John Stuart Mill s Moral Theory Of Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill wrote on his moral theory of Utilitarianism, which many have refuted by explaining that it failed to respect the dignity and worth of human beings. Mills theory of utility bases an actions morality on its ability to create the maximum amount of happiness. Happiness as described by Mill, is the maximization of pleasure over grief. Some critics have even said that Mill’s theory degraded humans to swine as it belittled morals to come from pleasures of the body that even animals had. Mill defended his theory by stating that human happiness is much more complex than that of swine. I do not believe that Mill’s defense was particularly convincing, and many facets of his theory continue to degrade the dignity, values, and worth of humans. Mill responds to this claim that his theory degrades humans in the very beginning of the chapter as he states, â€Å"Human beings have faculties more elevated than the animal appetites and, when made conscious of them, do not regard anything as happiness which does not include their gratification.† Mill explains that the Epicureans, who preceded him were utilitarian’s but lacked this essential part of their argument. Although he does explain that where they lack in explanation in their arguments, they did make great use of the higher valued pleasures such as intellect above mere sensations. Mill enhances his argument by emphasizing the superiority of mental pleasures over bodily. This is not convincing to me because it is veryShow MoreRelatedThe Contributions Of John Stuart Mill1250 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Stuart Mill was a British philosopher who was born on May 20, 1806 in London, England, to Harriet Burrow and James Mill, a noted economist, philosopher and histori an. James Mill was an educated man who was heavily involved in an early 19th century movement called philosophic radicalism, a school of thought also known as Utilitarianism, which highlighted the demand for a scientific foundation for philosophy, as well as a humanist approach to economics politics. It was this foundation fromRead MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill And Utilitarianism880 Words   |  4 PagesMoral theories are sometimes hard to define, but with John Stuart Mill and Utilitarianism it is a little bit easier. Utilitarianism is an easy one, for the reason that it is defined by the greatest happiness for everyone involved. Sometimes it does not always make everyone content, but if you look at it as a whole it makes sense. Mill says that we have to look at the bigger picture. One person’s happiness affects another’s and so on. Utilitarianism is a moral theory that John Stuart Mill, the philosopherRead MoreJohn Forbes Nash Jr.912 Words   |  4 Pa gesJohn Forbes Nash Jr. and John Stuart Mill were both very important economist. John Forbes Nash Jr. was an American mathematician, and an economist. John Mill was a British Philosopher, economist, moral and political theorist, and was the most influential English-speaking philosopher in the nineteenth century. John Forbes Nash Jr. and John Stuart Mill were both very intelligent as young children. John Stuart Mill learned to read as a toddler and began to study Latin at the age of three. John ForbesRead MoreAn Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation by Jeremey Bentham.1026 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is Utilitarianism? I believe that utilitarianism is the theory in which actions are right if they produce happiness and wrong if they don’t produce happiness. Happiness is what every human being look forward to. When making a decision, all possible outcomes must be ensured that it will lead to happiness. Utilitarianism is based on the principle of utility .Utilit y is the ability to be useful while satisfying needs. Utilitarianism is generally considered a moral theory that was found by JeremeyRead More Immanuel Kants Ethics Of Pure Duty and John Stuart Mills Utilitarian Ethics Of Justice2753 Words   |  12 PagesGrounding For The Metaphysics of Morals and John Stuart Mills Utilitarianism Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill are philosophers who addressed the issues of morality in terms of how moral traditions are formed. Immanuel Kant has presented one viewpoint in The Grounding For The Metaphysics of Morals that is founded on his belief that the worth of man is inherent in his ability to reason. John Stuart Mill holds another opinion as presented in the book, Utilitarianism that is seemingly in contentionRead MoreUtilitarianism And The Political And Economic Aspects Of Development1493 Words   |  6 PagesUtilitarianism in the political and economic aspects of development has been widely recognized and human social practice plays a huge impact. But the utilitarian always at the place of criticism, misunderstanding. People tend to equate utilitarianism simply with individualism. In fact, the means of utilitarianism not only consider a behaviour and motivation, and to emphasize life purpose should emerge to the scope of his own happiness, to care about other people s h appiness and the improvement ofRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s On Liberty And Utilitarianism Essay2257 Words   |  10 PagesThis essay examines and inspects liberty and order conflict based on the writings of philosopher John Stuart Mill, titled On Liberty and Utilitarianism. We will discuss how his philosophical views on equality as fundamental to what it means to be human. We will interpret John Stuart Mill’s theorist view on equality as fundamental to the good or bad functioning of the state? The question and debate we would also