Marketing research proposal of Lion Ice Beer

Lion ice is a beer brewed in New Zealand by lion breweries. It has been one of the leading brands in premium beers in New Zealand but over the recent past there has been a substantial decline in sales volumes. The beer is specifically brewed for a certain social class (urban New Zealand males aged 26-39) who have incomes ranging from $35,000-$65,000. According the lion ice brand manager, the beer is within its latter stages of the brands product cycle and he feels there is need to re-engineer the brand afresh. Thus this research proposal aims at looking at some of the root causes for the products loss of market share as well as looking at ways that could restore the brands market share. The brand manager assumes that the reason for the decline in popularity is due to the introduction in the market of new brands of imported premium beers. Background: Lion Breweries Company launched the lion ice brand in 1993. The aim of its introduction was to compete with other brands in the ice-brewed segment of the market such as Carlton cold from Carlton breweries. This was in addition to the fact that ice-brewed beers were presumed to be a premium style of beer. Literature review: Marketing research proposals, just like many other types of research proposals need to be undertaken carefully. In writing this research proposal I have tried to emulate the laid down procedures for research proposals. Thus, I have used ideas from such scholars as Paul T. P. Wong, as well as David S. Walonick. These scholars have carefully described the art of proposal writing to its fullest both in qualitative and quantitative analysis. Methodology: In carrying out this research I have taken much emphasis in examining the best methodologies to use and I have come up with the following methodology. Firstly I have chosen the use of questionnaires that will supposedly be filled in by wholesalers and distributors. This is because these middle men have first hand information on what types and quantities of beer that retailers ask for. The questionnaires will help to determine the present demand as well as the supply available for the lion ice brand. In addition to this the questionnaires will also address the issue of pricing since it could also be a reason why people are avoiding the lion ice brand. In addition to these questionnaires there will be another set of questionnaires that retailers will be given by their distributors for them to be filled in by the consumers. This second set of questionnaires will target people’s tastes and preferences. This set will be geared towards the attainment of necessary information that will help to re brand the lion ice brand. This information will include issues of the alcoholic content, poster or logo image, bottle type amongst other factors. Since the New Zealand market is very large and given the time limitation I have decided to use snowball sampling technique. In so doing I will interview one major distributor of premium beers of selected cities. Once I have interviewed the distributor I will leave the questionnaires with him for them to be circulated by retailers. Once the forms are filled they will be returned back to the distributor as retailers replenish their stocks. The study will involve a lot of travelling as well as the use of telephone conversations from time to time. Due to time limitation I have chosen snowball sampling technique since it is easier under the circumstances. Since the research is supposed to take at most two months I have planned to spend the first three weeks randomly selecting distributors nationally who will be my primary subjects or participants. Within this period I will also issue the questionnaires for distribution. Once this is done I am hoping to use the fourth week contacting the distributors and knowing the degree of feedback. If this goes as planned I hope to spend the fifth and sixth week collecting the questionnaires as well as clarifying any disparities in the feedbacks. The seventh and eighth weeks I hope to analyze and compile my research findings and come up with the final recommendations. Results: After conducting the research and administering the questionnaires I will be looking forward to getting answers to the following questions. Firstly I will be able to know the current levels of demand and supply, I will also be able to know the best pricing strategy, the current tastes and preferences will also be known among others. Discussion: By undertaking this research I am positive that I will be able to come up with concrete answers necessary for the re-introduction of the brand into the market. However, due to time limitations the research will not be as conclusive as I would have wanted it to be. This may cause the results to deviate slightly from the actual case but the deviation will be minimal and negligible I believe. References: Edward F. McQuarrie. 2005. The Market Research Toolbox: A Concise Guide for Beginners. London: Sage Publications. Ian, Chaston; 1999. New Marketing Strategies: Evolving Flexible Processes to Fit Market Circumstance. London: Sage Publications The official lion brand website: www.lion-nathan.co.nz. Sunny, Crouch; &Matthew, Housden.2003. Marketing Research for Managers. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Â  

Maricalum Mining Corporation (MMC)

Maricalum Mining Corporation (MMC) in south Negros. Having 2,673 claims on mining in Barangays Cansauro, Hinablan, Tao-angan and Hinablan, of the towns of Cauayan and Sipalay, Negros Occidental. Actually I had gone into the place and had seen the impact of the mining in the people and to its natural habitat. Especially on Sipalay, I saw dead mountains, white ones. Waters sources and the rivers covered with the area are not portable therefore the people would go to the lowlands to buy fresh water to drink. Crops productions are cut into halves and the villagers experience skin diseases. Poisoning and many fish kills are reported before. People would always complain about the air pollution brought by it causing suspended sandstorms and dust particles. 2. One of the government policies was REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7942 or also known as â€Å"PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995†. This policy states that the all the private and public mining land are owned by the state. Therefore the government and other private sectors are responsible to the development, utilization and conservation of the place. Protecting the rights of affected communities and limits the land that are available for mining. Section 7, Article X of the constitution provides that LGU or Local Government Units are responsible to protect and co-manage the environment and to enhance the right of the people. Both RA belongs in the EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 79 created by state.

