Environment - How Can You Help Protect It - 2211 Words

Environment - how can you help protect it? Our planet is in trouble! Almost every day we seem to hear of yet another problem affecting the environment - and what a list of problems! - pollution, acid rain, climate change, the destruction of rainforests and other wild habitats, the decline and extinction of thousands of species of animals and plants....and so on. Nowadays, most of us know that these threats exist and that humans have caused them. Many of us are very worried about the future of our planet and unless we can find a way of solving the problems we have made then the environment will suffer even more. It all sounds so depressing - but we certainly mustnt despair! Every one of us, whatever age we are can do something to help†¦show more content†¦One and a half acres are cleared every second, an area about the size of a football pitch. They are cut down to make way for civilised man to provide timber, grow crops and graze cattle. Sometimes theyre burnt down to make space to grow soya, an animal feed and to grow palm oil, a bio-fuel used as an alternative to petrol and diesel, as well as being used as an ingredient in many foods. Ideas to Help * Never buy products made up of tropical hardwoods e.g. mahogany and teak. It is better to buy only pine, oak, ash or beech because they can be replaced. * Garden and flower shops sometimes sell rainforest orchids that have been imported, although endangered ones have been protected since 1973. If you buy an orchid, check that it has been grown in Britain. * Some parrots and macaws are unfortunately still imported. If you want a parrot as a pet, make sure it has been hatched in Britain. * Eating a beefburger may be helping to destroy the rainforest! Most burgers in Britain are made from European cattle. However, the cattle are often fed on soya beans and a lot of that comes from Brazil where large areas of forest have been destroyed to make soya fields. Before buying a burger, ask where the cattle came from and what they were fed on. Try a veggie burger for a change! Pollution The air, water and soil of habitats all over the world have been, and are still being polluted in manyShow MoreRelatedFashion And The Environment Essay1305 Words   |  6 Pagesgives us an image of the environment and that buying this piece of clothing will help the environment. It is the process by which a company gives you, the consumer, the impression that a product or service has had its environmental impact taken into consideration. This attitude towards the environment is always good for business because the consumers will have more confidence in the product. In our society people don’t buy products because its healthy or protects the environment but rather looks forRead MoreDeforestation Of The Deciduous Forest1426 Words   |  6 PagesDeforestation in the Deciduous Forest has become a very large problem over the past few years. 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According â€Å"How Do Zoos Help Endangered Animals† depicted that dozens of zoos participate in the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s (AZA’s) Species Survival Plan (SSP) Program, their aims are â€Å"manage the breeding of specific endangered species in order to help maintain healthy and self-sustaining populations that are both genetically diverse and demographically stable†(Washington,K.2009)Read MoreADA Case Study701 Words   |  3 Pagesin regards to the work environment because California is able to develop and operate their own job safety and health programs. Learning that California is OSHA-approved signifies that employers and workers are covered at all times in the work environment. Another important aspect that I’ve learned is that OSHA offers additional assistance, services and program to ensure compliance with the responsibilities under OSHA law. 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Design for A Suburban Structure- Free-Samples- Assignmenthelp.com

Question: Critically analyses the Conceptual Design phase of a Systems Engineering Project. Projects might include designing a light rail Network for a City. Answer: Introduction There is an increasingly high demand for green buildings particularly for the commercial and residential constructions and this kind of need calls for a more thoughtful universal consciousness geared towards the environmental sustainability. The green structures despite having a shorter lifetime as compared to the traditional buildings, they significantly offer a greater reduction in the utility costs and bills. Hence, the economic condition will certainly favour this kind of need. In 1998, the United States green building council designed a rating system known as LEED which is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design that basically provides regulations for attaining a sustainable green structure(Norimoto Kashino, 2008, p. 747). Among other features comprising the regulations are construction materials selection, energy sources and site selection. Thus, the aim of this project is to come up with a design that takes into account various environmentally conscious methods as defined by the LEED standard. The building is an assumed one-story home having seven rooms, two full bathrooms, and a two-car garage and employs new technology and practices to meet the minimum certification by LEED standards for green design(Buch, 2006, p. 868). A fire protection system will also be developed and implemented within the design. In 2007, there were 399,000 house structure fires in the United States. The fires caused 2,865 deaths and $7.4 billion in property damage. Due to these high statistics of fire losses, the International Code Council members unanimously passed a motion of implementing residential fire sprinkler requirements for all new homes. Thus, this project will not only entail the design of a safer home by providing sprinklers but also prove its sustainability in any type of building(Thomas, 2006, p. 985). Background The need for constructing environmentally conscious building has resulted in the change of various design and construction aspects to favour the compliance of sustainability. For instance, a green design incorporates the environmental impacts generated by construction materials, the lifetime of the products, and the waste that is generated during the whole process of construction. The basis for the construction of the green buildings is the layout, framing and the cost(Santamouris, 2013, p. 635). Objectives The main goal of this project is to come up with an environmentally conscious building that is more sustainable and cost effective than the conventional traditional one. Additionally, there is need to make the earth more sustainable by avoiding the disruptions of the natural resources within it(Graham, 2009, p. 342). Moreover, an aim of this project is to reduce the overall expense of energy usage and creation of a positive impact on the environment. Scope The scope of this project is to design an environmentally conscious building that is sustainable as compared to the traditional buildings. It also includes a fire protection gadget that lowers the risks of accidents arising from fire faults(Goncalves, 2010, p. 322). Problem Definition and Need Identification With the rise in the universal environmental and economic standards, there is a need for coming up with structures which are environmentally conscious. Sooner, the earth will be unsustainable such that over the years, certain resources that normally occur naturally and required by the human for survival shall get depleted hence there is need to make the earth more sustainable by avoiding the disruptions of the natural resources within it. Disruption of natural resources results in the overall impacts on both the environment and the wildlife. Below are some of the factors which will be taken care of when environmentally conscious buildings are put into place(Moubray, 2009, p. 535). Environmental Benefits: Reduction in wastage of water Conservation natural resources i.e. water, air Improved quality of natural resources i.e. air, water Safeguarding of plant and animal life Economic Benefits: Minimized operating costs Improved human output and health Creation of market for green products and services Social Benefits: Improved quality of human life Reduced stress on indigenous