A Cycle Is a Biological Pathway or Process in Which the End Product

A cycle is a biological pathway or process in which the end product of one cycle becomes the starting point for the next cycles Write an essay about cycles. Respiration Cells in the body use ATP as a direct source of energy. The conversion of glucose into ATP takes place during respiration. There are 2 different types of respiration, the more common and frequent one is aerobic respiration which is the production of ATP for energy. The less common one is anaerobic respiration, the production of lactate during which the muscles have a limited supply of oxygen, and however keep working despite this.Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and glucose present to work, and occurs in 4 stages: 1) Glycolysis- the splitting of a 6-carbon glucose molecule into 2 3-carbon pyruvate molecules. There is a net gain of 2 ATP’s produced. 2) Link reaction- the conversion of the 3-carbon pyruvate molecule into carbon dioxide and a 2-carbon acetyl co-enzyme A molecule. No ATP is produced during this stage. 3) Krebs cycle- the introduction of acetyl co-enzyme A into a cycle of oxidation-reduction reactions that yield some ATP and a large number of electrons. ) Electron transport chain (ETC) – electrons used from Krebs cycle to synthesise ATP with water produced as a by-product. Glycolysis is the initial stage of aerobic respiration, and it takes place in the cytoplasm of cell. It is the breakdown of glucose into pyruvate, (which then goes in to initiate the second stage, the link reaction, and so forth) although there are a number of smaller enzyme controlled reactions for tis to take place. 1. Activation of glucose by phosphorylation.Before glucose can be split into 2 pyruvate molecules, it first must be made more reactive by the addition of 2 phosphate molecules, donated by the hydrolysis of 2 ATP molecules to ADP. This provides the energy to activate glucose. 2. Splitting of the phosphorylated glucose. Each glucose is split into 2 3-carbon molecules of triose phosphate . 3. Oxidation of triose phosphate. Triose phosphate is oxidized transferring 2 hydrogen molecules to a hydrogen-carrier, NAD to produce reduced NADH. 4. Production of ATP. Enzyme-controlled reactions convert each triose phosphate into 3-carbon pyruvate. molecules of ATP are regenerated from ADP. The pyruvate molecules produced in the cytoplasm during glycolysis are actively transported into the matrix of the mitochondria where the link reaction takes place. Pyruvate undergoes a series of reactions to be made into acetyl co-enzyme A. the following changes occur. * Pyruvate is oxidised by the removal of hydrogen. This hydrogen then binds to NAD to produce reduced NADH (which is later used to produce ATP late). * The 2-carbon molecule acetyl group that is thereby formed combines with a coenzyme, coenzyme A (CoA) to produce Acetyl CoA. A carbon dioxide molecule is formed from each pyruvate. Pyruvate + NAD + CoA acetyl CoA + reduced NADH + CO2 The Krebs cycle involves a series of oxidat ion-reduction reactions that take place in the matrix of mitochondria. * the 2-carbon acetyl CoA from the link reaction with a 4-carbon molecule to produce a 6-carbon molecule. * This 6-carbon molecule loses carbon dioxide and hydrogen’s to give a 4-carbon molecule and a single molecule of ATP produced as a result of substrate-level phosphorylation. The 4-carbon molecule can now combine with a new molecule of acetyl CoA to begin the cycle again. The ETC takes place in the cristae of the mitochondria, where ATP is synthesised using the ETC as followed; * The H+ atoms produced during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle combine with the NAD and FAD that are attached to the cristae. * The reduced NAD and FAD donate the e- of the hydrogen atoms they are carrying to the first molecule in the ETC * This releases the protons from the hydrogen atoms and these protons are actively transported across the inner mitochondrion membrane. The e- meanwhile, pass along the ETC molecules in a series of oxidation-reduction reactions. The e- lose energy as the pass down the chain, some of this is used to combine ADP and inorganic phosphate to produce ATP. The remaining energy is used to from heat. * The protons accumulate in the space between the 2 mitochondrion membranes before they diffuse back into the mitochondrion matrix via protein channels. * At the end of the chain the e- combine with the protons and oxygen to form water.Oxygen is therefore the final acceptor in the ETC. Photosynthesis Photosynthesis occurs in 2 stages. The light-dependent reaction which takes place in the thylakoid, and the light-independent which takes place in the stroma. Both are vital for the production of ATP. The light-dependent needs light to undergo its reactions. The thylakoid contains chlorophyll which absorbs light. Photophosphorylation occurs during this reaction which is the making of ADP plus an inorganic phosphate to make ATP.NADP is also reduced during this reaction into NADPH. As well a s this happening in the light-dependent reaction, water is split via photolysis in to protons and electrons and oxygen which diffuses out of the leaf. The light-independent reactions does not require light to process, however it does rely on 2 major products of the light-dependent reaction to take place, ATP and NADPH. This reaction is shown in the form of the Calvin cycle. * CO2 enters the stroma from the light-dependent reaction, and produces 2 3-carbon glycerate-3-phosphate. 2 ATP molecules then donate 2 phosphate molecules to produce ADP. And NADPH is oxidized to produce NADP. This goes on to form 2 3-carbon triose phosphate molecules. * 1-carbon from the triose phosphate molecule is then stored to contribute to making glucose. ATP is then reduced again donating a phosphate molecule to produce 5-carbon rubiscose bisphosphate, this in turn then produces and enzyme rubisco which catalyses the whole cycle again. * This cycle must happen 6 times in order to make 1 glucose molecule.

Determining Operating Systems and Software Applications

Determining Operating Systems and Software Applications BIS/320 Amazon has made a business of selling a variety media types while also making the reselling of the same media an attractive option. What better way to regain in part what you spent on media interests than to resell it and have money to put towards the next interest. As of 2004 Amazon began running the Linux operating system across the board. Amazon then became one of the largest and well known companies running the Linux operating system.As one of the largest ecommerce centered businesses with a large global customer base with high expectations of constant expansion. Currently, it is known that Amazon is running Linux servers â€Å"Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), had close to half-a-million servers already running on a Red Hat Linux variant (Vaughn, 2012). † At this time â€Å"Amazon has never officially said what it's running as EC2's base operating system, it's generally accepted that it's a customized ve rsion of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). (Vaughn, 2012)† In addition Amazon uses Xen hypervisor as host to the Linux system for virtual machines.Solaris; OpenSolaris; FreeBSD and NetBSD and Windows 2003 and 2008 are additional virtual machine instances. The multiple operating services that Amazon is currently using assist with meeting the high demand of users that browse and purchase from their sites. In using their cloud technology, EC2, it is also possible that not all information will be stored at any specific location, but is easily accessible to anyone within the company to access it. With Linux gaining popularity this will ultimately become beneficial to Amazon in their continual global expansion goals.Hardware are electrical mechanisms that is physically connected to your computer such as an electronic components and related gadgetry that input, process, output, and store data according to instructions encoded in computer programs or software (Kroenke, 2012). The Amazo n-to-buyer operating system is quite simple and uses a variety of input and output in comparison with various office based business. A difference will be the amount that is actually used verses an output or input device. The individual consumer at home using their computer will initiate the process by registering as a user , followed by inputting heir shipping and billing information which will be stored by the website’s servers. The consumer’s computer is considered the input device and the server is a storage device. Once a purchase has occurred the website will use the stored information to input the customer’s credit card information into a card reader which automatically debits the funds from the customer’s account. Card readers and scanners are widely used input devices (Kroenke, 2012). Most output devices are located at various individual merchants that use Amazon to sell their goods. Each having a database that show pending orders inputted through Amazon.These merchants will use their printers to document the order and locate the desired merchandise. Once the merchandise is located, information is then sent to the shipping department. Versatile shipping options like UPS, Fed Ex, or the U. S. Postal service are available and output devices will print things such as the bill of lading; the inventory of the packaged goods and the shipping labels with the previously entered customer’s shipping information on it. Once delivered, the merchandise is scanned via another input device called a barcode scanner.This information is then relayed to the merchant who reports a successful delivery to Amazon. A confirmation email will be sent to the customer confirming their transaction is complete. If desired the consumer can give their input on the Amazon experience via their home based computer. Amazon’s Founder and Chiefy Executive Office outlines the companies business objectives as: Increase Sales, promote the brand, creat e a loyal customer base and fiscal strength. By expanding each operational goal its gives a better understand on how the operating systems contribute to Amazon’s objective.Sales can be defined as making sure the customer gets what he wants, but also feeding in to the psychology of impulse buying. Impulse purchases can be promoted through an application Amazon employs, called the Dash. When conducting a search for a particular item the results of that search offer not only the item itself, but also similar items. There is also a feature that shows the customer what other customers, who have order this particular item of interest, have also purchased. Promotional brand occurred during Amazon’s Kindle was launched.In 2005 Bezos believed that â€Å"every book ever written in any language will be available (to the enduser) in less than sixty seconds†. (Bezos, 2009). The edict issued that the demarcation between Kindle, the device and Kindle the service be seamless to the enduser. In the four years that followed, sales have exceeded budgetary expectations. The e-mail feedback from customers is strongly positive with 26% of customer e-mails containing the word â€Å"love†. Amazon has positioned itself prominently on search engine sites so a pattern match of only a few letters will bring Amazon to the forefront.Amazon itself has become a search engine of sorts, which many people use for pricing items being considered for purchase. The brand has made Amazon not only a shopping site, but also a reference guide for benchmarking other purchases. Bezos defines customer loyalty as encouraging his staff to be â€Å"obsessed over our customers†. The computer applications used for tracking purchases as well as shipping allows customer service representatives to assist dissatisfied customers and get them to a satisfactory result. References Kroenke, D. M. (2012). MIS Essentials (2nd ed. ). : Pearson Education Thorp J. Feb 99), The Information Paradox, Retrieved from http://www. amazon. com/Information-Paradox-Realizing-Business-Technology/dp Vaughn, S. (2012, March 16). Amazon's EC2 cloud is made up of almost half-a-million servers. ZDNet. Retrieved from http://www. zdnet. com/blog/open-source/amazon-ec2-cloud-is-made-up-of-almost-half-a-million-linux-servers/10620 | Operating Systems| Horizontal-Market Applications| Vertical-Market Applications| One-of-a-Kind Market Applications| Example| Linnux, Eucalyptus(cloud), OpenStack(cloud),EC2 and Red Hat Linux†¦ for starters| | | | Description of how it is used| | | | |Typical user| Amazon draws its users from anyone that can operate a computer and has an internet connection. | | | | Advantages| Easy to use; large amounts of information can be accessed without incorporating mass amounts of storage on a single server with cloud technology; accessibility to data from any location with cloud technology. | | | | Disadvantages| Even though Amazon continues to hire developers b andwidth is still and issue. People lose data. With such a broad base of people with the ability to browse and purchase products it poses a security issue regarding

