Global Positioning System: The Social Issues Surrounding the Use of GPS Technology

By Samuel Holmes and Camilla Sutton

GPS Background and Development

GPS is a space-based radio navigation system consisting of 30 satellites that provide precise position, velocity, and timing information to receivers on the ground that can simultaneously obtain the signal of four or more satellites (Iqbal and Lim 2008). It was developed by the United States Department of Defense primarily for military use. The technology played a major role in the 1991 Gulf War, as U.S troops used it for navigation on land, sea, and in the air for targeting of bombs and for on board missile guidance (Pham 2011).
In 1987, as a result of the Korean Airline disaster, President Reagan announced that it would be available for civilian use once the system was fully operational (Pham 2011). It became fully integrated and available for civilian use after President Clinton announced it permanent end of intentional degradation of GPS signal to the public (Pham 2011). GPS consists of several components. The space operating component consists of 30 satellites that transmit one-way signal that give the GPS satellites position and time. The control component consists of worldwide monitor and control stations, and the user component consists of GPS receiver equipment that receives the signals from the GPS satellites and uses the transmitted information to calculate the user’s three-dimensional position and time (Pham 2011). The U.S. military still uses GPS, but the commercial use has been widely adopted by civilian for recreational, navigation, construction, tracking, illegal activities, etc. Today, GPS devices have gone from larger-size to pocket-size, from exclusive military use to commercial usage, and from most expensive to cost effective.

Negative GPS Social Issues Affecting Society

Even though GPS technology has had tremendous impacts on society since it released for civilian use, there are some major issues surrounding the use of GPS devices. Issues such as privacy, warfare, criminal use of the device, and driving distractions are current controversies surrounding the use of GPS devices.
Privacy

Privacy is one of the major issues of GPS technology. The ability to accurately locate or track one’s location has led some people to question the use of GPS. Law enforcement officers, for example, use the device to track and collect data about a person without permission. The U.S. Supreme decision this past January held that Americans have constitutional protections against GPS surveillance by law enforcement. In Jones v. USA case, the court ruled that GPS tracking is a “search,” thus long term GPS surveillance of a suspect’s car violated the Fourth Amendment (Friedman 2012). According to the case, FBI agents mounted a GPS tracking device on a car and then tracked the position of the vehicle every ten seconds for a full month without court oversight. “If police are allowed to plant GPS devices wherever they please, that’s essentially blanket permission for widespread, ongoing police surveillance without any court supervision,” noted Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Legal Director Cindy Cohn (EFF.org 2012).
Additionally, in another case several years ago, a suspicious wife placed a GPS device in her husband’s vehicle to monitor his routes. Data obtained by the device led to filling of murder charges by the police in the death of the couple’s twelve year old baby sitter (Iqbal and Lim 2008). The wife placed the device on her husband’s truck a few days earlier before the incident because she suspected him of having an affair. He was initially charged with felony count of reckless endangerment, however based on the data obtained from the GPS unit the charges were raised to second degree murder as the data revealed that the defendant did not take the girl to see horses at all. He drove around other roads instead and spent more than three hours with her behind an abandoned home (Iqbal and Lim 2008). The use of GPS device in the case might have been helpful to the outcome of the case, but the wife’s act of monitoring her husband’s routes using GPS was a violation of his privacy even though they are legally married. These cases are typical examples of some of the privacy issues surrounding the use of GPS and the power of the technology to track and collect data on a person’s movement without his or her permission.

Warfare:

GPS enabled bombs and missiles are some of the most deadly weapons used in modern warfare. These weapons have taken away human lives and have also destroyed property, causing billion of dollars for aftermath reconstruction, family losing love ones and creating animosity between nations. The results from the Gulf war and other most recent wars fought by the United States and other developed nations with well-equipped military are clear evidences. It is estimated that about 1000 GPS receivers were issued during the Gulf war, and by the end of the war 9000 were in use (Baijal and Arora). Modern weapons such as Cruise missiles and the Multi Lunched Rocket System (MLRS) are designed to use GPS data as input for targeting and guidance. For instance, the Cruise missile accurately hit it targets from large standoff distances using multichannel GPS receivers to precisely determine their location while constantly in flight (Baijal and Arora). Additionally, the U.S. Army through the Exploitation of DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) for Guidance Enhancement (EDGE) program developed a 2000 lb glide bomb, which uses GPS—enabling it to accurately hit its target 11 miles from its drop point guided by four DGPS based stations about 1000 nautical miles away (Baijal and Arora). Though GPS is widely available to civilians, it stated that the U.S. government still has full control over the technology. As a result, the government has the authority to disable or intentionally degrade certain features.
The Abuses of GPS Use by Drug Dealers and Pirates

Another social issue is criminals’ use of GPS technology to transact illegal business. Drug dealers or cartels are using GPS devices to transact business. For instance, drug dealer’s use GPS to drop the drugs on a specific location and record the location on a GPS device .They inform business partners that have their own GPS device where to pick up the drugs (Norman 1998). It is also possible that sex offenders or stalkers use GPS to know a victim’s location at all times by hidden GPS units under the victim’s vehicle.
GPS has also gotten in the hands of pirates. With continuous attacks on vessels on the Gulf of Aden, which is the southern gateway to the heavily traffic Suez Canal; Somali pirates have become more sophisticated by using GPS to track and navigate to vessels. “The most important things for Somali pirates are getting relevant information regarding merchant vessel that they wish to hijack...they use navigational technologies in their daily operation”, said Andrew Mwangura of East African Seafarers Assistance Program (Underleider 2012). The Oceans Beyond Piracy cited in a study that the global economic impact of piracy attacks for marine vessels is estimated between $7 to $12 billion dollars annually, of which security equipment consists of $2 million and a regional economic cost of $1.25 million (OBP 2011). Additionally, with the aid of GPS and other hi-tech devices, attacks on vessels have also led to severe humanitarian crisis in the region and prolonged civil unrest. Ransom collected from hijacked vessels is helping to finance wars in the region (Middleton 2008). As of January 2012, Somali pirates currently have 10 vessels and 159 people under hostage (ICC-CCS 2012).
Driving distractions is another social issue of GPS technology inn society. Like cell phones, using the GPS while driving could lead to an accident especially when inputting address data or using a sophisticated one to search for nearby food or gas stations. In 2008, a survey found that GPS devices contributed to 30,000 crashes in the United Kingdom (Schulman 2011). It also cited that over million drivers change directions dangerously while following GPS directions. Additionally, a Dutch study found that GPS devices increased traffic accident casualties and “purposely put the driver in to a situation of unacceptable social behavior” (Schulman 2011). GPS could be used for positive purposes, but once such devices get in the hands of bad guys, it becomes a serious problem.

Future GPS Issues

There is an ongoing debate about a proposed technology that would have the potential to disrupt GPS signals, affecting its reliability and functionality. The debate suggests that if the technology is deployed, it is likely that all GPS signals-receiving equipment will suffer signal degradation ranging from mild to severe (Pham 2011). Lightsquared, a technology company, is planning to build a nationwide 4G-LTE wireless broadband utilizing spectrum allocated for mobile satellite service, which will transmit signals in a radio band immediately adjacent to GPS frequencies (Pham 2011). “The downstream industries that rely on professional and high precision GPS technology for their own business operations would face serious disruption to their operations should interference occur, and U.S. leadership and innovation would suffer“, cited Nam Pham of NDP Consulting (Pham 2011). The US GPS Council, Lightsquared Company, and other key stakeholders are currently conducting a test of GPS equipment under different scenarios. Lightsquared is claiming that it has bought the right to operate at the controversial bandwidth.

Positive Impacts of GPS on Society

Although there are some negative issues of GPS, the technology has also impacted society positively. GPS has completely revolutionized many industries and necessities such as our agriculture, aviation, environment, marine, public safety and disaster relief, rail industry, recreation, roads/highways and space. Overall, some of the most common positive impacts that Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have had on our society range from transportation, navigation, tracking, rescue facility management construction and cost economic benefits has been phenomenal.

