Scientific misconduct Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Scientific misconduct - Essay Example on the other hand, refers to manipulating research equipment, materials, or processes or omitting (changing) results or data such that the study is not correctly represented in the records. Plagiarism is the stealing of another individual’s processes, ideas, words or results without giving proper credit. Scientific misconduct has dire consequences (Broad & Wade, 1982). It can ruin careers of researchers who knowingly write publications based on false research. If this is done by clinical researchers, some patients may suffer due to the wrong information on different types of treatment. A proper example is an article on fraud by Lancet published in Wakefield et al. (1999) (Koocher & Keith 2010). It linked a vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella to autism. This caused a massive drop in vaccinations that could have resulted in several deaths, in children who were not protected. Falsification also does delay scientific progress especially when researchers misuse research funds, as well as waste time, following false research. A case in point is false claims by physicist Jan Hendrik Schon that he had built high performance plastic transistors, plus the world’s organic laser. This resulted in several laboratories wasting resources and years trying to duplicate his findings (Koocher & Keith 2010). Scientific misconduct ruins the image of the field in which the falsified research is carried out. It diminishes faith in science. Unfortunately, concrete information on the escalating cases of fabrication or falsifying of research in science is not available. The only estimate of the rise in research misconduct is a survey by Koocher & Keith (2010). According to the findings, approximately 1.5% of all research done annually is false. Out of the 155,000 researchers supplied by the National Institution of Health (NIH) funding, there were 2,335 incidents of poss ible misconduct yearly, sixty percent of them involving falsification or fabrication of data. It is worth

A Christian Philosophy Of Education Religion Essay

A Christian Philosophy Of Education Religion Essay In the beginning, God created man in his own image. God told man to eat of the fruit of all the trees in the garden except the one in midst of the garden, the Tree of Knowledge, lest man should surely die. The serpent convinced woman that she would not die but rather, that God knows that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5). Since the beginning of mankind, man has sought for truth and knowledge. What is good, true, and beautiful? These questions go to the heart of our concern for educating people who posses a knowledge of reality, are ethical in their behavior, and live lives that are balanced and aesthetically harmonious (Gutek, 2005, p. 31). King Solomon, in his Book of Ecclesiastes, explores various avenues for satisfaction-power, possessions, prestige, pleasure-he finds them hollow. God moves him along the path of discovery until he finds no real meaning to life under heaven, but only in relationsh ip to God and His eternal purposes (Maxwell, 2007, p. 802). Educators confront philosophical issues on a daily basis even though they may not recognize it as such. As a Christian educator, examination of ones personal assumptions, beliefs, attitudes and values can assist one in shaping instructional methods and effective learning techniques. By understanding ones self, ones motivations, and ones view of mankind, one can better assist others in their personal quest to discover the purpose of self and ones role as a member of mankind. I attempt to identify the basis of the philosophical beliefs which contribute to the overall philosophy of education from which I function as an educator by examining the historical and philosophical foundations of education from influential philosophers such as Plato, Jefferson, Eramus, Calvin, Rousseau, and others. Worldview Why are we here? What is our purpose? What is true? How do we know? From the beginning of time man has asked these questions. My personal biblical worldview answers those questions for me based upon Holy scriptures, the laws and words of I am that I am (Exodus 3:14). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). Knowledge is knowing the facts; knowing how to use those facts is wisdom. All knowledge and wisdom comes from a higher being known as the God of the Hebrews and father of Jesus Christ. All gifts and talents come from God;  each person has different abilities to understand, receive and respond to the knowledge that God reveals to him or her. We are told,  We know that the Son of God is come and has given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true, even in his son Jesus Christ (I John 5:20). I know in whom I have believed. Our universe is so massive and our God so glorious with our limited understanding we only à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦see through a glass darklyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (1 Cor. 13:12). Who was there when He laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4)? There exists a spiritual realm beyond our earthly eyes which exists simultaneously with ours. We truly cannot conceive the majesty and splendor that exists beyond our sense of reality. God cannot be put in a box and is far beyond anything we can comprehend. All one can know about Him is what He has outlined in His Word, which is inspired and written by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is a certainty and of this I am confident that He which has begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6).   