infrastructure Improved human health and productivity Conceptual system design This is a pre-life cycle activity which is potentially projected to address a suitable solution to a specific problem identified. It involves the design of a system which offers a prior basis and also introducing the primary planning and assessment of various high-tech methodologies with the aim of proper implementation the system. A system is designed with various sub-systems, components and attributes that are technically integrated to provide a sustainable and an environmentally conscious state(Alexander Kossiakoff, 2012, p. 532). System Operational Requirements The materials required for the construction of a green building can be manmade or obtained naturally. They include tiles, pipe, glass windows, wood studs, polyvinyl chloride and sheets of plywood(Wolter J. Fabrycky, 2008, p. 552). Timber Timber is renewable and available naturally and most preferred due to its strength and reduced cost. There are various wood types such as girders, plywood, joists and studs .wood can be made into structural insulated panels SIPs which are best suited for the green building since they are very versatile thus providing room for expansion and the presence of the insulating material in between the wooden boards which provide greater thermal protection. In the end, they help to reduce the rate of energy consumption(Benjamin S. Blanchard, 2013, p. 524). Enclosure Protection of various elements is aided by roofings, windows, framings, insulation and the doors. The windows are made of double paned glass to allow natural light and air to pass through thereby promoting environmental conscious. This is dictated by the insulating glass material, solar orientation, frame and the glass spacers. The double paned windows mean that there are two panes of glasses separated by air which acts as a buffer by keeping the house cooler during summer and warmer in winter seasons. The air used is inert which provides a lower thermal conductivity. Concrete Concrete is a mixture of water, cement and aggregate and is used during the setting up of foundations, paved surfaces and the columns. However, for the green building, a coal fly ash is used instead of the cement since the later requires a high amount of energy to produce. Additionally, the coal fly ash provides an environmental advantage by preventing landslides hence environmental conscious(Fred K. Geitner, 2008, p. 522). MEP systems Electrical systems Most home appliances generally rely on electricity for their operation. Conventionally, the main way of generating electricity is by burning coal which lowers the level of fossil fuel and also emits carbon into the atmosphere thereby promoting . The green building will utilize carbon free means of electricity generation and specifically the solar energy which involves the tapping of the solar radiation by means of solar panels and converting them into electrical energy. The energy is taped in a direct current form and then converted into an ac form by the aid of inverters which makes them possible to be used by the appliances. Since solar energy may sometimes fluctuate, there is a provision for storage of the direct current electricity by the help of batteries(Frank A. Tillman, 2012, p. 323). Fire protection system The risk of fire accidents is common in every part of the states and according to NFPA, in 2007, residential fires took place after every 79 seconds. Thus a need to suppress these accidents before spreading further is of great significance. Thus a residential fire sprinkler systems will be connected to the green building. This system has a deflector which has the potential of spraying water to large distances. These fire sprinkler systems are ideal for green structures since they detect the possibility of fire outbreaks earlier thereby preventing the emission of carbon into the atmosphere and thus promoting environmental conscious. Below is the diagram for the sprinkler Plumbing systems The plumbing systems are geared towards conserving both water and money. A grey water system that involves a connection from the sinks, showers, washing machines and dishwashers is utilized in the flushing system or irrigation. According to American Water Works Association, toilets consume 44% of the residential water annually, hence installing the grey water will help conserve the amount of water usage. Nonetheless, the application of a polypropylene pipe which does not emit toxins into the water will greatly promote environmental conscious(Oliver, 2011, p. 161). There is also the installation of the solar water heater which utilizes the solar radiation to heat up water and not relying on the electrical heating. It is comparatively cheaper and requires little maintenance. Below is its configuration The project is intended to operate in any kind of environment both commercially and residentially by providing a safe and effective work atmosphere acquiescent with all significant and relevant safety standards and regulations and also focuses on conservation of the ecosystem. System Maintenance and Support Any product or system requires maintenance so as to prolong its lifetime and ensure sustainability. The various maintenance practices that may be included for the green building includes regular painting and replacement of worn out items such as washers. Technical Performance Measures These refer to the quantitative processes which define the various measures of a system. They may include reliability and maintainability technical measures which also determines the correct attributes of a system. The above technical measures influence the conceptual design of a project. (Buch, 2006, p. 854). Preliminary System Design The preliminary design has a direct influence on the final developed project. It is a prototype which undergoes various tests to ensure that it saves time and also correct various faults that may arise with the main design project. Various computational tools and softwares are applied to ensure there is reduced risks of failures with the final system(Fred K. Geitner, 2008, p. 775). Documentation The documentation of this project is dependent on the software which assures appropriate quality control checks and is created in Adobe Acrobat Professional and availed electronically. Various tools and software including Microsoft Word, Project, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Achi-CAD. Achi-CAD PID and Adobe Acrobat Professional are used to develop the reports and the presentations. These softwares provide a 3-dimensional outlook of the design(Frank A. Tillman, 2012, p. 976). Analytical Models and Modeling The evaluation of the design process is key to every project. This evaluation process is aided by certain models and methodologies. For instance, the evaluation of the green building is made possible through the use of mathematical and analytical methods and tools which are compilable with a macro-CAD OBJECTIVE. These mathematical models provide major advantages. Several considerations are made based on the system application. For instance operational considerations, support and logistical considerations, and finally recycling and disposal considerations. Further, they compare and contrast various possibilities which help to obtain the relationship between dissimilar structures(Alexander Kossiakoff, 2012, p. 853). Design Review and Feedback A design review and feedback is necessary for any corrections that may arise due to inaccuracies or alterations .the review process will greatly give a reflection on the performance of the design. At this particular stage, the commencing of the project is determined and initiated. Recommendation and Conclusion The designing of a system and its practical implementation requires different aspects and phases which it has to pass through for it to be successful. An organized planning and thorough analysis of various components and their characteristics at the initial stages will thus help to alleviate any impulsive modification in the future. Similarly, the efficiency and performance are only optimized when a dedicated teamwork that entails a majority of personnel, technicians, stakeholders and effective communication is ensured. In conclusion, the project is highly designed and its execution is practical and sophisticated. The need to protect the environment and its constituents in a cheaper and sustainable way is of great significance and should be of priority otherwise the earth will soon be unsustainable(Graham, 2009, p. 554) References Alexander Kossiakoff, W. N. S. S. J. S. S. M. B., 2012. Systems Engineering Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. New York John Wiley Sons, Benjamin S. Blanchard, W. J. F., 2013. Systems Engineering and Analysis. 