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds” Essay

†Let me not to the marriage of true minds† by William Shakespeare is an Elizabethan sonnet of 14 lines divided in three Quatrains and the habitual rhyming couplet. In this particular poem Shakespeare uses a complete different approach, luring the reader by achieving a dramatic change of style. Although keeping the simple A/B/A/B/C/D/C/D/E/F/E/F/G/G rhyming scheme, providing the sonnet with an harmonious, fluid sound and giving it the pleasant impression of a light-hearted song †Let me not to the marriage of true minds† does not fulfill all the typical criteria’s Shakespearian sonnet, the subject evoked being without comparison to his previous pieces. Shakespeare deliberately takes an idealistic turn, praising love in it’s purest form, where it is not only a simple feeling, but a synergy of the souls, where obstacles seem meaningless on the road of happiness, where no Impediments can be admitted in the †marriage of true minds†. This great respect for love is already announced by the poet in the very title, as he preaches that he shall not come in between of love †Let me not to the marriage of true minds† nor accept any impediments to destroy this permanent bond. †Love is not love which alters when alliteration finds {†¦. } or bends with the remover to remove†¦ † Here the author makes a strong statement, claiming that true love is strong, constant and can be in no way alliterated by adversity or the hands of time. If altered or shaken by a †remover†, proven impermanent by time as it was not apt to endure the arising obstacles in its path, this love is thus not comparable to the †true love† the author makes allusion to, †love is not love†. True love is indeed an †ever-fixed mark†, an unfailing variable ‘that looks on tempest and is never shaken; It is the star to every wand’ring bark†. The poet seems to personalize this notion of true love, by comparing it to a trusty lighthouse spreading light and hope to every †wand’ring bark† helping them find their path, unshaken by the tempest raging at its door. It is the star rising well above the ground, shining of all her glory and dominating the †wand’ring† bark. Here the †bark† is used as a metaphor, for the lovers navigating trough struggles, wandering but finding their way, finding their path guided by the light of true love. † Whose worth unknown although the height may be taken† as William Shakespeare so elegantly puts it, love can be measured or quantified to some degree, but it would be irrational to claim we can understand or comprehend the nature of true love as it’s worth is †unknown†. † Love’s not Time’s fool, through rosy lips and cheeks {†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. } but it bears it out even to the edge of doom† Shakespeare is here demonstrating the for ever occurring rivalry between Love and Time. This rivalry is here accentuated by the important capitalization of the word †Time† associated with the word fool turning in derision love makes it obvious for the reader that it was attributed more than just a minor role in the poem. This capitalization contrasts with the word love, and time could be here well interpreted as the enemy or the principal obstacle in the path of true love. Time, grasping its sickle tightly between its long and pallid fingers walks the earth draining life out of the dying and youth out of the beautiful †rosy lips, and cheeks†¦ †. We can here note the allusion to the word †sickle†. The sickle, often co notated with the †walking death† or †Grim reaper† is here used as a comparison to the †great plague† by the author to reinforce the dramatic effects of time and it’s threat to lovers, stealing their youth, reaping all beauty from the eyes of the beholder and harvesting life. We can also note the use of the alliteration in †within his bending sickle’s compass come† , providing a sound a harsh cutting sound and bringing to reality the already vivid image of the sickle. †Love is not Time’s fool† and shall not be ridiculed in such way. The author brings to life the two terms by the mean of personification, accentuating the feeling of rivalry and opposition between the former and the latter, as true love can not be turned into derision or treated with condescension by the scornful time . True love will never alter or kowtow in front of †brief hours and weeks but bears it to the edge of doom†. By this verse the author supports the claim that true love is eternal and shall not suffer the damages of time and remain as powerful as when the beacon was first lit, carrying this abstract notion to the edge of death †but bears it out even to the edge of doom†. †If this be error and upon me proved/ I never writ, Nor no man ever loved†. Shakespeare concludes in his rhyming couplet (slant rhymes) that if, what he claims to be true is proven wrong, he has never †writ† or written and no man as ever loved. This conclusion can seem to be based on an illogical argument as we are all well aware that Mr. Shakespeare is an author and has thus †Writ† in multiple occasions as we are also forced to accept the obviousness that man as loved. By confirming these statements as obviously truthful we are also accepting them as the †evidences† confirming his claims, and are thus imposed by the conclusion to agree within these terms.