A Christian worldview defines my values, my actions, my time, my dreams, my life. We are created beings ; Solomon sums up existence, Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is mans all (Ecc.12:13). Epistemological Beliefs In Platos allegory of the cave, he proposes that there is a true intellectual self within and superior to the material human body. The purpose of life is to strive for knowledge of ultimate and perfect ideas, the form of the good from which all other ideas are derived (Gutek, p. 39). For Plato, an Idealist, reality is non-material or spiritual (Gutek, p.38). Plato understood that man is composed of spirit but without the Creator, his idealism was in vain; all knowledge and wisdom comes from God. Gods omniscience means that he knows all, that all knowledge, truth, wisdom, intelligence and all that there is to know, He knows. John Calvin had an intense religious conversion experience that illuminated his thought like a flash of light. This experience provided Calvin with the revelation knowledge of Divine Majesty (Gutek, p. 114). I know that I know because of a similar revelation experience which I term being zapped. While deep in prayer, a flash of light consumed my whole being for one millisecond of a second. I know that I know that the Father is, and that Jesus Christ is the light and the Truth. No man can pluck me from His hands. Metaphysical Beliefs Pestalozzi and Rousseau believed that the infant is intrinsically good (Gutek, 2005) and opposed the doctrine of innate human depravity. According to the Word of God, Man is born in a depraved state. R.C. Sproul writes, Because total depravity is so often poorly defined, let me substitute another phrase that means the same thing: radical corruption. We are depraved in the radix or root of our being, and that core depravity influences everything we do. In the fall we became radically depraved, which means that corruption pervades every area of our lives (as cited by Li, 2007). According to Plato, man can reach the ultimate truth by seeking knowledge. This knowledge may be truly called necessary, necessitating as it clearly does, the use of pure intelligence in the attainment of pure truth (Plato, 360 B.C.). Plato asserted that the truth is within each of us, and is found deeply within the recesses of the human mind or psyche (Gutek, p. 40). For Aristotle, truth is a correspondence bet ween the persons mind and external reality (Gutek, p. 54). According to Freires philosophical inclination to existentialism, reality is subjective and within the individual. Dewey, a Pragmatist, contended that truth is tentative, a warranted assertion, rather than universal, eternal and absolute (Gutek, p.342). He argued that revealed truth does not exist and that anything that can be called truth must be determined experimentally. When Pilate asked Jesus, What is truth? (John 8:38,), he was asking, What is the really real? Jesus did not reply; the question had already been answered forever. The God of scripture is truth as He tells us in Psalms 119:160, The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting; and, in the words of Christ himself in John 14:6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. Animals and plants, seasons and stars were created by God for man. God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the earth (Genesis 1:27-29). He is the first and the last. For since the creation of the world, Gods invisible qualities -his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen and can be understood from what has been made, so that man is without excuse (Barker, 2009). Axiological Beliefs Good is whatever God says is good. Evil is a perversion of the truth. Wicked comes from the word wicker which means twisted. The Devil takes the truth, twists and perverts it to corrupt that which God has created for good (Barker, 2009). For Aristotle, the supreme good to which all aspire is happiness (Hummel, 1993). What is good and what is right? His Word lays out the moral foundation for mankind and exists for all people across all time. What is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good reportthink upon these things (Phil 4:7). A Christian worldview asserts that the ultimate goal of man is to transform into the image of Jesus. Do not be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect , will of God (Romans12:2). Gods Word is the moral authority on which the universe revolves. Educational Philosophy Educational beliefs Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, developed an educational plan based upon civic education and cultural nationalism in order to prepare people to become active and engaged citizens (Gutek, p. 180).   