raise will be, is equality be integral the arrangements of power? Lastly, we wouldRead MoreUse Of Consequentialism, Desire Satisfaction Theory And Objective List Theory1345 Words   |  6 PagesConsequentialism is an approach to Ethics that argues that the morality of an action is reliant on the action s consequence (Mastin, 2008). This theory is based on two main principles, first, that the rightness or wrongness of an act depends solely on th e results of it and secondly, that the better act is the one that produces more good as a consequence. What is meant by consequence here is everything that a certain action brings about, including the action itself. The good end required by an actionRead MoreEssay Kant vs. Mill: Human Rights and Utilitarianism1729 Words   |  7 Pagesshaped by several factors, including philosophical theories in the past. This paper looks at the theories of two philosophers, Emmanuel Kant and John Stuart Mills, and how their teachings can be used to explain the sources of human rights. Kant’s moral philosophy is very direct in its justification of human rights, especially the ideals of moral autonomy and equality as applied to rational human beings. John Stuart Mills’ theory of utilitarianism also forms a solid basis for human rights, especiallyRead MoreThe Mill By John Stuart Mill1537 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Stuart Mill was a famous philosopher and historian. Jeremy Bentham who a dvocated for utilitarianism just like Mill influenced much of Mill’s works. Mill’s works were also greatly influenced by Jeremy Bentham’s brother, Samuel and Mill’s father, James. Mill had many early works prior to his writings on utilitarianism. Mill discusses how to determine right and wrong, but this seems to be an ongoing conflict. Mill believes that in order to prove goodness you must have ethical morals lined up in

Pros and Cons of the Exclusionary Rule Essay Example

Essays on Pros and Cons of the Exclusionary Rule Essay The paper "Pros and Cons of the Exclusionary Rule" is a perfect example of an essay on law. The exclusionary act effectively prevents all sorts of illegal evidence that may lead to imprisonment. The exclusionary act can be considered as â€Å"the only effective tool the judicial branch has to check against illegal searches conducted by police after a crime† (Writing, 2011). The motivation for illegal investigations is obviated when new evidence is denied its way to the court.On the other hand, when something is rejected, the prosecutors have to assemble a lot of evidence because of the exclusionary rule. Consequentially, trials are delayed and the frequency of plea bargains rises which does not happen without additional expenses. Addressing the Supreme Court, Justice Scalia wrote that because of the exclusionary rule, a costly toll is created which is against the enforcement of law and as a result of which, social costs are greatly increased (Writing, 2011). Violence always ex ists whether or not it is discovered in an illegal manner. Many criminals that are guilty of offense roam about the town just because sufficient evidence could not be produced at the trial. The exclusionary rule is in the US but not in the UK. Although the exclusionary rule says, â€Å"no object may be used in court as evidence if obtained illegally or without a proper search warrant† (Oracle ThinkQuest, n.d.). yet jury in the US hardly gets a cop convicted of obtaining the evidence by illegal means. Therefore, the English way does not suit the US. Nevertheless, I personally am against the exclusionary rule and appreciate the way cases are handled in the UK. It is hard to see a criminal moving around free when we are sure he/she did the offense.

Blood Relations Notes free essay sample

Actress (Nance O’Neil) was believed by Emma to have a bad reputation for Lizzie * 6 years after Jekyll and Hyde * Major Theme – Oct 25 * Identity + identification (sympathy) * â€Å"What goes around comes around† **MAJOR THEME * Circularity + repetition + reciprocity * Justice * Criticism of how the domestic is overlooks * Gender/social expectations and critique * Related to how the laundry is overlooked and not important * Ambiguity and challenging youth * Juxtaposition * Freedom + trapped – carousel and mask Appearance on reality – carousel and mask * Childhood vs. adulthood – carousel and mask * Masculine vs. feminine * Family * Identity * How domestic is overlooked * Gender expectations * Relationship between family * Lizzie and her father * Effectiveness of readers * How we judge the characters * Theme: Oct 18 * Have juxtapositioning * between theme of family and isolation * masculine vs. feminine * Family * Love-Hate (for Father and Emma) * What family can do * Influence of parents on their children * Stereotypical family * Aggressive father (who favors one child) Evil stepmother * â€Å"good† girl * Pollock’s emphasis creates friction between Emma and Lizzie that is somewhat artificial (no specific evidence that they had that tension) * Partially fictional because Emma always supported Lizzie * â€Å"bad† girl * Isolation and Desperation (direct proportional between these two) * Largely responsible for creating the sympathy for Lizzie * Desire for independence * Critique of gender roles and societal expectations * She wanted to be more independent and her father wouldn’t let her. We will write a custom essay sample on Blood Relations Notes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page See Lizzie as victim and villain (Pollock want Lizzie to be seen more as a victim) * Appearance vs. Reality * We’re looking from a point where the Actress is trying to be Lizzie and what she thinks what happened * From Actress’s interpretation of what