My Future Plans Essay

As a current senior in high school, I have reached the point where it is time for me to decide what I want to do with my life. Â  Throughout my four years in high school, I have been intrigued by a variety of different paths such as teaching, marine science, and even journalism. Â  After growing up a little and taking a better notice of my interests and likings, I have noticed my love for sports, fitness, and health. Â  My first plan for the future is to graduate from Oakland Mills High School and receive my high school diploma. Â  After this I will attend East Carolina University, or ECU, in Greenville, NC. I want to major in exercise science and minor in exercise physiology. My first few years in college I would like to gain experience in the field by obtaining a work-study position that will help me develop new skills in exercise science work such as a student athletic trainer. I would also like to play club lacrosse for ECU during my four years there. Â  Either my junior or senior year in college I would like to study abroad in Europe. Â  I hope to get work-study on campus my freshmen year so I can save up money by the time this comes around. Â  After four or five years of school I would hope to graduate with a bachelors degree. Â  After graduation I do not want to settle down right away. Â   I would either want to volunteer for the peace core abroad for a year in the Middle East or travel on my own, if possible. Â  After this I would want to move back to Maryland or D.C. so I can be close to my family. Â  I would like to either get a job in training, therapy, or coaching. Â  While the future is undecided and unknown, it is a time for changes and new things. Â  Although I know it will be a long journey I will remain open to all possibilities and be proactive while continuing to asses all of my options.

Financial Analysis of Tesco Supermarket Research Paper

Financial Analysis of Tesco Supermarket - Research Paper Example For a potential investor, the stock of Tesco Plc is strongly recommended as better investment than its rival because it provides higher gains in the long-run. The performance of a business organization is quantitatively reflected in its financial statements. Ascertaining the financial health of a company has become important to different decision makers like managers, stockholders, potential investors and creditors. As such, it becomes important to evaluate the financial situation of any business organization to identify their relative strengths and weaknesses. In order to accomplish this task, this report will utilize financial ratio analysis. From its humble beginning as a one-man business in 1919, Tesco is now highly regarded for its size and strength in the global retailing industry. Tesco is engaged in international grocery and general merchandising retail chain. It is named as the largest retailer in Britain in terms of global sales and domestic market share. During 2006, it is estimated that in every 8 spent is UK retail sales, 1 is spent on Tesco indicating its strong foothold of the market (Tesco Plc 2007). The success of Tesco is based on a fourfold long term growth strategy: "to grow the core UK business; to become a successful international retailer; to be as strong in food as in non-food; and to develop retailing services such as Tesco personal finance, Telecoms; and Tesco.com" (Tesco Plc). With this, Tesco has established presence in international markets such as Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, and China and has complemented its core business with retailer service business such as online shopping, personal finance, and telecoms. In order to comply with regulatory requirements, Tesco has adopted the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in preparing its financial statements in the fiscal year 2005 (from UK GAAP). The adoption of IFRS is expected to lower the reported turnover and net income and increase debt. As with any other business organization, the company also recognizes the presence of risks and uncertainties in its operations. Financially, Tesco is facing challenges in "the availability of fund to meet business needs, the risk of default by counter-parties to financial transactions, and fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates" (Tesco Plc 2007). In order to ensure fund availability, Tesco employs policy which includes smoothing the debt maturity profile, arranging funding ahead of requirements and

Attracting and Retaining Talent in the Current Environment Research Proposal

Attracting and Retaining Talent in the Current Environment - Research Proposal Example The current business environment or the e-world is about the opportunities that globalization and mobility offer to employees. While in the previous era, people seeking a ‘job for life’, the current world that is enabled with information technology provides a host of opportunities for the employee and the employer. Clearly, information technology and the widespread use of Internet along with globalization have broken down barriers and borders. A person from the UK would probably not hesitate if a suitable offer and position came up in the US or any other country. At the same time, employers also have the option of a much wider talent pool and an HR person from the UK would not hesitate to recruit someone from the US (Martinsons, 2009). Considering all the issues and opportunities, the thesis looks at ISS as an enabler and would find ways and means to link it with SHRM thus creating a competitive advantage for a firm. The paper would be using both primary and secondary re search with extensive literature review and survey to link the two areas. Â  Competitive advantage for organizations is obtained by managing and maintaining key resources that are scarce and are difficult for other firms to imitate and which provide a firm an advantage over its rivals. Among the key resources available, human resources are regarded by many firms as irreplaceable. Being ‘irreplaceable’ is very true in the case of hi-technology firms such as Intel or Pharmaceutical companies that have a high worth of intellectual capital. Other firms also regard skilled technicians, good instructors, a good sales team or even excellent programmers as valuable and these employees help in retaining a competitive advantage (Youndt, 2006). Â  

Personalized Medicine Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personalized Medicine - Research Paper Example With the simple blood test, disorders related to genes are detected. This was revealed in the study by Holtzman and Shapiro (1998) where there was a significant reduction in the birth of thalassaemia among high risk in Cyprus, Sardinia and in the Mediterranean regions. Through prenatal diagnosis, couples are given the option for selective termination of pregnancy believed to carry genetic abnormalities. The study also found out that screening tests are helpful in determining other health problems such as sickle cell anemia, phenylketonuria, thyroid carcinoma, and multiple endocrine neoplasias that may arise as a result of defective gene combinations. Not only that physical abnormality could be limited but also the psychological sequels as a result of discrimination are also prevented. With these breakthroughs in genetic science, personalized medicine emerged in an effort to dissect the many combinations of genes to optimize preventative measures of patients to reduce the number of in cidences. The technology employed in modern genetics also laid the foundation to experts behind the personalized medicine to include a more complex study such as cytogenetics, cancer genetics, and cell biology in providing patients with individualized treatment. The individualized therapeutic care is based on the concept that patients do not respond to the same selected medication. The study of the patient’s protein including the genetic and metabolic profiling helps in stratifying the disease. which is helpful in proper medication and dosage. In addition, modern genetic technology provided personalized medicine with the basics of going in depth studies of complex diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases. This way, personalized medicine serves as the extension of traditional approach in understanding and treating disease. Benefits of personalized medicine Personalized medicine has varied benefits not only to individuals at risk of possible genetic health problems but also to medical practitioners and to the pharmaceutical companies as well. Individuals at risks can request diagnostic test directly from pharmaceutical companies for certain diseases without seeking the authorization of the physician. Companies such as 23ndMe Incorporated, decodeMe, and Navigenics provide services on genome profiling to consumers. The service offered by these companies provides the public convenience and accessibility to the test for diagnosis. Furthermore, it promotes diagnostic awareness to the public in general (Haga, 2009). However, the same study warns that the non interference of a physician might lead to miscommunication leading to psychosocial harm and impacts life decision such as unnecessary family

Leagalization of Medical Marijuana Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leagalization of Medical Marijuana - Essay Example Unlike alcohol abuse and other drug abuse that kill the grey cells causing brain damage or long term memory loss, the use of Marijuana causes only short term memory loss and that too, only while the individual is under its influence. Marijuana does not cause long term memory loss neither does it effect the immune system in the body. According to the UCLA School of Medicine study in 1997, (Volume 155 of the American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine) on 243 Marijuana smokers for chronic lung disease, over the period eight years, it was found that "Neither the continuing nor the intermittent marijuana smokers exhibited any significantly different rates of decline in lung function as compared with those individuals who never smoked marijuana." In relation to smoking of Marijuana, the study found "No differences were noted between even quite heavy marijuana smoking and non-smoking of marijuana."The study concluded that unlike tobacco that is a major cause of deaths in the country, death from an overdose of Marijuana has never been recorded so far. Moreover, Legal prohibition of drugs is not going to prevent its consumers from taking them.

Organizational Behavior Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organizational Behavior - Assignment Example In the business world emotions can lead to bad decisions. A leadership theory that describes the action of the leader, Ron Hunter, is the transformational leadership model. Transformational leadership occurs when leaders broaden and elevate follower’s interest and stir followers to look beyond their own interest for the good of others (Schermerhorn & Osborn & Hunt, p.301). During the climax event of the movie which occurred when Ron took over the ship in order to stop Frank Ramsey from launching a nuclear missile Ron displayed transformational leadership. Ron was able to gain the trust and confidence of the crew who risk their careers by following Ron. The crew realized that Ron’s orders were more logical due to the fact that without a confirmation to launch the Alabama could initiate world war III. There were two characters that displayed power in the film. The two people that displayed power in the film were Frank Ramsey, Commanding Officer, and the Executive Officer Ron Hunter. Frank Ramsey due to his position had legitimate power. Legitimate power or formal authority exits when the leader has the right to tell others what to do and the employees are obligated to comply with the directives (Clark). Ron Hunter was able to gain the trust of the crew by the utilization of rational persuasion. The key conflict of the film occurred when Frank Ramsey wanted to launch a nuclear missile to Russia without receiving the confirmation he needed. The communications went down and Frank assumed that the order to launch was imminent. Ron could not in his right mind accept that decision due to the fact that the repercussions of the action were horrendous if the Alabama made the wrong decision. The conflict that occurred could be considered dysfunctional. The conflict passed through the four stages of conflict which are antecedent conditions, perceived conflict, manifest conflict, and felt conflict. The consequences of the conflict

Please help me pick one Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Please help me pick one - Research Paper Example 19-21). The informal corporate culture of Google is one of the distinctive components that it provides for its employees as one of its motivating strategies for its employees. Google has emphasized through their corporate values and beliefs that employees must enjoy the challenges that they confront at workplace, rather coming under stress by the challenge (Google, 2004, pp. 14-15). Google has invested to provide the employees with additional services and relaxed environment as a technique of reward and benefit that they can enjoy and relax their minds in order to be productive at work. In this regard, the company provides with onsite swimming pools, snack rooms, cafà ©s, gyms, onsite childcare, and many other services. The primary aim of providing these services to the employees is to make them feel that they are valuable asset for the company (Hajdini, 2010, pp. 32-38). Another aspect of Google that cannot come under ignorance is the careful management team. The careful leadership is structured in such a way that they provide the finest and paramount environment to the employees in order to have great ideas from them. Moreover, the leadership and management also motivate the employees with intrinsic and extrinsic rewards and benefits and appraisals based on their performances (Hajdini, 2010, pp. 32-35). Google has believed in having dynamic and creative employees, due to which they initiated a policy known as ‘Innovation Time Off’ as one of the motivating techniques that can encourage and induce the employees to enhance their skills of innovation. This practice allowed the employees to work out and contribute some of their valuable time on the assignments that are of their interest. Since Google promotes their employees to think and implement outside the box, consequently, Gmail, Google News, Orkut and so forth are few of the invented new services by these creative engineers (Hajdini, 2010, pp.