Mann believed that a proper civic education should teach basic principles of government, provide insights into representative institutions, and generally form good citizens (Gutek, p. 226). Calvins theology and educational philosophy stressed literacy as a tool of salvation to fulfill both religious and economic objectives (Gutek, p. 118). Calvin set up a relationship between education, religious orthodoxy, civil order, and economic prosperity (Gutek, p.116). If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14). When Madelyn OHair succeeded in taking prayer out of our public schools in 1 964, our nation turned away and today we see the results.   Discipline The understanding of the emotional needs of students is an important part in a teachers discipline management plan. If we realize that the child comes to school after a night filled with violence and alcohol or drug induced behavior, we can understand why the student may scream or disrupt or refuse to participate. Often the school is the safest structured environment the child sees. Public schools have been forced to be not only the center for academic and skills training but also the basis for establishing secure human relationships for children. Carey (2007) states discipline arises through activity. When students are engaged in hands-on learning, are being successful  at meaningful tasks, and receive positive reinforcement, discipline will be minora result of kids being kids. No contrived program will eliminate disruptive behavior in the classroom without a moral foundation in the family and in a society without limits and boundaries for individual behavior. The philosophies of Rousseau and others If it feels good do it, has led to a child-centered approach that has had negative implication for classroom control. Children need boundaries in order to develop self discipline. According to Montessori, obedience is the foundation of society and civilization (as cited by Carey, 2007). For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives (Hebrew 12:6). If the Father of spirits corrects those He loves, then teachers, who care about their students as Pestalozzi desired, must discipline those they teach. Role of the student and teacher in the process of learning With the influence of educators like Rousseau, Pestalozzi, Froebel, and Dewey the child became the center of learning. Froebel introduced the concept of letting children grow freely as plants, according to the nature of child (Gutek, p. 266). This secular humanist child-centered role has replaced Calvinist Christian educational theory which asserts that, This book of law shall not depart from your mouth, but you meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success (Joshua 1: 8). By 1985, from primary grades through college, [teachers] are reluctantly concluding that the principle means by which students may be engaged is entertainment (Claggett, 2009). Montessori asserted that children possessed an innate drive, called a divine urge that stimulates their self-activity to perform actions that promote growth and that they are eager to try and master new skills (Gutek, p. 369). According to Dewey, the childs own instincts and powers furnish the material and give the starting point for all education (Dewey, 1897). Because of the individuality of each student, the student is the driving force behind education and the most important entity in the education continuum (Bartlett, 2007). Research shows that student motivation, relevance, and engagement in the learning process promote learning. Learning is an action and is not, cannot be, fun at all times. Learning does not occur by osmosis and students must be willing to expend energy and thought processes to be successful All students can learn, but not all students learn in the same way, at the same time, and at the same intellectual level. Cognitive ability, not politically correctness, plays a major role of what a student can and will learn. Teachers must establish relevance, provide expertise, establish interest, in aspects of curriculum design and methods of teaching pertinent to establishing relevance and thereby motivating student learning (Kember, et.al., 2008 ). A loyalty to human dignity-and human possibility-is maintained when the teacher is loyal to the knowledge and/or skill being learned (Vandenberg, 2009). How does learning occur The brain is the most intricate and complex mechanism God created. Theorists such as Froebel and Rousseau realized that a child was similar to nature, like other things of Gods creation; they pass through various stages of development from a seed to an oak tree. God created the mind to learn but as a result of genetics (the sins of the fathers are passed on through generations), environment (where, when and how one lives), and physiological impairments, all students cannot learn all things. The brain is influenced by outside factors; active participation in experiences encourages brain growth; learning, playing, good nutrition contribute to learning; learning is a social activity; chemicals in the brain affect memory and learning; singing and music affect release of positive brain chemicals (Sprenger, 1999). Professional development In order to promote literacy in reading and mathematics, the NCLB act emphasizes teacher