Public Finance as the Collection of Funds Assignment

Public Finance as the Collection of Funds - Assignment Example The Public Finance and Trade Program at United Nations for Training and Research provide online education that covers important issues that are developing currently. These issues cover key areas of public financial management and intellectual property. This program focuses on expanding and enriching the government and private companies, specifically enriching the intellectual know-how of interested individuals. The program is done through e-learning, thus making learning much easier and convenient. This program only requires the student to have a computer with internet access, to be allowed to attend the virtual classes  (Ware, 2014). Thus, the e-learning courses allow participants get educated at the comfort of their computers and around their schedule. In addition to this, they achieve high-quality training, and international networking and collaboration among the participants are also enhanced the online learning. Each course of e-learning takes into consideration the requirements of people participating from developing countries and emerging economies. Basically, the e-learning center is composed of high broadband Wi-Fi complex. Through e-learning and incorporation of compulsory courses such as entrepreneurship, the students are educated on how to fair in job markets and on how to startup businesses. The e-learning course is applied through registration, technical requirements, and profiles of e-course moderators. Once a person has registered, the institution is required to send the password and username of all accepted participants, via email together with other instructions for accessing the course. The course fee should be made before one starts the course. According to Ware (2014), it is evident that e-learning is used in developing the economy by offering e-payment standard services.  

Research project Essay Example for Free

Research project Essay Juveniles may well be the most maligned age around in our society myths abound about their contribution to crime and the extent of damage for which they are responsible. The ones who are involved in delinquent behavior are young youths between the ages of 18 – 21 years. According to the study done by the Citizen Television (TV) on June 2012, young boys between the age of 15 yrs to 18 yrs are spending their life behind bars in Borstal Institutions (BI) i. e. Shikusa BI in Kakamega and Shimo la Tewa BI in Mombasa. Many nations are not productive because these youths who are expected to work and eradicate poverty lose their life at an early stage and others turnout to become adult criminals hence becoming a threat to the country and the world at large. Juvenile delinquency is an imprecise social and legal label for a wide variety of law and non-violating behavior. Delinquency is a behavior against the criminal code committed by an individual who has not reached adulthood. Legally, a juvenile delinquent is one who commits an act defined by law as illegal and who is adjudicated delinquent by an appropriate court. According to William Blackstone, one of the earliest England lawyers who influenced the England law on Juvenile Justice System; he grouped people into two; i. e. â€Å"Infant† and â€Å"Adult. † Children under the age of seven were as a rule classified as infants who could not be guilty of a felony. Children over 14 yrs were liable to suffer as adults if found guilty of a crime. The delinquent behavior has several consequences ranging from physical, social, economic and education. Delinquent boys face death, school dropout, assault, influence in drug and substance abuse and sexual harassment. The most victims of delinquency behavior are the youths specifically ranging between 15 yrs – 18 yrs of age on survey from Kenya Prisons Service according to the report from Borstal Institutions and YCTC. 1. 1: BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE STUDY AREA: King’orani sub-location is found within Mombasa District. It’s along Indian Ocean to the East. The sub-location is in the Coast Province Mombasa County and more than 500 km squares away from the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi. King’orani sub-location has a total number of ten thousand, eight hundred  and ninety five (10,895) households. It covers an area of 16. 2 km2. The total population of women is twenty one thousand, nine hundred and fifty seven (21,957) while that of men is twenty one thousand, four hundred and seventy seven (21,477); giving a total of forty three thousand four hundred and thirty four (43,434) people in the sub-location. The whole district has a total of 27333, households. It covers a n area of 7,792. 2km2. The number of female is 203,833 while that of male is 196,681 hence giving a total of 400,514 people in the district. This figure (400,514) includes even children in the district. 1. 2: POPULATION: Most of the people in the district are Mijikenda, Europeans, the Swahili and the highland people each comprising 75%, 5%, 15% and 10% of the population respectively. The most spoken language in the area is Swahili and Mijikenda. According to the recent census statistics, the number of youths or rather the young people is more than that of the old; 30% of the population is for the old while 70% is for the youth. 1. 3: PROBLEM OF THE STATEMENT: The problem of the delinquency behavior is not only in Kenya but also a world disaster too. Delinquency behavior has brought many social evils in the community such as death, increased number of school dropouts and unemployment. A survey was conducted within the king’orani sub-location among some families and individuals to find out the age of the men who are at a high risk of becoming delinquent. 1. 4: PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of the study was to carry out an investigation on the causes of Juvenile Delinquency in king’orani Sub-location Mombasa District. The study looked at causes such as family influence, poverty, peer pressure, drug and substance abuse, schools and genetic factors and the impact they have on the living standards of the people and the society at large. The major aim/purpose of the research was to find out why the youths in king’orani Sub-location within Mombasa District are involved in delinquency/criminality and how the solution will be realized. 1. 5: RESEARCH OBJECTIVES a)To find out the causes of Juvenile Delinquency in king’orani Sub-location b)To determine the effects of Juvenile Delinquency in king’orani Sub-location c)To investigate the attitude of the community towards delinquents d)To investigate if there are measures in place to curb delinquency behavior e)To investigate the role of parents in controlling delinquents 1. 6: RESEARCH QUESTIONS: a)What causes Juvenile Delinquency? b)What role do parents have in controlling delinquency? c)What role does the Government have in controlling delinquency? d)What measures should be taken to prevent delinquency? e)What effects do delinquents have to the society? 1. 7: RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS: a)Juveniles involve in delinquency behavior due to povertym  b)Juveniles become delinquents due to peer pressure c)Juvenile delinquency affects the nation negatively d)Juveniles become delinquent due to genetic/biological factors e)There are no firm measures in place to curb the menace in the area. 1. 8: RESEARCH LIMITATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS LIMITATIONS: The research project was carried out at king’orani Sub-location in Mombasa District Mombasa Cou nty. The search aimed a population of forty three thousand four hundred and thirty four. This was very hard for the researcher to obtain the information. However, the researcher struggled by visiting almost all the villages and schools in king’orani Sub-location and collected the data. The researcher targeted to interview 200 people but managed to get 95 out of the targeted ones. A TABLE OF INTERVIEWED AND UNINTERVIEWED RESPONDENTS: (TABLE 1. 