Transportation and Navigation

With regards to transportation, since its conception, GPS has made planning road trips and family vacations much more easy and enjoyable. Compared to 10 years ago, most people would not even think of purchasing a vehicle, or much less taking a family vacation without GPS. Whether you are travelling locally, across country, or globally, you will get accurate directions and constant monitoring of your current position.
Planning a road trip is much easier with GPS system because the device can determine the distance from starting location to destination, telling a user exactly how much time should be planned for reaching a desired destination. It is more convenient and can save time and money because it eliminates the need for paper maps that were previously used to navigate from state to state. The GPS system can also prevent the likelihood that a traveler will get lost because a missed turn can be corrected by re-routing a driver to an alternate route to reach the desired destination (Written 2E 2005). When traveling on a family vacation, GPS can provide points of interest information to help locate family favorites such as restaurants, malls, parks and movie theaters. In addition to other safety features, in case of an accident or an emergency, a GPS can direct a driver to the nearest hospital. Furthermore, to add to the convenience of a family transportation, GPS navigation systems available on the market today are portable and can be used outside of vehicles for locating other points of interest or transferred for use between family vehicles (Pham 2011).
Family Benefits: Tracking and Rescue
In addition to safer transportation, the tracking of a particular person or object utilizing GPS is a feature that can be integrated for human safety concerns. This form of tracking has become extremely common in recent years and the possibilities of using GPS for this feature are infinite. You can track vehicles, children, pets, valuables, elderly people, cargo, etc. Global Tracking Technologies, a web-based GPS technology company, provides innovative location based services and tracking to vulnerable members of our society such as children and the elderly. Today, with the help of GPS, parents and family members have peace of mind knowing they can locate loved ones at all times. The small lightweight GPS personal tracking devices can fit almost anywhere—in a backpack, purse, coat pocket and in a family car. A similar GPS device called Tagg, produced by The Pet Tracker by Snaptracs, Inc. can be attached to the collar of a pet to keep track in case it is missing (Becker 2011).
Moreover, GPS also benefits people with disabilities. Assistive GPS technology devices offer benefits to persons who travel that are disabled, hard of hearing or visually impaired. The GPS Ranger® multimedia tour guide device introduced in July 2008, is just one example of GPS technology currently being utilized on public lands to assist persons with disabilities (Writing 2E 2005). Interpretive content can be delivered in sign language and captioning so that the deaf visitors can benefit from the same independent, high-tech tour experience that other visitors enjoy. Audio description and audio directional cues can be programmed for the visually impaired as well (Pham 2011).

Commercial Benefits: Tracking and Business Analysis
GPS can become an important business tool in improving the productivity, and eventually the profitability of a business enterprise. For instance, Kentucky Fried Chicken uses GPS to analyze their competition and decide where to build new restaurants (Writing 2E). Business across the economic spectrum from mid-sized manufactures to large service providers own or lease vehicles used to carry out various functions of companies’ operations. Companies with large fleets of vehicles and distribution and sales network use GPS to dispatch trucks for deliveries using shorter routes, which provide savings on fuel costs and on time delivery. GPS also provides real-time supply chain visibility by enabling both the customer and the transportation service provider to track and trace the location of freight or packages at all times (Pham 2011). Vehicle tracking, which is one of the fastest growing applications for GPS technology, helps increase mobile productivity and safety while enabling enterprises to reduce labor and fuel expenses.

GPS Economic Benefits

The GPS industry creates jobs and economic activities which spur economic growth. In fact, the advent of GPS and its commercialization has delivered enormous benefits to society and the U.S. economy overall. Today, there are more than 3.3 million jobs that rely on GPS technology. GPS technology creates direct and indirect positive spillover effects such as emissions reductions from fuel savings, health and safety gains, time savings and improved public safety including national defense (Pham 2011).
In addition to being vital to our U.S. National Security and logistics supply chain management, two examples of how GPS applications have improved business operations and best practices in farming and engineering construction are below:
Precision Agriculture: The GPS application is used for farm planning, field mapping, soil sampling, tractor guidance, crop scouting, and variable rate applications of seeds, fertilizer and pesticides. The GPS guidance equipment enables more precise application of chemicals during critical planting and harvesting months. GPS technology provides crop farming with cost savings on labor, capitol and raw materials.
Engineering Construction (Heavy Civil Surveying and Mapping): GPS equipment increased productivity in the construction industries by providing accurate machine guidance and measurement technology. The technology improves accuracy and increases efficiency in related functions such as surveying, excavating, grading, sub-grading, urban planning, and jobsite safety.
Conclusion
Like many other technologies that have impacted society, there are always positive and negative issues. The paper discussed the origin of GPS, which was exclusively developed for military use and later released to the public. It also discussed in detail some of the major issues surrounding the use of GPS such as privacy and driving distractions. Lastly, it discussed some future issues that might lead to the disruption of GPS functionality and concluded with some of the positive impacts of GPS technology in our society today.

References

Baijal, Rajat and Arora, K. Manoj. GPS: A Military Perspective. GISDevelopment. 1-7

Becker, Karen. (2011 September). GPS Pet Tracking System: Pros and Cons. Mercola.com. Pg. 1-3.

Friedman, Barry. (2012 January). Privacy, Technology and Law. New York Times. Pg.1-3

International Commerce Commission-Commercial Crime Services. Piracy News & Figures. Icc-ccs.org.

Iqbal, Usman Muhammad and Lim, Samsung (2008). Legal Implications of GPS Vulnerabilities. Journal of International Commercial Law and Technology, Vol.3.Issue 3. 178-187.

Middleton, Roger. (2008) Piracy in Somalia. Threatening Global Trade, Feeding Local Wars. The Chatham House.

Norman, Geoffrey. (1998 May). Bearing Straight. Forbes, 161(9), 396.

Oceans Beyond Piracy. (2011). The Economic Cost of Piracy. 1-2. Oceansbeyondpiracy.org

Pham, D. Nam. (2011 June). The Economic Benefits of Commercial GPS Use in the U.S. and the Costs of Potential Disruption. NDP Consulting Publication. 1-18.

Schulman, A. N. (2011). GPS and the End of the Road. New Atlantis: A Journal of Technology & Society, 4-32.

Underleider, Neal. (2011 June). Somali Pirates Go High Tech. Fast Company. 1-5

Writing 2E. (2005). Social Impact of the Global Positioning System (GPS). 2

Happy 164 Birthday Mama Liberia!

As Liberia celebrates its 164 birthday today (July 26, 2011), I would like to first congratulate the people of Liberia for their effort and support towards the current peace building process. They have truly demonstrated for the past 5 years to the international community and their African neighbors that they never want to go back to their chaotic past—which was devastated by senseless and bloody civil wars for 14 years. I hope by this time all Liberians have realized that war is not the solution to the many social and economical problems the nation have faced over the past decades.

There is a long way to go as the nation progresses through reconciliation and post-war reconstruction. But remember, united we stand to build a vibrant nation that was once called “The Sweet Land of Liberty.”

I encourage all Liberians to be hopeful about the future and continue to rally around the present and future government to help rebuild the future of Liberia. The past need not repeat itself. We need not let it hold us back. Other great nations have gone through the same circumstances and have come out of it successfully. We too can do the same. I am strongly confident that we can. This is the time that every Liberian contribution (time, talents, and treasures) is important in helping to rebuild the public (health, education, research and development, and other social programs, etc.) and private (domestics businesses, investments, foreign trade, etc.) sectors of our nation.

Additionally, I would like to congratulate Her Excellence Madam Sirleaf, President of Liberia, for her leadership and hard work over the past years. Despite the struggles, her leadership has helped to restore peace, economic developments and good governance to a nation that was once ruined by chronic civil conflicts that displaced millions of Liberians. Well done on your achievements over the past years. I wish you and other political leaders good luck in the upcoming general presidential election in October. I hope and pray that whoever wins will put the nation and its people first rather than his or her selfish political interest—one which has kept the nation from moving forward from 1990 to 2003.

I would also like to thank the United Nation, its donors, as well as the working men and women who have worked tirelessly to bring peace to one of its first founding member states—Liberia. Your effort is priceless.

I wish all Liberian a Happy Independence Day! Let us continue to keep our nation and its people in our prayers.

God Bless Liberia and the rest of the world.

A Response to: If a company uses a foreign supplier with cheap labor that still produces a good product is that bad ethics or good business?

It is not unethical under certain circumstances if a U.S based company chooses to buy its products from a foreign supplier that uses cheap labors. For instance, why will a company want to pay $20 per hour to a U.S based labor for producing the same product that a labor right across the border or in another trade pact country could produce for $ 5 per hour? You do the math. Though we must also consider transportation and other associated cost involved for transporting the goods, it is cost effective to produce or buy the good from overseas.

If the supplier is not using child labor to produce its goods and if they are compensating their employees well based on the nation’s pay scales and is also obeying international human right laws, it is not unethical. However, if the supplier is violating human rights law, it is unethical because it against the core-values of the American society.

To stay competitive in today’s global market, a company will have to make use of those opportunities in order to compete with its competitors or else it will go bankrupt. Will you as a manager pay a higher price to a U.S. based supplier for the same quality goods that you can purchase from overseas for an affordable price? Good luck with that… because your competitors are possibly buying from an overseas market and giving their customers an affordable price on goods that you will be selling for a higher price.