professional development based upon scientifically based research methods of instruction. Eramus believed teachers needed to be well-educated individuals and possess a commanding knowledge of their subjects (Gutek, p.103). Mann held that inadequately prepared teachers had lowered the quality of instruction (Gutek, p. 224). In the age of technology, brain research is producing new information daily on how the brain works and how it can be applied to the educational settings. Teachers must be exposed to the methods and research based strategies in order to provide the best education possible to each and very student. Curriculum In 1867, John Stuart Mill stated, In every generation, and now more rapidly than ever, the things which it is necessary that somebody should know are more and more multiplied (Mill, 1867, p.5). Since Mills time, knowledge has exploded. Vast amounts of knowledge, beyond Platos wildest imaginations, are everywhere and still the questions remain: What should be taught? Who should be taught? When should it be taught? How should it be taught?   According to Mill, the vexed question is whether general education should be classical à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ or scientific (Mill, p.4). Educational theorists from Plato to Spencer to the U.S. Office of Education have focused on these issues and we still face them today. An effort to restore disciplinary rigor to education began after WWII with the scientific systems thinking approach to learning (Rudolph, 2002). The buzzwords today are rigor and relevance in the educational circles. Yet thirty years after the analytical systems-based curriculum reform movement, Sykes states, American schools are in deep trouble, not because they lack men and women who care about children, but because they are dominated by an ideology that does not care much about learning (Sykes, 1996). According to some, we must develop more programs similar to West Springfield High School to assist students in applying technology to their needs and in making intelligent judgments about problems associated with techno logy? (Alukonis Setter, 2008).    The Greco-Roman philosophers, Confucius, the Renaissance reformers, and the utilitarian liberalists focused on education as the path to produce the perfect ideal society. Knowledge becomes a means to an end. Who can possess knowledge? Calvinism promoted reading and writing for every one which is the ultimate goal for UNESCO today. How do we teach and what do we teach?   Today a liberal arts curriculum is offered to all. According to a recent study, 63% of the work force skills today do not require a college education. What is the purpose of obtaining knowledge? What type of knowledge is needed to create the greatest good for the greatest number? Spenser promoted direct experience in the real world and individualism. Sykes contends that American students are unable to effectively compete with the rest of the industrialized world, because our schools teach less, expect less, and settle for less than do those of other countries (Sykes, p.9).    We are in an age defined by global competition, change, immediate information and communication. The pace of change has become so rapid that the skill set required is not sufficiently being met by the public schools. Basic skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics will still produce individuals who based upon their God-given talents will excel in problem-solving, critical thinking, and inventiveness necessary to sustain personal happiness and societal contribution. Collaboration Learning does not occur in isolation. An individuals ability is influenced by his environment, his background and experiences. To provide the best education possible, a school system must collaborate with parents and community to assure that each child is receiving an education that will provide the best opportunity for him or her to reach his or her highest potential. Diversity Mann, who is considered the father of Americas public education, wrote, Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin is the great equalizer of the conditions of men-the balance wheel of the social machinery (Gutek, p.225). He believed that the school curriculum should provide the same basic knowledge and skills equally to all its students. The same basic knowledge of history, literature, science, mathematics and the arts should be provided for every child in the public schools. This basic knowledge should provide knowledge necessary for responsible citizenship, for national prosperity and development, an economic equalizer, and to instill moral and values as Mann states. . Today the reconstructionist theory screams for the multicultural curriculum for minority students who are deprived equal education of the white elite controlling class. Educators must be aware of the hidden agenda of the social reconstructionists who have as an ultimate goal, the destruction of capitalism, nationalism, Christianity and democracy as we know it. Cultural diversity and multiculturalism is a political agenda to destroy the capitalist system of the United States from within using the cries of the oppressed as the bait. Many people with cultures, languages, and skin colors other than the American mainstreams are treated as second class citizens in our schools. Christians in education need to fight racism and cultural differences: there but for the grace of God go I. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40, as much as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me. Christian educators will embrace all students as children of God, and will provide equity and fairness in a diverse and multicultural classroom. Assessment NCLB ties public school accountability directly to federal funding and has as its goal, literacy in reading and mathematics for all children by 2014. Annual state and school district report cards inform parents and communities about state and school progress (USDE, 2003). Accountability based upon annual testing and standards for reading and math has become a major part of public schools. Various assessments techniques have been suggested other than traditional testing such as portfolios and performance assessments that focus on the demonstration of mastery of a task. Test scores alone cannot be the measure of a schools success or of a students achievement but basic knowledge and essential skills must be assessed in some manner to provide information on the success of both instruction and student ability. Teacher and student/ parent relationships Pestalozzi recognized that the affective side of human nature, emotional growth, was as important as cognitive development (Gutek, p. 162). He maintained that the educational setting must be based upon a climate of emotional security. Classroom circumstances may affect the brains chemistry in either a positive or a negative way (Sprenger, 1996). Providing a safe environment for students is the responsibility of both teachers and parents. Before learning can occur, teachers must realize the emotional needs of students affect their behavior and abilities to think cognitively. Communication with parents is the ideal way to assist teachers in creating instructional methods based upon the needs of individual students. Conclusion In mans ego-centered life, he continues to build the Tower of Babel. After 5,000 years of civilization, man has not reach utopia, nirvana, or heaven through Platos quest for knowledge, Aristotles exercise for rationality; Quintilians rhetorical goodness; the merge of Aquinass realism and Catholicism; Erasmuss Christian humanism; Calvins Evangelical Protestantism; Comeniuss vision of Pansophism; Rousseaus, Froebels, and Pestalozzis child permissiveness; nor the militant rebellious reconstructionist ideas of Dubois and Freire. Man continues to seek beyond the stars, beyond the universe but cannot and will not find the ultimate Truth nor the reason that man exists. Not until the Creator of the vessel determines to reveal the truth to the created, will man reach knowing. The earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until nowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Romans 8:19-22). Aquinas asserted that a person was called to teaching in a way that was similar to the priests vocation, a call to service (Gutek, p. 88). A child is life, a gift of God. A true teacher has for his or her motivation that which will promote each individuals ability to become the person according to the perfect will that God has determined. Adequate schooling must prepare young people to act responsibly in all areas of their lives. We must work to build responsibility whenever we can to promote Gods kingdom being realized as much as possible in the here and now. This is our calling and this is our work as Christians .Christian educator must gently, lovingly, accept every student and work with their differences, needs, hang-ups, foibles, even sins-constantly modeling the high standards of the Christian life and a personal, responsible integration of faith and learning that eventually can be emulated by the student (Holtrop, 1996). Plato, a founding father of Idealism, asserted that reality is nonmaterial or spiritual. For Plato, the father of Idealism, ideas are the only true reality, the only thing worth knowing. He argues values are universal regardless of place, time, and circumstances (Gutek, p. 39). Plato believed that the search for the truth is an interior search to recall ideas latently present in our minds (Gutek, p. 40). In idealism, the aim of education is to discover and develop each individuals abilities and full moral excellence in order to better serve society. Based upon a Christian worldview, I agree with the premise of Plato that truth and reality are a spiritual quest, although I assert one can only attain the truth through the Word of God rather than from recalling knowledge from a prior existence. My spiritual convictions and views of absolute truth can be labeled as a Christian Idealist. For the Perennialist, providing knowledge of eternal truth and preparation for life is educations most important purpose. Teaching basic subjects such as history, math, science and literature provide knowledge of mans struggle and achievements. My educational philosophy may be viewed as a theist Perennialist based upon my belief that human nature never changes and ideas and truth are constant based upon Holy Scriptures (Cohen, 1999).