1). 10 – 20 YRS21 – 30 YRS31 – 40 YRS41YRS +TOTAL INTERVIEWED2030202595 UNINTERVIEWED23342226105 TOTAL43644251200 LIMITATIONS FACED: A lot of money was used in preparations of the interview guide and questionnaires in order to accomplish the report. The researcher consumed a  lot of time waiting for the questionnaires to be filled by the respondents Since it was a rainy season, majority of the population were very busy in their shambas hence forced the researcher sometimes to follow them in their farming fields. Some of the interviewees were very busy to give out the information hence denying the researcher some crucial information. There were insufficient funds to t ravel from one village to another seeking fact of this report. The researcher faced ignorance from some of the respondents. There was unwillingness of the respondents which limited the accuracy of the study. The time given for the researcher to finish-up the report was insufficient hence forced him not to sleep for several days. HOW THE RESEARCHER OVERCAME THE PROBLEMS The researcher used many ways to ensure that the respondents participated in the interview group. The researcher used stakeholders in the village to enlighten the members on the importance of the study. The researcher created more time to follow up on the questionnaires to ensure it has been completed. The researcher got funds from his guardian in order to carry out this research work. The researcher used his time to explain the importance of the research project to the respondents. ASSUMPTIONS: During the study, the following assumptions were made: The language was simply for the respondents to understand. The aimed population was important to the study. Interview guide and the questionnaires were related to the objectives. The samples were true of the whole population. The information from the respondents was believed to be true. The questions were not complicated for the respondents. 1. 9: SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH: The study brought out useful data on the causes of juvenile delinquency in king’orani Sub-location in Mombasa District. The findings were useful to the policy makers and stakeholders for appropriate guidance towards improving the living standards of the community, and also led to a more comfortable life not only in king’orani Sub-location in Mombasa District, but also in other locations in Kenya with similar trends towards delinquency. 1. 10: STUDY JUSTIFICATION: This study was important because most of the people in the district were youths. According to the census done in the year 2009, it was found that youth comprised 70%. This indicated that the youth were more compared to the older people. There is need to protect the youths from delinquency behavior because they are the leaders of tomorrow. If this issue is not going to be strictly addressed, then we have no future direction. We have heard news around the world that many people especially the teenagers have lost their lives because of delinquency behavior. This research project will aid the government, non-governmental organizations and other related institution with facts on the problem and provide some of the possible solutions. CHAPTER TWO 2. 0. LITERATURE REVIEW: The literature review looked into various factors that promote juvenile delinquency. All the causes and effects of juvenile delinquency were discussed, examined and analyzed. The factors that lead to poor education and poor living conditions were highlighted. The way forward to the crimination of such factors by the community policy makers and other stakeholders were suggested. According to the criminologist, juvenile delinquency is participation in illegal behavior by a minor who falls under a statutory age limit. According to scholars, there are a number of factors which contribute to the delinquent behavior. They also said that several young people develop a curiosity about delinquency behavior from both their peer and their role model. In his book; Preventing and Reducing Juvenile Delinquency, Howell, C. J. (2003) further examined the causes and effects of delinquents. He says that delinquency behavior turn youth into liars and thieves. Some juveniles learn this behavior and turn out to become adult criminals. Connecting Howell, C. J. and criminologist, here I am and I would like to go beyond in the following manner: 2. 1: CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY There are many causes of juvenile delinquency. Among the factors are: Poverty and Social Class Peer Pressure / Association Drugs and Substance Abuse Family Background School Failure Academic Performance Poverty and Social Class: The development of delinquent subculture is a function of the social and familiar conditions children experience as they mature in deteriorating inner city environment (slums). Lower-class families are incapable of teaching their off springs proper socialization techniques for entry into dominant middle-class culture. These lower class families produce children who lack the basic skills necessary to achieve social and economic success in a demanding society. Developmental disabilities produced by such an upbringing include lack of educational training, poor speech and communication skills and inability to delay gratification. Peer Pressure / Association: This was one of the strongest and most consistent predictors of delinquency. Relationship between peers is usually very strong. Adolescents who maintain delinquent friends are more likely to engage in antisocial behavior and drug abuse. Drugs and Substance Abuse: Many adolescents are involved in drugs and alcohol. Adolescents’ substance abuse and its association with youth crime and delinquency continue to be disturbing problems. Most of these youths who are alcoholic tend to have antisocial behavior hence turnout to become delinquents. These juveniles then commit crimes to pay for their habits. Indeed, most of the youths who abuse alcohol are the ones most likely to engage in violence. Family Background: Children living in broken and conflict ridden families exhibit juvenile traits. The study focused on the following family factors/causes: a)Family makeup: The makeup and definition of the family are undergoing change. Divorce rates are high and children of divorce are more likely to undergo marital breakup  as adults, creating a cycle of family dissolution. Single parent households have become common. More single women than ever are deciding to keep and raise their children, and there are also many teenage girls under 18yrs who give birth. b)Family Breakup: Children growing up in homes with one parent due to divorce separation may prone to antisocial behavior. A broken home is a strong determinant of a chi ld’s law-violating behavior. The connections seem self-evident because a child is first socialized at home and from the beginning learn behavior, values, and beliefs from parents. c)Family Conflict: Not all unhappy marriage end in divorce; some continue in an atmosphere of discord and conflict. Studies have shown that children who grow up in maladapted homes and who witness discord or violence later exhibit patterns of emotional disturbance, behavior problems and social conflict. Damaged parent-child relationship is generally associated with delinquency. It’s often assumed that the existing family problems cause delinquency. d)Family Size: Large families are more likely to produce delinquent than smaller ones, and middle children are more likely to engage in delinquent acts than first or last born children. Middle children may suffer because they are the most likely to be at home when large number of siblings are at school and economic resources are the most stressed. This lack may make them engage in criminality. e)Discipline: Parents of delinquent youths tend to be inconsistent disciplinarians; either overly harsh or extremely lenient in their disciplinary practices. It is possible that physical punishment and overly strict parenting encourage children to become more secretive