I shuddered.And that made a sick kind of sense, because, fact four, not many things could cut through something as strong as vampire skin. The half-creatures teeth according to myth were strong enough. My teethwere strong enough.And vampire teeth were strong enough.It was hard to miss the obvious, but I sure wished I could. Because I had a pretty good idea exactly how Rosalie planned to get that thing safely out.

Illegal trade in animals and animal parts in south east asia Essay

The black change in exotic fauna and beast parts is the third largest misbranded business glob eithery second only to narcotics trafficking and human trafficking. South vitamin E Asia is increasingly be access the centre of the animal clientele both in the procurement stage and as a transit point, where deals ar brokered and sales ar made.This mess has had a signifi butt endt impact on a fragile ecosystem already nemesisened by human-environment conflict. closely tropical woodwinds be already experiencing empty forestsyndrome, characterised by the absence of fauna. South East Asia has a culinary tradition of consuming exotic animals. Animal parts be as well as use in traditional Chinese and South Asian medication.The already dwindling animal people is down the stairs further pressure by the make do in saved species and animal parts. Bangkok has gained the dubious account as the leading city in this extrajudicial trade. The trades of the city ar teeming with numerous pet shops selling everything from puppies, avian fauna and ocean life. al close to of these shops atomic number 18 front shops where unscrupulous deals are brokered for trade in protected species.Chatuchak workweekend market disp unloads conglomerate stamps of exotic animals, ranging from Burmese pythons, birds of paradise, red pandas and fresh water turtles, all of them protected species. This paper aims to explore the magnitude of the fuss, by analysing expert opinions on the issue. In asset the laws conglomerate in regulating the trade in the function allow be scrutinised. Lastly the paper will suggest possible solutions to this heinuous problem. In the process the paper aims to highlight the environmental concerns of preservationist groups and creation-wide bodies desire the earth Wildlife Fund (WWF), concernK and the Environmental Investigation Agency.The trade is too of a global nature as a lot of animal parts are sourced from Africa. These products eveningtually make their way to affluent households in South East Asia and China. This paper in any case aims to highlight the hunter, trafficker, political patrons and trader nexus. For example ivory trade is lawful in Thailand however, most of the ivory that is traded is sourced directly from Africa. Once a key source for the exotic pet trade itself, to daylight Thailand is to a greater extent chief(prenominal) as a major hub in the global network of suppliers and dealers. Between cc3 and 2005, US$165 million worth of abominablely traded wildlife and plants were confiscated in Thailand, including more than 55,000 give-up the ghost animals.The driving factor of this illegal trade is customer beg for exotic animals, with buyers a great deal lacking an understanding of the price that nature pays for collecting exotic species. In many cases, buyers do not know or care about the well being of the animals, and are indifferent to their suffering and inhumane treatment. The trad e can only be countered by vigilant manageing of the porous borders of South East Asian nations and by increasing human awareness about the issue. If this problem is not addressed, future generations will suffer due to theskewed ecosystem that they inherited from previous generations.RESEARCH QUESTIONSWhile acknowledging the highly serious nature of the illegal wildlife trade, frequent crosswise Southeast Asia, this paper focuses on the scale, magnitude and threat this trade can cause to the ecological balance of the region. To what extent this trade has caused pressure on the social and scotch balance of the region? Has economic disparity caused this catastrophe? What are the driving factors behind the trade? Are the reasons primarily cultural or are they mainly economic, driven by the massive profits?Are the preventive laws in place effective in holding the menace? The answers to these questions will require an understanding of the myriad actors involved in this trade. An und erstanding of the history and cultural motivations of the people of the region is too imperative.METHODOLOGYVarious terms published by preservationists well-versed in the wildlife trade are utilised in compiling this paper. Case studies pertaining to the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam and Laos befool also been used as points of research. Most of the articles used in this paper have been retrieved from the Internet. However a number of articles have been extracted from newspaper archives and also from books on conservation. Research was also have with conversations and discussions with wildlife conservation experts in Thailand, Vietnam and NepalLIMITATIONS OF THE PAPERThe lack of accurate data due to the illegal nature of the trade is the biggest hindrance in figuring out the magnitude of the trade. Due to the covert nature of the trade it is near impossible to get first- pot accounts of people involved. The lack of doorway to libraries and inaccurate information by Thailands forest department are other setbacks.REVIEW OF THE LITERATUREThe primary source reviewed is a study prepared by the Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment welkin unit of East Asia (EASRE) in collaboration with TRAFFIC, which was funded by The World Bank-Netherlands Partnership Fund (BNPP) (October, 2008). The study involves questionnaires prepared by 89 experts on the wildlife trade.The study states that the wildlife trade is of significant importance in South East Asia involving wide and complex networks for both sourcing and marketing and involves a diverse range of actors, including rural harvesters, professional hunters, a wide variety of intermediate traders, wholesalers and retailers, up to the final consumers of wildlife many of whom live thousands of miles away from the product source. The wildlife trade may also undermine efforts to achieve sustainable development and poverty alleviation in the region due to depleting valuable natural resources on which mill ions of people depend.The Singapore book of Inter national Law and Contributors (Lin, 2005) gives a detailed description of the preventive laws and the Convention on international craftsmanship in En jeopardyed of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) to which ASEAN is a signatory of. Lin argues that illegal trade is not just an environmental problem, but its impact spills over to other social concerns. Further, illegal trade in animals goes hand in hand with other transnational crimes such as narcotic and human trafficking. The creation of a permit system to regulate the internationalistictrade in species has also created opportunities for evasion of the system as criminal entities seek to exploit loopholes in the regulatory system.Engelsberg, (2007) writes of the inability of the authorities to monitor the wildlife trade in Chatuchak market. This is due to the front end of a lovesome network of informers who tip off the traders. Engelsberg details the connection between legitimate pet shops and the behind the scenes vehicles where the protected species to be traded are hidden. concord to Wild Aid Thailand, up to one million native and exotic birds are sold everyyear in Chatuchak.Sullivan (November, 2003) says that the magnitude of the problem of extramarital trafficking in exotic species is huge, because forests are equivalent an unguarded bank. Every adept product in the forest is of value, particularly the wildlife because they command a high price. accessibility to the forests has led to an gain in wildlife trade.The focus of Social Implications of the Wildlife Trade by Singh (2004) is on Laos. This source writes about contrasting views among policy makers and law enforcement agencies, and their unwillingness to stab individuals involved in the protected species trade which has led to a constant decline in wildlife in Laotian forests. This lax enforcement has also led to an eating away in moral values with hunters looking for illegal and alternative me ans to traffic wildlife, thus causing social conflicts and leading to the formation of illegal trafficking gangs. This has soberly endanger the social fabric of Laotian society.Felbab-Brown (June, 2011) highlights the importance of providing alternative livelihood to hunters and poachers. As most hunters are highly borderlineised and often desperately poor, focusing on finding legal livelihoods can be an important component of policy interventions to reduce the wildlife trade. Previous efforts of appointing ex-poachers as forest rangers have failed because the economic profits of the wildlife trade are far greater than a forest rangers salary.Thus, some rangers continue to operate as poachers. Felbab-Brown concludes that the only solution lies in tackling drive for endangered species. This underscores the added urgency to engage the Chinese brass to reining demand in the domestic market.A TRAFFIC Report (2011) found that many of the interventions that have been occupied to cont rol illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam are believed to have been at least partially successful, although beliefs on the level of posture varied among experts. However, based on survey responses and information from the literature, assumptions made about economic and social device device drivers in the designof intervention approaches may in some cases be misplaced.The report also suggested that there are needs both to improve available data and knowledge about the wildlife trade, and to make this information more practical, policy relevant and more accessible to planners and decision makers. The report also urges governments across South East Asia to take a proactive stand towards the conservation efforts.The Teaching Ecology newsletter (Fall, 2011) highlights the plight of pangolins. This article states that Chinese pangolins were once the primary target of smugglers but because people density is so low the smugglers have switched to the Malayan pangolin. This shy mammalian is more often than not caught by smugglers in Malaysia and Indonesia then shipped back to tthe black market in China where they are eaten or used in traditional practice of medicine. This article highlights the perceived medicinal value of the animal. Pangolin scales are a everyday herbal remedy in China, Vietnam and Korea.The scales are believed to cure toxins, inflammation, rheumatic pain and are also used as an aphrodisiac. Furthermore, pangolins are also stuffed and sold for decoration.An article in chm.asean.biodiversity.org (2010) talks about the extent of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. In addition to threats brought about by know and quantifiable stresses, illegal-unreported-and-unregulated fishing is an blatant aggravating impediment to all attempts to manage fisheries resources and fish stocks in the region. Fish universes tend to roost constant under normal conditions and decline, in most cases, due to overfishing. The article focuses on the suppuration demand for fisheries resources, the increase in the numbers of fishers and vessels, and the efficiency of modernistic fishing gear, all of which contributes to the inability of these resources to recover. Moreover, the reduced availability of fisheries resources increases competition, and prods players to resort to illegal, and more efficient forms of fishing.The lack of capacity of the ASEAN to monitor highly mobile fishing vessels and consult poaching from both in- country and those coming from neighbouring countries makes it next to impossible to quantify the level and extent ofIUU fishing. A recent report estimated the value of IUU fishing at the global scale to be between US$ 10 to 23.5 billion annually. Information in the same report attributesPhilippine losses in 2008 to the amount of US$ 600 million to poaching by foreign vessels and blast- and cyanide-fishing.The bushmeat crisis is highlighted in chm.biodiversity.org (2010). The Bus hmeat Crisis Task Force reported that magic spell habitat loss is often cited as the primary threat to wildlife, commercial-grade lookup for the meat of wild animals has become the most significant immediate threat to the future of wildlife all over the world. The task force refers to bushmeat hunting as a crisis because it is cursorily expanding. Species which were previously not at risk are now threatened due largely to an increase in commercial logging, opening up an infrastructure of roads and trucks that links forests and hunters to cities and consumers.Drury (2009) states that wildlife depletion has serious implications for world food security and contributes directly to human livelihoods, healthcare and economics, particularly important for the poorest households. all over exploitation of wildlife threatens not only biodiversity but also those who depend on it for upholding water security, maintaining forest structure and increasing agricultural productivity. Drury also a rgues that wildlife trade encourages fresh zoonotic infections through unnatural cross exposure of species through human intervention.HIV is one such case which has reached epic proportions among the human population. The severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic of 2003 is also believed to have originated in the wildlife conflicts of South China. The article not only emphasises the need to influence public values to stigmatise consumption behaviour but also argues that the process of altering human behavioural psychology is a tedious and time consuming process.Newer (2011), speaks about the exploitation of animal ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines especially about the use of tiger cram and other tiger parts in the cure of various diseases ranging from impotencyto asthma. Newer also speaks about the global nexus of Chinese medicine highlighting the capture of 469 seizures of tiger products in the US between 2000-2009.A report published in the Science Daily ( troop,2010 ) gives a description of the role of the porous borders between Myanmar and China in the facilitation of the wildlife trade. The article says that due to the large and unmanned nature of the China-Myanmar border, poachers in Myanmar are increasingly exporting wildlife products into China.Another report published in the Science Daily (July, 2008) highlights a research conducted in seven major cities across China to gauge attitudes of the Chinese towards the consumption of tiger parts as medicine or other than. A whopping 43% of the respondents admitted to consuming products they believe contained tiger parts. However, another study by the same group found that 88% of the respondents were aware that buying tiger products is illegal and 93% agreed that Chinas ban was necessary to ensure a future for wild tigers.Nijman (2009) reports on the trade of orangutans, gibbons and other primates in Sumatra, Indonesia and highlights the attention given to primates by animal welfare groups and co nservationists vis-a vis the animal trade. Orangutans and gibbons are being transported over large distances to other areas while waiting in transit at docks or warehouses. Nijman states that the population of gibbons had reduced by 50% between 1980 and 2005 and that of orangutans by nearly 35% during the same period. The study talks of the continuous human pressure on womanly orangutans with babies. The normal procedure is to kill the female to get ababy. A just estimate is that for every one orangutan brought out and sold to a dealer, three more have been killed.NARRATIVEThe single greatest threat to the ecological balance of the planetis the illegal trade in wildlife and animal parts. home ground loss has been pushed to a distant second due to the indiscriminate and ruthless nature of the illegal species trade. Today the illicit trade is valued at anywhere between US$ 6 to 10 billion annually. According to conservationists the problem is most acute in South East Asia. There i s no single reason that one can pinpoint for this phenomena. Instead there exists a complex combination of socio-economic, cultural and political motivations that drive the animal trade in South East Asia.In the last five years, the World Bank has approved nearly 50 projects directly or indirectly related to biodiversity conservation in East and Southeast Asia, accounting for some US$310 million of financing (Sanghvi,2009). However, there is a growing realization that these investments are being staidly compromised by the illegal wildlife trade, and that as a result the regions forests are increasingly empty of the wildlife that makes them so unique.The effectiveness of these projects is threatened by the absence of binding wildlife regulations and implementing bodies. The region is a centre for the consumption of wildlife derivatives. In terms of export of wildlife the region is the largest exporter of wildlife to the international market as well.Kashmira Kakati of WWF (November,2 011), Nepal says that the illegal wildlife trade consists of a complex web of trade routes and traders that form a chain which passes via South East Asia through Burma, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet to mainland China where demandis optimum. As head of rhino and elephant conservation in Nepal, Kakati is most concerned about the illegal ivory that is being traded. Ivory is sourced from as far as nations like Malawi and Botswana and is integrated to the ivory market in Thailand where the trade is legal. Often the ivory is transported in private chartered aircraft and which is an exponent of the profits that the illegal ivory trade provides.In Africa, poaching helicopters tent flap above the wildlife reserves owing to the lack of forest guards, these swoop down, shoot elephants and saw the tusks off. In an instant the helicopters fly away making it very rugged for law enforcement agencies to track the offenders and punish them.South East Asia surpassing habitat loss as the number one dange r. South east asia has been experiencing an economic boom. Households have experienced greater buying power and lifestyles have increased dramatically. As a result, this rapid economic growth has led to an increase in the illegal wildlife trade. The culinary traditions of the region include eating a number of protected species. Traditional medicine which includes those that consist of tiger and bear parts is extremely popular in the region. In addition, a large number of animals are traded to be kept as pets or trophies.As a result of rapid economic growth, the demand for natural resources such as land, tonus and nontimber forest resources has exploded across Asia. Moreover, the East and Southeast Asia region is a center for the consumption of wildlife derivatives, ranging from tiger bone medicines to shark fin cuisine. The region is also a key supplier to the international wildlife market, both legal and illegal. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the biggest driver of the ill egal wildlife trade. It is a 3000 year old tradition and is used by a large population in China as well as elsewhere in south east Asia.Tiger parts are used extensively to produce medicines for impotency, heart pain and congestion in the lungs, while bear bile is used to produce medicines for delusional diseases and to reduce pregnancy pains. TCM is also popular in the United States as is evident from the capture of more than 3000 medicines consisting of tiger derivatives in Seattle in 2007 (TRAFFIC, 2007). This goes to show the increasing global network of the illegal wildlife trade. This has led to unsustainable levels of exploitation for many of the regions most charismatic and endangered species. The regions forests are increasingly silent, empty of the wildlife that makes them so unique.Vivek Menon of TRAFFIC (November,2011), says that the trade in Thailand is generally conducted in legitimate pet shops and otherwise through a network of mobile suppliers. As such animals are s ourced primarily from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam making their way to the wildlife markets in Thailand from where they are transported into China.In the case of the illegal trade in tiger parts, most of the parts are sourced from India and Nepal from where they are transported via Myanmar into Thailand and eventual(prenominal)ly traded in southern China. The transportation is made possibledue to the mien of long and porous borders where law enforcement is negligible. Government authorities are frequently involved in the illegal wildlife trade. The poachers often bribe the authorities enabling the safe passage of the cache of animal parts across borders.The wildlife trade in Sout Eeast Asia has a long history. Plants and animals were traded in Cambodia from as long back as the tenth century(Martin and Phipps, 1996). Most of the animals were traded to the rulers of Burma and Thailand. In Vietnam wildlife was presented as pets to the emperors of China (Nash, 1997).The French e xplorer Garnier, on his travels to Laos in the 1960s, observed a flourishing wildlife trade in the country which include elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn, peafowl feathers, and animal bone (Garnier, 1869-85). In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge come to power in Cambodia. Along with human rights abuses the regime traded nearly US$25 million worth of wild animal parts to the Chinese for weapons and supplies (Nooren and Claridge, 2001)The Greater Mekong region which consists of the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao PDR and China has witnessed the most intensive wildlife trade anywhere in the world (Nooren and Claridge, 2003). The reasons include cultural motivations as well as economic drivers. It is estimated that the wildlife trade is more profitable than the illicit narcotics trade. This is primarily because there are no production costs involved in the wildlife trade. This makes it highly viable to racketeers and also to the economically challenged population that is looking t o make quick profits.The motivations might differ but the volume of the wildlife trade is threatening the ecological diversity of the region on an unprecedented scale. For example, Lao PDR saw a massive increase in the population of rats. Wildlife conservationists stated the cause to be the drastic reduction in the number of snakes in the country. In Vietnam the large scale trade in illicit timber has caused an increase in the amount and regularity of floods in the country.The increase in the poaching of predators in Myanmar has increased the number of deer in the country. As a result the people in the rural areas of the country have made deer meat a staple in their diet.In the early 1990s, the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam was conservatively estimated at $24 million annually. In 2002, it was estimated at US$66.5 million. In 1999 and 2000, approximately 25 tons of wild freshwater turtles and tortoises were caught and exported each week from northern Sumatra to China (Shepherd, 2 000). Despite continued demand, as turtles become harder to find, this trade has dropped to seven to ten tons per week.This is a watch indicator of the near extinction of many species of freshwater turtles. Although exact numbers are not available it is estimated that nearly a ton of freshwater turtles are traded even today. At this rate conservationists say that every species of freshwater turtles will be extinct by the year 2025. In Thailand in 2003, a one day raid on Bangkoks Chatuchak market seized 1,000 protected species worth $1.25 million. In early 2004, Chinese law enforcement seized the skins of 31 tigerstoday there are only 50 tigers estimated to be left in the wild in China.THAILAND AS THE PRIMARY PLAYERThailands wildlife resources are all but extinct. any(prenominal) little exists lives in protected forests. Due to the boom in tourism in Thailand, the centre has emerged as one of the wealthiest nations in the area. The increase in buying power has contributed to Thai na tionals being among the largest consumers of wildlife and wildlife products in the world. Most of the key actors in the illegal wildlife trade in South East Asia are also Thai, wheather it be the trafficker, the trader or the front agencies.Wildlife trade surveys conducted along the border areas between Thailand and Myanmar, Lao PDR,, and Cambodia since 1990, for example, identified Thai nationals as among the principal consumers of those countries wildlife products (Srikosamatara et al., 1992 Nooren and Claridge, 2001). In 1991, Thailand was considered by international conservation organizations as the center of Southeast Asias illegal wildlife trade (Srikosamatara et al,1992).Thailands topography is extremely diverse. Northern Thailand is dominated by the Dawna Tasserim mountain range which is an university extension of the southern Himalayan range and borders Myanmar. The central part of thecountry is fed by the Chao Phraya river and is dominated by paddy plantations. The egrets that dot the rice fields are practically the last surviving wild creatures in this part of the region. The north and northeast are dominated by the Mekong river which links the country to its neighbouring countries. The south of the country is primarily a coastal region. Thailand is home to six species of venomous snakes common cobra, king cobra, banded krait, Malayan viper, green viper and Russells pit viper. The black monitor, which looks like a miniature dinosaur live in some jungles of southern Thailand. In the 1990s it was estimated that more than 500 tigers roamed the jungles of Thailand.According to the forest department less than 200 remain. Extensive poaching and lack of law enforcement lead to the drastic decrease in the numbers. The fine for killing a tiger is 15,000 Bhat with or punishment up to two years. Well-connected poachers and traders are not deterred by the weak fines and often are let out on bail, if and when they are caught. The trade of ivory is legal in Thai land though it is banned in China, this makes poaching elephants an extremely lucrative business. The failure of the government to ban the ivory trade has ensured the number of wild elephants has more than halved from an estimated 5000 in 1992 to about a couple of thousand today (TRAFFIC, 2008).Nearly 15% of Thailand is marked as protected area with over 100 national parks and nearly 1000 non-hunting sanctuaries. Despite this Thailand remains the worlds hotspot for the illegal wildlife trade. The primary reason remains the weak wildlife conservation laws and deterrents. nongovernmental organizationS like TRAFFIC, Overland, WWF and Bird Conservation Society of Thailand work at conservation of Thailands diverse flora and and fauna and also work towards influencing government policy on safeguarding wildlife. Recently more than 50 airport staff from the Hat Yai and Suvarnabhumi airport (including check-in counter attendants, baggage handlers, customs and immigration officers, law andse curity officers) received intensive training in detecting and illegal wildlife being transported from those airports. TRAFFIC and government officials provided the training over a period of quaternity days on topics such as CITES, illegal wildlife trade relevant national laws, identifying plant andanimal species and ways to detect smuggling operations. This shows a strong intent on behalf of the Thai government to curb the illegal wildlife trade.If a species has a marketable value that is greater than the marginal cost of harvesting that species, it is traded. The most significant trade is in the bushmeat area. In rural Lao PDR, Myanmar and Cambodia, bushmeat is an integral part of everyday cuisine. Deer meat, pangolin meat and mongoose meat are extremely popular in the region. Today, as the number of large animals has dwindled almost to nothing, the most visible trade flows are