2nd ed. Westminister: Pearson Education, Limited. Buch, M. N., 2006. Environmental Consciousness and Urban Planning. 2nd ed. Carlisle: Orient Blackswan. Columbia., B., 2011. Guide to Environmentally Friendly Building and Renovating in the Southern Gulf Islands. 4th ed. Columbia: Islands Trust, Frank A. Tillman, D. T. C., 2012. A Professional's Guide to Decision Science and Problem Solving:. 4th ed. Chicago: FT Press. Fred K. Geitner, H. P. B., 2008. Maximizing machinery uptime. 3rd ed. Carlisle: Elsevier Gulf Professional Pub. Goncalves, J. C. S., 2010. The Environmental Performance of Tall Buildings. 4th ed. Carlisle: Routledge, Graham, P., 2009. Building Ecology: First Principles For A Sustainable Built Environment. 3rd ed. Chicago: John Wiley Sons. Maldonado, E., 2014. Environmentally Friendly Cities. 5th ed. London: Routledge. Moubray, J., 2009. Reliability-centered Maintenance. 3rd ed. New York Industrial Press Inc. Norimoto Kashino, Y. O., 2008. International RILEM Symposium on Environment-Conscious Materials and Systems for Sustainable Development. 3rd ed. Melbourne: RILEM Publications. Oliver, D. W., 2011. Engineering Complex Systems with Models and Objects. 1st ed. New York McGraw-Hill, Santamouris, M., 2013. Environmental Design of Urban Buildings: An Integrated Approach. 2nd ed. Chicago: Earthscan. Thomas, R., 2006. Environmental Design: An Introduction for Architects and Engineers. 1st ed. Leicester: Taylor Francis. Wolter J. Fabrycky, B. S. B., 2008. Life-cycle cost and economic analysis. 2nd ed. Chicago: Prentice Hall. Zeiher, L. C., 2008. The ecology of architecture: a complete guide to creating the environmentally conscious building. 2nd ed. Chicago: Whitney Library of Design.

Agents in Tourism Industry Research Paper

Agents in Tourism Industry Research Paper Agents in Tourism Industry Research Paper Research Paper on Agents in Tourism Industry: Tourism presents one of the fastest growing industries in the world because information and communication technology has enabled people to identify tourism destinations worthy a visit. Although the trend appears similar to both developing and developed nations, the former have witnessed unprecedented rise in the number of tourists from around the world coming to enjoy scenic land features and ecosystems. In effect, governments have responded correspondingly by enhancing the role they play in tourism development. In emerging nations (such as Thailand and South Africa) and developing countries (such as Kenya), tourism contributes a significant part to the national economies. Common in other countries, governments have begun to play the role of planners, managers, facilitators, stimulators, and regulators of tourism activities in an effort to promote development in their tourism sectors (Sharpley Telfer 2002). In addition, some players have come up to complement the efforts of the gove rnments and others, to protect the environment and local communities against the capitalist desires of the government. Private enterprises provide support in form of investment and advice to state institutions involved in tourism. Local communities identify and report to government about potential tourist sites and regions as well as protecting the natural and cultural resources against destruction. Other major agents in tourism industry in the countries include multinational agencies, non-governmental organizations, and media, among others. The governments have formed various partnerships with the other agents from the private sector to work cooperatively in promoting sustainable growth of respective tourism sectors (Huybers 2007). Although the partnerships have worked well in some cases, they have encountered various hurdles in other cases that have limited their success. The current research explores the various agents involved in tourism industry in developing and emerging nations. It examines the role of government institutions and roles of other players, including media, international organizations, local communities, and others. The research also explores the nature of partnership between private and public organizations in the countries. Government’ s Role The legislative, executive, and judiciary arms of government have great influence on tourism development in many countries, including both developed and developing countries. In third world countries, the level of influence depends on the perceived economic importance that tourism holds in the overall economy and the extent of the relationships between different government institutions as well as political, social, and cultural characteristics of the nations. Although government institutions vary from one country to another depending on the type of government (for example, democratic or communist), the major institutions that have significant influence on the tourism industry include central and local (or provincial) governments, law enforcement agencies, administrative units, courts, and other units of governance. According to Sharpley and Telfer (2002), the major roles played by governments of emerging and developing nations include planning, management, policymaking and regulation , investment, protection of interests of different stakeholders, social tourism, and promotion. Planning Government plans for all major development activities and operations in the tourism industry. Majority of tourist attractions include natural endowments, such as natural ecosystems, attractive natural sceneries, and other natural features in different countries (Huybers 2007). Since tourism value of such endowments form a significant part of national economies in developing countries, government has a major obligation to plan on how tourism operations and other related activities should be carried out to protect and preserve the endowments. The plans may involve a wide range of operations, including maps of land usage in areas neighboring the endowments, marketing plans, layouts of infrastructure (roads, accommodation facilities, and other support services), and plans of the recommended modes of transport in different tourist attraction sites. The planning may be short-term or long-term, demonstrating how government expects development of tourism sector to be in future. For instance, Thailand government has been involved in various planning activities owing to the significant role played by tourism in the national economy. In 2008, the government released a marketing plan explaining how it intends to promote the various tourist destinations in the country (Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) n.d.). In the same year, Kenyan government also released its tourism strategic plan for the period from 2008 to 2012, showing how the government expects to promote its tourist attractions, fund development of its tourism sector, and monitor tourist operations (Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Kenya n.d.). Management Tourism development involves collaborative efforts of many stakeholders, including government, international players, local societies, private sector groups, and many others. Thus, it is essential for the government to manage or coordinate these stakeholders in an effort to ensure smooth operations in the sector. Government manages the activities of the various stakeholders to minimize replication of efforts among themselves and to align their practices with the objectives and goals laid down in planning (Sharpley Telfer 2002). Without government coordination, it is not be possible for the various public institutions and other stakeholders to know areas conducive to tourism development, government plans in place to promote tourism development in various regions, and the efforts being made by other stakeholders in achieving development objectives. As a result, stakeholders would reproduce efforts of other players in the sector, a situation likely to lead to increased development acti vities in some areas of the sector at the expense of others. Therefore, government’s