and eventually dishonest in their activities. f)Supervision: Inconsistent supervision can produced delinquency. F. Ivan Nye found that mothers who threatened discipline but failed to carry it out were more likely to have delinquent children than those who were consistent in their discipline. Youths who believe their parents care little about their activities and companions are more likely to engage in criminal acts than those who believe their actions will be closely monitored. Supervision is not merely having parents in the home, but it reflects the lifestyle, quality and intent of parenting. Parents who closely supervise their children also have closer and more emotional ties with them, helping to reduce their delinquent behavior. School Failure: Failing to achieve success in school can result in frustration, anger and reduced self-esteem, which may contribute to delinquent behavior. Believing they will never achieve success through conventional means, these children seek out like-minded companions and together engage in antisocial behaviors. Academic Performance: Students who are chronic underachievers in school are also among the most likely to be delinquent. School failure is a stronger predictor of delinquency than personal variables such as economic class membership, ethnic background or peer groups relations. 2. 2: EFFECTS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY The study focused on the following effects; a)School Dropout Due to delinquency, many teenagers drop out of school in order to join their friends who already are delinquent. This leads to street children especially in the city. b)Criminality Most of the delinquent turnout to become adult criminals; they get involved in criminal behavior e. g. theft, burglary and rape. c)Imprisonment According to the statistics from Kenya Prison Service, many youths and teenagers are spending their life behind bars in the BI i. e. Shikusa BI and Shimo la Tewa BI. d)Death Some youths end up losing their lives when caught by police in the criminality activities. Your example is the most important tool for preventing your children from becoming delinquents. Studies show that many factors influence teen’s in delinquency behavior but parental attitudes and actions can influence them most. God: Unfortunately, the secularization of values has left today’s kids without stun darts are still best. Too many young people picture God as a great kill joy in the sky instead of their strongest ally who loves them unconditionally and whose deepest desire is for their best. Some may call us naive simplistic, but in our experience, people who pursue in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ have a better chance of staying clear from delinquency than those who don’t. It’s true, that little difference exists between churched kids and un-churched when it comes to delinquency. Unconditional Love: It implies that if you act a certain way or do certain things, love will be given. There is a way, a sense that children mess up too badly, the love will go away. When children fill the uncertainty of conditional love, they’re challenged to see how bad they can be and still receive love. It’s a way of determining their basic worth. Rather than being motivated to greatness so as not to lose their parent’s love, they’re motivated towards delinquency. Contracts: Contracts governing children behavior can be controversial. We don’t advise them for every situation. However, when it comes to delinquency, they work well. Contracting for appropriate behavior can also be good preparation for the adult world, where people frequently contract for jobs to be done and behavior levels to be met. Pressure: Pressure is a key reason kids become involved with delinquents. The word â€Å"no† is a powerful device for resisting pressure and avoiding a life time of misery. 2:4: CONCLUSION Majority of the researchers and scholars have concluded that juvenile delinquency is a worldwide disaster and the group which is at risk is the youths. They have said much about negative effects of delinquency, but they have not explained about the permanent solution towards the problem. CHAPTER THREE 3. 0: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: The research methodology outlines the plan on how research activities were carried out in the study. It describes and explains the techniques used in collecting and obtaining data which assisted in the research work. These includes, the methods of organizing, collecting and analyzing data i. e. the way to design the population, sample size together with sampling techniques were discussed including the instrument of data collection. 3. 1: RESEARCH DESIGN This being a case study, the research was carried out in the communities of Shella Sub-location in Malindi District of the Coast Province. The area of study had a total number of forty three thousand, found hundred and thirty four people. The targeted population was two hundred in different villages within the sub-location, this being secondary schools, teachers, inmates in Malindi Prison, prison officers and 20% of the community population. 3. 2: TARGET POPULATION The study population: This research project was carried out at Shella Sub-location in Malindi District of the Coast Province. The area of study had a total number of forty three thousand, four hundred and thirty four people. Sample of the Study: The number of people in the Shella sub-location was big for the researcher to carry out the research conveniently. However, the researcher tried the best level and interviewed a total number of ninety five out of the two hundred targeted in different villages within the sub-location. 3. 3: SAMPLE SELECTION A sample is a small part of the population to be studied. Sampling is an act, process, technique of selecting a situation representing part of the whole population. Some of the sampling methods are random sampling, systematic sampling, and stratified sampling among others. The researcher used random sampling method. Due to this, the researcher selected ninety five people to represent the whole population. The table 1.1 shows all the information. The information from the respondents was based on the facts because the sample and the groups from the villages comprised people of different ages. 3. 4: SAMPLING TECHNIQUES When a population is very small one may study the whole population, but in this case, the population is big, so the researcher decided to choose a sample to represent the whole popu lation. The following is the sampling technique which the researcher used. Stratified Sampling Technique: Stratified Sampling is the process of dividing a population in sub-population (strata) and random samples are taken from each stratum. The researcher divided the population into the following: The age between 10 – 20 years The age between 21 – 30 years The age between 31 – 40 years The age 41 years and above. Importance of Sampling: The researcher could determine the adequate respondents from the total number of the targeted people. The advantages of the researcher using the stratified sampling technique are because; It saves time to study the whole population would require a lot of time which the researcher may not have. Reduces Cost – Also to study the whole population would require a lot of money. 3. 5: DATA COLLECTION The following were the methods used during the collection of data. Interviews: This is a method of research in which the interview gets information from the subject (interviews) through interaction. The interviewer asks the interviewee different type of questions depending on the researcher problem. Advantages: 1)The interviewed enabled the researcher to get immediate feedback 2)It gave an opportunity for the researcher to reset some questions when the interviewee didn’t understand the questions well. 3)It gave the researcher an opportunity to use any language so that the interviewee can understand well. 4)The researcher gave an opportunity to administer and personally establish rapport between interviewee and interviewer. 