Breast Feeding and Childhood Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Breast Feeding and Childhood Obesity - Essay Example It has been estimated that 80% overweight adolescents continue to be obese in adulthood (Noller and Paulk, 2005). Added to these problems, childhood obesity imposes huge health care costs on the nation (The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity, 2004). Childhood obesity and overweight also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood (Eisenmann, Bartee and Wang2002). Obesity usually begins at 5-6 years of age and then during adolescence. There are reports that obesity between 10- 13 years of age is likely to advance to adult obesity (AACAP, 2008). Thus, measures to prevent childhood obesity become very essential to decrease mortality and morbidity in adulthood. One such measure is breast feeding. Research has shown that breast feeding has several benefits both to the mother and baby. One such benefit is protective effect of childhood obesity. In this study, the protective effect of breast feeding during infancy on the development of obesity in childhood will be evaluated and ascertained. The observations made by the researcher during clinical practice and field visit placements have inspired him to conduct this research. Childhood obesity is a challenge to the society and the physicians. It leads to adult obesity and is associated with mortality and morbidity. This aspect inspired the author to conduct research. As Burns and Grove (1997) stated, clinical experience frequently gives rise to the identification of a research topic and expands scope for reflection. Reflective practice is essential to clinical practice and provides a retrospective look at current practice and questions the reason for doing so. Thus, it is because of reflection that the author was able to raise questions which prompted to this research study. Literature review Several studies have been conducted in the past to ascertain the impact of breast feeding in early years of life on the development of obesity later in life. According to a study conducted by von Kries, Koletzo, Sauerwald et al (1999), there exists a clear dose-response relationship between the duration of breast feeding on the prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight. According to the study, breast feeding has a protective effect on the development of obesity and overweight. In their study, the prevalence was "3.8% for 2 months of exclusive breast feeding, 2.3% for 3-5 months, 1.7% for 6-12 months, and 0.8% for more than 12 months" for obesity and overweight. The authors concluded that prolonged breast feeding is a useful preventive measure for the development of childhood obesity and overweight and that such a measure will decrease the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and other morbidity and mortality associated with obesity. According to a systematic review conducted b y Arenz, Ruckerl, Koletzko et al (2004), breast feeding h

Summary for one page Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary for one page - Essay Example The clerks rattle me; the wickets rattle me; the sight of the money rattles; everything rattles me† (Leacock, 2012, p. 100). The readers will be introduced to the narrator right from the beginning of the story allowing them to relate with the plot of story. Moreover, the interesting beginning given to the story involves a bank manager and narrator who would go on in the story to discuss about bank account and as little money as fifty bucks. The way author has used allegory in the story further adds beautification of characters. Dialogue has been kept minimal making it sound more humoristic by the end of the story. Careful intimidation is done in such a way that it allows the narrator to overcome the fear of bank by the end of the story for readers. As it notes by the end, â€Å"As the big door swung behind me I caught the echo†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..my savings in silver dollars in a sock† (Leacock, 2012, p.

Video games Essay Example for Free

Video games Essay Video games have gone a long way since PONG – one of the first arcade games (released in 1972) – or Pac-man. Nowadays gamers enjoy a variety of games and high-definition graphics, making it hard for anyone not to let himself drawn by their magic, even if it is just for a few minutes. But are they helpful or are they just a waste of time? Mainly they help you forget about your problems by offering you the possibility of living in a magical – though not real – world. However, there are also many disadvantages about video games that turn them into a dangerous activity. Firstly, some may consider the fake world more interesting and video games might make them forget that they are real people who need to live in the real world. People can become addicted to games and spend too much time playing. Video games are a waste of time. Teenagers should be doing more important things like spending time with their family. They could also be doing their homework or reading books for self-improvement. Another active is going to museums or doing physical activities. There is also no opportunity for physical exercise, something teenagers are sadly lacking. When they play video games, they stand or lay down and do nothing. Second, video games are a waste of money. A lot of money is spent by teenagers on these games. They could be saving their money to buy things that they need for school or for things that they may need in the future. Teenagers would be much better off without the temptation of having to spend money on video games. Third, video games will damage teenagers social skills. Many teenagers that play video games play for long periods of time. This means that they do not interact with people but with machines. What is important, is that teenagers should learn people skills. Interacting and sitting along with people is a learned skill and it must be practiced by use. Teenagers must learn to use social skill to be successful in life. Therefore, video games should banned. They waste time and money, and they damage teenagers social skills.

Should Sex Education Be Taught In Schools Religion Essay

Should Sex Education Be Taught In Schools Religion Essay Sex education has widely become an important issue to be discussed not only in the homes but also in schools. The teaching of sex education in school can be considered as a positive step in ensuring that the young adults get necessary moral tools which will enable them survive in an environment heavily corrupted by media advertisements and obscene content. Good morals results to healthy sexual behaviors and avoidance of diseases (Oakley et al, 1995). Religion can as well play a major role in preaching abstinence which is one of the laws taught in the church. In the paper, various reasons why sexual education should be taught in schools will be discussed and the role of religion in the participation in providing sex education will be recognized. Sex education refers to the knowledge about sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraceptives and other issues relating to human sexual behavior (Oakley et al, 1995). In the United States, there have been several debates as to whether sex education should be taught in schools or not. A small percentage of the entire American population say that that sex education should never be taught in schools while most of the Americans agree that sex education is as essential as any other type of education in the schools. Sex education is encouraged to be taught in schools rather than teenagers relying on their parents. This is because in schools teens will have a perception to sex education as any normal class work that they are supposed to be tested on. However, in the case of sex education being provided at home, teens will barely take it serious since they have the believe that it is not really mandatory. Sex education in schools is the best idea in consideration to sex education from the parents to the children. Sex education is seen to have a vital impact in the teenagers, in diverse ways. This is the main idea behind parents wanting sex education taught in schools. Its at the teenage years that teens start introducing themselves to the concept of sex; it was therefore advised that it could be better if they are given the guidance of an elderly person. This resulted to sex education in schools. Fewer than half of all 9-12th grade students report having had sexual intercourse, reflecting a decline during the last decade from 53 percent in 1993 to 47 percent in 2003 (U.S. Teen Sexual Activity, 2005). It is evident that teenagers tend to be sensitive and curious about their sexuality and the same applies to their sexual being. This initiates them to go on their own adventures to try most of the things they see on television or watch on the internet. Such teens may find themselves engaging in sexual activities, trying to uncover the mysteries of their bodies. They often do this without understanding the consequences involved such as the unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and sex addictions among many others. Sex education is a crucial component in the health and moral growth among teenagers. It is crystal clear that youngsters derive information on sex and related subjects from friends, books, movies, internet, magazines and even television. The problem is that these sources may lack information on how to go about the issues in sex. As such, sex education will help in transferring genuine information from experienced teachers and in the process also correct any misinformation that they may have (Oakley et al, 1995). This is the importance of sex education. Another importance of sex education to school students and teenagers in general is that sex education imparted through schools can prove to be a significant and effective method of avoiding premarital sex related perceptions, attitudes and behavior. This is so unlike in the case where parents are educating their children about sex. The teenagers will come to understand the rationale of being told to abstain by their parents. They will then appreciate advice from their seniors. Sex education in schools is encouraged because parents and guardians may shy to teach and talk about sex with their children. Teenagers therefore cannot rely on their parents for sex education, they themselves cant stand to share freely with their parents and ask questions and answer what they are asked. This is because of the fear they have for their parents, and the respect they hold for them. Such a discussion that is not free will not be effectively put in place as expected. The Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvards Kennedy School of Government finds that only 7 percent of Americans say sex education should not be taught in schools (Sex Education in America, 2004). Educating children and school students on sex related issues also requires one to know how to approach the subject, what information to pass on and what to hold back; most of the time this is guided by the level of study of the audiences. For instance, a kindergarten student would be unfit for issues of emotional relations, of the effects of sexual misbehavior. All this can be carefully handled by a trained sex educator, who understands well what is fit for who. This explains the necessity for sex education in schools (Oakley et al, 1995). It is evident that many teenagers are engaging in premarital sex. This calls for the need of sex education in schools, to educate and make the teenagers understand the repercussions of premarital sex. Sex education will help them make better and informed decisions about their personal activities. Many have argued that sex education also helps to reduce risky behaviors in teenagers for instance, engaging in premarital unprotected sex which results in unwanted pregnancies and STDs (Oakley et al, 1995). A plurality (46 percent) believes that the most appropriate approach is one that might be called abstinence-plus that while abstinence is best, some teens do not abstain, so schools also should teach about condoms and contraception (Sex Education in America, 2004). Religion also has plays a vital role in the sex education for teenagers. The basic idea here is that the religious groups emphasize on abstinence than anything else. An abstinence based approach to sex education focuses on teaching the teenagers that abstaining from sex until marriage is the best mean of ensuring that they avoid infection with HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies, as well as seeing abstinence from sex as the best option for maintaining sexual health (Abstinence and sex education, 2010). Many supporters of abstinence based approaches to sex education believe that it is morally wrong for people to engage in premarital sex (Abstinence and sex education, 2010) Although not all abstinence programs are similar, they share the essential purpose of teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity. As such, abstinence education tends to include a mutual faithful, monogamous relationship in the context of marriage. Further still, abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage is the expected standard for all school age children (Abstinence and sex education, 2010). Students should be made to understand that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health tribulations (Abstinence and sex education, 2010). In conclusion, my personal opinion is that sex education should be taught in schools as well as at home. There are some things that as a student I would not want to ask my mom or dad because it would just be awkward and may put them and me in an awkward situation. Teaching sex in school would answer those questions and allow the student to not feel intimidated. Also, as a Christian person I believe that abstinence should be taught in schools. Just imagine being able to tell your spouse when you get married that you have waited your whole life for them and really mean. Abstinence also teaches self discipline to someone because no matter what temptations you have you have the power to not give in. Also, with abstinence a student will not have to worry about if the girl is pregnant because she missed her period. You know she cannot be pregnant because you did not have intercourse. I have chosen to remain abstinent till marriage because I promised my mom and dad I would and made a person al commitment to Jesus that I would. Also, I chose to remain abstinent because I want to and I dont have to worry about any sexual transmitted diseases.