The Behavior Of Emerging Market Returns :: essays research papers

Currency devaluations, failed economic plans, regulatory changes, coups and other national financial "shocks" are notoriously difficult to predict and may have disasterous consequences for global portfolios. Indeed, these characteristics often define the difference in investment in the capital markets of developed and emerging economies. Research on emerging markets has suggested three market features: high average returns, high volatility and low correlations both across the emerging markets and with developed markets. Indeed, the lesson of volatility was learned the hard way by many investors in December 1994 when the Mexican stock market began a fall that would reduce equity value in U.S. dollars by 80% over the next three months. But, we have learned far more about these fledgling markets. First, we need to be careful in interpreting the average performance of these markets. Harvey (1995) points out that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) backfilled some of the index data resulting in a survivorship bias in the average returns. Second, the countries that are currently chosen by the IFC are the ones that have a proven track record. This selection of winners induces another type of selection bias. Third, Goetzmann and Jorion (1996) detail a re-emerging market bias. Some markets, like Argentina, have a long history beginning in the last half of the 19th century. At one point in the 1920's, Argentina's market capitalization exceeded that of the U.K. However, this market submerged. To sample returns from 1976 (as the IFC does), only measures the "re-emergence" period. A longer horizon mean, in this case, would be lower than the one calculated from 1976. This insight is consistent with the out-of -sample portfolio simulations carried out by Harvey (1993) indicating that the performance of the dynamic strategy was affect by the initial five years. Fourth, exposure as measured by the IFC is not necessarily attainable for world investor's [see Bekart and Urias (1996)]. Second, we have learned that the emerging market returns are more predictable than developed market returns. Harvey (1995) details much higher explanatory power for emerging equity markets than developed market returns. The sources of this predictability could be time-varying risk exposures and/or time-varying risk premiums, such as in Ferson and Harvey's (1991, 1993) study of U.S. and international markets. The predictability could also be induced by fundamental inefficiencies. In many countries, the predictability is of a remarkably simple form: autocorrelation. For example, Harvey (1995) details 0.25 autocorrelation coefficient for Mexico in a sample that ends in June 1992.

Environmental Law in Kenya

How can Environmental Law be effectively enforced in Kenya? For environmental law to be effectively enacted in Kenya their needs to be emphasis on the need for a universal environmental ethic. There needs to be a concern on the ability to provide information that changes behaviour towards the environment i. e. not stopping at awareness creation but to also go through education & advocacy. This led to the enactment of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. (EMCA).With the enactment of the EMCA, the fundamental principles on the environment espoused in various multilateral environmental agreements and intellectual discourse were incorporated into Kenyan law. Therefore it is based on the recognition that improved co ordination of the diverse sectoral initiatives is necessary for better management of the environment. To facilitate a coordinated approach to environmental management, EMCA establishes several organs as discussed below which help in the effective enforcement of e nvironmental law: ) National Environmental Council It is responsible for policy formulation and directing, setting national goals and objectives, determining policy and priorities for the protection of the environment and the promotion of cooperation among the public and private bodies engaged in environmental protection programmes. The council is responsible in regards to international treaties, conventions and agreements relating to the management of the environment to which Kenya is a party or should be a party.i) National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) It is responsible for the following: (a) Co-ordinate the various environmental management activities being undertake by the lead agencies and promote the integration of environmental considerations Into development policies, plans, programmes and projects with a view to ensuring the proper management and rational utilization of environmental resources on a sustainable yield basis for the improvement of he quality of hum an life in Kenya; (b) Take stock of the natural resources in Kenya and their utilization and conservation; (c) Establish and review in consultation with the relevant lead agencies, land use guidelines; (d) Examine land use patterns to determine their impact on the quality and quantity of natural resources. (e) Carry out surveys which will assist in the proper management and conservation of the environment; (f) Advise the government on legislative and other measures for the management of the environment or the implementation of relevant international conventions, treaties and agreements in the field of environment,g) advise the government on regional and international environmental conventions, treaties and agreements to which Kenya should be a party and follow up the implementation of such of such agreements where Kenya is party; (h) Undertake and co-ordinate research, investigation and surveys in the field of Environment and collect collate and disseminate information about the fin dings Of such research, investigation or survey; I) mobilize and monitor the use of financial and human resources for environmental Management; (J) identify projects and programs or types of projects