5)The researcher had time to clarify issues for the interviewees on the same. Disadvantages: 1. It was time consuming; since each member in the group had to be given time to contribute 2. During the group discussion some respondents were shy; this made the researcher to miss some information. QUESTIONNAIRES: A questionnaire is a research tool which contains several questions on a specific issue or problem being investigated. It can be mailed to the respondents or administered by the researcher. If administered by the researcher, the researcher will have time to explain the purpose of the study and the meaning for the questions if they are not clear to the respondents. This is where the researcher formulates the questions for the respondents to answer. The questions were close ended whereby the respondents required giving the answer in the form of YES or NO. Advantages: 1. It was cheap for the researcher, since the researcher saved money in travelling when mailing the questionnaires. 2. The information given out was easy for analysis. 3. The information from the respondents was based on facts. 4. There was no hurry whatsoever for the respondents in terms of answering the questions. 5. It saved time for the researcher since Disadvantages: 1. It was not possible for the researcher to respond to the respondents’ reactions. 2. Some of the questionnaires were not returned on time, hence made the work to delay. 3. Some respondents didn’t understand the questions without an explanation from the researcher. 3. 6: DATA ANAYLYSIS: Data is referred to facts and figures. Analysis is the process of preparing, computing and interpreting. Therefore, data analysis is the process of collecting, recording, analyzing, presenting and interpreting data. In this study area, it deals with data and analysis for better and easy understanding of this work. Based on data analysis the researcher used the following: Pie Chart Bar Charts Tables CHAPTER FOUR 4. 0: DATA PRESENTATION ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION The work of this area or selection is to analyze, present and interpretation of this data which has been carried out by the researcher. The researcher decided to analyze, present and interpret this work using tables and charts for easy understanding. In collection of data, the researcher used only two methods, questionnaires and interview guide. A case study of Shella Sub-location, Malindi District Kilifi County with the Coast Province; in the sub-location ninety five people were interviewed from different villages in the sub-location. The people who were interviewed were aged 10 – 20 yrs, those aged 21 – 30 yrs, those aged 31 – 40 yrs, and those who were 41 yrs and above. For every researcher who wishes to investigate on a certain problem, the researcher should use appropriate methods which will enable to get facts and accurate data. In using the interview guide and questionnaires, the researcher found out reasons why youths in Shella Sub-location become delinquent. Based on the same, the researcher found that there were measures in place though they were not effective. The information from the respondents showed that peer pressure was the major cause of juvenile delinquency among the youths in Shella Sub-location. Other answers were idleness, lack of education, bad companies, poverty, family background, drug abuse among others. The respondents also proposed that juvenile delinquency had negative effects to the development of the country. The following were the findings expressed by the researcher: A. PEER PRESSURE AS A MAJOR CAUSE OF JUVENILE DELINQUECNY AMONG THE YOUTHS IN SHELLA SUB-LOCATION. The questionnaires were seeking to find out find out if peer pressure is the major cause of juvenile delinquency among the youths in Shella Sub-location. A table showing if juvenile delinquency among the youths is caused by peer pressure (Table 4. 1) 10 – 20 yrs21 – 30 yrs31 – 40 yrs41 + yrsTotal RespondentsTotal Respondents in % Agreed162718248589. 5% Disagreed432110 10. 5% TOTAL2030202595100% The pie chart below shows the above table as a result of the findings (Figure 4. 1) Based on the above pie chart, 89. 5% of all the respondents agreed that peer pressure was the main reason which caused juvenile delinquency while the disagreed were 10. 5% of the whole population. In regard of the same, the respondents also commented that juvenile delinquency is caused by the following reasons: 1. Parents and guardians spend little time with their children hence these children miss guidance from them. 2. Children can easily imitate behaviors from criminal parents or friends. Parents and teachers don’t make a follow up, footsteps of their children. For example, the teacher would not ask why the student is absent likewise the parents will not bother whether their kids have gone to school or not. This facilitates truancy among children hence involved in delinquency behavior. B. EFFECTS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ON COUNTRY’S DEVELOPMENT The questions which were asked in this part were targeted to find out if juvenile delinquency among the youths has negative effects on a country’s development. The interviewed people were ninety five out of the two hundred as it was targeted by the researcher. The findings were as follows: A table showing the effects of juvenile delinquency on the country’s development (table 4. 2) 10 – 20 yrs21 – 30 yrs31 – 40 yrs41 + yrsTotal RespondentsTotal Respondents in % Agreed202819259296. 8% Disagreed_21_33. 2% TOTAL2030202595100% The pie chart below shows the above findings (Figure 4. 2) These were the effects on the country’s development highlighted by the respondents: a)It brings about increase in crimes in the urban center b)It increases the spread of HIV/AIDS due to unprotected sexual behaviors. c)It leads to death of many young youths.d)It becomes a burden of dependency because a large number of the school dropouts depend on their parents for their survival. e)Much of the time is wasted by the delinquent in drinking and smoking instead of doing some productive activities. f)Most of juvenile delinquency do not relate well with their families hence leading to disintegration of good relationships. g)For juveni les who are students in universities, college, secondary and primary schools, they end up recording poor performance in these institutions. C. MEASURES TO CONTROL JUVENILE DELINQUENCY In this part, the questions given to the respondents aimed at finding out if there any measures whatsoever in place to control the evil of juvenile delinquency in Shella Sub-location. A total number of ninety five people out of two hundred were interviewed. A table showing responses of the respondents if there are any measures in place to control drug abuse problem (table 4. 3) Total RespondentsTotal Respondents in % Agreed6568. 4% Disagreed1313. 7% Not Aware1717. 9% TOTAL95100% Information of Table 4. 3 and its number of interviewees (Figure 4. 3) INTERPRETATION 65 out of 95 people agreed that there were measures in place to control the problem of juvenile delinquency which is the same as 68. 4% of the whole population. A total number of 95 people were interviewed. 17 out of 95 respondents claimed that they were not aware if there are measures to curb the issue of juvenile delinquency in the sub-location, which is equal to 17. 9% of the whole population. 13 out of 95 respondents disagreed that there were measures in place to control the problem because of the way the problem has spread in the area. This is equal to 13. 7% of the whole population. Due to the spread of this problem, the respondents in the area mentioned the following organizations which have taken into consideration of educating the youths on the dangers of juvenile delinquency. The groups were: The Islamic group Omar project The Kenya Red Cross (Malindi Branch) The Churches Aphia II The Assistant Chief CHAPTER FIVE 5. 