Is There a Need for Constraining or Even Prohibiting the Sale and Use Essay

Is There a Need for Constraining or Even Prohibiting the Sale and Use of Alcohol - Essay Example Hence, those in favor propose that there should be monitored restrictions or absolute prohibition on alcohol consumption whereas the opponents who are in majority recommend that individuals should be guaranteed liberty to consume as much as they prefer. Alcohol consumption is a major factor that contributes to the increasing crime rate. In many countries its involvement can be up to 60 percent to 70 percent. It is one of the common reasons that lead to chaos in the public for example fights on the streets. It adds up figures to the list of sexual assaults, domestic violence, brutal crimes, murders, child abuse etc. Therefore in short, alcohol consumption is one of the leading factors that build up ground for crimes and violent behavior and a fall in its consumption will definitely lead to controlling these wrong deeds. Contrary to this, the opponents claim that sex and violence are two things toward which humans are inclined by nature and alcohol plays no part in bringing the urge fo r it. Alcohol can aid the process but is not a cause for them. The causes for them are biological. Hence whether it is made illegal, violence will continue. The drug laws in the country should be uniform. Addictive drugs like cannabis are made illegal because they affect the human mind, although they result in nearly no violence and crime. So drugs like alcohol should definitely be forbidden because of their immense crime rate. On the other hand those who oppose this stance claim that even cannabis should be legalized because the mainstream knows how to use these drugs securely and maturely. It is an addictive and destructive drug that when taken in large quantities, it completely shatters human lives. People end up with broken marriages, losing jobs, disturbed families, becoming shelter less only because of extreme alcoholism. Sadly its percentage is very high in our country. However, as opposed to this others believe that drinking has been a part of many cultures since hundreds of years. It is a social phenomenon and banning this act is entirely impractical. It is very much correct that if alcohol is banned the government will face huge losses in the tax revenues. However this is not a serious issue. It is because the government is already spending so much on treatment of addicts, illnesses related with alcohol and also on the police department for addressing alcohol related crimes and issues. If alcohol is banned, these spending will also cut down and the losses in tax revenue will be settled. Opponents however believe that alcohol has multibillion dollar industry globally and being a part of it brings huge revenues for the government through taxation and duties. Banning it would bring a massive set back to the governments earnings. Moreover if it is banned, black markets, traffickers, ill legal drug users will continue to flourish and this way the government would lose all its revenues. No doubt that drinking is very common in our country in all age groups and the government earns huge revenues through the industry, it still is a harmful substance for the humans in numerous aspects. It destroys the brain cells and drinkers have 10 percent smaller hippocampi- the part of the brain that deals with memory and learning, as compared to non drinkers. Severe drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning which can cause respiratory

The importance of tourism in Paris Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The importance of tourism in Paris - Assignment Example In the report, the researcher has discussed about the tourism, one the fastest growing activities in the world. There are over the 950 tourists travelled around the world in last year. For this report, the researcher has selected Paris form one of traditional tourist places in the world. In recent modern environment, the world is moving towards fifth generation. The trend of tourism is increasing with the speed of bullet. People want to visit new places to feel the maximum pleasure of their journeys. Tourism is one the fastest growing activities around the world. This activity is playing an important role in the economies of the countries. Tourism is also referred as a major contributor of recent developments in many countries. According to Edgell, tourism acts as a stimulator in the development of infrastructure and attracts the foreign investment in efficient manner. Paris is one of the most famous traditional tourist destinations in Europe. Paris is situated on a river side in nor thern France. It is also one of the metropolitan cities in the world. According to some recent estimates Paris is one of the world’s leading cultural center and contributed in almost all the areas such as education, entertainment and art. According to Courtney Traub, Paris is also considered a world’s most romantic city in the entire world. Paris is popular due to its stunning places like Eiffel Tower, Louvre pyramid, Disney land and other parks and gardens. Significance of Tourism to Paris Tourism acts as a major contributor in the development of Paris. There are some factors that show the significance of tourism to Paris has been mentioned below separately. Economic Growth: Tourism is one of those factors that have made many positive influences in economies of the countries. The report of world travel and tourism council state that tourism has affected the economies of many countries in last decade. The economic factor is also one of those factors which influence the tourism activities in Paris in efficient manner during last few decades. According to the Mak (2004), economy of any destination plays an important role in the decision of potential tourists. For example, tourists are interested to know that what the benefits of visiting any specific destination are. In addition, the cost of goods, availability of resources in any place may convince the tourist to visit any destination. According to some recent survey

Sponsorship Agreements of Turkish Airlines Dissertation

Sponsorship Agreements of Turkish Airlines - Dissertation Example The intention of this study aviation industry that characterized by financial crisis arising from oil prices, augmenting competition, decline in fare rates, changing consumer expectations and political and economic constraints. Under such turbulent environment, one airline company, which has showed signs of constant growth and responsive marketing, is Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines was established in the year 1933 with an initial aircraft fleet of only five. However, with its strategic approach and aggressive marketing tactics, it very soon grabbed the status of a 4-start company with a jaw-hopping 144 aircraft fleet running across 166 destinations. It also bagged the Award of Best Airline in Southern Europe. It also signed sponsorship agreement with Manchester United as an extension of its sponsorship activity and will serve as the medium of travel for players and officials for three and a half years. Despite less connection between Manchester United and Turkish Airlines fleet a nd destinations, its officials remark the deal as one step ahead in contributing to their brand value and demonstration of quality and service in their offerings. However, rumours are rising on the Club’s intention of sailing through their debt position with the help of this deal and no promising advantages accruing to the Airlines in return. The national airlines company of Turkey, Turkish Airlines’ moves to participate in the sponsorships for the golf events to be held in Turkey is considered another key step for the marketing of its brand. The airlines company has already tied itself with international brands like FC Barcelona and Manchester United for its sponsorship events in the field of football. Turkish Airlines new sponsorship event was tagged as â€Å"Turkish Airlines Challenge† and was tied up with the European Golf event European Challenge Tour. Another sponsor for a sub-event in the golf arena was also done by Turkish Airlines to sponsor the women p articipation in the golf event. These types of events held at the international level draws in huge crowds and is aired across national and international borders. Thus aiming to sponsor such events signify introducing the company to a