and programs, plans and policies for which environmental audit or environmental monitoring must be conducted under this Act; (k) Initiate and evolve procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents Which may cause environmental degradation and evolve remedial measures where Accidents occur; l) Monitor and assess activities, including activities being carried out by relevant lead Agencies, in order to ensure that the environment is not degraded by such activities, environmental management objectives are adhered to and adequate early warning on impending environmental emergency is given;(m) Undertake, in co-operation with relevant lead agencies, programmes intended to enhance environmental education and public awareness about the need for sound Environmental management as well as for enlisting public support and encouraging the effort made by other entities in that regard; (n) Publish and disseminate manuals, codes or guidelines relating to environmental Management and prevention and abatement of environmental degradation; (n) Render advice and technical support, where possible, to entities engaged in natural Resource management and environmental protection so as to enable them to carry out Their responsibilities satisfactorily; o) Prepare and issue an annual report on the state of the environment in Kenya and in This regard may direct any lead agency to prepare and submit to it a report on the state Of the sector of the environment under the administration of that lead agency; (p) Perform such other functions as the Government may assign to the Authority or As are incidental or conducive to the excise by the Authority of any or all of the functions provided under this Act. iii) Provincial and District committees The committee is responsible for the followi ng: A) is responsible for the proper management of the environment within the province or district in respect of which they are appointed. (b) Perform such additional functions as are prescribed by this Act or as may, from time to time, be assigned by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.There are certain mechanisms that are set in place for the protection and conservation of the environment, framework environmental laws also provide for the management of specific environmental aspects, whether they are of a sect oral nature or of cross sectoral nature or both. These mechanisms include: -Environmental Impact Assessment This is a tool that helps those involved in decision making concerning development programmes or projects to make their decisions based on knowledge of the likely impacts that will be caused on the environment, whether negative or positive. Whether the impacts are negative and likely to result in significant harm, decision makers will be able to decide what kind of m itigating measures should be taken to eliminate or minimise the harm. Therefore the EIA is an anticipatory and where there is harm, a preventive mechanism. By using theEIA both environmental and economic benefits can be achieved such as reduced cost and time of project implementation and design, avoiding treatment/ clean up costs and impacts of law and regulations. -Environmental auditing and monitoring This is a process that assesses the nature and extent of environmental concerns at an existing facility or any other site where the existence of industrial pollution problems is identified or anticipated. Enforcement of Environmental Law Most environmental enforcement strategies derive from legal requirements that must be met by individuals, facilities whose operations or activities may cause undesirable environmental impacts. These environmental impacts are an essential foundation for environmental and public health protection.Environmental actions may include applying one or a comb ination of the following actions: †¢ Inspections and monitoring to determine the compliance status of the regulated community and to detect and to respond to violations. †¢ Negotiations with violators or facility managers to develop mutually agreeable schedules and approaches for achieving compliance. †¢ Awareness creation to sensitise the regulated community on the requirements to be met †¢ Taking legal action where necessary to compel compliance and: †¢ Compliance promotion among the regulated community. 2. Discuss why health and safety laws are necessary for any worker? Health and safety may be perceived as an investment or loss within an organization.Accidents happen and it is imperative for organizations to strive towards a ‘zero’ rate because they can prove very expensive if a company is deemed liable. Employers may be expected to invest a relatively minimal initial outlay for risk assessment and hazard identification procedures – w hich may or may not require consultancy fees, installation of modern equipment or staff training – but in reality these can all be viewed as an investment rather than a loss and there is no arguing with the fact that an injury free workplace is a safe workplace. All employers were required to ensure, in so far as ‘reasonably practical’, the safety, health and welfare at work of their employees and to carry out an annual review of safety statements specifying how it is managed.On the other hand, employees are obliged to co-operate with their employer and report any circumstances that may pose a serious threat to health and safety. In the opinion of Hoyle (2004), â€Å"Accident prevention is primarily the responsibility of individual workers. † The promotion of health and safety within an organization can be seen as an investment. If employees keep healthy, their productivity will be good and this can promote profits. With safety the same applies. In a safe environment there are fewer injuries, more productivity, more profits and less worker compensation insurance premiums, etc. The financial implications of accidents and ill-health are often overlooked or underestimated, especially relating to absenteeism.Apart from still having to