Today’s educated consumers will rather buy from a company that provides quality and affordable price then buy the same items from a company that sells it for a higher cost. You will end up with a 90% discount to get those high price goods out of your warehouse.

Businesses are able to provide customers with lower cost if their overhead cost is reduced. No businesses with a high overhead cost can provide goods to customers for a cheaper cost…good luck with their bottom line if they did.

Over all, my point is not for businesses to exploit its customers or be unpatriotic, but they should make use of opportunities such as buying from foreign suppliers in order to stay competitive and provide reasonable price for consumers.

As the 2011 Presidential Election Progresses in Liberia

As all Liberians get ready for the upcoming general election, I would like to encourage everyone that is eligible, especially my fellow youths, to vote to make the right and God fearing choice to vote for an individual that loves our nation not because of its wealth, but for the good of its people and the nation in general. I encourage all Liberians to look back just 6 years ago and reflect on what happened in June, July and August of that year. After that, pause and think a moment about the following questions for the presidential candidate you wish to vote for: What had he or she done to help our nation before? Did she/he stay in the country to support the current elected government or help support education or other community programs to help Liberians after losing the previous election? What are her/his post-election plans if he/she loses? Who are his team members? Are they accountable, transparent, and have a past corruption free record—not necessarily government job record?

Most importantly, carefully read and reflect on her/his platform (outlined plans for the nation). What economics, social, health and environmental and educational impact it will have on the nation in six years? What are her/his financial and leadership capabilities?—or does she/he wants to become president in order to build his/her own wealth? The power is all yours to make the smart choice that will move our nation forward.

To my fellow youths that are eligible to vote, this is the time to change your future. Please do not base your judgments on popularity and false rhetoric. Think twice before you vote because whatever choice you make in October will affect your future for six years or in years to come. God bless Mama Liberia and the rest of the world.

LOOKING BACK AT 2010: ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR ME

As we enter the New Year, I would like to thank God first for all his blessings and kindnesses upon my life. HE is my light and salvation. It is because of Him I have come this far by faith...and I am thankful that He stood by me at all times. 2010 was truely another great year of my life and studies in Texas,USA.

I would like to thank the Orchard's family (sponsor family---Dave, Marie and chidren, aunts and uncles, cousins, nephews) for their support toward to my stay and education in the United States. This is my third year living you and I am delighted as always to be part of this wonderful and loving family.

I also want to thank these special families,who are Dave and Marie friends, for their support. They are: the Johnson's family(Laurie and Rick), the Sutton's (Mark and Gail), the Wilkins' (Bonnie and Jim), the Keddy's (Peggy and Charlie), the Schnieder's (Kay and George)and the Lozano's (Patti and Alberto), the Powells' (Cecilia and Ernest)and other Deer Field neigbors. I have achieved great things because of your help.

Also, I would like to say a special thank you to my family in Liberia, my mom, dad, brothers and sisters and relatives for their prayers and words of encouragement. Hope they are having a wonderful holidays.

This year would not have been another great year for me without the above mentioned people prayer, educational and financial support. I would not have achieved the following this year without you. Thank you for being there for me...as always.

• Graduated from Lone Star College -CyFair in May with an associate degree and two professional certificates in Logistics Management;

• Graduated from the Lone Star College System Collegiate Leadership Institute (CLI) in April with a Leadership Certificate;

• Recognized by NASA in May for the second time for participating in a project that is currently up in space at the International Space Station;

• Went to nationals in Surprise, Arizona in April for the second time and won the National Copper Division Tennis Championship Title with my college tennis team;

• Worked as a Student Outreach and Retention (SOAR) leader on campus (as a way to give back some of my time and talents) and helped orient 2200 new students in the summer and approximately another 120 in the fall;

• Received the Lone Star College-CyFair Outstanding Club Member of the Year Award

• Inducted as Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society member;

• Volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Adopt-a-Highway, Adopt-a-Soldier, Speical Olympics Clinic, Adopt-an-Angel project, Helped collect gift items and donation for St. Dominic Home Retired Priests, and ran in the 2010Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure;

• Won my fifth singles championship titles at Lone Star College-CyFair Fall Invitational Tennis Tourney in November

• Served as president for the Catholic Student Union (CSU) and president for the Supply Chain Industry and Distribution Organization (SIDO) on campus;

• Have one more class at CyFair to obtain a second degree in associate of arts (AA), which I hope to complete in the summer;

• Finally, ended this fall semester with a 3.7 GPA (semester) and an accumulative GPA of 3.56 and 111 college credits.

I am proud of all my achievements this year.I am also very excited to start another college life at the University of Houston in January.

I wish you and your family a God filling New Year. Once again, thank you for your help.

2011 Resolution:

My primary resolutions this year are to continue to pray for world peace, love and humanity for places that are still undergoing internal and external instabilities.

SEE MY 2010 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MY DAYS AT LSC-CYFAIR AND OTHER RECENT PHOTOS ( at nationals and state tournaments, with family, at community service projects and at professional development events).

Dear Africa: A Commentary to the Ongoing Post Presidential Election Crisis in Ivory Coast, West Africa

Following the ongoing post presidential election crisis in Ivory Coast, West Africa...which currently has two presidents vowing to control the state, I hope and pray that the meeting today Dec 28 with Gbagbo and the three regional leaders from other African states will yield some solutions to the current crisis. Read more about the ongoing crisis.

Ivorians do not want to go back to another civil war. War is just not the solution to our many problems in Africa. Our major problems are the lack of accountability, transparency and reliability in the bureaucrats—which most often times lead to distrust in the government by the people. In any form/system of government, once the people distrust their leader—that nation is likely to fall into serious crisis. This has been the case with many post-war nations in Africa. In general, chronic corruption and the failure of most leaders to run the state justly—that is by reaching its power and economic developments in rural parts of the nation, has been one of the biggest causes of conflicts in Africa.

It makes me sad to see many of our African political leaders, who got their education from the western world, misusing what they have learned by bringing instability to their home countries rather than contributing constructively to help the nation. Is that what universities in the western world taught these leaders who have walked through the walls of great schools in the developed world? I beg to differ. I am currently attending university in the United States—studying Supply Chain and Logistics Tech, but none of my classes, nor the ones in liberal arts, have taught me to go back to my home country and disrupt the peace that many people are enjoying by negatively influencing my brothers and sisters, who are less educated, to fight against the current government in order to gain political power and do nothing for the nation—but to enrich myself and my family.

I think it is time for African leaders and students that are currently studying aboard in developed nations to rethink their role in society as college graduates. It is our educational duties as students and good citizens to contribute to the well being of society—specifically toward humanity. By contributing our time and talents and if possible our treasures, we will to help make the world a peaceful and better place for all.

If our African leaders can only promote education among the growing youth population and foster accountability and transparency in our government, Africa will rise. Our leaders also need to benchmark our economic development policies and capacity building strategies by looking at key players in today’s global economy—China is a good example—rising from being a developing nation to becoming one of the major players in the global economy.

So, why most leaders in Africa are power greed? I have been trying to find an answer to this question. However, I came up with this possible answer... I strongly believe that the answer is post-presidency insecurity due to the way they got in power (military often the case) or their political actions toward the public in general during their term in office... corruption and mismanagement of public funds and natural resources. It is often said that what goes around comes around; therefore, most African leaders, who have tasted power for several years, do not want to step down for fear that people who they have offended during their presidency might go after them.

Overall, Africans need to start thinking ahead. Our leaders need to see what others in the developed world are doing positively and adopt to a best practice strategy to help improve the lives of Africans be it from east to west or from north to south. All African nations need to rally around one another to help develop a vibrant economy, good roads network and transportation systems that enable the free flow of goods and services throughout the continent. This is not a one person or one nation task; it is every African responsibility. Our brothers and sisters in other African nations have suffered and are still suffering today because of some individuals’ selfish political will.

As we enter the New Year, it is time to shine our eyes, look back and think constructively on how best we can improve the well being of all Africans. We have the resources to do this, but we need the right people with God fearing hearts to manage these resources properly by accounting for every dollar received and putting the received revenues into programs that promotes economic developments, prosperity, and education for all people. We need leaders that love the continent not because of its wealth, but because of it people and the continent as a whole.