Effects of Stigma on Drug Users

Effects of Stigma on Drug Users In this essay I will demonstrate my understanding of stigma and labelling. There are certain people who are stigmatised and substance users often have a negative stereotype. This negativity will often not allow the substance user to seek the help and medical treatment that they need due to the stigma and labelling. I will be discussing the research around the impacts of stigma and labelling that will affect not only their treatment but in housing and employment. The term stigma originates from the ancient Greek word and signifies that he or she could be a slave, criminal or traitor and was used as a sign of disgrace and shame. It is now used to describe people who are stereotyped because of their social identity (Pierson Thomas, 2010). According to Goffman, when a person is not able to meet expectations because their behaviour or attributes are undesirable or unacceptable, then stigma disqualifies a person from social acceptance. Goffman suggests that stigma is, an undesirable attribute that is incongruous with our stereotype of what a given individual should be Goffmam (1963:3). Stigma is a use of negative labels and is about disrespect. It is not just a matter of using the wrong word but labels that person who has the substance use disorder. Stigma results in discrimination and abuse and is damaging to the lives of many people. The fear of stigma discourages families and many individuals from getting the support and treatment that they ma y need to lead normal healthy lifestyles. Stigma deprives people their full participation into society which then reinforces negative stereotypes (Goffman, 1968). The way of coping with stigma is to conceal behaviours and internalize these negative views and as a result will be subject to discrimination and exclusion within many areas. Drug problems will remain entrenched if substance users are seen as junkies. Landlords will be reluctant to let out their properties and employers will be wary of giving them jobs. Employment and housing are important to substance users as it can be vital in establishing themselves back into society (UKDPC, 2008). Research studies show that 80% of drug users are unemployed. Being employed is shown to be an important component into the reintegration into society. Once in work, it will help in building their self-esteem and back into normal life (UKDPC, 2008). Family members feel shame and stop trusting them and in some cases, disown him/her. Communitys will finger point, try to avoid contact and will gossip about them. Many would argue that societys disapproval of drug use; especially cannabis and heroin will say stigma is necessary to demonstrate disapproval (UKDPC, 2010). Stigma can also make the substance user stigmatize themselves, make them feel alone, rejected and destroy their self-esteem. Seeking help is very difficult for the substance user and will prevent them from doing so. They will often feel that quitting would be no use and returning to normal life would be impossible because people in society will no longer trust them and so will join in with other drug users, start criminal activities to pay for their use and accepting the blame of society (UKDPC, 2010). Stigma discourages families and individuals from getting the support and treatment they require. Families suffer the impact when another family member has a drug use (UKDPC, 2009) and it alters all their social invitations and friends that they once had. Other family members will often withdraw and children will often be targeted by bullies. Stigma deprives people of their full interaction into society. The UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC) suggests that 1.5 Million people in the UK are affected by a relatives drug use. Supportive relationships are key to a successful recovery. Carers UK commissioned a study which estimated that carers in the UK made a contribution of  £87 billion in total economic value in one year. This may have excluded many who have not come forward with coping with a relative who has a drug problem but this gives us some indication of the social contribution likely to be made by the supporting families (DrugScope/Adfam, 2009). The drug user must have determina tion and faith in reaching their goals and there will probably be setbacks and barriers but with the support and contribution of social workers, support groups, family and friends, this will help towards the recovery process (HM Government, 2010). Families and relationships are key issues for recovery and drug users improve when their family is behind them. They are more than likely to complete treatment and maintain their new lifestyles (Best Laudet, 2010). DrugScope published research in 2009 by interviewing a random sample of over 1000 people aged 18 plus. The research published showed that one in five adults had a personal experience of drug use, either direct or indirect. The findings where: 19 % have personal experience of drug addiction either directly or among family or friends; 1 in 10 adults have a friend who has experience of drug addiction; 1 in 20 have experienced drug addiction in their family; 1 in 50 has personal experience of drug addiction. 77 % agree investment in drug treatment is sensible use of government money. The poll found that 19% either had direct or indirect personal experience of a family member or knowing someone within their circle of friends. 11% were likely to have a friend who has experienced drug addiction. 6% had family members who were drug dependant, yet 2% experienced the drug dependency themselves. These figures do suggest that drug misuse and the dependency do affect many peoples lives and is a social problem (DrugScope, 2009). Stigma to substance users will possibly make addiction recovery and treatment more difficult. Substance users often manage in secret and would rather not seek out the treatment and live in denial. The University of Nevada studied 197 drug users on the affects of stigmatization. This research identified that because of the use of stigma they would become more dependent on their drug use due to the perceived negativity that the society had on drug users. 60% of drug users in this study felt that they were treated differently after people knew that they were a drug user. 46% felt that others became afraid of them once they found out and 45% felt that their families gave up on them and wanted nothing more to do with them. 38% of their friends had rejected them and finally, 14% of employers paid a lower wage (Addiction, 2010). Users have no good reason to stop using when you look at this research study. This research identifies that stigma is conceptuality unique. Drug users also had a mo re difficult time in treatment at succeeding when there were higher levels of stigma. The study also showed that drug users often cope in secret due to their inability to openly discuss their addiction; this caused poor mental health and decreased their chances of recovery. By reducing shame the society could help in driving forward in helping the treatment of drug users who are not coming forward due to stigma (Addiction, 2010). Stigmatising is not only found amongst the public but also by the professionals who may be working directly with them. Professionals, such as doctors and nurses, who work directly with drug users, will have a greater insight into the problems that drug users face on a day to day basis. Miller et al (2001) mentioned in UKDPC (2010:30) summarised research from the USA which showed an increase in negativity towards drug users. Two studies of the treatment of problems with drug users and drinkers both in the inpatient care and safety net emergency department showed that negative views during training, continued when they became qualified and working within their practice (UKDPC, 2010). Stigma between health professionals and the drug user will prevent them from seeking help and may be one of the reasons as to why the drug user will not seek out the help or medical treatment that they require (Kelly Westerhoff, 2010). Everyone knows that it is wrong to discriminate, whether it is because of their race, culture or religion. Substance use is very common and is widely misunderstood. It is essential that we learn about the person and treat with dignity and respect. This will then help in emphasizing their abilities (Mental Health and Recovery Board, 2009). Public attitudes to drug addiction were explored in the UK in 2002 (Luty Grewal, 2002). Results showed that 28% regarded drug users as having a mental health problem. 38% assumed that drug users were criminals and 78% to be deceitful and unreliable. 30% said that they deserved the misfortune that fell upon them. 62% thought that the law were too soft on drug users and 40% believed that their children should be taken into care. It was concluded by Luty and Grewal, 2002, the results clearly indicate a negative view of drug addicts (Luty Grewal, 2002:94). Yet, DrugScope in 2009 wanted to find out the attitudes of the public towards drug users and drug treatment. They commissioned a poll and the findings suggest that the public to be very sympathetic than sometimes often assumed. 80% of the people surveyed agreed that people can become addicted to drugs because of other problems within their life. 35% agreed that it was the individuals fault for drug use and that there is no excuse. A large amount of respondents 88% agreed that for the drug user to get back on track, they needed help and support and 77% agreeing that the investment of government money towards drug treatment is sensible. This research showed a sympathetic response of the majority of the people surveyed. Drug users are the most marginalised people in society where discrimination and stigma are key into the barriers of receiving recovery. Two thirds in a recent poll showed that employers would not employ anyone with history of drug use, even though they were suitable for the job. Stigma and discrimination still remains a barrier to recovery and will clearly impact of them finding work. It will also affect being housed appropriately and accessing the healthcare that they need (DrugScope, 2009) The things that we can do as practitioners in helping to overcome the stigmatisation is to have a better understanding of how difficult it is for people to change who may have low self-efficacy. First impressions count and for a substance user, coming through the door is hard enough. The substance user will have come because they are in a crisis and has realised it is time for change (Lecture Notes, 2012). As social workers we have to realise that engaging with the substance user will help in the first steps to recovery and help in building relationships. Building respect and trust will prevent misunderstandings that may lead to conflict. Having good communication skills is effective and at the heart of social work. It is only through our communication skills that we are able to understand the knowledge of others and work effectively (Trevithick, 2009). It is important to communicate as it helps in exchanging our thoughts and feelings and in forming the foundation of a good relations hip. Communication allows you to help the substance user to be more receptive to the new ideas by creating an environment that they can trust and help in developing resolutions. To have an open and honest relationship, trust is important in succeeding this. An agreement ideally should be met with the substance user about confidentiality. They have a right to know who will be able to access any information about them (Koprowska, 2010). Motivational Interviewing is a well known model developed by William Miller in 1982. It is a model used with people to evoke change, especially people who have problematic substance misuse. Motivational interviewing is a client-centred counselling style and helps the service user to reach their decisions about potential behaviour change (Nelson, 2012). This model helps in identifying and understanding the substance users motivation to change and highlight to the client their perceived negatives and benefits of change. The principles of motivational interviewing are to express empathy, develop discrepancy by helping the client in increasing their awareness of the consequences of their behaviour. Avoiding argumentation as it is them who are the expert. Roll with resistance by encouraging the client to develop their own arguments. Resistance is normal if you are uncomfortable about something and lastly self efficacy by highlighting the skills and the changes they have already made (Lect ure Notes, 2012). Assessing motivation with the substance user and finding out at which stages they may be will help in me identifying where the substance user is in their dependency. A well known model called the cycle of change developed by DiClemente and Prochaska (1982) represents the point at which the substance user passes during their change in behaviour. The different stages are: Pre-Contemplation, this is where the service user has no desire to change. Contemplation, this is where the service user may be considering their situation and is more aware of it. Preparation is where the service user makes a decision to change their substance misuse. Action and this is where the service user takes steps in bringing about change. Maintenance is where they have stopped using the drugs and moved to a more controlled and less harmful way of using and is maintaining that change. Relapse is where the service user will go back to their old behaviour and will have to start the Cycle of Change again (Teater, 2011:122). The substance user may slip back or relapse in to their old behaviour because permanent behaviour is very difficult to change, particularly with people who want to make change in substance misuse. This is very difficult and may take several attempts (Nelson, 2012). Motivational interviewing will help the substance user move through the stages of change. Having good active listening skill is important and will help in making the substance user feel that he/she is being helped. Many people will feel encouraged when they have been truly listened to without interruption and will often become encouraged and empowered (New Jersey Self-Help Group Clearinghouse). A good listener allows the person to get their own stories and opinions across, which active listening will allow them to do so. If you interrupt, the person will feel that they may not have been listened to. They will not feel respected and may hold information through being cautious. It is important to allow them to know that you were listening and will help in encouraging them to continue talking. Leaning forward, maintaining eye contact will also show them you are interested in what they have to say (MindTools, 2012). You have to remember to not let environmental factors distract you as this could make you lose focus. Giving the substance user your undivided attention and ackno wledge what they are saying. Using body language either by nodding occasionally, smiling and encouraging the speaker to continue by saying verbal comments, such as yes and go on will encourage the speaker to continue by knowing you are listening. Giving positive feedback by paraphrasing e.g. What I am hearing is and It sounds like you are saying, are good ways of reflecting back and help in clarifying certain points that the substance user may have said and helps towards getting more background information. Paraphrasing also helps in allowing yourself to really understand what has been said and helps the substance user know that they have been heard und understood correctly (Koprowska, 2010). Having the three core conditions of counselling of empathy, respect and congruence will help to enhance the substance users motivation to change. Empathy allows putting you in another persons shoes and having a better understanding of their feelings and emotions. You must ignore your own percep tion of the situation and accept their feelings and thoughts. By doing this does not mean that you accept the behaviour they are doing but means that you understand them. Congruence allows you to be yourself and that you are only human and a real person. This will help in reducing the stress the substance user may have. Having respect is accepting the person for who they are regardless of what the person says or does. When others have possibly made that person feel negative, it is very hard for them to feel positive. Showing the substance user respect will show willingness that you want to work with them, which will allow them to grow confidence (Trevithick, 2009). Change is difficult, so it is normal for the substance user to feel ambivalent. Using the Decisional Balance will help in identifying the positives and negatives of their behaviour. If you are going to change, you need a reason to and people change when the positives outweigh the negatives. We always have to be aware of the short term or long term risk factors including their level of usage and what type of drugs they are using (Miller Rollnick, 2002). Motivational interviewing helps the substance user in identifying the importance of their behaviour change and also helps the practitioner help in doing so by enhancing their motivation. This model works well alongside the cycle of change as it is useful to assess where the substance user may be in their cycle of change and help in identifying the strategies you may use (Nelson, 2012). In conclusion, if a person does not conform to social stereotypes, they are more than likely to be marginalised and bear stigma. People with substance misuse are of all types and come from different backgrounds (Pycroft, 2010). Working with individuals who are experiencing substance use, it is important to remain focussed. Providing constant feedback and offering support will help in engaging the drug user towards solving the crisis the substance user may have. Having a non-judgemental attitude underpins social work along with empathy and advocacy (Trevithick, 2009). People with substance misuse are often viewed as less worthy and deserving. Stigmatisation can cause prejudice, marginalisation, discrimination and oppression and is often reinforced by the media and even our own families (Theory and practice, 2011). People who substance use are often stigmatised and feel shameful of it and can happen if the substance user has had several attempts. When you are ashamed of something and y ou disclose it, it is very hard especially if youre unsure as to how the other person is going to respond. It is important for myself to reflect upon my own value base and prejudices that I may have. Referances All about Addiction (2010) Addiction Stigma: making addiction recovery, and addiction treatment entry, even harder. www.allaboutaddiction.com/addiction/addiction-stigma-making-addiction-recovery-harder (accessed 16 November 2012) Best, D,. Laudet, A. B. (2010) The potential of recovery capital, Royal Society of Arts. DrugScope/Adfam (2009) Recovery and drug dependency: a new deal for families. http://www.adfam.org.uk/docs/recovery_dependency.pdf (accessed 26 November 2012) DrugScope, (2009) Closer to home than you think: one in five adults knows someone with experience of drug addiction. London :DrugScope http://www.drugscope.org.uk/Media/Press+office/pressreleases/ICM_poll_results (accessed 18 November 2012) Goffman, E. (1963) Stigma: notes on a spoiled identity. Prentice-Hall. New York. Goffman, E. (1968) Stigma: notes on the management of spoiled identity. Harmondsworth: Penguin. HM Government, (2010). Drug Strategy 2010: reducing demand, restricting supply, building recovery: supporting people to live a drug free life. http://mhfe.org.uk/sites/default/files/shared/drug-strategy-2010.pdf (accessed 26 November 2012) Kelly, J.F. and Westerhoff, C.M. (2010). Does it matter how we refer to individuals withsubstance-related conditions? A randomized study of two commonly used terms. International Journal of Drug Policy, 21 (3), 202-7. Koprowska, J. (2010). Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Social Work. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd. Lecture Notes (2012) Social Work with Substance Users: Assessment and Initial Intervention. Hull University. Luty, J. and Grewal, P. (2002). A survey of the British publics attitudes towards drug Dependence. Journal of Substance Use, 7, 93-5. Mental Health and Recovery Board (2009) http://www.mhrbeo.org/stigma.html (accessed 20 November 2012) Mind Tools (2012). Active Listening. http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm (accessed 26 November 2012) Miller, W,. Rollnick, S. (2002) Motivational Interviewing: preparing people for change. New York: Guildford Press. Nelson, Anna (2012) Social Work with Substance Users, London: Sage Publications Ltd. New Jersey Self-Help Group Clearinghouse. Improving your listening Skills. http://www.mededfund.org/NJgroups/Listening_Skills.pdf (accessed26 November 2012). Pierson, J., Thomas, M. (2010) Dictionary of Social Work. England: Open University Press. Pycroft, A. (2010) Understanding and Working with Substance Misusers. London: Sage Prochaska, J., DiClemente, C. 1982) Transheoretical therapy: Towards a more integrative model of change, Theory, Research and Practice, 19:276-88. Maclean, S,. Harrison, R. (2011). Theory and Practice: A straightforward Guide for Social Work Students. Great Britain: Kirwin Maclean Associates Ltd. Trevithick, p. (2009) Social Work Skills: a practice handbook. England: Open University Press UKDPC (2008) Working Towards Recovery. London: UK Drug Policy Commission. http://ukdpc.org.uk/publications.shtml#employment_report (accessed 15 November 2012). UK Drug Policy Commission (2009). Adult Family Members and Carers of Dependant Drug Users: Prevalence, social cost, resource savings and treatment responses. http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Evidence%20review%20-%20Adult%20family%20members%20and%20carers%20of%20dependent%20drug%20users_%20prevalence,%20social%20cost,%20resource%20savings%20and%20treatment%20responses.pdf (accessed 26 November 2012) UKDPC (2010) Getting serious about Stigma: the problem with stigmatising drug users. London: UK Drug Policy Commission. http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/publication/getting-serious-about-stigma-problem-stigmatising (accessed 15 November 2012). UKDPC (2010) Sinning and Sinned Against: The Stigmatisation of Problem Drug Users. London: UKDPC http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Policy%20report%20-%20Sinning%20and%20sinned%20against_%20the%20stigmatisation%20of%20problem%20drug%20users.pdf (accessed 18 November 2012) Trevithick, P. (2009) Social Work Skills: a practice handbook. England: Open University Press. Teater, B. (2011) Applying Social Work Theories and Methods, England: Open University Press.