role as a manager of the tourism industry serves to harmonize the efforts of all players with objectives of tourism plans for even development in all tourism areas within the country. In many developing countries, governments establish specialized public institutions to coordinate activities of domestic and international tourism operators. For instance, Department of Tourism in Kenya is the government unit responsible for managing all activities related to tourism development in the country. In Thailand, TAT coordinates activities of domestic tourism agents and international partners to ensure balanced development in all sectors of the tourism industry according to government plans. The Department of Tourism, South Africa has a legal mandate to manage development activities at provincial, national, and international levels to ensure that they are in line with government goals regarding touris m industry in the country (Lubbe 2003). Regulation and Legislation Government develops and implements legislations intended to regulate development in the tourism industry. It formulates various legislations to control tourism operations in an effort to promote development in the sector, type and nature of stakeholders to participate in the industry, to establish and conserve natural endowments perceived as tourist attractions. In addition, it also implements laws to regulate contributions of other sectors of the economy to tourism. For instance, legislative efforts to regulate entry of foreigners into the country, taxes paid by citizens and foreigners, protection of the environment, and labor inevitably affect development activities in tourism industry. Tourism legislative framework in Kenya demonstrates the nature of the regulative role of government in the industry. The country has a comprehensive Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (WCMA) that controls tourist activities in specific sites (lakes, ocean, forests, and land features) as well a s other related ecological sources that influence survival of the tourist sites. It has also enacted other laws to control operations that support tourism, including the Hotels and Restaurants Act (HRA) and the Tourist Industry Licensing Act (TILA) (MOT, Kenya n.d.). Investment In any developing, emerging, or developed nation, government invests heavily in tourism industry to complement investment efforts by the private individuals and organizations. It not only invests in those areas perceived as capital-intensive projects, but also in regions considered unworthy for investment by private entrepreneurs. In many developing nations, governments have invested heavily in establishing museums, national parks, game reserves, beaches, roads, airports, airline, other transportation means, hospitals, and other tourism related infrastructure. They have also undertaken investment in other low-risk projects, such as accommodation and travel services. For instance, Thailand government has established more than 100 national parks, comprising of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that serve as tourist attractions (TAT n.d.). It has also build an effective road network, making the parks easily accessible to both domestic and international tourists. Facilitation Government role as a facilitator of tourism development has a great influence on growth of the tourism industry in emerging and developing nations. It facilitates development in a wide range of ways. Through law enforcement agencies, it ensures security and safety of tourists and tourism operators and their investments (Sharpley Telfer 2002). For instance, Kenyan government created a dedicated tourist police unit to ensure security and safety of tourist while visiting the various parks and attractions in the country. It can also stimulate development through provision of subsidies, grants, and tax breaks to encourage private individuals and firms to invest in the sector as well as to attract tourists. A good example is Thailand where it refunds value-added tax (VAT) tariffs to tourists when they purchase goods and other items at designed retail centers. Other Influences Government plays other roles, such as promotion of their countries as tourist destinations, development of social tourism, and safeguarding of interests of the public (Sharpley Telfer 2002). It establishes various products to market the various tourist attractions available in the nation in an effort to attract tourists and investors into the sector. In other countries, such as Kenya and Thailand, government promotes social tourism, encouraging tourists to visit the countries to witness and learn about various cultures espoused by different communities. Government also participates in tourism development by protecting the interests of the public against exploitation by private investors. It gives some part of revenues collected in tourist attractions back to the neighboring communities and requires private investors to establish corporate social responsibility programs to improve living standards of people living in regions adjacent to their facilities. Role of Others Agents Besides government, other parties in Third World countries play significant roles in tourism industry. Among others, they include local communities, private enterprises, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational agencies. Local Communities Like government, local communities have greatest influence on development of tourism industry. Environmental conservation remains the major role of local societies, as they coexist with various tourist attractions available in their country. They have a responsibility to coexist with biodiversity within ecosystems and report any environmental malpractice by some of their members, public officers, and private investors to the relevant authorities. In majority of developing countries, the communities have become essential components of cultural tourism. They form cultural groups to attract local and foreign tourists to come and see their cultural heritage as well as to entertain the tourists when they visit neighboring sites. For example, Kenya is well known internationally for its wide variety of cultural tourist activities organized by various local communities. Tourists to Masai Mara National Reserve have the opportunity to enjoy not only the vast diversity of animals, but also the cultural heritage (dances, houses, and dressing) of Masai community, one of few Kenyan communities that have preserved its culture amidst widespread influence of Western cultures on way of life of many Kenyans (MOT, Kenya n.d.). According to Lubbe (2003), local people may invest into the tourism industry as private investors or partner with government, NGOs, and international agencies to establish projects that foster tourism development. In various countries, communities have partnered with the government and NGOs to advocate for sustainable tourism development. They have championed for doing tourism operations and activities in a way that protects and conserves the environment, which influences greatly survival of the various ecosystems serving as tourist destinations. Moreover, the communities can also play a role of domestic tourists by visiting national parks, game reserves, and other attractions within their countries. Private Enterprises In developing or emerging nations, Sharpley and Telfer (2002) argue that private investors complement entrepreneurial role of government in the tourism sector. The major contributions of the private enterprises include investments in the travel and hotel and accommodation industries. In the travel industry, they establish travel agencies to offer various services to tourists. They serve as travel agents who approach potential tourists and organize all travel requirements, including visas for the tourists. They also organize means of transport for the tourists during visits to the various tourist destinations within their nations. In majority of developing countries, private investors remain the major travel agents of tourists. In hotel and accommodation industry, they invest heavily in hotels and restaurants in regions surrounding tourism sites. Through the investments, they offer employment opportunities to many local people, thereby improving living standards of local communities. In addition, they support government in development of infrastructure