United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates Development Levels of United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (UAE) is among the most developed countries in the world with a very high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Middle East. The country has very high human development index. Moreover, the country has been ranked among the highest growing economies in the world.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on United Arab Emirates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, the country has high per capita income than most developed countries (Zaman 4). The country has also high consumption levels both private and public. Moreover, the country enjoys a positive current account balances because of the high incomes from the oil sector. Contribution of Natural Factors and Human Capital The country has vast deposits of petroleum products that have been critical in the development of the country. Oil products usually fetch high income to a country and they have ready market throughout the world. Moreover, the country is situated in a strategic position that makes it a tourist attraction center. It is important to note that the country has invested a lot of money on the education sector. Graduates, high school dropouts as well as the adults are included in the program that is aimed at increasing the productivity of people (Rostin 6). This has been highly beneficial for the country. In addition, the government has heavily invested in research and development leading to increased development. On the same note, the government has implemented policies that has made establishment of companies very easy thus encouraging both local and foreign investors Effects of Environmental Externalities and Income Inequality UAE has invested heavily in the oil industry and many people work in this sector. This industry has led to the establishment of other industries that majorly come up to offer services to people who work in the oil industry. Moreover, the presence of o il in the UAE has been quite critical in the development of the manufacturing and service sectors that are very vibrant currently. These industries have been vital in enhancing the development of the United Arab Emirates. However, there is also the problem of pollution that results from the many industries that have been established (Bazoobandi 78). On the other hand, there is a lot of inequality in the UAE which hinder even development in the country. Some emirates have very low incomes and as a result, they are lowly developed compared to others. Furthermore, other people earn very high incomes and enjoy high living standards while others earn lowly leading to high disparities. Contribution of other Development Factors The country has very good transport system both road and air transport. Most of the places are connected through roads as well as by air. The country’s airline, Emirates airline, is among the largest airlines in the world. The country is also in the coastline and has one of the best ports in the world. Telecommunication sector is also advanced with many people having access to phone and the internet (Zaman 6). However, there are other emirates that have poor road networks due to underdevelopment compared to others.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The country adheres to the Islam rules and culture. Most people in the country observe the Islam code of dressing. Nevertheless, the country is tolerant to other religions given the fact that it has many foreigners working there. This has been a positive factor that attracts foreign expatriates to the country (Bazoobandi 83). Tolerance in religion and culture has also been advantageous in the development of the tourism industry. Nonetheless, the government still requires local majority ownership in every firm established in the country. This protectionist tendency has discour aged some potential investors who would not want to dilute ownership of their firm. Income inequalities have also contributed to imbalanced development both among people and among emirates. Development Assistance Given and Government Policy UAE issues a lot of money in form of foreign aid to developing countries and in case of disasters as well as during emergence cases. In year 2010, the country gave $792.2 million that comprised 2.7% of its GDP as foreign aid (Bazoobandi 79). On the same note, the country receives a lot of money in form of foreign direct investment with the oil industry being the largest beneficiary. Arguably, the government’s policy is aimed at increasing exports, a reason as to why investment is directed to manufacturing and the service sector (Aldosari 120). There have been efforts to advance the micro-credit finance to serve people but still many people cannot access the services. Moreover, small and inefficient institutions offer the services. Possible Solution to Achieve High Development Respect of human rights is crucial in attraction of investors. Consequently, the government will have to protect human rights in order to attract foreign investors. Moreover, the government should try to reduce the income disparities that have prevailed in the country to increase economic development. Furthermore, the country needs to enhance its efforts in diversifying its economy to avoid shocks in case of crises in the oil industry. More importantly, the government will have to revisit its stand on the local ownership of any firm established locally to attract more foreign investors. Aldosari, Ali. Middle East, Western Asia and Northern Africa. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2007. Print.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on United Arab Emirates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Bazoobandi, Sara. The Political Economy of the Gulf Sovereign Wealth Funds: A Case Study of Iran, Kuwai t, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. New York: Routledge, 2013. Print. Rostin, Andreas. Structural Changes in the United Arab Emirates. Munchen: GRIN Verlag, 2007. Print. Zaman, Nadeem UZ. UAE and Globalization-Attracting Foreign Investments. Munchen: GRIN Verlag, 2011. Print.