0: SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS The following findings were made during the research exercise: Most of the people in the community said that juvenile delinquency among the youths was caused by peer pressure and bad companies. Majority of the respondents said that the youths are the ones who are highly involved and affected by the problem. The interviewed said that juvenile delinquency among the youths affects the sub-location and the country in terms of development. 68. 4% of the respondents said that there were measures in place to control the problem of juvenile delinquency. 5. 1: CONCLUSIONS The following conclusions were based on the findings which were obtained from the interviewed during the exercise. Majority of the people accepted that juvenile delinquency among the youth was caused by peer pressure and bad companies. Majority of the population agreed that youths are the ones who are mostly involved in the delinquency problem. The development stakeholders and the community members accepted that juvenile delinquency affects the country’s development. The measures to control the problem were in place, though they were not effective. 5. 2: RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations were based on the conclusions. The researcher came up with an idea that parents, caregivers, teachers and guardians should spend more time with their children counseling them and enquiring on the type of friends that they have at school and out of school. More job opportunities should also be created for the jobless youths. This will eradicated idleness among the youths, and make the productive members of the community. These activities can be sports, projects and community participation among others. Due to the fact that youths are the productive members in any community, the government and non-governmental organizations should come up with ways of assisting the youths to change their undesirable behaviors. More attention should also be put on the already existing measures of controlling drug abuse so that fruitful results can be realized. 5. 3. 0: APPENDIX (A) References Flin, R. and Soencer, RJ. (1990). â€Å"The Evidence of Children† (2nd Ed). London. Bell and Blain Ltd: Glasgow. Hollin, R. C and Howeus, C. (1996). â€Å"Clinical Approaches to Working with Young Offenders. † England: John Willey. Howel, C. J. (2003). â€Å"Preventing and Reducing Juvenile Delinquency. †Australia: Sage. Lipsett, P. (1968). â€Å"The Juvenile Offenders Percep

The Oresund Fixed Link Project Construction Essay

The Oresund Fixed Link Project Construction Essay The Oresund Fixed Link was a project initiated in 1991 by the Swedish and Danish governments and completed and opened in July 2000. The bridge, island and tunnel combination connects the two metropolitan areas of the Oresund region, Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden. The Link consists of the Oresund Bridge, a two-level (one for traffic, one for rail) pylon-supported structure, the Oresund Tunnel, a 4km-long tunnel, and the Peberholm Artificial Island which would transfer the traffic from the submerged tunnel to the bridge. It was undertaken in a cooperative effort between the Swedish and Danish governments whereby they would each form half of the owner company (Øresundsbro Konsortiet) in 1992, which in turn was responsible for financing, planning, designing, building and eventually operating the link (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). We will attempt to demonstrate that the Oresund Fixed Link is one of the more successful mega-projects. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ has argued that mega-projects such as the analogous Channel Tunnel, Sydney Opera house or Millennium Dome are subject to cost and time overruns and quality shortfalls. The factors behind those deficiencies include a politicization of the tendering and project proposal process, the legacy complex which can besiege governmental spending and the inefficient management of projects on a public level. The experience of the Oresund Fixed Link, whilst not without short-comings, is recognized as being a project that in terms of the QCD paradigm was satisfactorily managed and far removed from the problematic projects of its time. To this end, in May 2003, the Oresund Bridge won the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) Outstanding Structure Award, recognizing not only its design and construction but more importantly in our context, its adhere nce to the proposed deliverables. Project Phases: Concept Identifying the need and opportunity: The need for a link between Denmark and Sweden which crossed the Oresund sound was not a novel one in 1991. In fact, the region had been the subject of territorial disputes between the nations dating back to the 1600s and had fallen under ownership of both nations at various times (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Lack of political will and unstable economic conditions had prevented the Link from being properly canvassed before the late 1980s. There were a range of economic, infrastructural and political factors which created a need for a bridge between the two nations in the early 1990s. Firstly, although Sweden was not member of the European Union (then EEC) at that time, its attention had been directed to accession during the European recession of the late 1980s (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Denmark had already acceded to the EEC in 1986. The increased focus on European integration meant that links, allowing the movement of goods and labour in particular would be required. Furthermore, Denmark as part of continental Europe, could act as a gateway to Sweden and Finland in the north. European integration was thus a driving factor behind the Link and the potential benefits it could have in bringing the two nations and indeed Europe and Scandinavia closer together. A more practical consideration in determining the demand for the Link was that of offering an alternative to the ferry-based transport service that was in place at the time. The ferry service, with irregular timetabling and being subject to good weather conditions, could be allowed to operate more efficiently if there were an alternative link which allowed both trade, leisure and commuter traffic(Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). The need for the link between Denmark and Sweden to increase efficiency and integration provided an opportunity to create a single Oresund metropolitan area. The conglomeration of the two separate Copenhagen and Malmo markets would allow for a common housing and labour market and increased commercial and educational opportunities. As Denmark and Sweden became more involved in the European process, and Europe became more integrated and markets more competitive, it was apparent that the Oresund region could become a leading metropolis and hub if connected. The opportunity was also present for both nations as the Scandinavian banking crisis brought both nations into recessions and paved the way for stimulatory spending on infrastructure and other projects. Initial Risk Assessment: An immediate risk at the time of conception was posed by the economic conditions brought about by the Scandinavian banking crisis (IMF, 2002). Although this presented an opportunity, the economic climate at that time was far from certain and that uncertainty could have strong implications on financing interest rates and resource and supply costs from overseas in the light of exchange rate fluctuations. The division of the stake in the consortium overseeing company between Swedish and Danish governments allowed the mitigation of risk by reducing cost of borrowing (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Another obvious risk faced by the project initiators was that being a mega-project, handing over responsibility for design and construction to just one company places strong burden on that firm. In order to mitigate this risk, the initiators separated the project into three parts the Tunnel, the Bridge and the artificial island linking the two so as to hopefully improve delay, cost and quality. Whilst