happened * In terms of reputations as well * Communication and silence and secrets (ties closely to family and isolation) * Creates further isolation between family due to secretes * Collage: * Actual fact * Heresay, rumour and gossip * Real characters out of context (Emma, Harry Wingate changed) * Made up details and characters (Pigeons, Dr. Patrick) Lizzie| Emma| * *Different than most girls * +Very strong-willed * *+Daddy’s girl * +Selfish * *Anxious (scared) * +Out spoken * Loves animals * Capable of caring and compassion * +Manipulative * +Territorial * *Unhappy * +Self-righteous * **She feels trapped/powerless * **She is ignored more she wants attention * * **Isolated (brings this onto herself) * Lizzie is a stereotypical bully * She doesn’t feel good enough to deserve love and affection from her father, so she acts out and emands love because of fear * Incredibly vulnerable | * Prevents father from giving in to Lizzie * Doesn’t insist on her right to be heard, and power * Constantly struggling for power but doesn’t want power * â€Å"good girl† * | *feels sorry for her. **important points. */** lack of power and control. +associated with power and control. * â€Å"Daddy’s girl† can be both. Her desire to be powerful is impeded by her father. But she also wants him to be happy. * He is most happy when she gives up her power. But she wants him to be happy so she gives up her power * Trapped, selfish and vulnerable are the most important characteristics * Can be really dangers and unpredictable * Lizzie asks for a house, jobs, farm, etc. to try to release tension of trapped + selfish + vulnerable to avoid getting to a point of danger (murder) * P. 62~ shift of wanting to die her being unique and â€Å"precious and unique† and she deserves to live (big shift of emotions) * Lizzie is capable of making decision, plan it through and she is aware of the choices she makes. Trying to justify her action. That her life is better than theirs. * â€Å"You’re a coward† – she made her decision and is trying to get him to approve and back up her decision * She wanted him to leave so that she can go through with her plan because she knows he won’t help her. * Both Lizzie and Emma are victims (Lizzie and Emma’s conversation p. 49-51) * Emma : knows they’re going to lose the fight. * Lizzie wants Emma to convince her father that they are â€Å"real people† * Emma is okay with living being trapped and Lizzie wants her freedom.

Crime Place and Pollution The Social Activists

Question: Describe about the Crime Place and Pollution for The Social Activists. Answer: Summarising Assessment 1 Lisa Millers article titled Black Activists Dont Ignore Crime was published in The New York Times[1] was a strong rebuke on the social activists who advocate the atrocities and brutalities committed by the police on the black population of America, without taking into account the factual position of the social structure under which such crimes are being committed by the black people. These social activists are also looking at one side of the coin and are not actually taking into consideration the purpose of these crimes and the reason why only black people are involved, (Eck Eck, 2012). A large number of social organisations have come into existence at the grass-root level but most of these have been founded by bereaved black women related to a victim of the hate-crime, as this is known in the social circles, political arenas and administrative beehives. One such movement, known as Mothers in Charge, though is relatively a small organisation, but it is gaining support in Los Angeles, St. Louis and many other cities. But the irony is that such activism dies out a natural death and is rarely seen under the national headlines. Even if it does grab a few headlines, like the Mothers Against Senseless Killings, a Chicago based anti-violence group, the coverage is usually short lived, (Eck Eck, 2012). The biggest reason why these groups are able to grab so little attention is because the communities which start the protest against violence, have been generally found to be lacking in economic and political resources which are so essential for engaging with the elite news media or for hiring state level lobbyists or at the national level. The access factor of these small groups is restricted to the level of the local mayors staff or the city council members, the district attorneys or other city officials, (Eck Eck, 2012). Analysing the Article In the summary provided above, the full impact of the article and its contents cannot be ascertained. It was also noted that the article in itself was not covering all the concerned aspects of the topic, which gives the impression that the article is about the grievances, problems and social hardships being faced by the black people in America. I do agree with this. The article does, in all its reflective references, concentrate only on the plight and deprivation of the black community. It should have given a better insight into the living conditions, the economic hardships and the social inequalities being faced by this community. Moreover, a more detailed outline and comparison should have been drawn between the black community and the white community. Also necessary was a comparison between the life style of the white community and the black communities, (Sparrow, 2000). I have come across an article titled Knowledge Transfer in Action: Crime Reduction through a Regulatory Approach written by James Royan[2] and John E. Eck[3]. As the name of the article suggests, the authors have tried to present a retrospective view of the authorities when dealing with criminal activities in a civilised society. I could easily related their views with my learnings from my