Some Possible Solutions

How can we move toward economically self-efficient, socially viable and environmentally sustainable society in years to come? African Union, ECOWAS and other trade blocs within Africa and the international community will have to assist in capacity building and economic developments in all African states to ensure the proper management of funds. Regional, religious, tribal and local leaders will all have to work together in all capacities to help create a vibrant economy by assisting the state government with the management of natural resources and public funds. An African Union development fund will also need to be set aside to help strengthen the economy of poorer nations on the continent. Every state will have to contribute somehow, either through human capital, financial capital and natural capital, to this fund in order to benefit from it. A board of trustees consisting of two representatives ( nominated by the president and confirmed by the senate from each state) from all African states should govern the allocation of this fund by ensuring that every dollar spent is accounted for and is approved by majority of the board for the right purpose.

We must also empower current college graduates to contribute what they have learned to help with the economic developments process. These students should be compensated well according to their academic level in order to avoid corruption and other malpractices. We must also encourage students that are studying overseas to come back home and help with the development process. We must also empower our educational institutions by providing all the necessary teaching resources to create first class learning environments in all African states. It is also important to invest in regional research institutions such as medical, technological and transportation, and other studies that will contribute findings to help improve the standard of living of citizens on the continent.

Most importantly, we must also invest in turning our own natural resources into finished goods, which will help to create possibly millions of jobs, rather than solely depending on imported goods or having foreign companies extract our resources and export them overseas. We must invest in clean agriculture technology to grow more food to feed the growing population and the workforce. We must also invest in good road networks and public transportation systems to create easy access for farmers to reach regional and local markets. Also, it is important to focus on major environmental issues such as safe drinking water, good air quality and the conservation of our natural resource for future generation.

Further, we must forgo the mentality that war is the only solution to our problems. For decades, it can clearly be stated that war has not taken us anywhere. It has led to millions of deaths, poor living conditions, hundreds of children undernourished and malnourished and increased dependent on foreign aid. Africans, this is the time for us to rise. Let’s say NO to WAR in every region, town and village. Also, let us learn to manage our own conflict without international intervention (they should be the last result), if one arises, from the onset before it becomes a major one.

Finally,I do understand that it is not easy to just come together as one people to achieve these above mentioned goals taking into consideration the size of our continent, the hundreds of different tribal languages and traditional practices, but it is the time now to start working toward it. Nothing comes easy—it takes people, hard work and self dedication and unity to achieve a common goal. If Europe with all its post internal conflicts or the United States with all it post civil conflicts can unite as one people today regardless of their political differences and heritage, we too can come together to rebuild our continent and unite as one people. We must all learn to compromise our tribal, religious and political differences for the sake of peace and the love of our people, the nation and the continent.

An Analysis on Confucius and the Analects

“Always keep in mind the age of your parents. Let this thought be both your joy and your worry,” writes Confucius, explaining to his disciple the responsibility of one’s relationship and dedication to parents (Analects 4:21). Confucius was a well respected and influential person in Chinese history. His parents died when he was a child, and he experienced severe hardships as an orphan during his childhood. As a result of the hardships he underwent, he started working at a much earlier age as an accountant and a livestock caretaker to support himself. He was a native son of duchy Lu, known today as Shandong Province, China (“Confucius” Current Event). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on Confucius cites that Confucius, being self-motivated and passionate about learning, taught himself in music and ancient history. He started teaching a group of disciples at age 20, and at 50 he became involved in politics. He served during the Duke Ding regime as Minister of Public Work and later Minister of Crime. However, he served a short term as a Minister of Crime and was forced into exile due to some political conflict between him and other government officials. His teachings are referred to today as Confucianism, which centers on the teaching that people should treat others with respect—Confucius’s golden rule—and they must not only better themselves, but also work to enrich the lives of others around them (“Confucius” The Stanford). Despite all the struggles that Confucius underwent during his early childhood, he devoted the remainder of his life teaching the moral and the social philosophical ideas of love, peace, wisdom and respect.

The “Analects,” which contains his teachings, conversations and exchanges with his disciples, was compiled by several generations of his students. It contains his teachings on subjects such as government, personal conduct, warfare, family values and the spirit. The original text was first translated into Latin and published in Paris in 1687, under the title “Confucius Sinarum Philosophus” (Spencer 1). Confucius’s teachings in the “Analects,” such as his emphasis on respecting and obeying parents and elders and education and study, are significant in understanding his ideology or philosophy.

Devotion to parents is one of the major hallmarks of Confucius’ teaching that is outlined in the “Analects.” He regards respect to parents and other family members as the most basic form of promoting the interest of others before one’s self interest. According to Confucius, “A man who respects his parents and his elderly would hardly be inclined to defy his superior” (Analects 1.2). Confucius also believed that parents and elderly persons are wiser and more experienced; therefore, having respect for them is the “root of humanity” (Analects 1.2). The phrase “root of humanity” possibly implies that being respectful to parents and elders forms the foundation of treating others with respect and love and self-discipline. This root of humanity starts from home because if one treats his or her parents and older siblings at home with respect, he or she will treat others the same way. The root of humanity also forms the basics of living in peace and harmony because respect brings love, which fosters peace.

Confucius also stressed the importance of family values with respect to obeying parents. For instance, when one of his disciples asked him about filial piety, which relates to family values, Confucius responded by saying, “Never disobey,” meaning be a servant to your parents; do whatever they tell you to do. He went on to say that “when your parents are alive, serve them according to the ritual” (Analects 2.5). The ritual he is referring to is Li, which is the ritual forms and rules of prosperity through which one expresses respect for parents and the elderly and behave accordingly so that his role in society is worthy of respect and admiration. The Stanford Encyclopedia on Confucius argued a similar point toward serving parents, that being submissive does not mean subjecting oneself to ritual; rather it gives one the ability to learn “how to reconcile one’s own desires with the needs of one’s family and community” (“Confucius,” The Stanford). Being humble does not mean being subject to others, but it shows that one is disciplined and respectful. Confucius mentioned that filial piety is about attitude, and he stressed that an individual, especially youths, should always offer to help when there is work (Analects 2.8). Being respectful and obedient to parents and elders brings prosperity and joy because it is the basis of how one would treat others around in a society.

Education and study are also other major hallmarks of Confucius’ teachings. He disagrees with those who believe in intuition and holds that the understanding of subjects originates from long and careful study. According to Confucius, “a gentleman enlarges his learning through literature” (Analects 6:27). This is to say the more one reads, the broader his knowledge becomes. He also emphasizes the effectiveness and characteristics of a good teacher. For Confucius, a good teacher is one who studies the past to make informed decision about the future (Analects 2.11). He sees study as thinking critically and finding a right teacher and following his or her footsteps. Confucius believes that “studying without thinking is futile” (Analects 2.15). He defines knowledge as taking “…what you know for what you know, and what you do not know for what you do not know” (Analects 2:17). This statement implies that one must critically explore beyond the mere understanding of something that one has a little knowledge about in order to get a better understanding.

Robin Wittermore, author of the article “To Know is to Act Knowledge,” argued that acting knowledge requires dedication, being creative, detail oriented and intellectually inclined (Wittermore 1). To act knowledge is to practically demonstrate with integrity and enthusiasm what one has studied. Confucius would possibly agree with Wittermore too because he himself made it clear that he only teaches those who are willing to learn and individuals should practice what they preach. “I only enlighten the enthusiastic; I guide only the fervent,” Confucius writes (Analects 7.8). The Phrase “I only enlighten the enthusiastic” implies that Confucius was an instructor who was willing to teach anyone that was ambitious to learn. He also made it clear that he only “guided” those that are passionate and serious about learning.

Confucius' teaching is important to the social orders of a society. His teachings, such as filial piety and the significance of education, create an ideal moral society that fosters love, peace and harmony, respect, obedience and a learning community that promotes disciplined scholars. His philosophy or ideology creates a gentleman that demonstrates integrity, respect for humanity and family values. Some of his ideologies, such as filial piety, are still relevant in some parts of the world. Even though all of Confucius' teachings might not be relevant today in modern society, putting to practice some of his major teachings such as respecting and obeying parents and treating others with love and respect and promoting education foster an ideal society.






Work Cited

“Confucius.” Current Events, a Weekly Reader Publication. 29 Sept 2006: SS2. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 4 Oct. 2010
“Confucius.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 5 Sept. 2006. Web.5 Oct. 2010

Page duBois et al. “The Analects.” The Longman Anthology of World Literature. Editors David Damrosch and David L. Pike. New York: Pearson Publication 2009.1046-1050. Print.

Spence, Jonathan. "What Confucius Said." The New York Review of Books (1997): 10-13. Rpt. in Literature Resource Center. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Literature Resource Center. Web. 5 Nov. 2010.
Wittermore, Robin. “To Know Is To Act Knowledge (2.17).” Journal of Nursing Scholarship 31.4 (1999): 365. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. 4 Oct. 2010.