Home Alone Quotes

Home Alone Quotes In the 1990 movie Home Alone, 8-year-old Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind (via a series of unlikely events) while the rest of his family is on vacation in Europe for the Christmas holidays. Kevin believes the situation is due to his wish that his family would disappear, so (for some reason) does not seem alarmed, and doesnt contact the authorities. Unfortunately for Kevin, two bumbling robbers (played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) are casing the neighborhood looking for homes whose occupants are away on vacation. They settle on Kevins house, but he prepares a series of booby traps to keep them from entering. Eventually, Kevins family returns and the bad guys get caught. The movie was a huge box-office success  and launched the acting career of child star Macauley Culkin, who played Kevin. It spawned four sequels, each increasingly more far-fetched (this family cant possibly abandon their child so frequently, after all).   Quotes From Home Alone Kevin: When I grow up and get married Im living alone! Did you hear me? Im living alone! Im living alone! Im living alone! Kevin: I made my family disappear. I made my family disappear! Kevin: Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen. Kevin: This is my house, I have to defend it. Kevin: Hey, Im not afraid anymore! I said Im not afraid anymore! Do you hear me? Im not afraid anymore! Kevin: You guys give up yet? Or are you thirsty for more? Kevin: Down here, you idiots! Come and get me before I call the police! Kevin: Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back. Harry (first burglar): Merry Christmas, little fella! We know that youre in there and that youre all alone. Harry: You bomb me with one more can, kid, and Ill snap off your cajones and boil them in motor oil! Harry: Its too late for you, kid; were already in the house. Were gonna get ya! Marv (second burglar): Yeah, come on, kid, open up. Its Santa Claus... and his elf! Marv: Hes a kid. Kids are stupid. I know I was. Marley (Kevins elderly neighbor): You live down the street from me, right? You know anytime you see me you can always say hello, you dont have to be afraid. A lot of stuff has been said about me... none of its true. Kevin: No offense, arent you too old to be afraid?Marley: You can be too old for a lot of things, but youre never too old to be afraid. Kate McCallister (Kevins mother): This is Christmas, the season of perpetual hope. And I dont care if I have to get out on your runway and hitchhike. If it costs me everything I own, if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I am going to get home to my son. Kate McCallister: How could we do this? We forgot him.Peter McCallister (Kevins father): We didnt forget him, we just miscounted.Kate: What kind of a mother am I?Frank: If it makes you feel any better, I forgot my reading glasses.