this reduces the risk of default and delay on the contract, it does pose an additional risk of non-communication or worse still non-compliance between the separate components of the design. The risk that the Link would damage the environment was very much in the consciousness of the project initiators from the outset (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). This may be because Denmark and Sweden are traditionally active in the conservation sphere, place emphasis on sustainable development and have the worlds tightest controls on offshore construction. Or it could be as a result of strong lobby-group pressure which raised concerns regarding the potential environmental impacts of the Link (American University, 2005). Whichever it may be, the initiators committed, with some spurring on, to the creation of a project which was as much environmentally friendly as possible. The potential bad publicity and financial losses from environmental damage was something which the initiators wanted to avoid. Alternative Approaches: There were few alternative approaches to the Oresund Link project, given the set parameters of joining Sweden and Denmark and creating value (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). The opportunity to link Malmo and Copenhagen metropolitan areas implied long-term, quantifiable value creation. One alternative may have been the Danish city Elsinore and Swedish Helsingborg, which are closer than Copenhagen and Malmo across the Sound, however the initiators believed that more benefit would be derived by joining two large cities and offering a connection near Copenhagen Airport to benefit air travelers (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Alternatives to the 3-part project were also few. This is because the land under the Sound was not even. As such, it would not be possible to build a bridge which spanned the whole sound nor a tunnel without incurring extra cost. Scope Management Project Definition: The project offered the following opportunities for the project initiators: Create stronger trade and investment links between Denmark and Sweden as two nations Create further integration between continental Europe and Scandinavia Provide an alternative transport mechanism crossing the Sound so as to increase the efficiency of trade and business and leisure travel Develop the Malmo-Copenhagen metropolitan area into one of the leading hubs in Europe Offer a symbolic and impressive structure to the two nations The overall objective, by which the success of the project might be gauged, was, as stipulated in the treaty, to construct a Link which was ecologically motivate, technically possible and financially reasonable to prevent any detrimental effects to the environment. The scope of the project would include: Tender for the design of the Link Construction of the Link Construction and development of the surrounding areas Time Management: Unlike other mega-projects such as sites for the Olympic Games, the time was not especially short for the Oresund link. The initiators evidently wanted to keep it as short as possible, to capitalize on the growing links in Europe and to provide the service to consumers as quickly as possible. Additionally, by minimizing time, the two states could attempt to reduce cost overrun. The initial time span was set at 10 years from the signing of the treaty in 1991 (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Quality Management: Quality was seen as perhaps the most important parameter to be satisfied in the project, above cost and time. The consortium was charged with ensuring that the quality of the Link met all European safety and structural standards (Eurocodes) (Kjaer, 2001). In addition it was stipulated that in terms of safety, The Link should be no more dangerous than using the national roads or railroads (Kjaer, 2001). The Link also had to improve transport time across the Sound. A very important parameter set for the designers and constructors was to limit the environmental impact of the Link. Cost Management: The budget for the construction cost was set at 13.9billon DKK or 2.4billion USD in 1990 prices (Kjaer, 2001). The consortium was charged with the financing, budgeting and planning. Since the Consortium was owned by the Swedish and Danish governments the financial resources, within reason, were not as constraining a factor as the quality objective. Furthermore, the fact that project was financed outside of state budgets by the consortium meant it was not subject to restrictions on resource allocation by the respective governments. Project Phases: Development Design Selection of the Link As we mentioned in the precedent chapter, after the Swedish and Danish government set up a 50:50 joint venture Øresundsbro Konsortiet in 1992, the company then organized a design competition for the bridge in early 1993. The competition took over for 2 months; the result came out in July that year with two entirely different bridge concepts chosen by the owner for further discussion before the final decision taken: -Group ASOs two-level, mainly steel, structure, with the motorway placed above the railway, ASO Group was initiated by Arup(specialized in structural engineering and who has carried out the Sydney Opera House and the Pompidou Center in Paris) and formed as well with SETEC (France), Gimsing Madsen and ISC (both Denmark), Tyrà ©ns (Sweden), and with Georg Rotne (Denmark) as architect to the Group; A single-level, mainly concrete, bridge, with the motorway between the two railway tracks, developed by the ØLC consortium. They both had a cable-stayed main span. Following the awards, as to make an easier and wiser decision for the selection of designer, a continuous scheme designs were prepared to confirm the concepts developed during the short competition period, along with the consultants worked with the Owner to develop the project and get ready for the construction phase. Thus the further design process can be defined as: Consultations with authorities to obtain their approval establish a design basis and a contract strategy set up administrative procedures develop the design in some detail prepare tender documents Whereas it turned out that ASOs strong and robust design concept was safely carried through this whole design process with only very few and insignificant modifications. Tender documents were issued for proposals from both semi-final winners- ASO and ØLC in December 1994, for two contracts for each: one for the approach spans, and the other for the cable-stayed spans. The tenders were returned in June 1995, and after the evaluation, the single contract was signed with Sundlink Contractors in November 1995 for the whole of ASO Groups two-level design for the bridge. The other two main contracts one for Dredging and Reclamation and one for the Tunnel had been let during the summer, and several coast-to-coast contracts were let during 1997-98 for the railway and for various installations such as SCADA / traffic control, communications, toll system and the terminal area. Design and Construct Contract Strategy The Owner had early decided to let the contracts as design-and-construct contracts, but modified so as to safeguard the conceptual designs that had been prepared. In essence the contracts were for detailed design and construction. As we have emphasized that such a Design Construction contract allowed avoiding any possible incompatibilities caused by different designer and constructor so that Owner were able to minimize the risks in this aspect. According to the contract documents, we can clearly identify the principles behind the Owners contract strategy which included: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Detailed design-and-build à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A 100 years service life à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Application of well-known technology à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Control and documentation of quality