in regions where they operate. For instance, they build roads and invest in conservation projects in tourism sites where their facilities are located as a way to attract tourists to their businesses. Media Media’s role in the sector involves marketing and bringing awareness among all stakeholders about the tourism in emerging or Third World nations (Lubbe 2003). Domestic and international media run different programs intended to promote various tourism sites and adventures offered by such sites in a bid to encourage people to visit those sites. Emergence of internet and computer technology has provided a means to the government to promote tourist destinations to people around the world. In the case of Kenya, Thailand, and South Africa, every government has integrated information technology to support tourism promotional activities. Anybody in the world can access these websites to learn most the details about tourism in the nations, including various destinations, interactive maps showing how to get to the destinations, various attractive features to expect in the sites, nearby hotels, relevant travel agents, and rates of the services. Thus, potential tourists can choose on thei r own potential destinations to visit and plan effectively. As an education tool, it provides a platform through which different stakeholders can understand, learn, and enjoy opportunities offered by various regions within a country. It brings awareness among public about various tourist destinations within their country and importance of conserving the sites. It also makes private enterprises aware of opportunities and benefits in various regions in the nations, enabling them to invest in underdeveloped areas of tourism industry. NGOs NGOs play an essential complementary role of facilitating and advocating for sustainable and equitable tourism development in Third World and emerging nations. Like any other sector of economy, tourism requires some level of activism to compel governments and private enterprises to run their operations in ways that respect the rights of local communities and in a manner that conserves the environment. If left alone, private investors can collude with governments to exploit opportunities provided by the tourism industry to increase their profits at the expense of the environment and local people. As a result, NGOs intervene in developing countries to champion for the rights of the poor and natural ecosystems. They include non-profit, voluntary organizations, bringing together individuals at local, national, and international levels to fight for environmental justice (Sharpley Telfer 2002). Among others, some examples include Oxfam Community Aid Abroad (OCAA), EcoVitality, Internation al Ecotourism Society and Conservation International, and African Propoor Tourism Development Centre (APTDC). These organizations play different roles to realize their objectives in developing countries. Some play advocacy role of compelling governments and private investors to engage in sustainable tourism development while improving the lives of the poor in the community. For example, APTDC falls within this category as it works closely with the Kenyan tourism stakeholders. It comes in during government planning of tourism activities where it brings together relevant public institutions, local communities, and private enterprises to discuss and share information on the best ways to carry out tourism operations to preserve the environment and benefit poor people within the community. APTDC also monitors effects of tourism on host communities and environment and then attempts to advise government, international agencies, and other major stakeholders to reevaluate their development activities and operations. Others play a facilitative role, offering ecotourism services to tourists and helping local communities to establish ecotourism investments. For instance, EcoVitality provides tou rists to developing countries in Africa with environment-friendly travel services. The NGO uses the earnings obtained from the services to finance conservation efforts in Namibia aimed at protecting lions in national parks. Another NGO, OCAA, provides non-profit tour services (travel and accommodation) aimed at reducing the effects of tourists on the environment and local communities and benefiting host communities in emerging and developing nations. International Agencies Various multinational organizations comprised of governments and tourism organizations from different countries influence growth of tourism industries in developing nations. Their major objective entails scrutinizing tourism developments in those nations to ensure that they conform to standards acceptable globally. According to Lubbe (2003), major global tourism agencies include World Trade Organization (WTO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Hotel Restaurant Association (IHRA), and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). WTO represents the only international agency responsible for coordinating all facets of tourism development in the globe. It coordinates national and international stakeholders in planning, development, and implementation of tourism projects in almost every country across the globe. It also facilitates conferences among different local and global tourism agents to address and share information about the issues facing tourism and possible alternative approaches to address them. It plays an educative role of doing research on different problems facing developing nations and offering information to them on how to solve the issues. Other roles include educating and training future professionals as well as promoting ecotourism initiatives in both developed and developing countries (Huybers 2007). WTTC comprises of private enterprises from the various sectors of national tourism industry, including accommodation, catering, travel, transportation, and other tourism-related enterprises. Its major role entails promoting and campaigning for entrepreneurship in the international tourism sector. It promotes tourism development as a means to reduce unemployment levels in developing nations. It promotes for liberalization of world market in all sectors that influence or relate to tourism industry (Lubbe 2003). In addition, it negotiates with governments (on behalf of its members) to eliminate protectionist policies that would cause uneven competition among the different players in the industry. It encourages its members to embrace sustainable development and interact with local communities effectively to alleviate their standards of living. IHRA and IATA can be regarded as subsets of WTTC, with IHRA playing specialized roles in tourism and hospitality industry, and IATA playing simila r roles to those of WTTC in the air travel industry. To some extent, World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations Environmental Agency (UNEP), World Health Organizations (WHO) also play significant role in tourism sectors of developing countries. For instance, IMF provides funds to governments for financing infrastructure, while WHO monitors and informs tourists and local communities about disease outbreaks in different regions of the globe. Public-Private Relationship The nature of tourism industry calls for a positive relationship between government institutions and non-governmental agents for sustained development. It requires substantial resources (capital, infrastructure, human resources, and others) and comprises many activities, making it impossible for either government or private enterprises to handle on its own. Thus, it becomes essential for the government to seek collaboration with other agents to foster tourism growth. Advantages One of the advantages presented by the partnership includes enhanced effectiveness of tourism policies in the country. Development of tourism policies (for example, economic, planning, or environmental management) involves a complex process that requires a comprehensive understanding of all factors surrounding issue under consideration (Huybers 2007). Although public policy-making in many developing nations remains the sole responsibility of government, participation by private entities is needed to make the policy more responsive to issue at hand. Private agents, particularly local communities and enterprises directly affected by the problem, stand in a better