Dissociative Fugue Essay -- Psychology, Identity, Disorders

Dissociative Fugue Dissociation is when there is loss of connection in a person’s memory, thoughts, and sense of identity. The severity of dissociation ranges from mild dissociation a very common form seem in examples such as: daydreaming, driving a familiar route and realizing you do not remember the last several miles, or getting â€Å"lost† in a book. More severe and chronic forms are multiple personality disorder, now called dissociative identity disorder, and other dissociative disorders (Livingston, 2004). In this paper I will be focusing on Dissociative fugue. This dissociative disorder is very rare and can appear in a person suddenly and with warning. The individual travels far from home or work and leaves behind a past life. In extremely rare cases they assume a new identity. The individual experiences amnesia and does not have any conscious knowledge or understanding of why they left or how they got where they are. These â€Å"travels† can last anywhere from a few hours to several months. Fugue is derived from the Latin word fugere, meaning flight. Dissociative fugue differs from dissociative identity disorder because if a person assumes a new identity with dissociative fugue it does not coincide with other identities such as with Dissociative Identity disorder. Disabling Attributes This disorder can be very disabling because these bouts of flight come at unpredictable times. This can make it hard for an individual to keep a job if they have the chance of taking off and not remembering or knowing why. The possibility of assuming a new identity is also there making it very hard to develop strong relationships. They are viewed as unreliable employees and they do not possess the coping skills to deal with emotional ... ...s provide clear boundaries. Individuals have reported that if the support group includes individuals with complex dissociative disorders and those without have been problematic. An individual should keep this in mind when trying to find a support group right for them (Livingston, 2004). Rehabilitation Implications The outcome for individuals with dissociative fugue is good. A rehabilitation counselor should provide counseling and proper support to their client. With the proper treatment individuals with dissociative fugue can accomplish any of the same goals as an individual without a dissociative disorder. Rehabilitation counselors should also make sure clients have had the proper medical examinations and medication to treat the secondary symptoms to dissociative fugue. If all these are followed the counselor client relationship should be successful.