Analyze the impact of globalization, technology, and the quest for Essay

Analyze the impact of globalization, technology, and the quest for democracy in the Middle East today - Essay Example But in this short essay I will analyze in more detail another existential problem touched upon by both of the authors in their stories, namely, the treatment of the protagonists by the society and their attitude toward the communities they live in. What makes both books similar is a wide, yet quite resembling, range of metaphysical and existential problems the supernatural events of the sci-fi storyboard are covering. The dark side of the protagonists in either Shelleys or Stevensons stories is revealed contrary to their expectations. The depth of the spiritual abyss, which protagonists of both stories found themselves in against their own will as a result of actions made in good faith, led to dire consequences and death of innocent people. Once anyone in a community takes on responsibility for breaking the worlds backbone and defying the laws of nature, the way either Victor Frankenstein in Shelleys novel or Dr. Jekyll in Stevensons novella have done, the payback comes inevitably. Mary Shelley gave her book a title that contains the name of a hero from the ancient Greek mythology as an implication to the bitter end of her story. The legend about Prometheus becomes the key note of the whole book not by chance. According to the Greek mythology, Prometheus was the divine being responsible for creation of humankind. Complying with the desire of the supreme God named Zeus Prometheus made a human being in the image of god and taught men everything he knew. But then Prometheus got corrupted by humans and betrayed Zeus who had punished mankind for their wrong-doings. Zeus took the fire away from humans as a punishment, but Prometheus defied the odds and stole the fire from Zeus to give back to the people. In turn, Zeus decided to punish Prometheus for such impudence and tied him to the mountain to make suffer eternally. Just like in the legend about Prometheus, whose ambitions

The history of surgery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The history of surgery - Essay Example In ancient Greece, surgery was also performed in different ways. The Greek developed various tools and equipment that they used during their surgery processes. This was owing to the fact that they had an easy access to materials such as Iron. The Greek performed various surgeries in order to cure patients from different health complications. For instance, the Greek would undertake different forms of amputations on people. They would also drain the lungs of people, in case these suffered from pneumonia. In addition, the Greek bleed their patients, as well as set the patients’ bones. These processes can be considered to crude today. However, the Greek only turned to surgery as the last resort in order to save the lives of their patients. In the middle ages, the Arabs the Arabs based on the medicinal practices of the Greek in order to develop their own medicine. Nonetheless, this helped the Arabs to become supreme physicians during this age. For this reason, Baghdad was rose to become leading medical and drug centre in the whole world. The Arabs contributed highly to the aspect of drug making. They also used various plants that were believed to have medicinal value. With regard to surgery, the Arabs utilized specific medicinal plants, which had the capability of acting as anaesthetics during the process of surgery. For all patients that were to undergo surgical processes, the Arabs ensured to make them drink anaesthetic mixtures using the anaesthetic sponges. There were diverse procedures in the surgery process in the Arab world. For instance, the Arabs administered sedatives on patients before having them operated. In addition, for those patients that were to undergo amputation, the Arabs offered them to drink diffe rent types of mixtures that acted as sleeping

Gatsby :: essays research papers

"The Great Gatsby ", besides being a great literary piece, is a metaphor for a whole society, the American society. "The party was over" (Fitzgerald), which signifies a level of prophetic vision within the American society and its history. An essential part of this American characteristic of the novel, and its historicity, is about the American Dream. At the center of how Gatsby is a metaphor for a whole society, is the relationship between Europe, the already settled, which caused unsatisfaction and thus led to America, in which mercantilism and idealism are born and are a very important part of American History. In other words in American History, the human faculty of wonder is on the one hand, and the power and beauty of things is on the other. The book dramatizes this, directly in the life of Gatsby, how he changed his name and life from the already settled (Europe), for his dream (America). Gatsby's dream is the American Dream, that one can acquire happiness through wealth and power. Jay Gatsby had a love affair with the affluent Daisy, and knowing he couldn't marry her because of the difference on their social status, he leaves her in order to create wealth and reach her economic standards. When he achieve this wealth, Gatsby buys a house that is across the bay to Daisy's house, and throws immense and lavish parties, with the hope that Daisy would come to one of them. When he realizes this is very improbable, he starts asking various people from time to time if they know her. In this inquiry, he meets Jordan Baker, who tells him that Nick Carraway his neighbor is Daisy's cousin. Nick agrees to invite Daisy to his house one afternoon, and then let him over. Later, in the Buchanans house, when Gatsby is determined to watch and protect Daisy: "How long are you going to wait? "All night if necessary"" (Fitzgerald 152) Jay shows that he cannot accept that the past is the past and he is sure that he can capture his dream with wealth and influe nce and that Daisy has loved only him for all this time. Gatsby doesn't rest until his American dream is finally fulfilled, until Daisy is his. However it never becomes true and he ends dying because of it at the end. The dream both Gatsby and America had, was so unutterable that to a certain extent it was necessarily corruptible.