position to understand the issue effectively. Thus, government can invite them to discuss and exchange information about the problem and methods to solve it effectively. This minimizes resistance from the private agents that occurs when governments develop and implement tourism policies without consultation. The partnership mi nimizes financial burdens that the government or private agents would have shouldered if they implemented projects independently. It not only enables the partners to share expertise, information, financial resources, and others, but it also eliminates duplication of efforts. They meet frequently to discuss and agree on how to collaborate in form of resources to develop the various sectors of tourism industry. For instance, Lubee (2003) lauds the effective partnership between South African government and private enterprises for enhanced development in the nation’s tourism industry. The government works well with different private entities, including the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), and the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa (RETOSA), among others. Each of these organizations represents specific private investors, implying that collaborative efforts consider contributions of from every market player. In effect, they are in a position to come up with tourism development policies that take into account the different interests of each group. Disadvantages Public-private partnership involves extensive consultation among agents from different regions and sectors of the tourism industry, which tends to slow down decision-making process. As Huybers (2007) argues, agents or representatives come with interests of their members, implying that they need to represent the issues for the other partners to discuss and express their opinions. In many instances, achieving consensus in such situations (even for smaller issues) becomes a challenge. In many developing nations, private organizations do not trust state institutions due to issues of misuse of power by public officers, corruption, and excessive bureaucracy. This mistrust may permeate into the partnership, implying that the private agents may not be willing to agree with the government on matters concerning tourism project funding. This greatly limits the ability of the partnership to make positive impacts in the tourism industry. For instance, Kenya does not have strong public-private par tnership due to mistrust between the two agents. The country ranks among the most corrupt nations in the world, making it hard for private institutions to trust the willingness and commitment to spend funds rightfully for the expected development activities. In some cases, some private enterprises have shied away from engaging in any form of partnership, fearing that corrupt government officials may affect public image of the businesses. One of the most effective ways for the Kenyan government to get out of this problem is to fight corruption at every level of the state tourism institutions to improve its image among the other stakeholders. It needs to develop and implement effective internal controls to enhance corporate governance structures in the sector. This may encourage private agents to begin trusting the government, which may see the country exploit sustainably its wide-ranging sites of tourist attractions. Conclusion In third world countries, the level of government influence depends on the perceived economic importance that tourism holds in the overall economy and the extent of the relationships between different government institutions as well as political, social, and cultural characteristics of the nations. Government plans for all major development activities and operations in the tourism industry. For example, Kenyan government released its tourism strategic plan for the period from 2008 to 2012, showing how the government expects to promote its tourist attractions, fund development of its tourism sector, and monitor tourist operations. Government also manages or coordinates different stakeholders involved in the industry to ensure smooth operations in the sector. It formulates various legislations to control tourism operations in an effort to promote development in the sector, type and nature of stakeholders to participate in the industry, to establish and conserve natural endowments perce ived as tourist attractions. Moreover, government invests heavily in tourism industry to complement investment efforts by the private individuals and organizations. Government role as a facilitator of tourism development ensures security and safety of tourists and tourism operators and their investments. Besides government, other parties in Third World countries play significant roles in tourism industry. Environmental conservation remains the major role of local societies, as they coexist with various tourist attractions available in their country. Local people may invest into the tourism industry as private investors or partner with government, NGOs, and international agencies to establish projects that foster tourism development. The major contributions of the private enterprises include investments in the travel and hotel and accommodation industries. Media’s role in the sector involves marketing and bringing awareness among all stakeholders about the tourism in emerging or Third World nations. NGOs play an essential complementary role of facilitating and advocating for sustainable and equitable tourism development. The major duty of global agencies entails scrutinizing tourism developments in those nations to ensure that they conform to standards acceptable globally. WTO represents the only international agency responsible for coordinating all facets of tourism development in the globe. The nature of tourism industry calls for a positive relationship between government institutions and non-governmental agents for sustained development. Private agents, particularly local communities and enterprises directly affected by the problem, stand in a better position to understand the issue effectively. However, it involves extensive consultation among agents from different regions and sectors of the tourism industry, which tends to slow down decision-making process. At writing company you can order your custom research papers on various topics you need. All you need is to place an order at our website!

Zakopane essay essays

Zakopane essay essays Imagine walking up to lake Morskie oko in the boiling hot sun and stepping ina church that has stood way longer on this earth than your own two feet, that gathers invaluable information but can an adequate amount of this information be gained within the four walls of a classroom. For two weeks we studied Zakopane up close and under the microscope and observed the Society, Art and Architecture, Economy, and Geography. We were trying to answer the conundrum; can you develop a complete understanding of Society from classroom study by reading books and taking information off of the web. Even though traveling to Zakopane to learn gives you irreplaceable information, you can still learn and adequate amount in the classroom. First of all as I imagined the Gorale people were very different to your average Warszawian. Before hand we found out that the clothes that the mountain people wear are extremely unique and different to all clothes in Warsaw. They would wear very thick clothes so to cope with the weather and overall climate of the Podhale region. I also knew that the weddings of the traditional people in Zakopane were very different. They sounded very over the top but every thing involved was moderate when I heard from a Gorale. In addition I found out about the some of the customs the Gorale people adopted i.e. I f a man is not married he would wear a feather in his hat. One thing that I believed was that the weather would be a lot colder in the Tatras and in Zakopane. I thought that because the altitude of Zakopane and the Tatras was a long way above sea level. I had found some evidence to support this. One thing was that on average the temperature was five degrees Celsius over the entire year and even in summer it was only on average fifteen degrees Celsius. Finally the Zakopane residents would spend around one hundred and thirty days in the snow. When I arrived in Zakopane I was incredibly shocked to find that the weather was ...

Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Religion - Essay Example The four types of ground described by Jesus were the wayside (or roadside), stony places, thorns and good ground (13 Matt. 4-8 King James Version). Each one of these different seed-beds results in a very different experience for the seeds that land in them. The seeds that fall among the wayside are immediately devoured by birds. The seeds that fall in the stony places sprout up immediately but soon whither because their roots are not firmly established. Seeds that fell among the thorns begin to develop normally, but are then chocked out as the thorns spring up and outpace their growth. Finally, the good ground that the Lord mentions in the parable provides all the elements necessary for the full maturation of the crop. From that one seed, the fully mature plant can â€Å"†¦bring forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold and some thirtyfold.† (13 Matt. 8 King James Version) In clarifying his use of parables to the Apostles, Jesus explained that he did this so the people would understand. Understanding the teachings of the Gospel were important because Jesus likened the seeds that fell on stony ground to people that heard the Gospel and did not understand it. Their maturation was stopped even before the seed could germinate. This lack of progress was due to ignorance even after receiving the word. In a way, Jesus was expressing to the Apostles the need for clear and succinct teaching of Gospel doctrine. The second group of individuals take root but can not make it through the trials and temptations inherent in daily living. They cannot withstand the heat of these trials and so are scorched as if by the sun. Their faith withers and their maturation ceases. The third group to receive the word are described as landing among thorns. Maturation progresses as expected among the thorns but the good crops are soon outpaced by the bad. The tender growth

Banking Regulation in the United States Research Paper

Banking Regulation in the United States - Research Paper Example There are three federal banking regulators in US which include; Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Office of the Comptroller of Currency all having separate although overlying authority over commercial banks. Additionally, there exist various groups of depository institutions having similar functions to those of banks although they have unique category of regulatory institutions, laws and regulations (Shanmuganathan, Merlin and Bryan 389). Banking regulations can be classified into varying groups to reduce ambiguity and to link the regulation to the motives behind their introduction. According to Shanmuganathan, Merlin and Bryan (392), the regulations could either fall under economic regulations, information regulations and health-safety-environment (HSE) regulations. Economic regulations comprise restrictions and requirements introduced by the government to control profits, prices and conditions for entry and exit into the industry. In the banki ng industry, economic regulations include those limits on interest rates paid on deposits and those charged on credit. They also include limits on fees charge for financial services, requirements for establishment of new branch or entry into the banking industry, limitations on areas and activities where banks can engage in (Shanmuganathan, Merlin and Bryan 394). In the banking industry, information regulations require banks to offer standardized information on deposits and loan rates to customers. Moreover, information regulations require that banks to ensure safe custody of customer’s information. Health-safety-environment (HSE) regulations in the banking industry are implemented to prevent banks from becoming insolvent. Safety and soundness regulations are based on various tools such as minimum capital requirements, restrictions on banking activities and supervising the bank’s management to ensure the banks operations are run competently and honestly. All the regula tions in-turn protects the consumers’ interests (Shanmuganathan, Merlin and Bryan 395). Banking regulations in US have a long history and have undergone various changes to conform to emerging economic concerns. This paper will explore the evolution of banking regulations in US from around 1900 to the present. The emphasis of the paper will be on the way economic factors have influenced changes in these regulations. In addition, the paper will discuss how the regulations have affected the economy and banking. Major Banking Regulations in the US Previously, most banks in US were state based and issued varying notes. Consequently, the federal government had limited control of banks until the National Banking Act was passed in 1864 establishing a national banking system and allowed for chartering of national banks (Williams, Julie and Gillspie 1279). This act set the stage for the development of a common and stable national currency which was to be backed by the US Government bon ds issued within the national banks system. Although this law could be linked to the demand for a national currency, its main motive was to create a reliable market where the government bonds could be sold in new network of national banks to acquire resources to finance Civil War (Williams, Julie

Investment in Gold and its effect on the society Essay Example for Free

Investment in Gold and its effect on the society Essay Gold is the most popular form of investment of all the precious metals. Many investors in the contemporary society prefer to buy gold as protection against crisis that may emanate from changes in the political, economic, social or financial systems in the society. Political economy has great impact on the economic development of a country because of the interaction between the economy and the society . For instance, a crisis may be caused by political instability triggered by social unrest or war, decline in market investment, inflation, currency failure and burgeoning of a national debt. The popularity of gold in investment has resulted to the establishment of a gold standard. The term â€Å"gold standard† refers to a monetary system whereby the standard economic unit of an account is defined by a certain fixed weight of gold. Investment in gold can have negative and positive impact on the society. This paper will discuss the issue of investment in gold and how it affects the society. Issues that will be addressed include how and why gold serves as money in the monetary system. In addition, how tightly the gold is tied to the movement of money as well as the ancient history and legends on gold will be covered. Discussion Importance of gold in the World Monetary system The human lust for gold has been witnessed since the existence of ancient races and civilizations. Throughout history, gold has always been used as a relative standard for currency and a form of payment. Ancient civilizations used gold coins as money because of their high value and lack of paper money. However, even after the introduction of paper money, the significance of gold in the monetary system remained. In the late nineteenth century, gold standards were introduced in various European nations. However, the gold standards were affected by a financial crisis that was witnessed during the First World War. During the war, the US and Great Britain were some of the countries that suspended the strict Gold Standard but Great Britain returned to the gold bullion standard in 1925. The significance of gold in the monetary system increased after the World War II when gold was pegged to the US dollar by the Bretton Woods system. Back then, the US dollar value to the gold was pegged at the rate of $35 per troy ounce. The system was eliminated after 1971 when the US made unilateral suspension of direct convertibility of the US dollar to gold. Trading in gold has maintained its importance in replacing money. In the US, the important role of gold was evident in 1975 when trading in gold for delivery was done in New York Commodity Exchange and Chicago International Monetary Market in 1975 . In 1980, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sold about one third of its gold holdings and in 1986, the American Eagle Gold Bullion coin was introduced by the US Mint. Over the years, gold has maintained its high value and significance in the world monetary system in the contemporary society. Currently, gold continues to be traded across the globe on the basis of intra-day sport price which is derived from gold trading that occurs through the counter in gold-trading markets. The high demand and supply of gold drives the price of gold just like in other many investments. However, disposal and hoarding of gold affects its price in the market because there is more gold that exists to be supplied in the market for the right price. For centuries, gold has been the foundation of monetary systems hence as an investment is considered to be very