The Impact of Smallpox Epidemics on the Native Americans and the Continental Army

Smallpox, which is still considered today by many historians and other medical practitioners as one of the world’s worst diseases ever in the history of mankind, killed approximately 30 percent of the Native American population on the
northwest coast of North America. The devastating consequence,
according to Robert Boyd, author of the book "The Coming of the Spirit
of Pestilence" was as a result of the first Native Americans’ direct
European contact. Boyed went on to say this incident was the “most
virulent of the deadly European diseases that swept over the region
during next 800 to 100 years” (Boyd 22-295). It is reported by some
historians that Europeans brought smallpox and other diseases to North
America during the early Columbian Exchange. Smallpox is a communicable
virus that travels from one infected individual to an unlucky victim
through close contact. A single infected individual within a gathering
can spread the virus among many that do not have an acquired immune
system to resist the virus. It is caused by a virus called Variola
major, closely related to monkey pox and cowpox. One who is affected by
smallpox sometimes experiences fever up to 105ºF, back pain as well as
influenza-like symptoms and vomiting. After three days, the fever
reduces and the rash starts to develop on the face, forearm, the hands
and other parts of the body. The infected individual will die or
survive; however, the possibility of surviving from this deadly disease
at the time was slim due to the lack of proper medication (Halverson
1-5). The lack of strong immune system and advanced medication to
prevent the virus during the great smallpox epidemic of 1775 and 1782,
led to the massive death of Native Americans and the Continental Army.
Native Americans were more susceptible to smallpox than the European
traders, who had brought the virus and other diseases such as measles
and other diseases on the North American Continent—historically
referred to as the New World. The natives had no acquired immune system
to resist the virus and as a result everyone was susceptible to it.
Because the virus needed a constant supply of unlucky victims to
survive, the natives consolidated lifestyle—commune living, or living
together as one family sharing food, water, clothing and other basic
life necessities, made it suitable for the virus to rapidly affect many
families and their friends. According to Elizabeth A. Fenn, author of
the book Pox Americana, smallpox eradicated over one hundred thousand
Native Americans. She maintains that each outbreak within a community
killed nearly half of the inhabitants and left others severely sick
(Fenn 13-43). For instance, an English fur trader, who spotted two
smallpox victims while entering through a harbor near Sitka, Alaska,
wrote “[He] observed the oldest of the men to be very much marked with
the small-pox, as was a girl who appeared to be about fourteen years
old. He further went on to say “The old man…told [him] that the
distemper carried off great numbers of the inhabitants, and that he
himself had lost ten children by it…”(Boyd 23-24). Native Americans
were naive about the virus. They had never encountered smallpox and as
a result, they had no knowledge on how to prevent the disease. The
effects of smallpox were outrageous. The Vancouver Expedition team, one
of the first European explorers, saw how people were badly affected by
the disease. Commander George Vancouver, one of the expedition team
members, saw one man who had suffered from smallpox and others who had
lost left eye sights from the disease, wrote “this deplorable disease
is not only common, but it is greatly to be apprehended is very fatal
amongst them, as its indelible marks were seen on many; and several had
lost the sight of one eye, which was remarked to be generally the left,
owing most likely to the virulent effects of this baneful disorder”
(Vancouver, Vol.2, p. 241-242). Europeans, however, had an acquired
immune system to resist the virus because they had been exposed to the
virus over a long period of time. Further, the lack of advanced
medication also plays a major role in the death of many Native
Americans. When an outbreak of the virus occurred, advanced medical
laboratories did not exist, like today, in any part North America to
produce vaccine that would have helped save the lives of thousands and
more Native Americans that were killed by the smallpox epidemic. In the
1770s, according to historian Robert Boyd, smallpox epidemics killed
more than 11,000 western Washington Indians, reducing the population
from about 37000 to 26000 (Boyd 22-295). Traditional native treatments
also worsen the mortality rates. For instance, Native Americans used
traditional native treatments, such as Sweet-lodges, which worsened
smallpox, to cure infected victims (Melissa 2). The lack of proper
medication and an acquired immune system made the natives more
susceptible to smallpox than the European.

The Continental Army was also greatly affected by smallpox throughout
the American Revolutionary war against the British. Acting as a
formidable force against the army, smallpox killed thousands of
soldiers and left many severely sick during the war. Military groupings
or encampments were gateways for smallpox to find its way through what
biologists called “virgin souls.” According to Fenn, smallpox started
its ravaging during the early start of the war---specifically during
the various sieges when people came in close contact with one another
seeking to find food, water, and other basic life necessities. Fenn
stated that the virus consistently and severely affected the American
troops throughout because they had soldiers that were more susceptible
to the virus than the British-born soldiers, who had been exposed to
the virus for centuries. General George Washington’s first year as a
commander in chief was chaotic for his men. Smallpox made landfall in
every camp that the troops resided in to await deployment and it even
attacked soldiers that were on the battlefield. At the Boston siege,
several hundred men were killed and others weakened before the British
attack. At some point, according to Fenn, smallpox killed most of the
soldiers, forcing the remaining sick men on the battlefield to retreat
leaving behind ammunition and other belongings. The high death rate
caused by smallpox became a major obstacle to the Continental troops’
success. In one of the battles before the arrival of General John
Thomas with more Continental reinforcement, smallpox had dropped the
army by six hundred men, leaving behind nineteen hundred, of which,
according to Fenn, nine hundred were sick including General Thomas
himself (Fenn 13-277). The devastating effect of smallpox on the
Continental troops was possibly due to unvaccinated men. Under George
Washington at the beginning of the war, he prohibited the practice of
inoculation for his men fearing that such process would weaken his
men—making them unready for combat. However, at one point, when
smallpox nearly killed all his men on the camp, he ordered that all of
them go through the inoculation process in order to reduce the
mortality rate and overcome the British. In his statement to inoculate
the troops when there was a smallpox outbreak on one of the camps on
January 1776, Washington wrote “We should have more to dread from
smallpox, than the sword of the enemy--- the time has come to inoculate
the troops” (Fenn 82). Although the Continental Army was severely
affected by the virus, some of the British new recruits were also
affected from the disease, but not to the extent that it affected the
Continental Army. New recruits, who were mainly blacks, in the British
Army were more susceptible to smallpox than the British-born soldiers.
However, smallpox was not a major obstacle for the British army,
possibly because the majority of the British troops—the main fighting
line, who were British born soldiers, had been exposed to the virus at
a younger age. Another significant reason the British troops were not
severely affected by smallpox, as opposed to the Continental troops,
was that inoculation was a mandatory requirement to join the main
British fighting line. Smallpox became an ally for the British troop
killing at least 50 to 100 Continental soldiers and leaving others
powerless before the actual combat. The Continental Army consisted of
many black soldiers that were more susceptible to smallpox. The British
also had black soldiers, but they were not included in the main
fighting line. Another possible reason why the Continental Army was
more susceptible to smallpox was the lack of good drinking water, food
and clothing and the winter season. For instance, the freezing winter
season might have also undermined the prevention process (Fenn 14-277).
To help reduce the mortality rates and prevent the virus among
inhabitants and returning combat soldiers, a controlling process was
put in place. Controlling smallpox posed a major task for the
Continental army. Some of the soldiers opposed the idea and others were
willing to go through the inoculation process. Although it was a
difficult task to inoculate the entire army, the process did go well
for Washington and the Continental soldiers. Fenn reported that the
Continental Army won their first battle right after the inoculation
took place. However, some of the soldiers had to pay for extra care due
to the lack of limited supply and resource. The popular demand for
inoculation within the military at that time triggered most of the
colonies to inoculate their inhabitants. Boston and Philadelphia
embraced the practice for its inhabitants to help prevent the
epidemics. However, only the rich in Philadelphia could afford the high
cost of inoculation. The needy, especially young children and older
adults had higher mortality rate due to low income. Through goodwill,
Benjamin Franklin and some of his friends founded a non-profit clinic
and helped the needy, young children and elderly adults to receive free
inoculation. The impact of smallpox on both troops and the Native
Americans was devastating. Many Native Americans, nearly half of the
population at the time, and Continental soldiers died from this disease
because of the lack of strong immune system to resist the deadly virus.
Some Native Americans lost their eye sight, mainly the left eye
according to the explorers, and likewise many of the soldiers were
unable to fight due to illness. The devastating effects of the smallpox
epidemic ruin many lives and it is still considered today as the worst
viruses in the history of mankind. Work Cited

Fenn, Elizabeth A. Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of
1775-82. New York: Hill and Wnag, 2001. Print.