Nature Swaps in Latin America

Latin America is currently in a debt crisis. Poor management, over lending by banks, and a bad turn in the world economy has produced severe debt that is forcing these countries to exploit their natural resources in an attempt to ease their economic problems. However, many individuals and organizations have seen a silver lining to this cloud and are now buying debts (at a discounted rate) and giving them back to the debtor countries in return for environmental protection. Although increasingly difficult to achieve, these debt for nature swaps are beneficial to the debtor country and the world. So why do we go to all this trouble for a few countries that are not even big players in the world market? I discovered that we loose about 40 million acres of forest each year and 27 million of that is tropical rain forrest. (White house fact sheet on the President†s Proposal for a Global Forest Convention). Considering that the world†s forest act as respiration, filtration, and cooling system, we must make a concerted effort to conserve and start repairing the damage we have already done. A large part of the worlds forest rest in the debt ridden counrties of Latin America. In an attempt to repay these huge debts, countries are utilizing their natural resourses and straining them to the point where their situation could have global ecological ramifications. There is an undenyable link between the deforestation in Latin America and its enoumous debt. Debt for-nature swaps take advantage of an otherwise bad situation, turn it around, and use it to promote forest conservation in Latin America. The first debt-for-nature swap was with the government of Bolivia and the non government organization Conservation International. Since then, the international community and the United Nations have picked up the idea and now incorperate it in many of their initatives and policies directed toward forest conservation in Latin America. In a debt for nature swap an organization buys a debtor nations foreign debt at a discount ( since most of the worlds financial organizations are eager to unload them) and then forgive it in exchange for a commitment by the country to invest the face value of the debt in environmental conservation. The debt is converted for US dollars to local currency, which is used to fund the programs. This alleviates the debt, and proves a bargain to the organization that initiated the swap. They also receive higher visibility and these types of transactions get them involved in the local government allowing them to pursue future programs. Commercial banks also see a potential in debt for nature swaps. Instead of holding on to a debt that will more than likely never be paid, they donate it to a non government organization and write it off as a charitable donation. More recently, due to a change in international policy, they can not only sell the debt at a discount (recouping some of their loss) , but write it off at face value and gain prestige for their involvement in environmental protection. The role of the debtor nation is a bit more difficult. The debtor nation must agree to essentially buy back the debt by financing the eviromental conservation programs with the converted money and pay any other cost involved in the transaction. Not a bad deal for the debtor nation considering they would have had to pay the initial cost many times over just in interest payments. The USDA forest service says, † The debtor nation consents to the swap terms; bear the cost of: 1 the buy back of the debt from the charitable organization and 2 additional project financing commiserates with the differential between the discount price on the secondary market and the exchange rate for debt converted into local currency. In addition, the project may entail future recurrent expenditures for the host country†s public sector. † Almost all debt-for-nature swaps have some US involvement. Usually we act as the sugar daddy, financing non government organizations and setting up regulations that the debtor nation must meet. In 1990 the US established these regulations under Title VI of the 1990 fact act. The debtor country must be making progress toward the establishment of certain world bank reform programs and be making reforms in the foreign and domestic investment area. The debt swap between the non government organization and the debtor country is negotiated by the US. In exchange for forgiveness of the debt the debtor country must make interest payments into the project, which is governed by a local government body. The body which negotiates the swap is composed of relative US government organizations and some non government relative organizations. Their job is to provide guidance and help carry out the administrative maneuvers needed for such a swap. This type of debt for nature swap is very complicated and has lead conservation groups to look for ways around the jungle of red tape that surrounds these swaps. One type of swap that seems to bypass a lot of these difficulties is an interest swap. The same basic principle applies, but with a twist. The foreign debt is converted into long term bonds by the non government organization and swaps interest payments in return for environmental funding. The debtor nation gets to retire a debt using its own currency, which is diverted to the conservation program. Conservation organizations get some security from inflation and avoid the threat that the debtor nation will renege on its obligations. If