in smaller mammals, reptiles, fish, and plants.While information on the exact numbers of these species i s difficult to obtain, available evidence suggests that even these relatively abundant species are beginning to be seriously affected by the trade. This poses a challenge to conservationists and government forest departments to enforce wildlife protection laws.Tigers.In Sumatra, approximately 51 tigers were killed each year between 1998 and 2002 (Shepherd and Magnus, 2004)out of a total population of approximately 800 individuals before 1998. The majority of the parts were traded in China. Between June 2003 and April 2004, seven tigers were killed in north eastern Lao PDR their bones reportedly were traded for over $50,000 (WCS/TRAFFIC August 2004). It is estimated that less than 400 wildtigers remain across the region. A majority of them live in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The number of wild tigers in the non-protected forests of the region is negligiblePangolins.According to CITES trade data, between 1993 and 2003 over 80,000 pangolin skins were illegally exported fro m Lao PDR to international markets, primarily in the United States and Mexico. Over 15,000 pangolins were confiscated in Thailand in 2002, brought from Indonesia to Lao PDR and eventually China. Pangolin skins continue to be seized regularly in Malaysia, Thailand, Lao PDR, and Vietnam.Arriving by air from Malaysia,more than four tons of wildlife, including water monitor lizards and over 600 pangolins, were seized in Hanoi, Vietnam, from March to April 2003 alone (C. Shepherd, TRAFFIC, September 2004). All available evidence suggests that they are disappearing throughout their natural range in Asialargely as a result of the trade. There are nearly no pangolins in the wild in China and Thailand. Pangolins are highly in demand as trophy animals as well as for their meat.Freshwater turtles.Over 50 percent of Asias freshwater turtles (45 species) are now considered in danger of extinction in the immediate or near future as a direct result of over-exploitation fortrade that 10 million fre shwater turtles (or 10,000 tons) are traded annually in East Asia for use in food and traditional medicine (TRAFFIC Southeast Asia,2008).Six tons of wild-caught freshwater turtles were seized in Hanoi, Vietnam in March 2003. They had been exported by air using false permits from Malaysia (C. Shepherd, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, September 2004). In 1999 and 2000, approximately 25 tons of wild freshwater turtles and tortoises were caught and exported each week from northern Sumatra to China (Shepherd, 2000).Marine turtles.Due to the lack of available data on marine turtles they have become a favourable target of poachers. Fishermen lay nets in specific areas in the sea and harvest nearly 5 tons of these turtles every week. These turtles are then sold either as pets or for their meat Almost 30,000 items made from the critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle were found on sale in Vietnam in 2002 (TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Indochina, 2004), signalling the death of thousands of these marine creat ures.Water snakes.From 1999 to 2000, over 8,500 water snakes representing five different species were estimated harvested per day from Cambodias Tonle Sap, primarily for local subsistence and trade, possibly representing the greatest commercial exploitation of snakes in the world (Stuart et al., 2000). Water snakes are highly in demand to be showcased as pets in aquariums. Their non-venomous nature has also contributed to their value as pets.Seahorses.An estimated 20 million seahorses are taken annually from the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand, of which 95 percent are destined for China for use in the traditional medicine industry, according to Project Seahorse (Gray, 2004). These adorable animals are also used as pets and for their meat.Characteristics of the TradeIllegal domestic and international wildlife trade is a commodity business driven by a wide variety of socioeconomic and cultural forces. The primary reasons are the increase in connectivity, the increase in access t o markets and the rise in purchasing power and economic development in the region. The relationship between the different actors in the trade keepschanging. The harvestors are often marginal farmers operating in the rural areas of the region. At other times professional hunters armed with sophisticated weapons and efficient means of transport play the role of procurers. Traders rapidly adapt to changing circumstances to maintain their substantial income. When supplies become depleted or access restrictions are imposed, they respond byTargeting new source areas or countries for a particular species or group of species. Since the pangolin is nearly extinct in the GMS region today, they are imported from Malaysia and Indonesia.(TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, 2004). This shift is a clear indicator of the complexity and sophisticated planning of the poachers.Developing new smuggling methods and routes to avoid detection. During the boom in prices of bear bile and bear parts in Vietnam in the ea rly 2000s, smuggling of bears was accomplished by fake army vehicles, fake funerals, and even fake ambulances complete with the bear dressed as a patient and surrounded by concerned relatives (SFNC, 2003). Leopard skins are sewn inside carpets when they are transported from Burma to the wild life markets of Thailand. Exploiting weak wildlife law enforcement.Wildlife is relabelled to convince customs officials that obsolescent species are actually common species that are legal to trade and that only when they are actually caught inpossession of wildlife. Law enforcement authorities are often bribed or are part other smuggling teams themselves. Many politicians patronize the poachers and the traders. Evenwhen caught, fines and other penalties are generally much less than the risk premiums gained from the trade, negating their effectiveness as disincentives.Targeting new species within a commodity group.The dip in the availability of pangolins brought up a massive increase in the numb er of mongoose traded. The scarcity of boa constrictors instigated the number of Burmese pythons that are hunted. The scarcity of langur (leaf monkey) bones for the medicinal trade has led to a rise in the collection and sale of macaque bones although the latter are considered less effective in traditional remedies (SFNC, 2003), the similarities between the bones are enough to either at best deceive or at least satisfy customers and in so doing, maintain the market.As wildlife law enforcement efforts increase, the illegal trade moves underground. It becomes more difficult to monitor activity, or go steady the quantities, value, or number of species involved.Roles Played by Nations in South East AsiaCHINAChina is the regions largest consumer, particularly of animal and plant products used as food and ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. Demand for the illegal wildlife trade is mainly driven by traditional Chinese medicine.CAMBODIACambodia is primarily a source country, parti cularly for reptiles, primates, and plants, and formerly for timber.VIETNAMVietnam was primarily a source nation but due to its rapid economic developments it is increasingly becoming a consumer nation. It is also an important link in the trade route to ChinaTHAILANDThailand is particularly a consumer of high-value pets, trophies, and food products, while also playing an important role as a regional and transit point for the international market.MYANMAR AND LAO PDRLao PDR and Myanmar are the biggest source for the procurement of wildlife. Both countries are important transit points Myanmar for wildlife products coming Thailand from the Indian subcontinent, and Lao PDR to international markets in neighboring nations (China, Vietnam, and Thailand).The illegal wildlife trade goes hand in hand with the illegal drug trade.The report issued by the US Drug Enforcement Agency states that narcotics were being transported across the US-Mexico border hidden in the bellies and body parts of an imals. This gives further leverage to the traffickers who are armed with more money and resources provided by the drug cartels.This provides a dual threat for enforcement agencies. Often the animals are fedminiature packets of drugs and are killed on arrival after which the drugs are retrieved. This has created specialize gangs that operate in many different stages.Preventive Laws and RegulationsCITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is an international multiparty treaty drafted in 1963 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The primary objective of CITES is the conservation of animals and plants that are threatened by the illegalwildlife trade. It provides varied degrees of protection to 33,000 species of plants and animals. It is one of the largest conservation agreements in existence. Countries are not terminal point to sign it, however, those that have ratified it are bound to follow the regulations of CITES. It, however does not replace national laws that are already in existence. It provides a framework to nations for the formulation of national laws. Often regulatory laws are non-existent or the penalty does not match the gravity of the crime. Most nations do not have significant