Halverson, Sue Melissa. “Native American Belief and Medical Treatments
During the Smallpox Epidemics: an Evolution. The Early America Review
online publication: 2007. p. 5-1.

Robert Boyd. “The Coming of the Spirit of Pestilence.” Vancouver; BC:
Press, 1999. p. 295-22.

“Smallpox epidemic ravages Native Americans on the northwest Coast of
North America in the 1770s.” History Linked.org: 30 April 2010.

Vancouver, George. A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific and Round
the World… Vol. 2 London: G. and J. Robinson, 1798, p. 242-229.

A Critical Analysis of the Holy Qur'an

The Qur’an is the Islamic version of the Holy Bible. It is a divine book of Islam revealed by God to the Prophet Mohammed through angel Gabriel. The Book, according to the Islamic religion, brings peace and tranquility among people that adopt Islam as a system in their daily lives. It contains one hundred and fourteen chapters. In addition, it took about twenty years to reveal itself to the whole of humanity. Like the book of Genesis, the first Sura (chapter) of the Qur’an is Fatiah and the last chapter is Anaas. Using cross references, the Qur’an includes several biblical narratives from the Old Testament that relates to the creation of the world, the story of Mary (Sura 19), Noah and Abraham.
Even though it includes these biblical references, it is different from other religious texts because it dedicated a specific chapter (Sura 4) on women’s rights and obligations. It cites that women are entitled to “one quarter” of their husband’s property if he dies childless. In addition, it also provides women with a position of honor and respect, but considers them has weak-minded individuals. It cautions men not to trust women with property that God has given them to support women. For instance, in Sura 4, it clearly cites that men should not “…give the feeble-minded the property with which God has entrusted [them] for their support” (Sura 4). The phrase “feeble minded” implies that women should not be entrusted possibly with major power in society because they are soft minded. I suppose that this statement could possibly be a reaction to the Old Testament narrative about the incident that occurred in the Garden of Eden between Eve and the serpent.
Moreover, the Qur’an favors women less over men when it comes to property inheritance. It states that a man “shall inherit twice as much as a female” (Sura 4). This statement clearly shows the injustices to women because of the imbalance in property distribution. Women are also not treated equally when it comes to laws spelled out in the Qur’an regarding indecent act. For instance, the Qur’an states that women who are guilty of indecent behavior or “lewd act” should be put indoor until death overtakes them, but men should be pardoned because “God forgives those who commit evil acts in ignorance.” This implies that God only forgives men and not women. Scriptures in the Qur’an could serve as prove of how Muslim women are generally regarded in their society. Though it guarantees honor and respect to women, they are repressed by traditions of which men are most dominant.
1. Based on the statement that men should inherit more than women, do you think that is fair?
2. The Quran reference women as “feeble-minded” do you agree or disagree with this statement?
3. Based on the readings, what are some similarities between the Quran and the Book of Genesis?


Smith, Jane I. “Women in Islam: Equity, Equality, and the Search for the Natural Order.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 47, No. 4 (Dec., 1979): pp. 517-537. JSTOR. Web. 11 Oct 2010.


Smith’s essay addresses the role of feminism in the Islamic culture with specific focus on equity and equality. A clear understanding about women’s role is spelled out in the Qur’an. It provides women a position of honor and respect with clearly stated rights and obligations. Smith argued that these stated rights and obligations restrict the roles of Muslim women in the Islamic society. According to the essay, “Predominant traditions of male authority and honor have made it difficult for women to avail themselves of the right guaranteed by the Qur’an,” (Smith). Other Muslim writers have made similar arguments about the female-male relationship in term of gender roles in the Islamic society.
1. Do you agree with Smith argument that traditions of male authority have made it difficult for women to press for their rights as stated in the Qur’an?
2. Do you think female roles in the Islamic culture have change? Why or why not?

A True Hero

“There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.” (Nelson Mandela). Professor Sunny, fellow students, I have the distinct honor to speak to you today about my hero. This person is one of the greatest leaders in our generation.
Despite his hard struggle to freedom under a deadly racial discrimination policy against native blacks in his beloved country , he became a president and governed his people (whites and blacks) without any difference. He worked very hard to unite his South African brothers and sisters as one people with common goals. He laid his life on the line just so justice and freedom could prevail in his country. This is a man that deserves more than compliments for his accomplishments because of his hard works. A man that is not only a brave hero, but a true patriot and an important role model to anyone with great love and passionate hearts.

My hero, His Excellency Nelson R.Mandela former South African president and 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner as had one of the longest walks to freedom in order to free his people and his beloved country from racial discrimination. I know that Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohammad Gandhi of India did, but even they didn’t walk as far and as long as my hero. My hero suffered 28 years of imprisonment under harsh torture, but he never give up. He was beaten almost to the point of death, but he never give up his journey. He made it, became a great leader and is still alive living his dreams and inspiring others with his courage and his message. Isn’t that what true heroism is all about?
As a person whose dream is to make our world a better place for every boy and girl, this is a man who I see as my hero, a man who has never wavered in his devotion to justice, peace, and learning. His life has been an inspiration, to me, to most Africans and others citizens throughout the world, as well as, to all who are oppressed and deprived, to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.

My fellow classmates, as we go out of this class room, today; I challenge each one of you to cherish the pride and beauty of your country. Walk that walk like Mandela, if it means to unite your brothers and sisters. I also encourage you to take courage and pride to be like my hero and be able to say what he said, “…I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if it needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”(Nelson Mandela). Professor Sunny, fellow students, my hero – Nelson Mandela.
Thank you.