Oil Drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge Essay -- Argumentat

Oil Drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge The main issue presented in my research involves the debate between environmentalists and the United States government on whether to open and develop a portion of the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in the northern coastal plain of Alaska for the purpose of drilling for oil. Environmentalists argue that opening up this region of ANWR to future oil drilling would destroy the current ecosystems, disrupt animal habitats and adversely change the lives of the people in these local communities. Proponents of oil drilling in this region argue that all the issues presented by the environmentalist groups are not valid and they have no scientific facts to support their argument. Proponents of this issue point to the successful Prudhoe Bay oil exploration, which has produced nearly 13 billion barrels, or, 20 to 25 percent of the oil produced in the United States for the last 23 years. President George Bush recently indicated that he is renewing his campaign to open part of the Artic refu ge to oil exploration, contending that oil drilling is essential to the national security of the United States and would create jobs on a national and local level. George Bush supported his campaign by stating in a recent article â€Å"America is already using more energy then our domestic resources can provide and unless we act to increase our energy independence, our reliance of foreign sources of energy will only increase.† (w1) He also indicated from the same article saying â€Å"Alaskans know firsthand that modern technology allows us to bring oil to the surface cleanly and safely, while protecting our environment and wildlife.† (w2) His proposed energy plan also includes modernizing other energy del... ...ANWR based on geologic surveys. This oil discovery would greatly reduce our dependency for foreign oil supply, create jobs on a national and local level and put more money in the local economics by the increase in the tax base for Alaska. It appears based on the data I accumulated that with the newest technology in oil development would allow the oil to be brought to the surface and distributed in a clean and safe manner. If the people of the coastal plain are not affected negatively by oil development and the wildlife can co-exist in a positive manner then I would support future oil development in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. Bibliography W3 : www.anwr.org www.alaskawild.org Reuters: by Steve Holland â€Å"Bush says U.S. Needs to Drill for oil in Alaska.† Sat. Feb 23,2002 Taken from www.story.news.yahoo.com W1 & W2: www.foxnews.com www.bushnews.com

An Increased Understanding of Neurobiology :: Neurobiology Biology Health Essays

An Increased Understanding of Neurobiology It is a beautiful day outside, the person you care about just told you they feel the same way, you paid all your bills and still have money left over, and you finished all your work on time, yet you are still in a very crabby mood. Or, it is an awful day out, you just failed an exam, you have a ton of work to finish in too little time, and you were just dumped, still you have a feeling of well-being that you cannot change. We have all been there, our emotions seem to have a mind of their own and we do not know why we are feeling what we are feeling. Philosophers, psychologists, and science fiction writers have been debating the usefulness of emotions for centuries, still we continue to experience them and deal with them as part of our existence as human beings. Neurobiologists have preferred to take the tactic of looking at emotions as something we experience, thus something that should be studied. This tactic has led to some interesting evidence in terms of the usefulness of emotion in our everyday life. Some have found that experiencing the variety of feelings that we do might help in our ability to remember things and in learning about the world around us. If it is the case that emotional information does help us when we remember things and learn, then how do emotions work in the brain? There have been found to be some key structures, each playing a role in the way we experience emotions and what kind of moods are experienced. Still, with all of this information, we still have emotions that we cannot explain given our everyday experience. The increased understanding of neurobiology that we have can be used to explain why we feel what we do, even when the external world cannot. It had long been thought that any research into emotion was a waste of good research efforts. There were many reasons for this, but primarily the idea was that emotions were not scientific enough for science. As time and methods have changed, so has that attitude and now emotions are looked at with slightly more respect and less apprehension about their not being rational. (1) This change in attitude has led to people finding that emotions might actually lead to somewhat useful things. An Increased Understanding of Neurobiology :: Neurobiology Biology Health Essays An Increased Understanding of Neurobiology It is a beautiful day outside, the person you care about just told you they feel the same way, you paid all your bills and still have money left over, and you finished all your work on time, yet you are still in a very crabby mood. Or, it is an awful day out, you just failed an exam, you have a ton of work to finish in too little time, and you were just dumped, still you have a feeling of well-being that you cannot change. We have all been there, our emotions seem to have a mind of their own and we do not know why we are feeling what we are feeling. Philosophers, psychologists, and science fiction writers have been debating the usefulness of emotions for centuries, still we continue to experience them and deal with them as part of our existence as human beings. Neurobiologists have preferred to take the tactic of looking at emotions as something we experience, thus something that should be studied. This tactic has led to some interesting evidence in terms of the usefulness of emotion in our everyday life. Some have found that experiencing the variety of feelings that we do might help in our ability to remember things and in learning about the world around us. If it is the case that emotional information does help us when we remember things and learn, then how do emotions work in the brain? There have been found to be some key structures, each playing a role in the way we experience emotions and what kind of moods are experienced. Still, with all of this information, we still have emotions that we cannot explain given our everyday experience. The increased understanding of neurobiology that we have can be used to explain why we feel what we do, even when the external world cannot. It had long been thought that any research into emotion was a waste of good research efforts. There were many reasons for this, but primarily the idea was that emotions were not scientific enough for science. As time and methods have changed, so has that attitude and now emotions are looked at with slightly more respect and less apprehension about their not being rational. (1) This change in attitude has led to people finding that emotions might actually lead to somewhat useful things.