the debtor nation stops funding environmental programs, then interest payments resume. Because of the protection and relative ease of this type of swap, it has grown increasingly popular among international conservation organizations. Sometimes a corporation may donate or discount assets it holds in Latin America because they are unable to profit from them. The corporation writes them off as a charitable donation and the non government organization diverts funds for environmental protection. This is a good deal for both since the cooperation gets to write the whole thing off and the conservation organization gets more bang for their buck. This also effectively cuts out the US, the board of overseers, and for the most part, the local government. Once inaccessible financial resources are being tapped, a debt is being retired, and government supported environmental initiatives are being started. All this seems terribly involved and difficult and that is because it is terribly involved and difficult. These swaps are small compared to the overall national deficit of these countries and that is because they have to be. If they were done on a large scale, in the current state of these countries economies, the influx of domestic currency would haave a bad inflationary effect on the economy, and that is the last thing these countries need. The receiptant countries they will loose economic sovergnity in these debt-for-nature swaps. The donor organization and the US negotiators tack on all kinds of stipulations and conditions to these swaps. Less than appealing conditions for countries that are already under the screws of the IMF and the World Bank. The IMF knows they are the last hope for these countries and do not hesitate to impose mountains of economic conditions with their loans. Granted, they are in the interest of neo-liberal economic reform but, any changes made in their fragile economy can have a rippling effect that can affect the political stability of an administration. In such a political climate it is easy to understand why many Latin American countries are reluctant to participate in these swaps when there is a potiential further loss of their economic sovergnty. The intention and idea behind debt-for-nature swaps are noble but, the question comes up, † Are we really helping Latin American countries by interfering in their affairs? â€Å". Is this just more bad breath diplomacy? These debt for nature swaps are likely to only temporarly aleviate some of Latin Americas economic troubles. With these debts retired, they have access to new funds and the cycle of borrowing will continue along with the deforestation. Besides saving the rain forest, what other plans do US and other international cooperations have in mind for Debt-for-nature swaps? It seems to me that this would be a perfect way to take controll of valuable natural resources and save them for later use. After all, most debt-for-nature swaps are essentially a lease that last until the face value of the debt has been spent on conservation and then the government takes back control of the land. Why not take advantage of Latin Americas bad situation and use it to hold on to valuable land until they are out of crisis and the land is safe? Wait for better economic and ecological conditions. Its cheaper than buying the land and paying taxes on it so just write off a bad loan Latin America is currently in a debt crisis. Poor management, over lending by banks, and a bad turn in the world economy has produced severe debt that is forcing these countries to exploit their natural resources in an attempt to ease their economic problems. However, many individuals and organizations have seen a silver lining to this cloud and are now buying debts (at a discounted rate) and giving them back to the debtor countries in return for environmental protection. Although increasingly difficult to achieve, these debt for nature swaps are beneficial to the debtor country and the world. So why do we go to all this trouble for a few countries that are not even big players in the world market? I discovered that we loose about 40 million acres of forest each year and 27 million of that is tropical rain forrest. (White house fact sheet on the President†s Proposal for a Global Forest Convention). Considering that the world†s forest act as respiration, filtration, and cooling system, we must make a concerted effort to conserve and start repairing the damage we have already done. A large part of the worlds forest rest in the debt ridden counrties of Latin America. In an attempt to repay these huge debts, countries are utilizing their natural resourses and straining them to the point where their situation could have global ecological ramifications. There is an undenyable link between the deforestation in Latin America and its enoumous debt. Debt for-nature swaps take advantage of an otherwise bad situation, turn it around, and use it to promote forest conservation in Latin America. The first debt-for-nature swap was with the government of Bolivia and the non government organization Conservation International. Since then, the international community and the United Nations have picked up the idea and now incorperate it in many of their initatives and policies directed toward forest conservation in Latin America. In a debt for nature swap an organization buys a debtor nations foreign debt at a discount ( since most of the worlds financial organizations are eager to unload them) and then forgive it in exchange