course work on The Meaning of Crime: Social Structure Perspective. In this course work, I got the opportunity to learn about the impact which the environment, socialization and our surroundings are able to create on the criminality in our social structure, (Sparrow, 2000). On the same note, Royan and Eck have touched upon the four main perspectives which are prevailing in contemporary criminology: Legalistic Legally, crime is considered to be that human conduct which is in violation of the criminal laws of a state or federal government or of a provincial or local jurisdiction which has the power to make these laws. Political Politically, crime is considered in terms of the power structures which are existent in the society. In this context, all Criminal Laws of the land are not related to the popular notions of right and wrong which are inherent in the society. Sociological Sociology defines crime as an antisocial act which needs to be repressed in order to preserve the existing system of social harmony. Psychological Psychologists believe that crime is a behavioural problem, which raises the difficulties which are contrary to the broader and acceptable social arrangements of the society, (Grabosky, 2011). I have come across statistical lapses which are encountered while collecting data. It was noticed that only those crimes are included in the UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting Survey), which are reported to police. Sexual assault was the most unreported crime in UCR and was showing the inconsistency in the reporting methods of the police. The police only resorted to counting of the incidents of crime. Hence, these resulted in Dark Figure of Crime which considered of unreported and under-reported criminal activities in the society, (Grabosky, 2011). Conclusion It is not out of place to mention that there are Three Main Theoretical Positions connected with crime Social Structure Perspective Crime is considered to be the result of an individuals location within the social structure. Social Process Perspective Crime results from the inappropriate socialization and learning process of the individual. Social Conflict Perspective Crime happens because of the individuals struggle within the group and class to which it belongs. This leads us to believe that crime has three main categories: Violent Crimes Property Crimes Crimes which are against public order In conclusion, it will not be inappropriate to say that crime cannot be discussed singularly, but has to be considered in the whole perspective of the social fibre of the society. We must take into consideration all the six elements discussed in the conclusion while taking any decision with regard to a specific section of the society. List of References: Eck, J. E., Eck, E. B. (2012). Crime place and pollution: Expanding crime reduction options through a regulatory approach. Criminology and Public Policy 11(2): 281-316. Grabosky, P. (2011). On the interface of criminal justice and regulation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Sparrow, M. (2000). The regulatory craft: Controlling risks, solving problems, and managing compliance. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.

The History Of Pi Essays - Pi, Approximations Of,

Pi The History of Pi A little known verse in the bible reads ?And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other; it was round all about, and his height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it about(I Kings 7, 23).? This passage from the bible demonstrates the ancient nature of the irrational number pi. Pi in fact is mentioned in a number of verses throughout the bible. In II Chronicles 4,2, in the passage describing the building of the great temple of Solomon which was built around 950BC, pi is given as equal to three. This value is not very accurate at all and should not even be considered accurate for it's time, however it should be noted that precision was not needed for the task that was being performed and we should let the general concept of pi that the biblical characters posses impress us. Present knowledge suggests that the concept of pi first developed in 2000 BC in two separate cultures. The Babylonians used pi at a value of 25/8 while an entirely different culture, the ancient Egyptians used pi at a value of 256/81. While the biblical calculation of pi=3 most likely came from crude measurement, there is strong reason to believe, because of the relative accuracy of the values, that the Babylonians and Egyptians found pi by means of mathematical equations. In the Egyptian Rhind Papyrus, which is dated around 1650 BC, there is strong evidence supporting that the Egyptians used 4(8/9)2 =3.16 for their value of pi. At that point in history, and for the majority of modern history, pi was not seen as an irrational number as it is today. The next culture that investigated pi was the ancient Greeks. Starting in 434 BC Greeks were unraveling the mysteries of pi. The mathematician Anaxagoras made an unsuccessful attempt at finding pi, which he called squaring the circle and in 414 BC, 20 years after Anaxagoras failed in his attempt to square the circle, Aristophanes refers to the work of Anaxagoras in his comedy ?The Birds?. It took over 100 years for the Greeks to finally find a value for pi. In 240 BC Archimedes of Syracuse showed that 223/71*pi*22/7. Archimedes knew, what so many people today do not, that pi does not equal 22/7 and he made no claim to have discovered the exact value of pi. However if we take the average of his two bounds we obtain pi=3.1418, which was an error of about 0.0002. Archimedes found the most accurate value of pi up to that time and his value would be used exclusively until the