à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Division of risks attributable to ground and weather conditions and obtaining permits. The contract documents were written expressly for the project, and defined the Owners requirements regarding function, aesthetics, safety, and environmental protection. Everything required to fulfill those requirements was included in the Contractors scope of work, with only specified duties on the Owner. The Contractor was responsible for the detailed design as well as for the construction of the work, and was given considerable freedom regarding the means and methods of doing his work which is also a factor key for the success of this mega project. In essence the Owner specified what the Contractor should achieve, and the Contractor determined how to achieve it. The Contractor was responsible for supervising his own work and for providing documentary evidence that he had done so and that the quality of the work he had done was of the standard required by the Contract. The Owner monitored the Contractors performance but this did not relieve the Contractor of his obligations under the contract. This contract strategy led to several special documents being included in the tender documents issued to the bidders, in particular definition drawings, an illustrative design, reference conditions, and quality system requirements. The definition drawings described the design features, geometry, and materials that should be retained in the Contractors design, and at the same time defined the limits within which he had the freedom to choose. The illustrative design showed the bidders, for information only, a comprehensive design that fulfilled the Owners requirements. Risk Assessment So as to minimize the possible risks could ever take place during the construction phase, the Owner assigned ASO as the developer of the Operational Risk Assessment of the entire Øresund link. But since ASO itself was involved in it, the process would benefit from the contribution of external reviewers, so Professor Tendrup Pedersen from the Danish Technical University was appointed to review the marine aspects and Arup to review the remainder. As far as we know, it is the first time such a comprehensive risk analysis has been undertaken during the design of a major fixed link. A fully quantified risk assessment of the human safety and traffic delay risks was carried out for a comprehensive list of hazards: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ fire à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ explosion à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ train collisions and derailments à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ road accidents à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ ship collisions and groundings à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ aircraft collisions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ toxic spillages à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ environmental loads beyond design basis. Initially, the assessment attempted solely to identity the risks beyond those of typical stretches of motorway and railway on mainland Denmark or Sweden. However, it soon became obvious that this approach could be improved by considering total risks and being able to compare the Links risks with international risk acceptance criteria. We found out that the risk assessment was carried out along with the design process and influenced several design decisions, the most significant being the size of the bridge pier foundations to withstand ship impact, the realignment of the main shipping channel to reduce groundings, and the provision of passive fire protection on the tunnel walls and ceilings.

Healthy Fast Food Essay -- Essays on Fast Food

It is nearly impossible to turn on the television or radio and not be hit with advertisements introducing the latest fast food trend – fresh and healthy food options. More often, the media bombards us with slogans such as Subway’s common pitch to â€Å"eat fresh† or McDonald’s million-dollar advertisement campaign to try the new fruit and walnut salad. Attention has made an abrupt turn from the greasy, deep-fried originals at the fast food chains to more health conscious food choices. Even a documentary of a man named Morgan Spurlock made headlines and won awards when he ate McDonald’s three times a day for a month and publicized the effects through a movie called Super Size Me. Shortly after Super Size Me caught high publicity attention, McDonald’s has introduced three â€Å"garden fresh salads.† Other popular fast food chains were not far behind the healthy menu options McDonald’s has offered, and soon numerous salad, yogurt, fruit, and grilled chicken food items popped up on every fast food menu. The message is simple; people are becoming too fat due to the consumption of fast food. Therefore, obesity and the demand for fresh, quick food service have increased the popularity of health conscious food selections on fast food menus.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Obesity, especially child obesity, is becoming more of an epidemic concern among society today and commonly linked to fast food. Recent data suggest that nearly fifteen percent of U.S. youngsters and almost one-third of adults are obese; and everyday nearly one-third of these U.S. children aged four to nineteen eat fast food. Yale University obesity researcher Kelly Brownell said, â€Å"Fast food contributes to increased calorie intake and obesity risk in children† (CBS News). No wonder parents are becoming concerned with the options children have when facing a fast food menu. Parent complaints are not enough of influence to entice the big-ticket fast food joints to make a healthy switch, however, lawsuits is. The nation's obesity epidemic has focused attention on fast-restaurants, and while recent class-action lawsuits attempting to blame McDonald's Corp. for making people fat have failed, many chains have begun offering healthier fare in fear of lawsuits (CBS News). A growing concern with on-the-go food consumers is the freshness and dietary guidelines that go into their diet. Tight schedules make people spend m... ...r, are not the causes for the change – it just happens to fit in perfectly with the scenario. Obesity and freshness have provoked a new health trend in fast food, and it is no secret with all the advertisements. So dare to super size an order of healthy fast food – a once considered oxymoron now becoming more of a reality. â€Å"Diet Trends Today.† May 20, 2004. Blog Spot. June 25, 2005 http://ffood.blogspot.com/ â€Å"Fast Food Linked to Child Obesity.† January 5, 2003. CBS News. June 25, 2005 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml â€Å"Fast Food Trends Analyzed.† April 11, 2005. Biz Community. June 25, 2005 http://www.biz-community.com/Article/196/87/6281.html Martin, Andrew. â€Å"What’s Next for Fast Food? McTofu?† June 15, 2005. Chicago Tribune. June 25, 2005 http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/chitribts/20050615/ts_chicagotrib/whatsnextforfastfoodmctofu Solomon, Jesi. â€Å"Healthy Fast Food.† February 2005. Star Chefs. June 25, 2005 http://starchefs.com/features/trends/healthy_fast_food/index.shtml â€Å"The Next McDonald’s?† December 2002. Springwise Newsletter. Trend Watcher.com. June 25, 2005 http://www.springwise.com/newbusinessideas/2002/12/next_mcds.html

Archetype “Cinderella” and “Rough-Faced Girl” Comparison Essay