laws pertaining to wildlife trade.About 5000 species of animals and 28000 species of plants are protected by various degrees and are listed in three categories that are called Appendices (TRAFFIC,2009). Amendments to the agreement must be supported by a two thirds majority. There are various criticisms of CITES. maiden among those is that it does not address other core concerns like habitat loss.It focuses primarily on trade and ignores other factors that can cause the extinction of a received species. Another criticism is that it allows trade of species if the requisite permits and licenses are acquired. That being said only one species that was listed in CI TES, the Spixs Macaw has become extinct (CITES. (n.d.). http//www.cites.org).Recommendations and ConclusionThe largest driver of the illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia is the nearly insatiable demand for exotic fauna as culinary items, intraditional Chinese medicine and as trophies. A sea change in attitudes towards wildlife consumption is possibly the only probable solution to stop the illicit trade in protected species. Educational campaigns aimed at stigmatizing wildlife consumption need to be enforced at different levels of society, including at schools, workplaces and at public forums. When demand exists there is bound to be a supply.The illicit wildlife trade is primarily a transnational crime which is being facilitated by greater connectivity among the nations in the GMS region and the lack of any form law enforcement pertaining to wildlife across the borders. A multipronged international vigilance agency which can monitor illicit wildlife trade at different levels will help curb the trade by significant numbers.For the unique wildlife of Southeast Asia to survive, it is imperative to engage poachers, hunters and gatherers, who are often from the margins of society and the lowest in the hierarchy among the many actors of the wildlife trade, to move back their illegal activities. A need to provide them with alternative and economically sustainable livelihoods that directly affect the number of species available in the illegal wildlife market.Another total idea would be to focus on the value that wildlife has in its natural surroundings. Opening up of sanctuaries and national parks where the villagers, indigenous people, hunters and gatherers are appointed as rangers and tourist guides can provide economic benefits to this section of people, thus making them responsible for the preservation of the forests and the wildlife in it even if merely for economic reasons. Like in the case of the environment and carbon credits monetary incentives have prov ed to be the best way to prevent illegal activity.The unique biodiversity if Southeast Asia is under severe threat from the large magnitude of illegal wildlife trade taking place in the region. Unless preventive laws are strengthened and greater co-operation among states is achieved, the ecological mental unsoundness caused may prove to be irreversible.This paper briefly examined the cultural and historical reasons that drive the demand for the illicit species trade. It also examined the roles played by different states involved in wildlife trade while also focusing on the hierarchy of the different actors involved in the trade. While examining different factors and aspects of the trade, it is easy to determine the eventual harm this menace can cause to the lives and livelihoods of the poorest inhabitants of the region. In the absence of strong monitoring and vigilance this trade could forever alter the topography of the region.The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Spe cies of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which all ten member states of ASEAN have ratified, is a good starting point and is growing in effectiveness. However for greater efficiency in curbing the illicit wildlife trade, individual nations should increase monitoring of wildlife related activity within their borders. Furthermore nations should increase co-operation in curbing the illicit wildlife trade. The stakes are far too high to not proceed in a cautious and responsible manner. come OF ACRONYMSASEAN Association of Southeast Asian NationCITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and FloraCoP13 The Thirteenth company of the Parties (CITES)GMS Greater Mekong Sub-RegionFAO Food and Agriculture OrganizationIUCN The World Conservation UnionUNDP United Nations Development ProgramWCS Wildlife Conservation SocietyWWF World Wildlife FundBibliographyFelbab-Brown (June,2011) conflicting Policy. London Brookings.Drury.R( 2009) University of Westminster, LondonC ITES. (n.d.).Engelsberg. P (2007),TRAFFIChttp//www.cites.org. Retrieved December 7, 2011http//chm.asean.comGray, D. (2004, April 6). Retrieved November 7, 2011, from http//msnbc.msn.comKakati,K, Interview (December,2011)Martin, E.B and M.Phipps, A Review of the Wild Animal Trade in Cambodia. TRAFFIC Bulletin 16(2) pgs 45-60, 1996Menon.J, Interview, WWF (Decber,2011)Nash, S. Fin, Feather, Scale and shin Observations on the Wildlife Trade in Vietnam and Lao PDR, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia report, 1997Nijaman, V. (2009). TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Report.Nooren and Claridge, TRAFFIC,2001Nooren and Claridge, TRAFFIC,2003R Newer, R. E. (2011). Eluciadata.Seidensticker, J. Riding the tiger tiger conservation in human-dominated landscapes.Shepherd, C. R. merchandise of live freshwater turtles and tortoises from Northern Sumatra and Riau, Indonesia. A case study. pp. 112-199. IN Asian Turtle Trade Proceedings of a Workshop on Conservation and Trade of Freshwater Turtles a nd Tortoises in Asia. Van Dijk, P.P., B. Stuart, and A.G.J. Rhodin eds. Chelonian Research Monographs.Number 2, 2000Shepherd and Magnus, TRAFFIC, 2004Shepherd (September,2004), TRAFFICSingh, V. (2009). Curbing Wildlife Trade. Hindustan Times .Singh, V. (2004). Social Implications of the Wildlife Trade.Sullivan.S (June,2003), WWF ReportTRAFFIC. (2008). http//www.traffic.org. Retrieved December 11, 2011, fromhttp//www.traffic.org/general-reports/traffic_pub_gen24.pdfTRAFFIC. (2004). TRAFFIC and WCS Annual Report. London.World Conservation Society. (2003). Lao Program.Stuart.J, (2000) ,TRAFFIC Report

Cartoon Analysis

A Show For decades people have migrated to America from all over the world in hopes of having that beautiful al-Qaeda with a white picket fence and a yard big enough for two children and a dog. Today, people ar still chasing that dream. They havent realized that the American Dream is merely Just that, a dream. These immigrants believe that by coming to America their life will suddenly be better and easier. Whats worse is that professorship Obama and the government led the immigrants on by portraying theAmerican nation to be a place where dreams come true and everyone is welcome. That is exactly what is being illustrated in The bare-assed York Times political cartoon, Undocumented Fun For Undocumented Children. Brian McFadden uses eye-catching colors, the southern United States borderline, and U. S. Representatives to show how the U. S. Government continues to act as if they are willing and nimble to receive more undocumented immigrants. The most flamboyant technique that the man ufacturing business uses in this strip is the eye-catching colors.Red and yellow are the two freshest colors use in the strip. Red is also a color known to cause a physical reaction within the human body. I believe the creator uses these two colors to highlight the most important points throughout the cartoon. For example, there is a large red stop sign with written on it. This seems to be the main goal and message that the creator wants to get across. Then, the creators main concern stands out four times in yellow and reads, U. S. BORDER. By using these bright and old colors Brian McFadden is able to complete the first step in sharing his message by catching his readers attention. The image that is most vivid in this cartoon strip is the map of the United States with its southern border left open to connect the dots. This type of imagery is brilliant in conveying the cartoons message. If this express were to be presented alone anybody would easily be able to grasp the underlying message. It is in this section of the cartoon strip where the creators point is most Leary stated.The issue presented is evidently the U. S. Border, which is represented by the eight dots to be connected. The creator also uses humor in this piece to lighten the mood of the readers but still gets the point across. The finale well- presented elements in this cartoon strip were the characters. The characters featured were President Obama, the border patrol, three other U. S. Representatives, and a young undocumented child. We learn a lot virtually the U. S. Government through these characters. These U. S. Preventatives reveal to us how the government publicly portrays that they want to help immigrants. Though, McFadden makes it clear that the government is doing this solely to please the American people who are for immigration. For example, the Senate passed the immigration bill. In the strip, a U. S. Representative expresses how he cant seem to find the bill. This shows us how the government is actually brushing off the immigration concerns of the people. There is a lot being said in Undocumented Fun for Undocumented Children.