next discovery in the world of pi. The next major finding concerning pi did not occur in the western world, but in China by Tsu Chung-chi'h who approximated pi at 355/113 in 480 AD. Next to nothing except for this work is known about Tsu Chung-chi'h's life but it is very unlikely that he had any awareness of Archimedes work. We shall now notice how during the dark ages of Europe, the lead in the research of pi is passed to the East. Aryabhata, working on his own in Persia without any outside information in 515 AD was able to approximate pi to 3 decimal places. A mathematician from Baghdad named Al'Khwarizimi worked with pi however the most accurate finding of pi to date was found even more east in Samarkand by Al-Khashi. In 1430 AD he approximated pi to 16 decimal places, the most to date. His work however, would be the last of note from the east as the European Renaissance brought about a whole new mathematical world. The first notable discovery in the approximation of pi from the European Renaissance was by Viete in 1593 AD. He expressed pi as an infinite product by using only 2's and square roots. In 1610 Ludolph van Ceulen demonstrated the new thought coming out of the Renaissance by calculating pi to 35 decimal places. Around the same time, Snell refined Archimedes's method of calculating pi, and Snell's work was used by Grienberger to calculate pi to 39 decimal places in 1630. In 1655 Wallis showed that pi/2=2/1*2/3*4/3*4/5*6/5*6/7*8/7*8/9..... The 18th centuary brought about great

NGOs and Environmental politics

NGOs and Environmental politics Introduction Generally, human beings attach great importance to the environment since their means of living and quality of life rely on it. As the environmental threats increases, so do the attempts to safeguard environmental values[1].Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on NGOs and Environmental politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Environmental politics are interested in the manner in which individuals arrange themselves systematically and configure activities to defend their interest in the environment. It takes into account the vibrancy of social movements, organizations and state machineries, and how they work together[2]. The subject of environmental conservation poses an exceptional test to politics. Among them is the transnational nature of the ecological trend. In other words, environmental processes go beyond national boundaries. For example, countries along the coastal line share the same waters an d fish stocks[3]. Conflicts and apathy have often emerged due to disparities in regional or international environmental concerns and the current political structures and boundaries (Walters, 2004, p. 2). The gains of economic development characteristically accrue to one country or region, yet the negative environmental impact of such development is normally transferred to another country or region, in terms of polluted air and water. This provides less motivation to control pollution from its origin. In addition, the administration may be less obliged to impose penalties on the industries concerned when it is clear that the pollution takes place outside their jurisdiction[4]. History has shown that political engagements in ecological affairs are capricious and diminishes with time, and development varies from additional to groundbreaking depending on the background and prospect[5]. One analyst once described the history of global environmental action as a target that appears impossi ble to achieve at the moment. For the above reasons, environmental politics have always relied strongly on chronological and case study analysis[6]. This research paper will explore the role played by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) in environmental matters and explain why they are the best to deal with global environmental challenges. First, the study will start by examining the chronology of NGO’s in matters of environmental politics. The research will be based on different premises and concepts and key arguments between different authors and their academic positions.Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Chronology of environmentalist NGO’s In order to acknowledge the significance of NGO in global environmental actions it is important to understand what an NGO is because a wide range of entities exist. According to Hrabanski and others, organizations vary in accordance with the size, composition, sources of funds, beliefs, goals, operational scope and activities[7]. DolÃ… ¡ak defines an NGO as private, non profit-making, professional entity with a characteristic official character, concerned with the general well being of the people and societal goals. Societal goal in this case relates to issues of environment, whereas characteristic official character relates refers to official registration[8]. The history of NGOs is somehow ambiguous. The first NGOs were created by elite conservationist in U.S and Europe to prevent extinction of certain animal species and to idealize environment[9]. They assumed an ethical politics of environmental change by emphasizing on how the environment is supposed to look like through art and literature and advocating for the conservation of natural ecosystem. For example, Sutter shows in his description of the wilderness movement how the Americans in the early 20th century fe ared the use of automobiles in wilderness excursion. In other words, they feared that the use of automobiles will lead to exploration of remote areas and degradation of the forest. In addition, the creation of conservation NGOs reflected the societal response towards ecological destruction under the capitalism[10]. In the mid 20th century, the