for a commitment by the country to invest the face value of the debt in environmental conservation. The debt is converted for US dollars to local currency, which is used to fund the programs. This alleviates the debt, and proves a bargain to the organization that initiated the swap. They also receive higher visibility and these types of transactions get them involved in the local government allowing them to pursue future programs. Commercial banks also see a potential in debt for nature swaps. Instead of holding on to a debt that will more than likely never be paid, they donate it to a non government organization and write it off as a charitable donation. More recently, due to a change in international policy, they can not only sell the debt at a discount (recouping some of their loss) , but write it off at face value and gain prestige for their involvement in environmental protection. The role of the debtor nation is a bit more difficult. The debtor nation must agree to essentially buy back the debt by financing the eviromental conservation programs with the converted money and pay any other cost involved in the transaction. Not a bad deal for the debtor nation considering they would have had to pay the initial cost many times over just in interest payments. The USDA forest service says, † The debtor nation consents to the swap terms; bear the cost of: 1 the buy back of the debt from the charitable organization and 2 additional project financing commiserates with the differential between the discount price on the secondary market and the exchange rate for debt converted into local currency. In addition, the project may entail future recurrent expenditures for the host country†s public sector. † Almost all debt-for-nature swaps have some US involvement. Usually we act as the sugar daddy, financing non government organizations and setting up regulations that the debtor nation must meet. In 1990 the US established these regulations under Title VI of the 1990 fact act. The debtor country must be making progress toward the establishment of certain world bank reform programs and be making reforms in the foreign and domestic investment area. The debt swap between the non government organization and the debtor country is negotiated by the US. In exchange for forgiveness of the debt the debtor country must make interest payments into the project, which is governed by a local government body. The body which negotiates the swap is composed of relative US government organizations and some non government relative organizations. Their job is to provide guidance and help carry out the administrative maneuvers needed for such a swap. This type of debt for nature swap is very complicated and has lead conservation groups to look for ways around the jungle of red tape that surrounds these swaps. One type of swap that seems to bypass a lot of these difficulties is an interest swap. The same basic principle applies, but with a twist. The foreign debt is converted into long term bonds by the non government organization and swaps interest payments in return for environmental funding. The debtor nation gets to retire a debt using its own currency, which is diverted to the conservation program. Conservation organizations get some security from inflation and avoid the threat that the debtor nation will renege on its obligations. If the debtor nation stops funding environmental programs, then interest payments resume. Because of the protection and relative ease of this type of swap, it has grown increasingly popular among international conservation organizations. Sometimes a corporation may donate or discount assets it holds in Latin America because they are unable to profit from them. The corporation writes them off as a charitable donation and the non government organization diverts funds for environmental protection. This is a good deal for both since the cooperation gets to write the whole thing off and the conservation organization gets more bang for their buck. This also effectively cuts out the US, the board of overseers, and for the most part, the local government. Once inaccessible financial resources are being tapped, a debt is being retired, and government supported environmental initiatives are being started. All this seems terribly involved and difficult and that is because it is terribly involved and difficult. These swaps are small compared to the overall national deficit of these countries and that is because they have to be. If they were done on a large scale, in the current state of these countries economies, the influx of domestic currency would haave a bad inflationary effect on the economy, and that is the last thing these countries need. The receiptant countries they will loose economic sovergnity in these debt-for-nature swaps. The donor organization and the US negotiators tack on all kinds of stipulations and conditions to these swaps. Less than appealing conditions for countries that are already under the screws of the IMF and the World Bank. The IMF knows they are the last hope for these countries and do not hesitate to impose mountains of economic conditions with their loans. Granted, they are in the interest of neo-liberal economic reform but, any changes made in their fragile economy can have a rippling effect that can affect the political stability of an administration. In such a political climate it is easy to understand why many Latin American countries are reluctant to participate in these swaps when there is a potiential further