critical in the global monetary system. This is because it does not generate income hence its intrinsic value is measured based on the Central Bank International Monetary Reserves. Many governments acknowledge the significance of gold in stabilizing the economy . For example, the end of British Gold standard in 1914 paved way for the World War I inflationary financing. The end of the monetary inflation in 1921 on the other hand resulted to stability in the United Kingdom and the United States. This stability resulted to positive effects on rising Bonds and Equity market prices and interest rates. Due to the need to maintain the role of gold in the economy, the Bretton Woods in 1944 ratified the US Gold Exchange Standard of 1935 . Central banks in various influence the gold price and countries can limit gold sales. For example, 1999, limitation of gold sales by the members of the Washington on Gold (WAG) who included Japan, Europe, US, Australia, the IMF and International Settlements was done. The countries limited gold sale to less than 400 tones per annum. Due to the high value of gold and its importance in the monetary system, ancient history and legends have confirmed how important gold has been for centuries. For example, ancient stories have pointed out that the Europeans believed that there was a place of immense wealth that was referred to as El Dorado due to the presence of gold in the place. As a result, many people made efforts to search for the place to get the gold. However, it has never been confirmed whether this place exists or not. In addition, during the Egyptian civilization period, the people used to bury great amounts of gold together with dead pharaohs in belief that they would use the gold in the afterlife. Just like the ancient civilizations, many countries are now interested in increasing their gold reserves as protection in case of a financial crisis. As a result, the countries make efforts to improve the returns of the official gold reserves. The modern world monetary system is founded on gold that has been held by the Central Banks and in the Treasury. Gold is considered to be equal to money due to its importance in the Gold Standard . The three gold standards that are used in the monetary system include the gold specific standard, the gold exchanged standard and the gold bullion standard . A Gold Standard ensures that the public can prevent governments from pursuing destabilizing monetary policies through escape Asset and Debt deflation or Fiscal profligacy. The holdings of gold at the market price by the World Central Bank constitute part of the World International Monetary Reserves(IMRs) upon which the World monetary system is based. Measurement of changes in IMR defines whether there is expansion or contraction of the World Central Bank Monetary Base. In 1944 at the time of the Bretton Woods agreement, gold accounted for about 90 per cent of the consolidated World Central Bank Monetary Reserve and because the United States owned about 90 per cent of the Central Bank gold, the dollar managed to become the International monetary system key currency. Gold has real money value because its value is not affected by changes in the economy or control by the government economic policies. Ancient civilizations recognized the importance of gold hence they had many prisoners of war work in gold mines in search for the gold. In 4000 BC, Eastern Europe began using gold to make fashion and decorative objects and by 1200 BC, Egyptians were beating gold to extend its use in the society. They even combined it with the other metals to create alloys and also use it for the lox-wax technique. In 550 Scathe Greeks mined gold in the Middle East and the Mediterranean and used it foe art and in the monetary system. In 344 BC, Alexander the Great is believed to have crossed the Hellespont carrying vast quantities of gold he had acquired from the Persian Empire. According to the Greek mythology, in 1550 BC, the King of Mycenae who led the Greek expedition to Troy had worn a gold funerary mask. The Romans also mined and used gold which they sometimes sought in the water streams . By 50 BC, the Romans were able to issue a gold coin known as Aureas. The value of gold in the society remained over the years and in 1299AD, Marco Polo wrote about gold that he had seen in his travels to the Far East. In 1903AD, the Gold Standard Act in the US was officially established and enabled the US to maintain a fixed exchange rate as compared to other nations. This ancient history of gold confirms how important gold has been to the society for many centuries as a monetary value and for other applications. Investment in gold Investment in gold is very vital in economic growth and stabilization of the economy . Research studies that have been carried out in the economic confirm that the economy and the wider society interact . Gold is considered to have great value as compared to other precious metals that are mined and used in the society. The significance of gold in relation to the world monetary system makes investment in gold an excellent long-term means of saving and protecting wealth from negative economic forces. Initially, gold coins were used as money when paper money had not been introduced in the economy. However, the introduction of paper money made the carrying of bank notes that were more divisible and lighter than the heavy gold coins more convenient. This case was witnessed in the US during the 1930s Great Depression when President Roosevelt advocated against the use of gold. Gold is also very important when there are negative or low real interest rates. This is because the demand for gold is increased when real estate equity and return on bonds are not adequate to compensate for risk and inflation. For instance, during the 1970s when economic changes resulted from stagflation that led to an economic bubble. In cases where national crisis is experienced as a result of looting, invasion, war or crisis, many investors are concerned about the seizing of the assets and the reduction in currency worth. In efforts to maintain the currency worth, the investors therefore consider gold to be a solid asset and a good form of investment. Investors have taken advantage of the relation between gold and money by investing in various ways. Many investors in gold as well as the economists agree that gold has become the world’s ultimate dollar hedge investment. Investors can invest in gold is various ways . For example, investment in gold can be done through direct ownership, Gold Exchange-Traded Funds(ETFs),gold mutual funds, junior gold stocks and gold options. In direct ownership form of investment, the gold bullion is very important hence the investors who choose to invest in gold through direct ownership enjoy permanent high value of gold. The Gold-Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) refer to the mutual fund that trade on stock like ordinary stock. In the United States, the two gold ETFs that trade hold onto the gold bullion. On the other hand, the gold mutual funds allow investors to invest where the funds hold portfolios of gold stocks of companies that mine gold while the junior gold stocks are preferred by the investors whose risk of tolerance is broader. The investors hence accept the possibility of gold-based losses. The gold options form of investment is used by the experienced and the sophisticated investors due to the element of speculation in gold prices. Investment in gold can also be done through the purchase of bullion gold bars. In many countries, the billion gold bars are usually sold over the counter in the countries’ major banks. In addition, the gold bullion dealers provide investors with an opportunity to purchase the bars which differ in sizes. As difficulties in storing, verifying and storing pure gold increase, investors now find it easy to invest in gold though a gold account. Because gold bars are easier to store, they are often sold as kilo bars. Investment in gold is also done by buying gold coins and this enables one to hold the monetary value through gold. Examples of banks that sell and buy gold counts over the counter include the Liechtenstein and Swiss banks. The American Eagle billion coin is the most popular gold coin that has been used for hundreds of years. These coins have a stated amount of pure gold made from the denominations that are provided by the treasury. The Gold exchanged traded funds are sold or bought as shares on the major stock exchanges in Sydney, New York and London. For those who investors in gold through the gold billion, a certificate of ownership is held. These certificates enable various investors to sell or buy security without the inconvenience that may be associated with actual physical gold transfer. Gold certificates were first issued to customers in England and Netherlands in the seventeen century in order to allow the investors/ customers to keep the gold bullion safe through the certificates.