ecological concerns together with the emerging generational activists transformed the movement, thus providing a fresh meaning to NGOs. The new NGOs became green thinkers, which was ostensibly the organizational expression of political progress. Many literatures tended to analyze this new thinking in terms of green philosophy and often in a principled manner. This is because NGO’s formed during this era had to confront numerous environmental challenges. For example, Greenpeace (established in 1971 in Toronto, Canada) and Friends of the Earth (established in the late 1960s in U.S) captured the world attention in their campaigns to stop W haling and proliferation of nuclear weapons respectively. In addition, those who were involved in such campaigns were very youthful, energetic and confrontational. Generally, the new NGO’s were viewed as an embodiment of radical forms of environmentalism. They started as small groups of protesters to become colossal global entities that fought nearly all environmental challenges. A number of authors catalogued how these NGO’s had transformed into international protest organizations[11].Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on NGOs and Environmental politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many academicians shun such literatures; yet they often share the fundamental assumption regarding the dogmatic significance of these organizations as the foundation of contemporary environmentalism. Some of the writers have explained the growth in NGO’s on political movements and demonstration influenced by models egalitarianism, mobilization of resources and traits of a social pressure group[12]. Nowadays, NGO’s have changed in structure and practice. Most of their activities are currently centred on people’s means of living and acknowledging the linkage between people and the environment. The model examples are Philippine Non-Governmental Organizations which have been vocal on matters pertaining to sustainable development. In addition, the current NGOs have usually played the role of civil society. For this reason, NGOs have become ideological actors that promote social justice and democracy[13]. A number of authors have probed the political innovativeness and vibrancy of the NGO-led civil society that advances novel forms of interaction between communities and the environment. Their studies acknowledge the significant role played by the NGO in the conservation and protection of international priceless ecological public goods. In addition, they recognize the role played by NGO’s in the transformation of transnational relations through civil action and global environmental treaties[14]. Suitability of NGO’s in environmental politics Even though the arguments that the nation states are slowly losing their significance are impulsive, the influence of NGO’s in the global arena is growing at an alarming rate. There is no other field of politics that NGOs have gained more influence than in the field of environmental politics. Many NGOs nowadays command huge amounts of resources and have a large pool of knowledgeable and very much trained professional staff. In addition, they have a huge network across the globe[15]. These NGO’s wield massive influence on matters of public policy both locally and internationally. Whether these policies are in the form of the provision of clean water to local communities, investigating the environmental activities of large transnational corporations, or representing the interest of the underpri vileged at major conferences, the role of the NGOs can no longer be ignored. As a matter of fact, NGOs are exhibiting a growing eagerness to circumvent state structures to represent matters of great concern. They normally pick up where state actors have failed or are still hesitant[16]. Political and environmental experts foresee the role of NGOs in environmental politics increasing in the future[17]. In the last four decades, the world has witnessed an unprecedented increase in unconditional trade and in some cases the economic size of transnational corporations has surpassed the GDP of foreign countries in which they operate.Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the current competitive global market, some governments have appeared to bend investment laws to attract foreign investment, that is, they often embrace market-based and non-mandatory approaches. At the same time, external pressures to match the domestic standards and regulations with the international policies are increasing. As a result, the reconciliation of these standards and regulations with environmental matters has become a major challenge for national government. Particularly, the management of the effects of trade and investment on the environment has become very challenging for less industrialized nations. This necessitates the role of NGOs in the global environmental protection[18]. Additionally, less developed economies are justifiably keen to attract foreign investors in their country, but feeble institutions and lack of political good will mean that environmental standards and regulations will not be strictly enforced. On a positive note, transnational corporations normally bring with them state of the art technologies which are more environmentally friendly than the local ones. However, the tempo of economic transformation in the less developed economies is shocking and devastating in its effects[19]. Furthermore, environmental and development challenges facing the emerging economic powers like India and China is worrying the international community. At the moment, the Western nations are not certain of their future without the involvement of these countries in the global environmental