Historical Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Historical Research - Essay Example Historical research can offer the business or management researchers a variety of means to achieve extensive knowledge to understand, solve or interpret a situation at hand. Knowledge of the underlying information to any matter enhances the levels of understanding whilst improving the ability to discern and decide on the right or wrong decisions in business management. Historical background information adds to the chances of easier understanding why for instance the reasons implying the general trends in the present (Mehran, 2010). Historical research in the business context Historical research is not a major topic in business and management. Additionally this field lacks supply of enough attention as an independent c research field. Historical research in management studies takes care of various issues requiring this form of research methodology to assist in comparisons with other research methodologies (Sullivan, 2010). Historical research is used in decision making and in evaluati ng  intercultural negotiation in business. ... It involves; formulation of a research question as the starting point (Ribeiro, 2011). There is no reason why historical research will not incorporate some features quantitative research. Conversely, the main emphasis is mostly interpretivistic. The question on review has to be defensible. The relevance check- a historical researcher ought to note that for his work to uphold relevance, it is important to check if the work at hand is track. Note; I. Whether there is prior evidence holding essential concerns on how present decisions are to be made and the means through which future current policies are to be instituted. II. Whether there exist suggestions that the business had encountered a related issue in the past, how they were met, and the outcome of the decisions drawn at that time. III. Whether there is a possibility that the matter at hand may be as a result of a cycle. Is there enough understanding of the matter and the cycle’s nature and how it would be of importance in solving the present situation? Next is the need to determine the scope the business management issue extends. This cannot be easily perceived by a novice researcher as it calls for deep consideration of the domain for examination. The domain for examination establishes the principle discipline that the historical research will require to consider (Stefanie, 2007). A research project of this kind often applies marketing and financial knowledge and concepts. An aspect cannot be understood independently from other related aspects in business management. This indicates that the researcher ought to understand the history of the matters he or she is comparing. This type of idea also deeply applies to business management studies. There is no chance of having an

How effective are services in treating individuals who self harm Thesis Proposal

How effective are services in treating individuals who self harm - Thesis Proposal Example erstandable forms together with redundant risks, continuing in a foul relationship, developing problems similar to anorexia, alcoholic or drugs obsession or somebody merely not concerned with their psychological or bodily requirements. These responses might assist to manage with feelings that intimidate to devastate them with sore emotions for instance fury, depression, meaninglessness, woe, self-hatred, trepidation, isolation and culpability. These are possible to be unconfined throughout the body where they are easily noticeable and treated with. Self-harm could provide a quantity of functions at the similar time. It could be a mode of: In the society the act to self harm is taken as a â€Å"unswerving, communally objectionable deeds that causes bodily grievance where the individual is not trying suicide but is in a sensitively distressed state.† The act of â€Å"Self-harm† is mainly elicited by an aggressive argument with a close relative or friend. It is been noticed that people comprising excessive mistreatment and ignorance in their life are more prone to harm themselves. This extreme action generally happens following a upsetting incident and is a consequence of lacking abilities to tackle issues in a efficient manner. As per the psychological experts, at times the individual intentionally harming himself believes that their feelings or pain can be expressed in a better way, if they can be seen outside, which might provide a chance to win over the situation and it can prove that physical injuries are a mode to express their emotional pain. Though the substantial pain experienced by them serves as a mechanism that discharges the disturbing pain but it is a undeniable fact that the reprieve they sense is impermanent. These coping methods in quintessence are defective as the pain ultimately returns devoid of any enduring healing. â€Å"When the Body is the Target: Self-harm, Pain, and Traumatic Attachments† – In this book the author â€Å"Sharon Klayman