pay the absent employee’s wages, employers could also be faced with additional wages for replacement staff, overtime and lost time spent on investigations and meetings, increased costs due to reduced productivity, possible contract penalties and external consultancy fees, all of which can add up to substantial hidden costs (TSSA). In fact, organizations with active training programmers in health and safety – such as OHSAS 18001 – have many advantages, including fewer work-related injuries and lower healthcare costs, improved productivity, reduced absenteeism, lower insurance premiums and compensation claims and a higher rate of worker retention and employee satisfaction. Workers’ compensation claims due to workplace accidents and occupational ill-health appear in the papers every day. And costs facing organizations include investigation time, wages paid for lost time, clerical time, decreased output of injured worker upon return and the loss of business and goodwill.Unfortunately, in smaller firms where major injury rates tend to be higher, conviction could ruin a company. Many small organizations harbor a negative view of the business benefits of corporate and social responsibility. They see the implementation and maintenance of appropriate operational standards as a waste of time, money and staff resources because of the required controls, practices and procedures and other overheads which they regard as a drain on their limited resources. While some employers may see health and safety as a loss, this will only occur when an organization has failed to take reasonable steps to prevent injury and non-injury accidents and ill-health. The advantages of revent ive policies can be financially beneficial, an added investment is that they ‘can also consist of benefits that are harder to express in money, such as morale, productivity or quality gain. ’ Nevertheless, employers must undertake suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to health and safety in their workplace and appropriate arrangements must be made to review preventive and protective measures, assess their efficacy and level of legal compliance and establish a sound health and safety culture. A risk assessment is a hazard identification process to identify what could cause harm to people. It forms part of the preparation of a Safety Statement and helps employers to manage the health and safety of their employees.Employers are legally required to do everything that is ‘reasonably practicable’ to ensure that identified hazards will not injure anyone. They should also ensure that all employees are familiar with the relevant contents of the Safety Stateme nt, especially when revisions have been made. Improving health and safety need not cost the employer a lot of money. Even changing the way a particular task is performed can reduce the risk of injury. For example, placing anti-slip material on a slippery floor is a relatively inexpensive precaution when compared to the financial implications of a bad fall. Any safety measures introduced â€Å"need only be proportional to the real risks involved and should be sufficient to control, eliminate or minimize any risk of injury† (ibid).Managing health and safety in the workplace is not just a legal requirement, it also makes commercial sense. Many investors closely monitor health and safety performance with a view to increasing investment opportunities. Simple and relatively inexpensive steps like arranging courses such as First Aid, Manual Handling, Fire and Electrical Safety, Health and Safety and Stress Management, etc. for all employees is most definitely a good investment for a ny forward-looking organization and the potential dividends for both staff and employees are immeasurable REFERENCES Environmental Management and Coordination Act 2000 Okidi et al, Environmental Governance in Kenya: Implementing the Framework law. East African Publishers, 2008

How Urban Legends Work

A Summary of â€Å"How Urban Legends Work† Have you ever heard of the urban legend â€Å"Bloody Mary†, where you stand in the bathroom with the lights off and the room completely dark and chant â€Å"Bloody Mary† 13 times in the mirror a woman will appear and kill you. In the article of â€Å"How Urban Legends Work† by Tom Harris, Mr. Harris gives us various examples of different urban legends. Exactly what is an Urban Legend? Urban legends are popular stories that are alleged to be true and are passed from person to person by word of mouth or written communication. In the article â€Å"How Does Urban Legends work† by Tom Harris, he states that an urban legend is any modern, fictional story, told as truth that reaches a wide audience by being passed from person to person. Are urban legends true or false? Tom Harris stated in his article that most urban legends are not real. In the article Tom Harris gives us examples of different urban legends that have no moral relation to them but they are told and written for amusement. Urban legends are believed by a lot of people only because they don’t take the time to look into things themselves. What makes them so real? Tom Harris stated in his article that some details in an urban legend can really make them seem real and make you believe them. Urban legends have been around for decades but within the last 10 years they have taken the internet by storm. I receive forwards daily from different people that have my email address and some of them always say to forward them on. I never forward because either it’s an urban legend or a chain letter. If I not sure about it I always go back and do the research on it myself. Urban legends come in different forms it’s simply up to you to decide whether they are real or fake. Telling urban legends are just like playing the game telephone, the more you pass it on the story is going to get twisted up somewhere. A few things will be added and some will be taken away from the story. It’s up to you to dissect the story and research it for yourself.