Exporting Jobs Overseas Will Harm America and Its Workforce

The enormous amount of jobs being outsourced to foreign countries over the past years has spurred many Americans to demand protection from the government. Three years ago nearly all fifty U.S states proposed legislation that would either prohibit or severely minimize outsourcing American jobs to foreign countries (Dunbar). Although outsourcing overseas is a good way for companies to stay competitive by gaining more profit, the government and the public should intervene to prohibit such a practice because of its negative impact on the U.S workforce, individual lives, and the economy.
To understand the nature of outsourcing from a non- business perspective, the practice simply means contracting out some of your functions that have been in-house to a firm outside of your business or allowing outsiders, usually small firms, to manage certain functions within your business. For instance, when a new car manufacturing company buys tyres from a supplier, rather than producing it in-house, that is outsourcing. Conventionally, such a practice is usually done among bigger companies (e.g. manufacturing companies) and smaller firms called third party logistics (e.g. UPS) within a country, but U.S companies have globalized the practice by sending some of their functions to foreign countries that has cheaper workforce.
Outsourcing overseas affects the U.S workforce. For example, jobs once held by Americans have been sent overseas by large companies in order to seek cheap labor, less environmental restrictions and lower tax rate. Manufacturing and construction companies have moved some of their functions overseas and have resulted into hundreds for their workers being layoff. For example, today about 30 percent of Intel’s microprocessors are build overseas and four of the six manufacturing facilities operated by Dell computer are outsource outside of the United States (Cook and Nyhan). Oracle, which has been handing thousands of layoff layoff notices, recently announced to move two thousand more jobs to India and China because the cost of labor in those are 20 to 50 fifty percent less than hourly wage in America for service sector jobs.
Moreover, outsourcing has lead to high increases in the unemployment rate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics in October 2008 reported that the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage point to 6.5 percent and the number of unemployed persons increased by 603,000 to 10.1 million. In addition, over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed persons has increased by 2.8 million, and the unemployment rate has risen by 1.7 percentage points. In September 2008, manufacturing and construction made of 28 percent of the mass layoffs in the workforce. The report also stated that job losses continued in manufacturing, construction, and several service providing industries including health care and mining (B.L.S. 2008).
Outsourcing U.S jobs also affects individual lives, especially those who are in the technology, manufacturing and construction fields. For example, Ms. Myra Bronstein, a Mercer Island resident who worked for Watchmark- Comnitel, a U.S technology company, lost her software-testing job last year because her company shifted the work to India. Before her layoff, Ms. Bronstein was making $ 76,500 a year. Today with unemployment benefits exhausted, she has resorted to selling furniture and collectables on eBay (Cook and Nyhan).
Large companies that outsource jobs overseas also affect the economy by depriving it of revenue, which could help grow the economy. Jobs such as, call center servicing, medical transcription, tax return preparation, research and development , medical data analysis, and high level engineering, legal service, architecture and information technology that the government receives revenue from have been sent overseas by U.S companies. Some U.S economists have also estimated that more jobs will leave the United States by 2015. John C. McCarthy an analyst for market-research company, Forester Research Inc., has predicted that by 2015 U.S businesses will outsource at least 3.3 million white collars jobs to India, China, Russia, Pakistan and Vietnam (qtd.in Dunbar).
In addition, government has lost and is continuing to lose these jobs specifically in manufacturing and information technology. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports from January 2001 to January 2006, the information sector of the U.S economy lost 644,400 jobs, or 17.14 of percent of its work force. Computer system design and related work lost 105,000 jobs, or 8.5 percent of its workforce. Manufacturing lost 2.9 million jobs, almost 17 percent the manufacturing workforce (BLS 2008). These statistics are enough to show that outsourcing is hurting the U.S economy and its workforce, but companies are still involved in the practice. According to Lou Dobbs, the editor of CNN program, Lou Dobbs Tonight, Dell, Intel, Apple, American Express, Bank of America, Best Buy, Comcast, Ansell Health Care, Briggs Industries, General Motor, Direct T.V and AT &T are some of the big companies that are currently involved in the practice of outsourcing jobs outside of the United States.
Moreover, with the increase in the mass layoffs and the unemployment rates, outsourcing will lead to high government spending on welfare, which could probably affect the economy. For example, more people whose jobs have been and are on the way overseas will depend on the government for support after unemployment benefits have been exhausted. The U.S government will spend more money on a single individual and a household family because these displaced employees may never be able to find the same quality jobs that are lost to outsourcing overseas (Dobbs).
However, the CEOs and some economists have bitterly argued from a business perspective that outsourcing American jobs to foreign countries will help grow the economy, thus prohibiting the practice will keep the country from being globalized (Dunbar). A proponent of outsourcing, Gregory Mankiw, who is a member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, said last year on a CNN business television program, Lou Dobbs Tonight that “Outsourcing is just a new way of doing international trade. [He continues]…I think outsourcing is a growing phenomenon, but it’s something that we should realize is probably a plus for the economy in the long run.” The only thing that is probable is that, the unemployment rate will continue to increase and more people will depend on the government for support if they do not find the same quality of jobs that would help support their families.
The most possible solution to the problem is for the government and the public to intervene for companies to bring back these jobs from overseas, which will help to decrease the current unemployment rate, create job opportunities and help to grow the economy. The government should intervene by restricting companies from sending jobs overseas, especially high paying jobs, because without good, high paying jobs there are no tax revenues to fund the education, health, infrastructure, and social security system. Once these restrictions are set, the government should grant incentive tax breaks to companies in order to encourage those companies that are already outsourcing functions overseas and companies that are trying to do the same to reverse their decisions. For example, the U.S Congress should pass 10% tax cut legislation for manufacturing, construction, service industries and other companies. This will help to convince companies that have moved jobs overseas due to high tax rate to rethink their decisions and bring back most of their functions, which would provide and keep good paying jobs in America. The U.S Congress and economic experts should also make the effort to document and study outsourcing from a business and non- business perspective. Both parties should acknowledge that outsourcing U.S jobs to foreign countries has caused problems and it has lessened the morale of U.S workers.
Furthermore, there must be a full disclosure. The government should require companies to make consumers aware of where products are made and when those products are the result of jobs lost due to outsourcing. State governments should pass legislation to eradicate unionization by employees. Companies sometime relocate their operations overseas when employees allow union organization/labor group to oversee their interest by advocating for increases in salary and more benefits.
The public should also intervene through immediate campaigning to emphasize the importance of economic patriotism. They should stress the need for the federal government and companies to prohibit the practice of outsourcing because it has caused thousands of people to become unemployed. The public should also caution its state governments that would promote outsourcing jobs to foreign countries, by writing to their governors and congressional representatives to prohibit companies within the states from sending jobs overseas. Furthermore, they should reject products that are produce overseas by these companies through effective campaigning by sending warning letters to companies involved and educating the public through the media about the negative impacts outsourcing has caused to the U.S workforce, individual lives and the economy. Ron Hira, an expert on outsourcing, and Anil Hira, a specialist in international economics, suggest that “Americans need to recognize that it priorities of national competitiveness and security include maintaining a technological edge and encourage the engineers, scientists and programmers to keep the United States a step ahead of its potential enemies”(Hira and Hira 11) . One way to maintain these priorities and encourage scientists, and engineers is for both the government and the public to join hands to severely minimize the practice of outsourcing job overseas and to sponsor the development of community colleges within various states and to reduce college tuition fees and text books costs.
These interventions from the government and the public will help to severely minimize outsourcing and force companies to reverse their enormous export of jobs to foreign countries, which will help to restore jobs back to the American people. The return of these jobs will limit government spending on welfare because these companies will employ old and new workers in the workforce. Companies will create new job opportunities for high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students, which will help improve the standard of living and encourage more students to learn without fear of having their jobs outsourced to foreign countries.
Furthermore, bringing back these jobs to the United States will allow companies to provide job training and advanced education scholarships for employees and make companies focus more on research and development, which will also help grow the economy. For example, people will buy new homes, new cars, pay government taxes on time, and buy other necessities. In addition, it will help to decrease the unemployment rate and minimize the current mass layoffs in the manufacturing, construction and service industries. Finally, restoring these jobs for the American people will restore pride to the workforce, encourage growth in the economy and make the workforce more productive and efficient.





Work Cited
Bureau of Labor Statistics. .
Cook, John and Nyhan, Paul. “Outsourcing’s long-term effects on the U.S jobs at issue.” Seattle Post Intelligencer 10 March 2004. 11 Nov 2008 .
Dobbs, Lou. “Exporting America.”CNN program. 10 Nov.2008 .
Dobbs, Lou. “Outsourcing Harms America.” Does Outsourcing Harm America?
Ed. Katherine Read Dunbar. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2006. 11-23.
Hira, Ron and Anil Hira. Outsourcing America. New York. Amacon Books, 2005
Robert, Paul Craig. “As Jobs Leave America’s Shores.” 30 Sept 2006. Nov 11 2008 .

Somalia at Sea Piracy

More than 17 years of civil unrest, Somalia has limped along a brutal path of warring clans, and separatist movements that have collectively bestowed upon the state the dubious honour of being the world’s truest “failed state,” and its coastal line has the world’s dangerous maritime route. One of the results of this instability is piracy on Somalia’s territorial waters. By disrupting transportation and trade, piracy has led to starvation, negative impacts on global maritime trade and increased armed conflict within Somalia and other parts of the region.
The lack of central government in Somalia has led to lawlessness on its coastline. Since the fall of national government in the early 90s there has been instability and power struggle between the national government and Islamic insurgents. Today the continuous greed for power has caused many Somalian to live without good shelters, balanced diet, jobs, schools and the lack of good medical aid. The decades of civil unrest has led to insecurity and lack of job opportunity, which has caused young unemployed men to become pirates in order to find a source of income. These unemployed men known universally as Somalia pirates are groups of well- armed men that use fast-moving skiffs to pull alongside their prey and scamper on board with ladders or sometimes even rusty grappling hooks. Once on deck, they hold the crew at gunpoint until a ransom is paid, usually $1 million to $2 million (Brice 1). The International Herald Tribune online publication reported that, as of the month of October 2008, more than 75 ships have been hijacked by Somalia pirates on the Gulf of Aden in demand for ransom over 5 millions before each vessels can be released(Gentleman 1). In 2005, since the rebels captured the national port from the government, Somalia’s lawlessness had extended beyond its territorial waters. The lawlessness has caused piracy on the Gulf of Aden, which has resulted into the worst humanitarian crises in the history of East Africa and the world (Brice 1).
Pirates’ activities in Somalia have caused the majority of the population to starve. Because of pirates attacks on vessels, humanitarian ships have suspended food aid to these poor people who are desperately in need of food supplies and medical aid. The United Nation World Food Program (UNWFP) that has been helping to feed thousands of people in war torn Somalia was forced to suspend its food supplies in October because of the escalating attacks on vessels. According to the spoke man for UNWFP, the organization is currently afraid due to the aggressive attacks on vessels because 95 percent of its food supplies are transported by sea. Today because of piracy on the coast of Somalia, thousands of people residing in displaced camps due to the ongoing instability in the country are currently suffering from food shortage (Brice 1).
Piracy on the coast of Somalia has also disrupted maritime trade. The huge demand for millions of dollars and the aggressive attacks on vessels by Somalia pirates along the Gulf of Aden, which has the southern gateway to the heavily trafficked Suez Canal, has also affected global maritime trade. According to the International Maritime Organization, over 48,000 vessels traveled on these bodies of waters every year, transporting oil from the Middle East to North America and goods from Asia to Europe. The presence of pirates has decreased the amount of vessels and has led to high increases in insurances, shipment transportation and fuel costs. Their danger on the coast has caused ships extra days to deliver goods to final destinations, which has led to high fuel consumptions because vessels transporting goods from Asia to Europe now have to travel around Cape of Good Hope to get to Europe. Instead of one or two weeks of delivery, vessels have to take three to four weeks before delivering goods to customers, which might also lead to products deprecation and damages (IMO).
Even the act of piracy on the coast of Somalia has led to an increase in armed conflict within the country and other parts of the region. Ransom collected from vessels is helping to provide arm and ammunitions for rebels in Somalia and the Darfur region. The Chatham House, a London based institute that study international issues reported in October 2008 that $18 to $30 million paid by hijacked vessels this year is helping to support the war in Somalia. As a result of the financial support, there has been continuous violence in the country. Rebels have burned down towns and villages and they have raped women and forced children to become child soldiers. Their presence on the coast has also inflamed the crises in neighboring country Sudan (Middleton 1).
However, despite all the attacks and instability one possible solution to this problem is stabilized government with well-equipped military that would protect its territorial waters because the present interim government lacks the military power to do so due to Islamic insurgent attacks. Somalia needs urgent western interventions from the international community to possibly help to resolve the war and clear piracy of its coast in order to allowed food aid into the country and restore the ease on maritime trade. With the help of Western intervention and the cooperation of the current interim government, Somalia can have stabilized government and an effective military coast guard and police to stop its sea lawlessness.