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Essay Example She is therefore the opposite of what a woman should be, especially one that is a nurse, and, as such, she represents the castrating female that men might fear. Argument We meet Nurse Ratched when she comes upon the black boys, who are, throughout the novel, a kind of background chorus, nameless and faceless, but always a part of the action. The boys are not doing anything particularly wrong, just standing around and talking. Nevertheless, Ratched descends upon them in fury - â€Å"she knows what they been saying, and I can see she's furious clean out of control. She's going to tear the black bastards limb from limb, she's so furious. She's swelling up, swells until her back's splitting out the white uniform and she's let her arms section out long enough to wrap around the three of them five, six times...† (Kesey, 1962, p. 5). What is interesting is the hyperbole that Kesey uses to describe the nurse – that she is large as a tractor, that her head is huge. This is told from the perspective of the Chief, and it is clear that the largeness of the nurse is symbolic of her degree of intimidation over the men. The description also makes her seem not just womanly, but not human. She seems more monstrous. This is symbolic, too, of her castrating female, as a monster is somebody who would represent somebody who might castrate a man. Nurse is somebody like a Medusa, who can turn men to stone just one glance. Therefore, it is obvious that Kesey wants us to see that Nurse Ratched is not just not maternal or caring, but that she is downright evil. Then, the description of the nurse changes, as she puts on her face for the people of the ward who might view her. It is obvious that she puts on a facade for people, as she does not want the world to view who she really is. When the other patients come out from their rooms to investigate what the commotion is, she immediately puts on her facade of sweetness - â€Å"smiling and calm and cold as usual† (Kesey, 1962, p. 5). Her actual physical features are very feminine - â€Å"face is smooth, calculated, and precision-made, like an expensive baby doll, skin like flesh-colored enamel, blend of white and cream and baby-blue eyes, small nose, pink little nostrils – everything working together except the color on her lips and fingernails, and the size of her bosom† (Kesey, 1962, p. 5). In other words, what the Chief perceived before – the nurse as big as a tractor, with arms long enough to wrap around the men six times, etc. - that represented the nurse's true self, which is that of the castrating female. The outward appearance, on the other hand, represents the face that she puts to the world, which is that of a feminine woman who is not controlling, authoritative or castrating. Like a sucubus, the mythical beautiful woman who may harm or kill men through their seductive ways, Nurse Ratched hides her true demon under a facade of beauty, which makes her all the more insi dious and all the more likely to be successful in castrating men. Her allure is on the outside, while her demonic side is on the inside. The power struggle with McMurphy represents the struggle with a man that she essentially cannot castrate, and this leads not only to her undoing, but McMurphy. Ratched has effectively neutered every other man who is under her umbrella of power, so that they do what she says, but McMurphy is different. He is different from the time that he presented himself into the ward - â€Å"

History of Mathematics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

History of Mathematics - Essay Example Although there was no record of any mathematical talent in his family, both Galois’s parents were intelligent and well-read in subjects considered important at the time: philosophy, classical literature and religion. In October 1823, Galois was enrolled at the Lycee of Louis-le-Grand and his initial years in school were marked with many successes and several prizes. During his first term, however, there was a rebellion by forty students who were all expelled. Although Galois was not involved in the rebellion, the severe attitude taken by the school against those students left an impression on his already developing political outlook. By his third year, he became bored with the classical studies and his interests were soon absorbed by Legrendre’s Geometry, a book understood by very few. He regularly failed his exams and was asked to repeat the year due to poor work in rhetoric. He faced severe criticisms from his rhetoric teachers and soon his own family started to think of him as strange. February 1827 marked a turning point in his life, as he entered his very first mathematics course, taken by M. Vernier. Typical reports from his school described him as bizarre, singular, original and closed. His passion for mathematics dominated him and his director of studies advised his parents to let him concentrate only on mathematics and forgo all others. His time in school apart from mathematics was described as a waste of time â€Å"as he did nothing more than torment his teachers and overwhelm himself with punishments†. However, M. Vernier reported him as an intelligent student with zeal and success (Rothman, 1982). M. Vernier constantly implored Galois to work more systematically, an advice which he ignored. Galois attempted the entrance examination to Ecole Polytechnique a year early and without the required course in mathematics. His failure to clear the exam and the subsequent failures left a deep gash on him and embittered him for life

Innovation in a market economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Innovation in a market economy - Essay Example Organizations cannot exist in the market with the conventional products alone. For example, think of a situation in which Microsoft sticking with its old operating system Windows 3 series alone at present. Everybody knows that Microsoft was able to keep its monopoly in the software industry purely because of their ability to innovate news products or incorporate new features to their existing products. Thus we got Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista like updated versions of windows. It is not possible for Microsoft to accommodate the requirements of the current world using their older versions of operating systems. The current facilities like video conferencing, video chat, high resolution graphics processing, internet, e-mail etc may not run its older versions of Windows. Thus innovation makes an organization capable of meeting the present challenges by updating their existing technologies. Innovation is needed even in formulating strategies. Same strategy may not work everywhere even if the product is the same. Parker Pen Company has tried to implement same marketing strategies to market their writing equipments all over the world at the beginning of their international campaign. They thought same product needs same marketing strategies everywhere. But they failed miserably because of the above strategy. â€Å"Product may be the same, but may be different†, Parker Pen Company failed to recognize the above fact. â€Å"The idea of selling pens the same way everywhere did not sit well with many parker subsidiaries and distributors.   