loss of their economic sovergnty. The intention and idea behind debt-for-nature swaps are noble but, the question comes up, † Are we really helping Latin American countries by interfering in their affairs? â€Å". Is this just more bad breath diplomacy? These debt for nature swaps are likely to only temporarly aleviate some of Latin Americas economic troubles. With these debts retired, they have access to new funds and the cycle of borrowing will continue along with the deforestation. Besides saving the rain forest, what other plans do US and other international cooperations have in mind for Debt-for-nature swaps? It seems to me that this would be a perfect way to take controll of valuable natural resources and save them for later use. After all, most debt-for-nature swaps are essentially a lease that last until the face value of the debt has been spent on conservation and then the government takes back control of the land. Why not take advantage of Latin Americas bad situation and use it to hold on to valuable land until they are out of crisis and the land is safe? Wait for better economic and ecological conditions. Its cheaper than buying the land and paying taxes on it so just write off a bad loan Latin America is currently in a debt crisis. Poor management, over lending by banks, and a bad turn in the world economy has produced severe debt that is forcing these countries to exploit their natural resources in an attempt to ease their economic problems. However, many individuals and organizations have seen a silver lining to this cloud and are now buying debts (at a discounted rate) and giving them back to the debtor countries in return for environmental protection. Although increasingly difficult to achieve, these debt for nature swaps are beneficial to the debtor country and the world. So why do we go to all this trouble for a few countries that are not even big players in the world market? I discovered that we loose about 40 million acres of forest each year and 27 million of that is tropical rain forrest. (White house fact sheet on the President†s Proposal for a Global Forest Convention). Considering that the world†s forest act as respiration, filtration, and cooling system, we must make a concerted effort to conserve and start repairing the damage we have already done. A large part of the worlds forest rest in the debt ridden counrties of Latin America. In an attempt to repay these huge debts, countries are utilizing their natural resourses and straining them to the point where their situation could have global ecological ramifications. There is an undenyable link between the deforestation in Latin America and its enoumous debt. Debt for-nature swaps take advantage of an otherwise bad situation, turn it around, and use it to promote forest conservation in Latin America. The first debt-for-nature swap was with the government of Bolivia and the non government organization Conservation International. Since then, the international community and the United Nations have picked up the idea and now incorperate it in many of their initatives and policies directed toward forest conservation in Latin America. In a debt for nature swap an organization buys a debtor nations foreign debt at a discount ( since most of the worlds financial organizations are eager to unload them) and then forgive it in exchange for a commitment by the country to invest the face value of the debt in environmental conservation. The debt is converted for US dollars to local currency, which is used to fund the programs. This alleviates the debt, and proves a bargain to the organization that initiated the swap. They also receive higher visibility and these types of transactions get them involved in the local government allowing them to pursue future programs. Commercial banks also see a potential in debt for nature swaps. Instead of holding on to a debt that will more than likely never be paid, they donate it to a non government organization and write it off as a charitable donation. More recently, due to a change in international policy, they can not only sell the debt at a discount (recouping some of their loss) , but write it off at face value and gain prestige for their involvement in environmental protection. The role of the debtor nation is a bit more difficult. The debtor nation must agree to essentially buy back the debt by financing the eviromental conservation programs with the converted money and pay any other cost involved in the transaction. Not a bad deal for the debtor nation considering they would have had to pay the initial cost many times over just in interest payments. The USDA forest service says, † The debtor nation consents to the swap terms; bear the cost of: 1 the buy back of the debt from the charitable organization and 2 additional project financing commiserates with the differential between the discount price on the secondary market and the exchange rate for debt converted into local currency. In addition, the project may entail future recurrent expenditures for the host country†s public sector. † Almost all debt-for-nature swaps have some US involvement. Usually we act as the sugar daddy, financing non government organizations and setting up regulations that the debtor nation must meet. In 1990 the US established these regulations under Title VI of the 1990 fact act. The debtor country must be making progress toward the establishment of certain world bank reform programs and be making reforms in the foreign and domestic investment area. The