Throughout Native American culture, they have always used everything and not waste anything. For example if they hunt a buffalo, the Indians make sure everything from the buffalo is used. They use the skin for clothing, bones for tools, and meat for food. Everyone is equal except the wise old men and the shaman. Native Americans use the nature to guide them through the day. They know the meaning of respect and never rebelled against authority. Indians never cared how their clothing looks to their peers; they always wore what was given to them. The American culture of the 1950s is the exact opposite of the Native Americans. The years after World War Two were generally prosper and stable for the middle-class Caucasian. The United States manage to turn the post war into a consumers culture with a snap of a finger. During immediate boom of consumerism, suburbs, and economy it overshadowed the some poverty. This rising prosperity didnt apply to everyone. During this time everyone was obsessed with consumer goods such as automobiles, television, stereos, dishwasher, etc. There was subculture of greasers that originated in the 1950s. They tend to own expensive classical hot rod and motorcycles. Greasers tend to be very conscious about their appearance. They wear leather jackets and comb back their hair with an abundance of hair wax. Rock and roll is the music of choice for Greasers. These two comparisons are very similar to Cinderella and the Rough-Faced Girl. There are major differences between the Disneys Cinderella and the Rough-Faced Girl. In the Rough-Face Girl, it describes his society and its surrounding with a prominence on Nature, not on affluence by possessions. Pictures of the sun, moon, stars, plants, trees, and animals are painted in the wigwams showing what the Invisible Being finds significant in his village. The Disney version everyone is consumed with wearing the extravagant dresses and jewelry. The fairy godmother did her magic and changed her tattered clothes into an elegant dress. Oochigeaskw is brave when she walked into the wilderness and made clothes from the accessories of the forest. Every girl that wanted to marry the Invisible Being wore pleasant clothes to impress his sister. The sister of the Invisible Being was too smart for that. She wanted someone that can see past the clothes and appreciate themselves. A carriage was created from a pumpkin by the godmother. It was made to take  Cinderella to the princes Ball. However, Oochigeaskw had to walk for miles to get to the Invisible mans cabin. In the Disneys version of Cinderella, the prince was intrigued by the glass slipper and went looking for the person that fits it. There was no such thing in the Rough-Faced Girl because it dealt with knowledge one possesses. Disneys version of Cinderella is related to the developed nations society because people base their decision for a companion with exaggerated expectations. Usually monarchies in Europe have this kind of attitude towards marriage. They want their children to marriage into another royal house to keep the power within their grasp. They frown upon the lower class. In England, the queen was obviously upset when Charles married Diana. She was a kindergarten teacher and from the lower class. The Rough-Faced Girl is related to countries that practice arrange marriages because it is about the well-being of the family than the artificial aspiration to live a better life. The Rough-Face Girl, Oochigeaskw saw the remarkable beauty of the earth and skies spreading unlike all the other villagers. This obviously shows how she also appreciates nature through the beautiful qualities. Oochigeaskw did not need any kind of magic such as the fairy godmother to ask the Invisible Being to wed her. In this particular tale, the assessment of knowledge is based on the wisdom of the Invisible Being. The Invisible Beings sister tests the women by asking three questions about the Invisible Being. The subject of these questions is essential because it shows his values based on wisdom rather than superficial looks. The first question is to see if the women are honest. The two sisters of Oochigeaskw lied to the Invisible Beings sister when she asked them â€Å"Do you see him?† Oochigeaskw tells the sister the truth by saying I do indeed. Then the sister of the Invisible Being asks what is his sled-string? Oochigeaskw said it is the rainbow. Finally the last questio n was what is his bow-string? It is the Spirits Road-the Milky way answered Oochigeaskw. The essence of these questions and their related answers are based on Nature. The individual must be intelligent and have the wisdom to appreciate the earth as a gift without taking advantage of it. This was a reasonable test based on what is inside the heart of the individual to see if she is good by the natures results. The sister of the Invisible Being is a decent moderator this because she had  to go through many women to find her brother a wife. She judged the women on their wisdom to see inner beauty and not the exterior of the person. Basically the Invisible Being uses his judgment to choose his mate by not using beauty. It continues as Oochigeaskw takes a bath in the lake and transforms back to her old self knowing that she will get married to the one and only Invisible Being. That change and recognition of her beauty is only stressed after the test and not before. The marriage between Oochigeaskw and Invisible being is based on her inner beauty and wisdom. However, in the Disney version of Cinderella illustrates how beauty depends on the exterior. For example, Cinderella is much more beautiful than her stepsisters. The prince judges beauty on the size of a womans foot. There is always the fairy godmother to make everything pleasing to the eye. The United States society has a hard time seeing people for their uniqueness; however we prefer if everyone was bundle together by similar quality. These standards are not only normal, but enviable by most people. Personality and intelligence is overridden by beauty in the tale. That is another example of the way society has portrayed women. The Native American is more intelligent than what that Europeans and other settlers think. When the European came to the US and started to destroy the natural goodness of their surroundings the Native Americans knew there will be trouble in the future. For example in the Gulf Coast, people got rid of wetlands and built houses. That ruined the natural barrier to guard against the weather such as a hurricane. Now you have seen the differences between Native American culture and the American Culture.

The Future of Quebec Province or Nation essays

The Future of Quebec Province or Nation essays The idea of any separation movement is an emotional one, and the secession movement by the Canadian province of Quebec is no exception. Quebec is a primarily French-speaking province of 7 million that has been frustrated with being part of the primarily Anglo Canada. It has held two independence referendums and in 1995 nearly voted to officially split from Canada. It is an emotional issue for both nationalists and separatists. It hurts both sides to know that they each see the nation differently. Nationalists see a Canada that includes Quebec; a province whose differences the Canadian government has respected ever since Quebec was gained from France by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. For separatists, the nation is Quebec, and only Quebec. They feel culturally isolated and wish to be politically isolated as well. For separatists, secession is a matter of pride. This is a province whose peoples pride and culture has felt threatened since the eighteenth century, when at the end of the Seven Years War the people of Quebec were handed over by France to Britain, as if they were property to be owned and traded. Although the people were not mistreated or oppressed by Britain, it was a bitter feeling then and remains so today. The provinces sad motto is Je me souviens which means I remember, and it appears on every Quebec license plate and is inscribed in flowers in Quebec City. It refers to a popular poem in which the author remembers being born happy under France, and raised unhappy under Great Britain. Still, is this unhappiness so deep, is the separation felt so strongly that the province needs to be even more separate? Why exactly do Quebecois feel threatened? One of their deepest complaints has to do with the protection of their language, the French language. It seems that from as far back as 1763 both the French and the English have been waiting for the other side to assimilat ...