Air Pollution Essay Example for Free

Air Pollution Essay BEIJING — Outdoor air pollution contributed to 1.2 million premature deaths in China in 2010, nearly 40 percent of the global total, according to a new summary of data from a scientific study on leading causes of death worldwide. Figured another way, the researchers said, China’s toll from pollution was the loss of 25 million healthy years of life from the population. The data on which the analysis is based was first presented in the ambitious 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study, which was published in December in The Lancet, a British medical journal. The authors decided to break out numbers for specific countries and present the findings at international conferences. The China statistics were offered at a forum in Beijing on Sunday. â€Å"We have been rolling out the India- and China-specific numbers, as they speak more directly to national leaders than regional numbers,† said Robert O’Keefe, the vice president of the Health Effects Institute, a research organization that is helping to present the study. The organization is partly financed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the global motor vehicle industry. What the researchers called â€Å"ambient particulate matter pollution† was the fourth-leading risk factor for deaths in China in 2010, behind dietary risks, high blood pressure and smoking. Air pollution ranked seventh on the worldwide list of risk factors, contributing to 3.2 million deaths in 2010. By comparison with China, India, which also has densely populated cities grappling with similar levels of pollution, had 620,000 premature deaths in 2010 because of outdoor air pollution, the study found. That was deemed to be the sixth most common killer in South Asia. The study was led by an institute at the University of Washington and several partner universities and institutions, including the World Health Organization. Calculations of premature deaths because of outdoor air pollution are politically threatening in the eyes of some Chinese officials . According to news reports, Chinese officials cut out sections of a 2007 report called â€Å"Cost of Pollution in China† that discussed premature deaths. The report’s authors had concluded that 350,000 to 400,000 people die prematurely in China each  year because of outdoor air pollution. The study was done by the World Bank in cooperation with the Chinese State Environmental Protection Administration, the precursor to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. There have been other estimates of premature deaths because of air pollution. In 2011, the World Health Organization estimated that there were 1.3 million premature deaths in cities worldwide because of outdoor air pollution. Last month, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, based in Paris, warned that â€Å"urban air pollution is set to become the top environmental cause of mortality worldwide by 2050, ahead of dirty water and lack of sanitation.† It estimated that up to 3.6 million people could end up dying prematurely from air pollution each year, mostly in China and India. There has been growing outrage in Chinese cities over what many say are untenable levels of air pollution. Cities across the north hit record levels in January, and official Chinese newspapers ran front-page articles on the surge — what some foreigners call the â€Å"airpocalypse† — despite earlier limits on such discussion by propaganda officials. In February, the State Council, China’s cabinet, announced a timeline for introducing new fuel standards, but state-owned oil and power companies are known to block or ignore environmental policies to save on costs. A study released on Thursday said the growth rate of disclosure of pollution information in 113 Chinese cities had slowed. The groups doing the study, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, based in Beijing, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, based in Washington, said that â€Å"faced with the current situation of severe air, water and soil pollution, we must make changes to pollution source information disclosure so that information is no longer patchy, out of date and difficult to o btain.† Chinese officials have made some progress in disclosing crucial air pollution statistics. Official news reports have said 74 cities are now required to release data on levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, which penetrate the body’s tissues most deeply. For years, Chinese officials had been collecting the data but refusing to release it, until they came under pressure from Chinese who saw that the United States Embassy in Beijing was measuring the levels hourly and posting the data in a Twitter feed, @BeijingAir. Last week, an official Chinese news report said the cost of environmental degradation in China was about $230 billion in 2010, or 3.5  percent of the gross domestic product. The estimate, said to be partial, came from a research institute under the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and was three times the amount in 2004, in local currency terms. It was unclear to what extent those numbers took into account the costs of health care and premature deaths because of pollution. National Park Service Air Pollution Its Nature, Sources, and Effects http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/airpollution.htm Last Updated: 04/09/2014 Summer View, mountains in the distance from Skyline Drive. John F. Mitchell NPS Volunteer Introduction Air pollution occurs in many forms but can generally be thought of as gaseous and particulate contaminants that are present in the earths atmosphere. Gaseous pollutants include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOC), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen fluoride (HF), and various gaseous forms of metals. These pollutants are emitted from large stationary sources such as fossil fuel fired power plants, smelters, industrial boilers, petroleum refineries, and manufacturing facilities as well as from area and mobile sources. They are corrosive to various materials which causes damage to cultural resources, can cause injury to ecosystems and organisms, aggravate respiratory diseases, and reduce visibility. Particulates come in both large and small or fine solid forms. Large particulates include substances such as dust, asbestos fibers, and lead. Fine particulates include sulfates (SO4) and nitrates (NO3). Important sourc es of particulates are power plants, smelters, mining operations, and automobiles. Asbestos and lead affect organisms, while sulfates and nitrates not only cause health problems, but also contribute to acid rain or acid deposition and a reduction in visibility. Particulate matter, a term sometimes used instead of particulates, refers to the mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Toxic air pollutants are a class of chemicals which may  potentially cause health problems in a significant way. The sources of toxic air pollutants include power plants, industries, pesticide application, and contaminated windblown dust. Persistent toxic pollutants, such as mercury, are of particular concern