Jhkjjk

Current Issues: Gangs 2011, n. p. Copyright @ 2011 ReferencePoint Press, Website: www. referencepointpress. com. P. O. Box 27779, San Diego, CA 92198. Phone: 858-618-1314. Fax: 858-618-1730. All rights reserved. Current Issues: Gangs By Peggy J. Parks Contents Gangs at a Glance Overview How Serious a Problem Are Gangs? Primary Source Quotes Facts and Illustrations Why Do Young People Join Gangs? Primary Source Quotes Facts and Illustrations Can People Leave the Gang Life Behind? Primary Source Quotes Facts and Illustrations Can Gang Violence Be Stopped? Primary Source QuotesFacts and Illustrations Key People and Advocacy Groups Chronology Related Organizations For Further Research Source Notes About the Author Gangs at a Glance Gangs and Gang Members The U. S. Department of Justice estimates that more than 20,000 gangs with a total of about 1 million members are criminally active in the United States. Gang Migration Gangs are no longer confined to large cities. The FBI states that ga ng activity is rapidly spreading to outlying suburban and rural communities throughout the United States. Types of Gangs Four main types of gangs identified by the U.S. Department of Justice are street gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, prison gangs, and military gangs. Gangs and Crime Law enforcement officials say that gangs commit a wide range of crimes, including distribution of drugs, weapons trafficking, drive-by shootings, armed robbery, assault, identity theft, and homicide. In many communities gangs are responsible for as much as 80 percent of crime. Cities with Gang Problems The U. S. Department of Justice has identified Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York as the top three cities for the most gangs and gang-related crime.Reasons for Joining Gangs Young people join gangs for many reasons including the desire to belong to a family-like group, protection from rival gangs, the ability to make money (usually from stealing or selling drugs), prestige, and ready access to drugs. Quitt ing Gangs Whether people are able to leave gangs depends on the particular gang and its rules. Jumping out (being beaten by gang members) is a common way of letting someone out. Some gangs expect their members to remain committed for life and threaten them with death if they try to quit.Fighting Gang Violence In cities throughout the United States, the FBI and state and local law enforcement officials are focusing on the most violent street gangs in an effort to capture their leaders and get them off the streets. Overview â€Å"Gangs are morphing, multiplying, and migrating—entrenching themselves not just in our inner cities but increasingly in our ever-sprawling suburbs and wide-open rural spaces. † —Federal Bureau of Investigation, a law enforcement agency of the U. S. Department of Justice. Gangs and gang-involved kids exist at some level in every community. Certain groups have decided to use violence and retribution, and their acts are affecting all of us. à ¢â‚¬  —Steven D. Strachan, the chief of police of Kent, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. At 16 years old, Melody Ross was thoroughly enjoying life. She had just begun her junior year at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, where she was an honors student and a pole-vaulter on the track team. She was popular and known for being friendly, kind, and someone who always had a sunny smile on her face.On the evening of October 30, 2009, Melody and her friends went to their school's home ­coming football game. After the game ended, the girls left the stadium and were sitting on the curb in front of the school. Suddenly the loud crack of gunshots filled the air. A feud had broken out between members of rival gangs, and they were shooting at each other—with bystanders caught in the crossfire. By the time the violence ended, three people lay on the ground, wounded and bleeding: two men and Melody. Ambulances rushed them to the hospital, where the men were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.Melody, however, was not so fortunate. She died of a severe bullet wound in her side. Her family and friends were devastated, and as a memorial to her, a classmate named Dylan Vassberg created a Facebook page entitled RIP Melody Ross. â€Å"Every kid our age–we don't ever think we're going to die,† he says. â€Å"We never think that. We think we're going to college and we're going to have a long life and die of old age. Not die because someone decided to shoot a gun. We never think of that. It's not something that crosses our mind ever. Not even fathomable, really. 1 How Serious a Problem Are Gangs? Although the precise number of gangs and gang members (known as gangbangers) is not known, the U. S. Department of Justice makes estimates based on information it receives from state and local law enforcement officials. In January 2009 the Justice Department's National Gang Intelligence Center released a report entitled National Gang Threat As sessment 2009. The report states that more than 20,000 violent gangs with a total of approximately 1 million members were criminally active in the United States as of September 2008.The report's authors state that â€Å"gangs pose a serious threat to public safety. † They warn that throughout the country, gang activity is rapidly spreading from large cities to outlying suburban and rural areas. This, they predict, will cause gang-related violent crime to remain at high levels and likely increase. They write: â€Å"As these gangs encounter resistance from local gangs or other drug distributors in these communities, an increase in violent incidents such as assaults, drive-by shootings, and homicides can be expected. â€Å"2 The Evolution of GangsNo one knows exactly when gangs first formed, but they are often assumed to have been around for centuries. According to Lou Savelli, who is a retired New York City police sergeant and cofounder of the East Coast Gang Investigators As sociation, the word thug dates back to India during the 1200s. It is derived from â€Å"Thugz,† an Indian word that referred to a gang of criminals who traveled throughout the country terrorizing towns. Savelli adds that like gangs today, the Thugz had their own symbols, hand signs, slang language, and rituals.Gang activity is thought to have begun in the United States early in the country's history. Journalist Ed Grabianowski explains: â€Å"Criminal gangs have certainly been around as long as crime itself—it doesn't take a criminal mastermind to realize there is strength in numbers. The urbanization that accompanied the Industrial Revolution gave rise to the modern street gang. â€Å"3 Throughout the 1800s, as more people immigrated to America from other countries, gangs such as the Monk Eastman Gang and Five Points Gang formed and terrorized the streets of New York.But it was the 1920s that ushered in the heyday of gang activity in the United States because of a n otorious gangster named Al Capone, also called Scarface. This was a time known as Prohibition, when the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution made the sale or distribution of alcohol illegal. Supporters hoped the legislation would transform American society for the better, but its effects were quite different from what they expected. Once alcohol was no longer legally available, criminal gangs began to distribute it on the black market.These gangs developed rapidly and continued to grow in power, which caused a steep rise in violent crime. Capone and his gang of criminals were responsible for a wave of violence in the Chicago area during the 1920s and 1930s. Savelli says this led to his becoming known as most violent gangster in Chicago and perhaps in all of the United States. Capone's reputation spread far and wide, and his actions strongly influenced the activities of would-be gangsters throughout the country. By the time Prohibition ended in 1933, gangs had become entrenched t hroughout the country and were widely known for their connections with violent crime.During the 1950s gang-related crime was rampant in a number of U. S. cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, and it was steadily growing. Over the following decades gangs became better organized and continued to expand their activities from cities into neighboring communities, as the Justice Department explains: â€Å"The gang members who migrated from urban areas often formed new, neighborhood-based local gangs. These local gangs generally controlled their territories through violence and intimidation. 4 Gang membership—and associated violent crime—continued to grow throughout the rest of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. Street Gangs and Motorcycle Outlaws Gangs often differ significantly from one another based on membership requirements, structure, and the ages and ethnicity of the members. Two main types that have been identified by law enforcement off icials are street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs. The Justice Department says that street gangs pose a considerable threat to communities because they are the largest group and also control the greatest geographical area. Therefore,† Justice Department authorities explain, criminal activities such as violence and drug trafficking perpetrated by street gangs pose the greatest threat. The threat becomes magnified as national- and regional-level street gangs migrate from urban areas to suburban and rural communities, expanding their influence in most regions and broadening their presence outside the United States to develop associations with . . . criminal organizations in Mexico, Central America, and Canada. 5Most street gangs are local-level gangs that operate in single locations while regional-level street gangs are more organized and larger. Some of the largest and most violent street gangs are Hispanic gangs such as MS ­13, 18th Street, Surenos, and Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) and the predominately African American gangs Bloods, Crips, and Black P. Stone Nation. Asian gangs such as the Asian Boyz are also developing a reputation as a result of their links to drug trafficking and violent crimes. Though less common than gangs of other racial and ethnic groups, white gangs also pose a threat.The white supremacist street gang Nazi Low-riders has a growing presence in Southern California, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Illinois, and members have been connected with a number of racially motivated violent crimes. Outlaw motorcycle gangs also pose a significant threat because they engage in numerous criminal activities, such as trafficking in weapons and drugs, and often commit violent crimes. State and local law enforcement agencies have identified as many as 520 outlaw motorcycle gangs with an estimated total of 20,000 members of various races and ethnicities.The motorcycle gangs that the FBI considers the greatest threat because of criminal activities are the Sons of Silence, Bandidos, Mongols, Hells Angels, and Outlaws. Gangs Behind Bars Just because people are incarcerated, and even sentenced to life in prison, does not necessarily prevent them from engaging in gang activities. According to the Justice Department, prison gangs are highly structured criminal networks that are active within prisons throughout the United States. It adds that as of September 2008, more than 147,000 documented gang members were incarcerated in federal, state, and local correctional facilities.One state where this is a particularly serious problem is Washington. According to a study released in 2009, gang-affiliated inmates are responsible for 43 percent of all violent crimes that are committed in the state's prisons. The report also states that the Crips are the most represented prison gang, with 2,385 inmate members. Also well known for violence behind bars is the white supremacist gang Aryan Brotherhood and the Latino gangs Barrio Azteca and Mexican Mafia. One gang that has been especially violent in Texas prisons is the Texas Syndicate.In February 2007 federal authorities issued indictments for gang members who were suspected of being responsible for as many as 16 murders outside the state's prisons, including a triple slaying in 2003. The indictment states: â€Å"It is understood that members and prospects of the TS may receive a telephone call and instructions to commit a murder . . . at any time. Regardless of the member's friendship or association with the victim, the orders are to be carried out. â€Å"6 Not only are gangs extremely active in prisons, gang members who have been imprisoned are often the gangs' top leaders.According to Sergeant Jeremy Young, who is a supervisor with the Modesto, California, police street crimes unit, the bottom level of a gang's chain of command is made up of gangbangers who are the â€Å"soldiers† on the street; the mid-level is composed of the leaders o f street crews who run the operation; and the top level are the bosses who are often inside prisons. â€Å"The (gang leaders in the) prisons run the street,† he says. â€Å"A lot of things that start in there end up out here. â€Å"7 Criminal Activities Gangs are involved in a wide range of crimes.These include drug distribution, assault, armed robbery, drive-by shootings, auto theft, identity theft, extortion, weapons trafficking, and homicide. In fact, the National Gang Threat Assessment report says that according to law enforcement officials throughout the United States, criminal gangs commit as much as 80 percent of the crime in many communities. Yet the connection between gangs and crime is a controversial is ­sue. According to the Justice Policy Institute, a Washington, D. C. –based think tank that supports alternatives to incarceration, gang members are not responsible for the biggest share of crime in most jurisdictions.In a July 2007 report, the group stat es that many crimes committed by gang members are unrelated to gang activity, and reliable data on the extent of gang crime do not exist. The report's authors write: â€Å"The available evidence indicates that gang members play a relatively small role in the national crime problem. . . . National estimates and local research findings suggest that gang members may be responsible for fewer than one in 10 homicides; fewer than one in 16 violent offenses; and fewer than one in 20 serious . . . crimes. â€Å"8 Gang-Infested CitiesAlthough gangs have a presence in communities all over the United States, the National Gang Center says that the three cities with the most gangs and worst gang-related crime are Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. According to John S. Pistole, who is the deputy director of the FBI, Los Angeles is â€Å"ground zero for modern gang activity,† with over 400 gangs and an estimated 40,000 gang members. â€Å"Many gangs were born here, a generation ago,â₠¬  he says. â€Å"But they are no longer limited to Los Angeles. Like a cancer, gangs are spreading to communities across America. â€Å"9Two other California cities where gang-related crime is increasing are San Diego, where gang-related homicides rose 56 percent between 2006 and 2007, and Salinas, where gang-related homicides increased 125 percent during that same period of time. Gangs are also a serious problem in Hartford, Connecticut, and Camden, New Jersey. And Pistole adds that gangs are becoming more active in many other cities including Baltimore, Houston, Washington, D. C. , Denver, Atlanta, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Omaha, Nebraska. High-Tech Gangbanging The Internet has opened up a whole new way for gangbangers to recruit new members.As a February 2007 ABC News report states: â€Å"By posting online content that glorifies the thug lifestyle, gangs are using the Web to recruit—some using children as young as 8 years old as part of the on ­line recruiting process, known as ‘Net Banging. ‘†10 Sometimes rival gang members spar with each other online, proudly displaying their gang colors, tattoos, and gang hand signs in photos. They also use the Internet to schedule fights with each other as well as brag about crimes that they have committed. By monitoring these sites, federal and state law enforcement officials can track gang activity.Cell phones also play a crucial role in gang operations. Gangbangers communicate with each other by sending text messages, and it is not uncommon for them to use multiple phones that they discard after they have completed criminal operations such as drug trafficking. The Justice Department offers an example: â€Å"The leader of an African American street gang operating on the north side of Milwaukee used more than 20 cell phones to coordinate drug-related activities of the gang: most were prepaid phones that the leader routinely discarded and replaced. 