debt swap between the non government organization and the debtor country is negotiated by the US. In exchange for forgiveness of the debt the debtor country must make interest payments into the project, which is governed by a local government body. The body which negotiates the swap is composed of relative US government organizations and some non government relative organizations. Their job is to provide guidance and help carry out the administrative maneuvers needed for such a swap. This type of debt for nature swap is very complicated and has lead conservation groups to look for ways around the jungle of red tape that surrounds these swaps. One type of swap that seems to bypass a lot of these difficulties is an interest swap. The same basic principle applies, but with a twist. The foreign debt is converted into long term bonds by the non government organization and swaps interest payments in return for environmental funding. The debtor nation gets to retire a debt using its own currency, which is diverted to the conservation program. Conservation organizations get some security from inflation and avoid the threat that the debtor nation will renege on its obligations. If the debtor nation stops funding environmental programs, then interest payments resume. Because of the protection and relative ease of this type of swap, it has grown increasingly popular among international conservation organizations. Sometimes a corporation may donate or discount assets it holds in Latin America because they are unable to profit from them. The corporation writes them off as a charitable donation and the non government organization diverts funds for environmental protection. This is a good deal for both since the cooperation gets to write the whole thing off and the conservation organization gets more bang for their buck. This also effectively cuts out the US, the board of overseers, and for the most part, the local government. Once inaccessible financial resources are being tapped, a debt is being retired, and government supported environmental initiatives are being started. All this seems terribly involved and difficult and that is because it is terribly involved and difficult. These swaps are small compared to the overall national deficit of these countries and that is because they have to be. If they were done on a large scale, in the current state of these countries economies, the influx of domestic currency would haave a bad inflationary effect on the economy, and that is the last thing these countries need. The receiptant countries they will loose economic sovergnity in these debt-for-nature swaps. The donor organization and the US negotiators tack on all kinds of stipulations and conditions to these swaps. Less than appealing conditions for countries that are already under the screws of the IMF and the World Bank. The IMF knows they are the last hope for these countries and do not hesitate to impose mountains of economic conditions with their loans. Granted, they are in the interest of neo-liberal economic reform but, any changes made in their fragile economy can have a rippling effect that can affect the political stability of an administration. In such a political climate it is easy to understand why many Latin American countries are reluctant to participate in these swaps when there is a potiential further loss of their economic sovergnty. The intention and idea behind debt-for-nature swaps are noble but, the question comes up, † Are we really helping Latin American countries by interfering in their affairs? â€Å". Is this just more bad breath diplomacy? These debt for nature swaps are likely to only temporarly aleviate some of Latin Americas economic troubles. With these debts retired, they have access to new funds and the cycle of borrowing will continue along with the deforestation.

A Brief Introduction To Artificial Intelligence For Normal...

A Brief Introduction to Artificial Intelligence For Normal People By Marc Crouch | Submitted On June 22, 2016 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Marc Crouch Lately, artificial intelligence has been very much the hot topic in Silicon Valley and the broader tech scene. To those of us involved in that scene it feels like an incredible momentum is building around the topic, with all kinds of companies building A.I. into the core of their business. There has also been a rise in A.I.-related university courses which is seeing a wave of extremely bright new talent rolling into the employment market. But this is not a simple case of confirmation bias - interest in the topic has been on the rise since mid-2014. The noise around the subject is only going to increase, and for the layman it is all very confusing. Depending on what you read, it s easy to believe that we re headed for an apocalyptic Skynet-style obliteration at the hands of cold, calculating supercomputers, or that we re all going to live forever as purely digital entities in some kind of cloud-based artificial world. In other words, either The Terminator or The Matrix are imminently about to become disturbinglyShow MoreRelatedFast Food Industry Research Proposal1593 Words   |  7 Pagesabout the pricing of the product that whether it should be priced same as that of normal fast food or the customers would be willing to pay a premium for healthy food. But before launching that product we want to know that â€Å"Is it worth it to our fast food restaurant to market healthy food†. 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