because of their global mobility and ability to accumulate in the food chain. More research is needed to fully understand the fate and effects of mercury and the many other toxic pollutants. Primary pollutants are those that are emitted directly into the air from pollution sources. Secondary pollutants are formed when primary pollutants undergo chemical changes in the atmosphere. Ozone is an example of a secondary pollutant. It is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are mixed and warmed by sunlight. Ozone (O3) is a major component of what is often referred to as smog. The ozone which is present in the troposphere, or the atmosphere that is close to the ground, should not be confused with beneficial ozone that is located in the stratosphere or upper atmosphere. This beneficial ozone in the stratosphere helps protect the earth from harmful ultraviolet light from the sun. Sources of Air Pollution Stationary and Area Sources A stationary source of air pollution refers to an emission source that does not move, also known as a point source. Stationary sources include factories, power plants, dry cleaners and degreasing operations. The term area source is used to describe many small sources of air pollution located together whose individual emissions may be below thresholds of concern, but whose collective emissions can be significant. Residential wood burners are a good example of a small source, but when combined with many other small sources, they can contribute to local and regional air pollution levels. Area sources can also be thought of as non-point sources, such as construction of housing developments, dry lake beds, and landfills. Mobile Sources A mobile source of air pollution refers to a source that is capable of moving under its own power. In general, mobile sources imply on-road transportation, which includes vehicles such as cars, sport utility vehicles, and buses. In addition, there is also a non-road or off-road  category that includes gas-powered lawn tools and mowers, farm and construction equipment, recreational vehicles, boats, planes, and trains. Agricultural Sources Agricultural operations, those that raise animals and grow crops, can generate emissions of gases and particulate matter. For example, animals confined to a barn or restricted area (rather than field grazing), produce large amounts of manure. Manure emits various gases, particularly ammonia into the air. This ammonia can be emitted from the animal houses, manure storage areas, or from the land after the manure is applied. In crop production, the misapplication of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides can potentially result in aerial drift of these materials and harm may be caused. Natural Sources Although industrialization and the use of motor vehicles are overwhelmingly the most significant contributors to air pollution, there are important natural sources of pollution as well. Wildland fires, dust storms, and volcanic activity also contribute gases and particulates to our atmosphere. Unlike the above mentioned sources of air pollution, natural air pollution is not caused by people or their activities. An erupting volcano emits particulate matter and gases; forest and prairie fires can emit large quantities of pollutants; plants and trees naturally emit VOCs which are oxidized and form aerosols that can cause a natural blue haze; and dust storms can create large amounts of particulate matter. Wild animals in their natural habitat are also considered natural sources of pollution. The National Park Service recognizes that each of these sources emits gases and particulate matter into the atmosphere but we regard these as constituents resulting from natural processes. Air Pollution at Shenandoah Sources of air pollution that affect Shenandoah National Park are largely outside of the park. These include industrial facilities located throughout the mid-Atlantic region and the Ohio River Valley as well as urban centers in this same region. Because most areas adjacent to the park are rural and agricultural, it is clear that transport of pollutants from distant  locations is an important element upon which park air quality hinges. Even some agricultural activities, such as ammonia from the poultry industry and pesticides that are applied to adjacent fields, may contribute to air pollution in the park. In-park emission sources are relatively small, but do include motor vehicles, maintenance equipment, small boilers and generators. The relative contribution from the in-park sources is very small compared to other sources. In a July 2002 report describing an emissions inventory for Shenandoah National Park, it was determined that less than 1% of emissions were produced from in-par k sources. How does air pollution move? Air transport is the term used to describe the mechanism by which air pollution moves from an emissions source to a receptor. A source is a location (i.e., smokestack, chimney, exhaust pipe) from which the pollutant emanates and a receptor is the place (i.e., soil, vegetation, waterbodies, human lungs) where the pollutant is deposited. The atmosphere itself is the transporter of pollutants from sources to receptors. If the wind carries the plume of pollution high enough in the air, it may travel for hundreds of miles before being brought to earth. This is known as long-range or long-distance transport. Air Pollution Effects The air is an important component of the natural system of a park in its own right. The presence of pollution in the atmosphere results directly in air quality degradation. Air pollution is also a critical factor affecting the quality of other environmental resources as well as the human-made structures and facilities in the area. Polluted air can and has harmed park resources in a variety of ways depending upon the chemistry of the pollutant, weather and environmental conditions, and the nature or sensitivity of park resources. Examples of this harm include vegetative discoloration and growth disruption from ozone, loss of aquatic species from stream acidification, shifts in nutrient availability from acid deposition, and erosion of building surfaces and rock formations. Air pollution impairs visibility and contributes to climate change. Air pollution can also be detrimental to human health. Shchooltoday Your Cool Facts and Tips on Air Pollution What causes air pollution? Air pollution can result from both human and natural actions. Natural events that pollute the air include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds and natural radioactivity. Pollution from natural occurrences are not very often. Human activities that result in air pollution include: 1. Emissions from industries and manufacturing activities Have you seen a manufacturing company before? You will notice that there are long tubes (called chimneys) erected high into the air, with lots of smoke and fumes coming out of it. Waste incinerators, manufacturing industries and power plants emit high levels of carbon monoxide, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air. This happens almost everywhere that people live. Petroleum refineries also release lots of hydrocarbons into the air. 