11 Why Do Young People Join Gangs ? Law enforcement professionals say that the issue of why kids join gangs is complex. According to the Justice Policy Institute, no single risk factor or set of factors can accurately predict which young people will become gang members. One of the most common reasons kids join gangs is that they are from broken homes and desperately want to be part of a family-like group, and they perceive gangs as being able to provide that. Brandon Robinson grew up in a housing project in Kansas City, Missouri.As a participant in a 2007 survey about gangs, he told interviewers that many of those who join share the commonality of being from poverty-stricken, dysfunctional backgrounds. â€Å"You got family members on crack and you ain't eating right,† he says. â€Å"Everybody's hungry. â€Å"12 According to Robinson, gang members look out for each other, help feed each other, and stick up for each other, much like a family would. â€Å"That's when you start loving your street,†13 he says.Other reasons for joining gangs include the lure of having money to spend (from stealing or selling drugs), easy access to drugs, and protection from the dangers of the street and rival gangs. Yet many criminal justice experts say that being part of a gang does not keep kids safer at all. In fact, studies have shown that young people who are involved with gangs have a markedly higher likelihood of being injured or killed than those who are not gang-affiliated. Girl Gangs Traditionally, gangs have been dominated by males and that is still true today.But the Justice Department states that female involvement in gangs is on the upswing. A May 2008 study by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention found that in high-crime neighborhoods nearly 30 percent of girls surveyed claimed that they were members of gangs. The report ranked â€Å"young females as the fastest growing offenders in the national juvenile justice population. â€Å"14 One city that has experienced growing problems with girl gangs is Flint, Michigan. Gina Nyovane, a 22-year-old graduate of Flint Northwestern High School, has observed girl gangs in her former school and throughout the city.She says that these gangs are becoming more widespread and more violent, as she explains: â€Å"I hear it all the time. Girls are quick to pull a gun out, faster than a guy. â€Å"15 Over Labor Day weekend in 2009, members of a girl gang called the Goonies followed a car that was carrying members of a rival gang, the Dufflebacks. A young man traveling with the Goonies fired six shots at the other car, killing an 18-year-old male passenger and wounding the female driver. Can People Leave the Gang Life Behind? The common view is that people who join gangs are never allowed to leave them.The Justice Policy Institute says its research has found that gang membership is not a â€Å"one-way street† and that the typical gang member is active for a year or less. The group explains: â€Å"Thi s myth is perpetuated not only by the media but also by gang members who exaggerate the stakes of membership in order to underscore the importance and permanence of their collective bond. â€Å"16 Yet many people say that joining a gang is a lifetime commitment, and the only way someone can leave is by dying or going to prison. Former gang member Hashim Garrett was 15 years old when he was shot six times in the back and legs.Today he struggles to walk and must use forearm crutches because his right leg is paralyzed. In a speech to students at a middle school in 2008, Garrett addressed the realities of gang life: â€Å"They say they're like your family, but your loved ones don't ask much of you. Come home on time, clean up your room, be polite, eat your vegetables. The gang's going to ask more than that. Hold this gun. Hold these drugs. Prove you're wild. Maybe kill somebody. † He adds that most gang members want to quit the gang but are too afraid to do so. If you join the f ootball team and you don't like the coach, you can quit. You can't quit a gang that easy. â€Å"17 Can Gang Violence Be Stopped? Controlling gang proliferation and gang-related crime is one of the most significant challenges facing law enforcement officials every day of the year. Federal agencies such as the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives have partnered with state and local police departments throughout the United States in an effort to bring down gangs and put an end to their crime sprees.In many cities, the focus is on eliminating the leadership of gang enterprises. According to Pistole, the goal is to do more than just disrupt their activities—it is to â€Å"dismantle them entirely. † He explains: Taking apart a gang is like demolishing a building. Hacking away at individual walls and beams might damage the building, but it doesn't destroy it. But using federal drug and racketeering statutes is akin to dynamiting the foundation. On ce the gang's leadership infrastructure implodes, all members are weakened. It becomes difficult for the group to operate.Eventually, it crumbles. And so our strategy is to prosecute as many gang leaders, members, and associates as possible so there are no pieces left which are large enough to allow the gang to rebuild. 18 How Serious a Problem Are Gangs? â€Å"Following a marked decline from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, a steady resurgence of gang problems has occurred in recent years. † —James C. Howell, Arlen Egley Jr. , and Christina O'Donnell, research associates with the National Gang Center. â€Å"Wherever MS-13 goes, violence follows.Gang members have carried out beheadings and grenade attacks in Central America and have hacked people with machetes in cities along the East Coast in the United States. † —Jessica M. Vaughan and John D. Feere, policy analysts with the Center for Immigration Studies. For people in many areas of the world, includi ng the United States, gang violence is a harsh reality of life. According to the U. S. Department of Justice, the problem in America is growing worse. The Justice Department estimates that the number of gang members totaled about 1 million as of September 2008, which was an increase from 800,000 in 2005.One reason gangs continue to grow larger and more powerful is that they are fostering relationships with criminal organizations in Mexico, Central America, and Canada. This has led to a proliferation of drugs and weapons being smuggled across the U. S. border as well as an influx of illegal aliens who join gangs. To emphasize the seriousness of America's gang violence, FBI director John Pistole tells the story of a young woman who was working at a Los Angeles outdoor market in September 2007. Her newborn son, Luis, was beside her is his stroller.Members of the 18th Street gang approached one of the market's vendors, telling him that he could not sell his goods in their territory unle ss he paid them rent. He had steadfastly refused to meet their demands in the past, and when he continued to do so at the market, gang members drew their guns and opened fire on him. The man survived, but Luis did not. A stray bullet struck the baby and killed him instantly. Pistole says that this tragic incident is indicative of what is happening throughout the country: â€Å"In too many neighborhoods, too many young people are recruited into gangs.They fall into a life of crime, drugs, and violence. They shoot each other, with no regard to the innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. Crime and violence are not confined to their cliques, but have a chilling effect on entire communities. â€Å"19 A Ruthlessly Vicious Gang Of all the gangs known to law enforcement, Mara Salvatrucha, or MS ­13, is one of the most violent. It started as a small Los Angeles street gang formed during the 1980s by immigrants from El Salvador. Now, however, it is among the largest and most dangerou s gangs in the United States and Central America.According to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), MS-13 has â€Å"mushroomed into the size of a small army† and â€Å"strives to be the most violent and feared gang in the world. â€Å"20 ICE states that MS-13 members have been convicted of murder, assault, extortion, kidnapping, theft, drug dealing, rape, robbery, and other violent crimes. One city that is plagued by the violence of MS-13 is Houston, Texas. Although larger gangs are active in the city, the FBI considers MS-13 to be â€Å"of particular concern because members are often heavily armed and well trained in the use of weapons and assault tactics. 21 In January 2009 MS-13 gang members robbed a Houston beauty salon at gunpoint and sexually assaulted an employee. They warned her not to go to the police, saying that if she did she would regret it. They also threatened the salon owner, telling her that they would kill her if she reported the incide nt, and they demanded that she pay them a weekly protection fee of $100. The salon owner was terrified—but she was also angry. She had seen the same kinds of crimes committed in her native El Salvador, and she was determined to fight to keep them from happening in her adopted country.Even though she feared for her life and the lives of her family members, she went to the FBI and told agents what happened. During that visit she turned over a security surveillance tape that showed the gang members' faces. About a week later the woman had not paid the protection money. In retaliation, two MS-13 gangbangers drove by the salon and sprayed the front door with bullets—but they did not get away with the violent act. Because of the tapes and the salon owner's cooperation, the FBI agents arrested seven members of the gang. As one agent explains: â€Å"This case is proof that victims of crime should not suffer in silence. He adds that the salon owner, who was placed in protectiv e custody by the FBI, â€Å"was courageous to stand up to gang members, and as a result those gang members are now in jail. â€Å"22 Violent Communities Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is often called one of America's most beautiful cities. With its tree-lined neighborhoods of stately brownstone homes, the â€Å"Magnificent Mile† shopping district, prolific theaters and restaurants, and world-renowned museums, the city attracts tourists from many different countries—yet it also has a dark and dangerous side.Law enforcement officials estimate that 50 to 60 gangs are active in Chicago and that together, they have as many as 30,000 members. Armed gangbangers roam the streets of the South Side of Chicago, committing crimes and terrorizing the people who live there. A chilling testament to this gang violence is evident in one of the city's lesser-known monuments: an arrangement of more than 150 landscaping stones, each bearing the name of a school-age chil d killed by gang violence since 2007. Police superintendent Jody Weis states that Chicago youth have become increasingly more violent over the years.He explains: â€Å"There's simply too many gangs, too many guns and too many drugs on the streets. We've got a problem with some of our young people . . . resorting to use of weapons and violence to solve any type of conflicts they may have. â€Å"23 Chicago has had a problem with gang violence for many years, but public outrage was sparked in 2007 when a 16-year-old honors student named Blair Holt was killed. Holt, who was not involved with a gang, was riding in a city bus with a friend when members of rival gangs started shooting at each other. He attempted to shield his friend by pushing her down into a seat.His heroic act saved her life, but he was fatally shot in the stomach. Afterward, his father, a Chicago police officer, expressed his despair and frustration over gangs who do not think twice about killing people: â€Å"You wo nder where it comes from. What causes a child to wantonly and blatantly hatch such an ill-conceived plan? To go out and do something like this? What makes them do it? Where is this coming from? What are the influences? â€Å"24 Chicago is far from alone in its ongoing struggle with gang violence. It is prevalent in communities all over the country.In South Carolina, for instance, the rate of gang violence has risen nearly 1,000 percent over the past decade, with the highest number of incidents reported in Colleton County. Although Colleton County is home to just 38,000 people, law enforcement investigators have identified about 20 active gangs with an estimated total of 400 members. According to Sheriff George Malone, â€Å"The violence in Colleton County is out of control. â€Å"25 One incident occurred in November 2009 in the small town of Walterboro. A group of people were playing cards in the front yard of their home when a car pulled up and suddenly opened fire on the group. A 20-month-old toddler and 2 adults were killed; 6 others were injured. Gangs in the Military According to the Justice Department, gang activity is on the upswing in the military. Members of every major street gang and some outlaw motorcycle gangs have been identified on both domestic and international military bases. One incident involved three soldiers stationed in Alaska who were charged with murder after killing a civilian as they shot at members of a rival gang. Another involved a soldier who was arrested in October 2007 for the gang-related shooting of five people in Oklahoma.A 2009 Yale Law Journal article describes one case in which a marine sergeant who was a gang member â€Å"shot his commanding officer and executive officer—both lieutenant colonels—and threatened to continue killing officers until his fellow gang members were released from confinement. â€Å"26 While on active duty, gang members may abuse their security privileges and access to weapons and other military equipment to further gang activities. For instance, military gang members may take advantage of their positions to engage in criminal acts such as trafficking illicit drugs or weapons.According to the same article, a gang member in the army who was stationed in Iraq smuggled home four AK ­47 assault rifles that were later used to commit multiple bank robberies. After gang members have been discharged from the military, they remain a serious threat to society. They can use their combat skills against rival gangs and also teach those skills to others. The Justice Department says that this poses a â€Å"potentially significant threat,† as it explains: â€Å"Gang members with military training pose a unique threat to law enforcement personnel because of the distinctive military skills that they possess . . especially if gang members trained in weapons, tactics, and planning pass this instruction on to other gang members. â€Å"27 The Justice Department adds th at such military training could ultimately result in more organized, sophisticated, and dangerous gangs as well as an increase of deadly assaults on law enforcement officers. Incarcerated Gangs Incarcerated gang members are every bit as threatening as those who are on the streets because gang members who are behind bars often control crimes that are committed outside of prison.One example is the Mexican Mafia (also known as the Eme), a violent prison gang with as many as 75,000 members. The incarcerated leaders rule over associates who are given the authority to order crimes in neighborhoods or cities. Tony Rafael, the author of the book The Mexican Mafia, explains: â€Å"Street gangsters very often are puppets of the big homies locked up in prison. The proof is overwhelming and plays itself out on an almost daily basis in almost every neighborhood in Southern California. â€Å"28Members of the Mexican Mafia and their associates have been connected with kidnapping, murder, drug tr afficking, and extortion, among other crimes. According to Rafael, the gang has grown into a large, powerful, and violent organization. He writes: â€Å"It has far-reaching intelligence and communications systems, as well as a standing army of thousands of street soldiers. â€Å"29 Rafael adds that the Mexican Mafia continues to expand its power over street crime: â€Å"Most neighborhoods in Southern California that have a strong Hispanic street gang presence feel the power of the Mexican Mafia.It took local and state law enforcement over twenty years from the founding of the Mexican Mafia to recognize its influence on the streets. It took another two decades for federal law enforcement to address the Eme as a significant criminal organization. â€Å"30 Aside from controlling crime on the streets, these gangs are also involved in violent acts inside prisons. This is a serious problem in Ohio, where attacks in state prisons have doubled from nearly 500 in 2005 to more than 1,000 during 2008.Corrections officials say that part of the increase in violence is due to an influx of gangs such as the Heartless Felons, who are known for attacking prisoners in bands of six or more. Some of the worst violence has broken out at Mansfield Reformatory, a prison built for 1,536 inmates that now houses 2,475–161 percent over capacity. â€Å"These are dangerous times,† says Shirley Pope, the director of the state's Correctional Institutional Inspection Committee. â€Å"Mansfield is overcrowded. It is understaffed and on top of that, it has this peculiar group of younger inmates who have been described as incredibly vicious.An Ongoing Problem Whether they are terrorizing people in neighborhoods, committing crimes while in the military, or reigning over street crime from inside prisons, gangs are a significant problem all over the United States. Law enforcement officials report that gangs now have a presence in every U. S. state and the District of Columbia, a nd gang membership appears to be growing. According to reports from local, state, and federal authorities, there is no sign that this situation will change anytime in the near future.