Work Cited
Brice, Author. “Somalia piracy threatens trade, boosts terrorists, analysis say.”
The CNN News. 1 Oct.2008. Oct 18, 2008 .
Gentleman, Jeffery. “Somalia's pirates flourish in a lawless nation.” International Herald Tribune: The global edition of New York Times. 31 Oct.2008. Dec 1, 2008 .
International Maritime Organization. .
Middleton, Roger. “Piracy in Somalia: Threatening Global Trade, Feeding Local Wars.” The Chatham House online publication. Oct.2008. Oct 31, 2008 .

Academics First, Sport Second: the No Pass, No Play Rule

Excelling at extracurricular activities is exciting and rewarding and should be encouraged, but not at the expense of academics. As student athletes, it is easy to get caught up with the notion of becoming a top college player and even a professional athlete with all the huge benefits and lifestyle that go along with it. Nevertheless, where does your future lie if you miss a scholarship or a chance of becoming a professional athlete? Thanks to the No pass, No play rules in Texas, now some academics standard have been required among high school athletes in the state over the last decades. Even though there has been a major controversy among Texas high school coaches, parents, fans and student athletes about the No pass, No play rules, the provision has had a positive impact on high school student athletes.
Texans became concerned about the poor performance in high school test scores and the literacy rate among high school students 28 year ago. The public noticed that high school athletes were paying more attention to meeting coaches’ expectations than putting much time to studying their lessons. In 1983, due to the enormous grievances from the public about their children’s future, Texas Governor Mark White decided to appoint an education committee to study the state education reform policy. The committee headed by Dallas billionaire, Ross Perot came up with several sweeping proposals, including the No pass, No play controversial provision.


Although the No pass, No play law was the only provision that caused controversial debate, other provisions that made up the House Bill 72 contain new requirements for teachers, including competency testing and certification for high school graduates. Both provisions were enacted in 1984 and took immediate effect during the 1985-86 school years, but only the No pass, No play law was later amended in 1995 because of its controversy. Before its 1995 amendments, the law required a high school student athlete to pass all courses including advance placement, international baccalaureates and dual college courses with a minimum grade of 70 and above before being allowed to participate in any extracurricular activities (e.g. football, band, tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, swimming, track, etc). In addition, the law bans students that failed in a course during the instructional periods from participating in a school sponsored program for six weeks until the grade has been improved and confirmed by an instructor (Texas State Library).
The early birth of the law in the late 80s affected some student athletes that took sport greater than academic. For example, a student named Gray Edward at Carter High school in Dallas was one of the first victims of the law. Edward became ineligible to participate in his school playoff match in the late 80s because of a 68.75 average in Algebra. His mathematic professor refused to add the two points because being a top linebacker and key player on the school team, Edward refused to sit in class for lectures (Bissinger 291-312). Moreover, the No pass, No play law also affected a famous track and field student athlete named Doyle Jones, who at the time held the national high school state record for 100 meter and 200 meter dashes, and was denied participation in the 1989 state championship because of a 62 average in English (Mathis 1).
However, both cases resulted into lawsuits involving parents, coaches, fans, administration, and student athlete themselves. These lawsuits made opponents of No pass, No play law argue that the purpose of the law was to deprive kids the right to participate in extracurricular activities. They further argued that by denying kids the right to participate in extracurricular activities because of poor academic performance is effectively denying them a valid educational opportunity. On the other hand, proponents of No pass, No play have also argued that students affected by the No pass, No play rule will not only try to improve their test score, but they will examine their priority in order to see academics as a future rather than sports (Burnett 2000).
Although there has been controversy among coaches, parents, and fans that the law was going to create a high drop out rate and low eligibility in extracurricular activities, the No pass, No play law has had some positive impact on students. For example, student athletes now put more attention to studies and at the same time perform better in extracurricular activities. The law has encouraged coaches and athletic parents to develop a small program in order to help student athletes maintain their eligibility and stay active on the team. Team sports, such as football that has more then 25 members, have made a team oath to help those who are academically performing poorly by organizing study groups to help one another succeed. According to the Austin Independent School District Office of Research and Evaluation, since the passage of the law more students have remained eligible to participate in extracurricular activities. The study shows that student athletes have had the largest increase in the eligibility rate from 47 percent in the fall of 1984-85 to 60 percent in the fall of 1992-93. Moreover, since the No pass, No play law was implemented the percentage of students taking honor classes has increased by 13 points from 35 percent during 1984-85, to 48 percent in 1992 (Sabatno).
In 1995, eleven years after the education standard was implemented for student athletes all over the state, another reform took place that revised the standard of the 1984 No pass, No Play provision. The new amendments allow a student with failing grades to practice on the team and to compete after three weeks, instead of six weeks, after the grade improves. It also allows school districts to exempt advance placement, international baccalaureates and dual college courses. The purpose of the 1995 amendment was to create a level playing field among school districts and to give high school student athletes the opportunity to choose classes that they could handle while being active on the team, but the new reform law did not work out for everyone. Some school districts took advantage of the law and exempted multiple classes (Ayres 1).
For example, Austin Independent School District exempted 100 classes, while Southlake School District, which is the home to the premier football program, did not exempt any course. These enormous exemptions of classes made representatives that constructed the law regret making such changes. According to The Dallas Morning News, Rep. Sadler who chaired the House education committee that changed the 1984 No pass, No play provision said, “[i] don’t think we would ever have envisioned [well known] school being allowed to exempt 100 different classes. I never imagined that school districts would exempt 100 classes. That is just beyond belief to me,” said Rep. Sadler an acknowledged expert on Texas educational laws. “It creates an uneven playing field”, Rep. Sadler said (Ayres 1).
Even though the new law allowed school districts to exempt classes and students to participate in extracurricular activities, both the old and the new laws serve today as guidance for Texas high school athletes. According to Texas State Library and Archives, Texas was the first state to pass such a law in United States and other states have followed since the 90s (Texas State Library). The law made parents and coaches to become more involved in student athletes academics achievements while the student combined sport skills with good education foundation.
Moreover, the law has helped high school student athletes recognize the significance of academics, realizing that good academics performance is the key attraction to today college coaches. Sports are wonderful and can use as an opportunity to get quality education, but student athletes need to take academics first and sport second because education is the key to a better tomorrow. The popularity of your sport might fade away, but your education will forever remain with you.












Work Cited

Ayres, Karen. “School districts find way around no-pass-no-play.” The Dallas Morning News.
20 Jan. 2007. 3 Sept.2008 .
Bissinger, H.G. Friday Night Lights. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2003. 291-312.
Burnett, Mitchell. A. “One Strike and You’re Out: An analysis of No Pass/No Play Policies.”
High School Journal. V84 n2 Dec. (2000): p1-6.
Mathis, Nancy. “’ No –Pass, No-Play’ at 5: Texas Statue Still a Controversial Mode for Reform.” Education Week. 17 May. 1989. 15 Sept.2008 .
Sabatino, Melissa. “A Look Back at the No Pass/No Play Provision.” Executive Summary 93.05 Austin Independent School District Office of Research and Evaluation. May 1994 (3-12). .
Texas State Library & Archives Commission. “Press conference by White, August 8, 1985.”
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