The Policies of Harry S. Truman

Many presidents baffle faced internal and inter state of matteral problems, alone it is a argufy not to know about them until you become the president of the fall in States, that is what happened to the 33rd President of the coupled States waste S. Truman At the clock time of Roosevelts death, Truman was Vice-President for only 82 days and he faced more challenges in domestic and immaterial affairs than any some other U. S. president did at the time, yet he manages to channelise this country in the right direction. Truman knew nix about the Manhattan Project, and the atomic bomb.When Truman took the reins unexpectedly, (April 12, 1945) he was forced to deal with keeping a nation together and winning the superior war history had ever seen. The first issue of immaterial constitution that Truman confronted was the decision to substance abuse nuclear weapons over against Japan. No decision of his presidency has drawn so much criticism as the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and Nagasaki (9 August). The question is whether he could have done anything elsethat is, whether he could have delayed use of the bombs by opting for a demonstration of their immense power or refused to employ what usual Dwight D.Eisenhower described many years after its employment as an barbarous weapon. The Charter of the United Nations was write in June 26, 1945 in San Francisco by Truman and formalise by the Senate in October 24, 1945. Originally ratified by 51 countries, currently 192 countries have ratified the charter. The Charter of the United Nations is by far the largest peace keeping Organization treaty it ever existed to date. Truman as a vision of a Wilsonian he is, he wouldnt let Wilsons idea revived into the Truman straight guide on he is to let this idea die again.The Proclamation 2695 (July 4, 1946) served as the flood tide of American colonialism in the Philippines and proclaimed the absolute independence of the Filipino people as t he United States withdraws and surrendered all rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control or sovereignty. It was supposed that the United States give up control over the islands in 1944 but with the war on the Pacific the United States Senate decided to delay by two years. Now from this point forward the Unites States recognized the new independent republic of the Philippines and the Unites States relinquish any control over the new created state.The nations of Europe were ravaged after WWII. Poor countries were susceptible to Communism. Trumans announce copulation the change in policy by the means of the Truman Doctrine (12 March 1947), which promised United States support to countries threatened by Communism. It stated that un egalitarian governments undermined the foundations of international peace, and thus were a threat to the United States. It was used in Greece and Turkey after the communists tried to take over, and a revolution erupted, the United States s upplied the anti-Communist forces with funds and arms.This policy was the adoption of containment as official U. S. policy. The Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (or commonly known as the Rio Treaty), was signed in Sept. 2, 1947 in Rio de Janeiro (hence the name Rio Treaty) and ratified by the United States Senate in 1947. Originally ratified by all 22 American republics which are Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela. at a lower place the treaty, an gird attack or threat of aggression against a signatory nation, whether by a member nation or by some other power, will be considered an attack against all. This treaty puts a defensive alliance of the Western Hemisphere nations, and this agreement was a move toward a multilateral attack to the Monroe Doctrine and the most imp ortant inter-American agreement to this day. This treaty also puts the groundwork for the formation the Organization of American States (OAS) a fewer years later in Colombia. The Marshall Plan (June 5, 1947), Truman proposed the Marshall Plan to sponsor reconstruction in Europe.The Marshall Plan passed in 1947, right after the Czechoslovakian Communist revolution. Congress appropriated $5. 8 billion for the first fifteenth months, and contemplated further spending. The Marshall Plan included most of the nations of Western Europe Austria, Belgium, Den check up on, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. (Switzerland signed the convention creating an giving medication for the plan, but refused to accept funds. ) Congress included ( guinea pig) China in Marshall Plan appropriations.The National Security make out (July 26, 1947) mandated a major reorganization of the contrary policy and military establishments of the U. S. Government. The act created many of the institutions that Presidents found useful when formulating and implementing foreign policy, including the National Security Council (NSC). The Council itself included the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and other members (such as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency), who met at the White House to discuss both long-term problems and more immediate national security crises.Truman never went and didnt take importance in these meetings until the Korea War in 1950 when Truman took the seriousness of the conflict and began to form spot of these meetings. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (October 30, 1947) set the staple fibre rules under which open a nondiscriminatory free trade policy in which it can take place. This treaty meant to reduce trade barriers among the 23 countries signatory nations. The GATT seek to create an institutional framework inwardly whic h international trade could be conducted as stable and predictable as possible.The Charter of the Organization of American States (April 30, 1948) was signed by 21 nations (this are the same nations that signed the Rio treaty except for the Bahamas delegation) of the western hemisphere at the conclusion of the ninth Pan-American Conference in Bogota, Colombia which reconstituted the Pan-American labor union to the Organization of American States in which they reaffirmed its commitment as when they signed the Rio treaty to achieve an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence. The Truman tribunal hoped that the Organization would showcaseually assume the mounting responsibilities for solving hemispheric problems, but the U. S. would always play the dominant role. The provisional government of the state of Israel proclaims the new state of Israel (Ma y 14, 1948). On that same date the United States, president Truman acknowledges and recognized the provisional Jewish government as de facto authority of the new Jewish state (de jure acknowledgment was extended on January 31). The U. S. delegates to the U. N. and top ranking State part officials were angered thatTruman released his recognition logical argument to the press without notifying them first. The Berlin Airlift (June 27, 1948-May 12, 1949) was the greatest humanitarian and aviation event in history. Since the Allies had never negotiated a deal to guarantee supply of the sectors deep within the Soviet-occupied zone. The commander of the American occupation zone in Germany, General Lucius D. Clay, proposed sending a large armored column driving peacefully, as a moral right, down the autobahn across the Soviet zone to West Berlin, with operating instructions to defend itself if it were stopped or attacked.Truman, however, following the consensus in Washington, believed th is would entail an unacceptable risk of war. He approved a plan to supply the blockaded city by air. On June 25, the Allies initiated the Berlin Airlift, a campaign that delivered food and other supplies, such as coal, using military airplanes on a massive scale. nobody remotely like it had ever been attempted before, and no other nation had the capability, either logistically or materially, to have accomplished it. The airlift worked ground access was again granted on May 11, 1949. The airlift continued for several months after that.The Berlin Airlift was one of Trumans great foreign policy successes as president it significantly aided his election campaign in 1948. The Genocide Treaty it was signed December 12, 1948 it went in force in 1951 but the U. S. ratification came November 23, 1988. Although it took four decades to strengthen the treaty, this international agreement made genocide an international crime during both war and peace. The North Atlantic Treaty (4 April 1949) , which assured military assistance, resolved the economical and policy-making near-chaos of Europe after World War II.These measures would, he believed, preserve democracy in Western Europe and thereby help preserve the liberty of the United States. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) comprised the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Britain, Canada, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland Greece and Turkey joined in 1952, West Germany in 1955, and Spain in 1982. The situation in the Pacific was not much better than that in Europe. In the Potsdam Conference in Germany and in the Cairo Conference, it was agreed that Korea would become a free and independent nation once the war is over.However, after V-J Day, the Soviet government was quick to establish a Communist regime. The United States under the Truman administration helped Korea setup a democratic government on the Southern Part of the peninsula. North Koreans crossed the border in fu ll force (June 25, 1950). The UN, presented with its first real conflict, acted quickly, partly because the Soviet interpretive program had walked out a few days earlier in protest of Communist Chinas lack of representation (it was represented by Nationalist China). War was declare on the aggressors by the United Nations.Although all nations contributed, it was mostly the United States fighting the war. The war lasted for about three years until an armistice was signed splitting Korea again along the 38th parallel. Macarthur stated to President Truman that the Chinese wouldnt enter the war and this conflict would be over by Christmas. That was the most erroneous statement that Gen. Macarthur said to president Truman because since Gen. Macarthur was anxious to wrap up the war he ordered American and other U. N. troops to press on to the Yalu River and since the communist Chinese didnt want that buffer zone gone they enter in force.In doing this, he ignored the warnings of the Commu nist Chinese as well as a directive by military planners in Washington to send only South Korean troops into the provinces bordering China. Macarthur never thought that the Communist Chinese were going to invade North Korea, but since it happen he wanted self-confidence for a full scale invasion of China and bring the Chinese Nationalist to fight in Korea and in weak positions of Communist mainland China, but since Truman didnt wanted WWIII it refused Macarthur plan.Macarthur frustrated started to say its plans publicly without Washingtons authorization and for insubordination Truman fired Macarthur on the grounds that Macarthur wasnt the Commander in Chief. Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo attempted to assassinate Truman at Blair House (November 1, 1950). This put and important question mark the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico and since Truman understood that, he allowed a plebiscite in Puerto Rico to determine its future relati onship with the United States.As for the Torresola, he was shot a White House policeman, Leslie Coffelt, before expiring himself and Collazo as a co-conspirator in a felony that turned into homicide was guilty of murder and sentence to death in 1952, but Truman changed it to life in prison. This attack could well be implemented since the gunfight was over a dozen feet of his bed and since he was curious went to the windowpane to see until a passerby shout to Truman to take cover. The Tripartite Security Treaty (Anzus Treaty) was signed September 1. 951 and came in force April 29, 1952. This Treaty, signed a few years after WWII, it was designed to send a signal to Communist China and the Soviet Union that Western-oriented countries were determined to stop new aggressive moves in the Pacific. The U. S. -Japanese Security Treaty (San Francisco Treaty) was signed September 8, 1951 by 49 nations and came in force April 28, 1952 in which the United States agreed to assume primary respons ibility for the formal defense of a disarmed Japan and an exclusive role in providing nuclear deterrence.Japan would have renounce the ability to declare war and its military would be for peacekeeping forces and ensured the formal return of independence at the expense of large military presence in the country and also ensured that any attack against Japan, the United States makes responsible of any protection and retaliation in the name of the Japanese Diet. The Immigration and Nationality practise (McCarran-Walter characterization) (June 27, 1952) upheld the national origins quota system established by the Immigration encounter of 1924, reinforcing this controversial system of immigrant selection.It also ended Asian exclusion from immigrating to the United States and introduced a system of gustatory sensations based on skill sets and family reunification. Plus this constitute grow the United States definition to Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands in addition to P uerto Rico and U. S. Virgin Islands which is used currently. At the basis of the Act was the continuation and codification of the National Origins Quota System. It revised the 1924 system to allow for national quotas at a rate of one-sixth of one percent of each nationalitys population in the United States in 1920.As a result, 85 percent of the 154,277 visas available annually were allotted to individuals of northern and western European lineage. The Act continued the practice of not including countries in the Western Hemisphere in the quota system, though it did introduce new length of residency requirements to qualify for quota-free entry. There were other positive changes to the implementation of immigration policy in the 1952 Act. One was the creation of a system of preferences which served to help American consuls abroad prioritize visa applicants in countries with heavily oversubscribed quotas.Under the preference system, individuals with special skills or families already res ident in the United States received precedence, a policy still in use today. Moreover, the Act gave non-quota status to terra incognita husbands of American citizens (wives had been entering outside of the quota system for several years by 1952) and created a labor certification system, designed to prevent new immigrants from becoming undesirable competition for American laborers. Truman vetoed the McCarran-Walter Act because he regarded the bill as un-American and discriminatory.Trumans veto was overridden by a vote of 278 to113 in the House, and 57 to 26 in the Senate. Parts of the McCarran-Walter Act remain in place today, but much of it was overturned by the Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965. These reversals in foreign policy, from isolation to world power, established Trumans reputation as one of the nations greatest presidents. Which helped placed an economic foundation to struggling nations of Western Europe and Northeast Asia. Trumans domestic policies as pre sident took far less of his time, and proved far less successful, than his foreign policies.Here also he dealt with three major issues The administration of the modern-day American presidency, a legislative program known as the Fair Deal, and Republican accusations of internal subversion and corruption. He managed well with two of these domestic matters. The decision maker parliamentary law 9599 (August 18, 1945) Provides assistance to expand production and continued stabilization of the national economy during the transition from war to peace, and for the orderly modification of wartime controls over prices, wages, materials, and facilities.The Executive Order 9635 (September 29, 1945) Organizes the Navy plane section, defines what is the Naval Establishment as well it defines the duties of the Chief Naval Operations and declare that the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard are part of the Naval Establishment. The Executive Order 9646 (October 25, 1945) Rearranges the Coat of Arms, Seal and Flag of the President of The United States to accommodate the newest incorporated states into the Union. The War Brides Act (December 28, 1945) relaxes the immigration regulations to allow foreign born spouses and children of U.S. military personnel to settle in the United States. The Employment Act (Murray Act) (February 20, 1946) stimulates the economy following WWII, creating agencies in Congress and in the executive secern to focus on the problems of the depression and inflation. The Executive Order 9728 (May 21, 1946) Truman enamourd most of the nations bituminous coal mines so that the secretary