protection and conservation[20]. The local and international courts have become a battleground between the NGOs and the government on environmental matters. Irritated over alleged backtracking by the regimes on environmental obligations, NGOs have often used the legal channel to pressurize the government to apply the current laws on environmental protection and more uncompromisingly take legal action against the lawbreakers. In addition, they have been using t he courts as an arbitrator of crucial constitutional matters, for instance, the rights of citizens to clean environment[21]. According to Dobson, the government has taken several actions to tackle the current environmental challenges. In the 60s and 70s, the strategy used was based on stringent regulatory measures, where standards are set and implementation is backed by stern warnings. This approach proved to be successful and mainly relied on the use of eco-friendly technologies. However, with the competitive pressure of liberalization, governments were forced to come up with strategies that are bendable and less costly. This is why the NGOs have recently become more popular since they make sure that the governments do not go to an extreme level in trying to woo the investors at the expense of environmental protection and conservation[22]. Last but not least, NGOs have recently adopted consumer boycotts as a strategy to amend organizational and statutory policies and some, for inst ance, Greenpeace, have set their own standards for certain products[23]. To sum up, the research paper was to a certain extent selective in its coverage-after all, environmental politics is a new but broad and complex subject. At the risk of trying to be as simple as possible, the study explored the NGO as an actor in environmental politics and their growing popularity in the environmental matters. Nonetheless, NGOs also have a couple of flaws. A number of them have often used the public to attain cheap publicity. In addition, NGO’s have been used to siphon money from foreign donors by corrupt individuals and terrorist organizations. All in all, the role played by the NGOs in socioeconomic, environmental, and political matters cannot be underestimated[24]. Conclusion Over the last 50 years, environmental subjects have been in the central state of major discussions. This is attributed to the fact that human beings attach great importance to the environment since their means of living and quality of life rely on it. In addition, conflicts and apathy have often emerged due to disparities in regional or international environmental concerns and the current political structures and boundaries. As a result, attempts to safeguard environmental values have been on the increase. There are numerous actors in the field of environmental politics; however, NGOs have become the most prominent. This is because they command huge amounts of resources, have a large pool of knowledgeable and well trained professional staff, and have a huge network across the globe. In addition, the NGOs normally represent the poor and underprivileged at the global arena. Locally, the NGOs have gained popularity because they have taken the role of the civil society and currently acting as government watchdogs in socioeconomic, political, and environmental matters. In the current competitive global market, some governments tend to bend investment laws to attract foreign investment, that is, they often embrace market-based and non-mandatory approaches. The NGOs make sure that the governments do not go to an extreme level trying to woo the investors at the expense of environmental protection and conservation. They have been driving their agenda in the street, in the forums and in the court of law. Even though they have been criticized from different quotas for a number of vices, the role played by NGOs in both local and global environmental politics cannot be underestimated. Bibliography Adams, W M J, Hutton, ‘People, parks and poverty: political ecology and biodiversity conservation,’ Conservation and Society, vol. 5, 2007, pp. 147–183. Barry, J EG, Frankland, International encyclopedia of environmental politics, London Routledge, 2002. BÃ ¶hmelt, T C, Betzold, ‘The impact of environmental interest groups in international negotiations: Do NGOs induce stronger environmental commitments?’ International Environmental Agreements: Politic s, Law and Economics, vol.13, no.2, 2013, pp. 127-151. DolÃ… ¡ak, N, ‘Climate Change Policies in the Transitional Economies of Europe and Eurasia: The Role of NGOs’, International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, vol. 24, no. 2, 2013, pp. 382-824. Dryzek, J S D, Schlosberg, Debating the earth: The environmental politics Reader, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1998. Hall, NL R, Taplin, ‘Environmental Nonprofit Campaigns and State Competition: Influences on Climate Policy in California’, International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, vol. 21, no.1, 2010, pp. 62-81. Hrabanski, M, C, Bidaud, J, Le Coq P, MÃ ©ral, ‘Environmental NGOs, policy entrepreneurs of market-based instruments for ecosystem services? A comparison of Costa Rica, Madagascar and France’, Forest Policy and Economics, vol. 37, 2013, pp.124-132. Sutter, P S, Driven wild: how the fight against automobiles launched the modern wilderness movement, Seattle, WA, University of Washington Press, 2002. Dobson, A, Green political thought, 4th edn, London, UK, Routledge, 2007. Vig, NJ ME Kraft, Environmental policy: New directions in the 21st century, 5th edn, Washington, D.C, Congressional Quarterly Press, 2002. Vormedal, I, The Influence of Business and Industry NGOs in the Negotiation of the Kyoto Mechanisms: the Case of Carbon Capture and Storage in the CDM, Global Environmental Politics, vol. 8, no. 4, 2010, pp.36-65. Weyler, R, Greenpeace: the inside story, Vancouver, Canada, Raincoast Books, 2004. Walters, BB, Environmental Politics, Mount Allison University, Sackville, 2004. Footnotes BB, Walters, Environmental Politics, Sackville, Mount Allison University, 2004. JS, Dryzek D, Schlosberg, Debating the earth: The environmental politics Reader, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1998. J,Barry EG, Frankland, International encyclopedia of environmental politics, LondonRoutledge, 2002. J,Barry EG, Frankland, International enc yclopedia of environmental politics, London Routledge, 2002. JS, Dryzek D, Schlosberg, Debating the earth: The environmental politics Reader, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1998. Ibid. M, Hrabanski, C, Bidaud, J, Le Coq P, MÃ ©ral, ‘Environmental NGOs, policy entrepreneurs of market-based instruments for ecosystem services? A comparison of Costa Rica, Madagascar and France’, Forest Policy and Economics, vol. 37, 2013, pp.124-132. N, DolÃ… ¡ak, ‘Climate Change Policies in the Transitional Economies of Europe and Eurasia: The Role of NGOs’, International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, vol. 24, no. 2, 2013, pp. 382-824. WM, Adams J, Hutton ‘People, parks and poverty: political ecology and biodiversity conservation,’ Conservation and Society, vol. 5, 2007, pp. 147–183. PS, Sutter, Driven wild: how the fight against automobiles launched the modern wilderness movement, Seattle, WA, University of Washington Press, 2002. R, Weyler, Greenpeace: the inside story, Vancouver, Canada, Raincoast Books, 2004. Ibid. T, BÃ ¶hmelt C, Betzold, ‘The impact of environmental interest groups in international negotiations: Do NGOs induce stronger environmental commitments?’ International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, vol.13, no.2, 2013, pp. 127-151. I, Vormedal, The Influence of Business and Industry NGOs in the Negotiation of the Kyoto Mechanisms: the Case of Carbon Capture and Storage in the CDM, Global Environmental Politics, vol. 8, no. 4, 2010, pp.36-65. I, Vormedal, The Influence of Business and Industry NGOs in the Negotiation of the Kyoto Mechanisms: the Case of Carbon Capture and Storage in the CDM, Global Environmental Politics, vol. 8, no. 4, 2010, pp.36-65. T, BÃ ¶hmelt C, Betzold, ‘The impact of environmental interest groups in international negotiations: Do NGOs induce stronger environmental commitments?’ International Environmental Agreements: P olitics, Law and Economics, vol.13, no.2, 2013, pp. 127-151. NJ, Vig ME Kraft, Environmental policy: New directions in the 21st century, 5th edn, Washington, D.C, Congressional Quarterly Press, 2002. NL, Hall R, Taplin 2010, ‘Environmental Nonprofit Campaigns and State Competition: Influences on Climate Policy in California’, International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, vol. 21, no.1, 2010, pp. 62-81. M, Hrabanski, C, Bidaud, J, Le Coq P, MÃ ©ral, ‘Environmental NGOs, policy entrepreneurs of market-based instruments for ecosystem services? A comparison of Costa Rica, Madagascar and France’, Forest Policy and Economics, vol. 37, 2013, pp.124-132. Ibid. N, DolÃ… ¡ak, ‘Climate Change Policies in the Transitional Economies of Europe and Eurasia: The Role of NGOs’, International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, vol. 24, no. 2, 2013, pp. 382-824. A, Dobson, Green political thought, 4th edn, London, UK, Routledg e, 2007. Ibid. JS, Dryzek D, Schlosberg, Debating the earth: The environmental politics Reader, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1998.

Referencing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Referencing - Essay Example Secondly, points of view also vary greatly within a given piece of written work. While some points of view agree within a given subject matter, others disagree in one way or another. In this respect, referencing comes in to cite differences between points of view. The third reason why references are used in writing is to strengthen a study. Past research that leads up to current technical or academic writing enhances the topic of study. Here, referencing captures previous research findings or outcomes that are relevant to the insights the writer wants to present. Finally, referencing is used to direct readers to the original source of cited information. Readers may want to refer to the original source following the contents of technical or academic writing. Referencing, therefore, acts as the bridge between readers and the main source of cited information. Technical writing is critical to the success of an engineer. In technical writing, engineers reference in various areas and for different reasons. The first area where engineers use referencing in technical writing is in defining terms used in product descriptions. Products designed by engineers often carry terms that are difficult for the layman level of understanding. For this reason, engineers need to define all terms that are not commonly used in day-to-day language. In the process, they may need to reference the source of such definitions or acknowledge the original text from which information is derived. Technical reports constitute the second area where engineers use referencing. Before an engineering project is approved for implementation, series of tests could be conducted and the results computed. These tests and result computations are followed by a professional report to the relevant personnel. To prove the validity and the credibility of such reports, engineers need to cite the different methods, analysis, and procedures employed in the testing process. This may