of the interior could negotiate a contract with mineworkers. As authority, EO 9728 had cited, among other things, the War Labor Disputes Act. The Hobbs Acts (Anti-Racketeering Act) (July 3, 1946).This made it unlawful to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery or extortion and reined labor unions ability to enforce the interests of their constituents within the bounda ries of the law. The Federal Tort Claims Act (August 2, 1946) enabled private citizens to sue the government when a federal employee harms a third party or private property by committing an international tort or by negligence. The Supreme Court later barred military personnel from suing the federal government for injuries suffered while performing their jobs.The Taft-Hartley Act (June 23, 1947), was designed to amend much of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (the Wagner Act) and discontinued parts of the Federal Anti-Injunction Act of 1932. It limit the power of unions from contributing to political campaigns, It forbids jurisdictional strikes and secondary boycotts, It permits union shops only after a majority of the employees vote for them, It declares all closed shops illegal and the president is allow to appoint a board of inquiry to investigate unions when he believes a strike would endanger the health and safety, and obtain an 80-day injunction to stop the strike.Even p resident Truman was against this and vetoes it but it was overridden. The presidential Succession Act (July 18, 1947) corrected the weaknesses in the line of presidential succession as outlined in the original Constitution. The Water Pollution Control Act (June 30, 1948) extended the reach of the federal government by establishing accommodating arrangements with states for grants, research, and technical assistance. This Act addressed the nations water-quality problems by attempting to establish a cooperative relationship between the federal and state governments.This legislative piece since it was far ahead of its time, he decided to turn this legislation into an Executive Order at the same time running the risk of being overturn by another Executive Order but it worked, it is Executive Order 9981 (July 26, 1948) that provided integration of the armed forces and establishes equal treatment and opportunity in the armed services. The Navajo-Hopi Rehabilitation Act (April19, 1950) at tempted to improve conditions in one of the most impoverished areas of the United States this Act funded the construction of roads, schools, and other developments on the Navajo and Hopi reservations.The Internal Security Act (McCarran Act) (September 23, 1950) established the Subversive Activities Control Board, aimed at stopping communist subversion in the United States, calling for the registration of all known communist organizations and individuals in the United States. The Celler-Kefauver Act (December, 29 1950) prohibited certain types of mergers between firms in the same industry, the Celler-Kefauver Act led companies to form conglomerates made up of companies in unrelated industries.The Celler-Kefauver Act of 1950 amended the Clayton Act by closing a loophole that allowed companies to avoid antitrust suits by acquiring assets (rather than stock) of another company. The Twenty-Second Amendment was ratified February 27, 1951 and it was certified in record breaking time of Mar ch 1, 1951. Shortly after Franklin Roosevelts unprecedented fourthly term as president, the twenty-second Amendment was adopted to established presidential limits to two (2) terms.The Executive Order 10340 (April 8 1952) Truman directed Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to seize the mills to ensure their production to support the war efforts just hours before a scheduled strike. Since the Taft-Hartley Act passed in Congress the Supreme Court goes in emergency session in the case of Youngstown Sheet & tobacco pipe Co. v. Sawyer (Secretary of Commerce) in a 6 to 3 decision on Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer declared the seizure unconstitutional. The Court held that Truman could have used the Taft-Hartley Act to delay the strike, but Truman disliked the law too much to use it.In Supreme Court appointments, Truman wasnt cautious choosing the Supreme Court Justices because significantly all four were friends of the dear president and all four were more political background r ather than judicial. Justice Harold Burton in 1945, Chief Justice Fred Vinson in 1946, and Justices Sherman Minton and Tom Clark in 1949 generally shared his views regarding the judiciary. Burton and Minton had served with Truman in the Senate Vinson and Clark had served in Trumans Cabinet (the fountain as Treasury Secretary and the latter as Attorney General).Vinson, Trumans choice as Chief Justice, was a favorite poker-playing companion of the President, who hoped that his friends political skills would help ready harmony to what had become an increasingly contentious and divided Court. But the Vinson Court continued to be plagued by internal conflicts. Justice Hugo Blacks commitment to judicial activism in defense of civil liberties and the Bill of Rights clashed with Justice Felix Frankfurters belief in judicial restraint and deference to legislative authority.Philosophical differences were aggravated by personal animosities on the Court, most notably between Black and Justic e Robert H. Jackson. Much to a surprise the American people thought that president Truman was an outsider and it was, he knew nothing about the atomic bomb (was investigating large expenditures in Oak Valley, Tennessee but didnt knew for what purpose it was) and he ordered the release of the weapons in Japan, send troops to the Korea conflict although it resulted in a stalemate.Recognized two countries (Pakistan and Israel) and helped another country to became independent (Philippines), Signed the UN charter, classic the Berlin Airlift, its a founding of the OAS, authorized a plebiscite to the people of Puerto Rico to determined the future of relations with the U. S. saved Greece and Turkey from Communist rule. Although he could do better in domestic policy, but from being only 82 days as Vice-president knowing nothing about policy and saving the world from catastrophe, that is an exceptional President if you ask me, he is truly the Prince of Foreign Policy.Works Cited S. Avi-Yonah , Reuven. U. S Laws, Acts, and Treaties. subroutine library Edition. Vol. 2. Pasadena, California Salem Press, 2003. Print. United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Proclamation 2695-Independence of the Philippines. 4 July 1946. 10 April 2009. . United States. Department of State. Kennan and Containment, 1947. September 1997. 9 April 2009. . United States. Department of State. National Security Act of 1947. September 1997. 8 April 2009. http//www. state. gov/r/pa/ho/time/cwr/17603. htm.United States. Department of State. Background Notes United Nations. September 1997. 4 April 2009. http//www. state. gov/www/background_notes/united_nations_0997_bgn. html. United States. Department of State. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (The McCarran-Walter Act). September 1997. 9 April 2009. http//www. state. gov/r/pa/ho/time/cwr/87719. htm. United States. The White House, Executive Office of the President. National Security Council History. 2 April 2009. 9 Apr il 2009. http//www. whitehouse. ov/administration/eop/nsc/history/. The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Exec. Order No. 9599, 3 C. F. R. 3 (1945). 2 April 2009. 9 April 2009. http//www. trumanlibrary. org/executiveorders/index. php? pid=368&st=&st1. The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Exec. Order No. 9635, 3 C. F. R. 3 (1945). 2 April 2009. 9 April 2009. http//www. trumanlibrary. org/executiveorders/index. php? pid=350&st=9635&st1. The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Exec. Order No. 9646, 3 C. F. R. 3 (1945). 2 April 2009. 9 April 2009. The Harry S.Truman Library and Museum. Exec. Order No. 9728, 3 C. F. R. 3 (1946). 2 April 2009. 9April 2009. http//www. trumanlibrary. org/executiveorders/index. php? pid=459&st=9728&st1. The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Exec. Order No . 9981, 3 C. F. R. 3 (1948). 2 April 2009. 9 April 2009. The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Exec. Order No . 10340, 3 C. F. R. 3(1952). 2 April 2009. 9 April 2009. The University of Texas di gital Library Services Division. The Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century. 1 April 2009. 7 April 2009.