2. Burning Fossil Fuels After the industrial age, transportation has become a key part of our lives. Cars and heavy duty trucks, trains, shipping vessels and airplanes all burn lots of fossil fuels to work. Emissions from automobile engines contain both primary and secondary pollutants. This is a major cause of pollution, and one that is very difficult to manage. This is because humans rely heavily on vehicles and engines for transporting people, good and services. Fumes from car exhauts contain dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and particulates. On their own, they cause great harm to people who breath them. Additionally, they react with environmental gases to create further toxic gases. Click here to see the effects 3. Household and Farming Chemicals Crop dusting, fumigating homes, household cleaning products or painting supplies, over the counter insect/pest killers, fertilizer dust emit harmful chemicals into the air and cause pollution. In many case, when we use these chemicals at home or offices with no or little ventilation, we may fall ill if we breathe them. What are the common air pollutants around? Carbon Monoxide (CO) Fuel combustion from vehicles and engines. Reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs and tissues; aggravates heart disease, resulting in chest pain and other symptoms. Ground-level Ozone (O3)  Secondary pollutant formed by chemical reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx in the presence of sunlight. Decreases lung function and causes respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath, and also makes asthma and other lung diseases get worse. More on Ground Level Ozone Here Lead (Pb) Smelters (metal refineries) and other metal industries; combustion of leaded gasoline in piston engine aircraft; waste incinerators (waste burners), and battery manufacturing. Damages the developing nervous system, resulting in IQ loss and impacts on learning, memory, and behavior in children. Cardiovascular and renal effects in adults and early effects related to anaemia. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Fuel combustion (electric utilities, big industrial boilers, vehicles) and wood burning. Worsens lung diseases leading to respiratory symptoms, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection. Particulate Matter (PM) This is formed through chemical reactions, fuel combustion (e.g., burning coal, wood, diesel), industrial processes, farming (plowing, field burning), and unpaved roads or during road constructions. Short-term exposures can worsen heart or lung diseases and cause respiratory problems. Long-term exposures can cause heart or lung disease and sometimes premature deaths. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) SO2 come from fuel combustion (especially high-sulfur coal); electric utilities and industrial processes as well as and natural occurances like volcanoes. Aggravates asthma and makes breathing difficult.It also contributes to particle formation with associated health effects. What are the effects of air pollution? Acidification: Chemical reactions involving air pollutants can create acidic compounds which can cause harm to vegetation and buildings. Sometimes, when an air pollutant, such as sulfuric acid combines with the water droplets that make up clouds, the water droplets become acidic, forming acid rain. When acid rain falls over an area, it can kill trees and harm animals, fish, and other wildlife. Acid rain destroys the leaves of plants. When acid rain infiltrates into soils, it changes the chemistry of the soil making it unfit for many living things that rely on soil as a habitat or for nutrition. Acid rain also changes the chemistry of the lakes and streams that the rainwater flows into, harming fish and other aquatic life. Eutrophication: Rain can carry and deposit the Nitrogen in some pollutants on rivers and soils. This will adversely affect the nutrients in the soil and water bodies. This can result in algae growth in lakes and water bodies, and make conditions for other living organism harmful. Ground-level ozone: Chemical reactions involving air pollutants create a poisonous gas ozone (O3). Gas Ozone can affect people’s health and can damage vegetation types and some animal life too. Particulate matter:  Air pollutants can be in the form of particulate matter which can be very harmful to our health. The level of effect usually depends on the length of time of exposure, as well the kind and concentration of chemicals and particles exposed to. Short-term effects include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and  pneumonia. Others include headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions. Short-term air pollution can aggravate the medical conditions of individuals with asthma and emphysema. Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air pollution affects the lungs of growing children and may aggravate or compli cate medical conditions in the elderly. Air pollution prevention, monitoring and solution. Solution efforts on pollution is always a big problem. This is why prevention interventions are always a better way of controlling air pollution. These prevention methods can either come from government (laws) or by individual actions. In many big cities, monitoring equipment have been installed at many points in the city. Authorities read them regularly to check the quality of air. Lets see more below: Government (or community) level prevention Governments throughout the world have already taken action against air pollution by introducing green energy. Some governments are investing in wind energy and solar energy, as well as other renewable energy, to minimize burning of fossil fuels, which cause heavy air pollution. Governments are also forcing companies to be more responsible with their manufacturing activities, so that even though they still cause pollution, they are a lot controlled. Companies are also building more energy efficient cars, which pollute less than before. Individual Level Prevention Encourage your family to use the bus, train or bike when commuting. If we all do this, there will be less cars on road and less fumes. Use energy (light, water, boiler, kettle and fire woods) wisely. This is because lots of fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity, and so if we can cut down the use, we will also cut down the amount of pollution we create. Recycle and re-use things. This will minimize the dependence of producing new things. Remember manufacturing industries create a lot of pollution, so if we can re-use things like shopping plastic bags, clothing, paper and bottles, it can help. Basic Air Pollution Facts Below are some random facts and info on environmental pollution. Air pollutants (dangerous things that make the air unclean)come in the form of gases or particles. In March 2011, a very powerful earthquake in the sea (tsunami) hit the Japan coast. The sea level rose and water came into the land, damaging 4 of the 6 reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. World Health Organisation (WHO) experts confirm that there is slight increased risk of some cancer types for some people who were exposed to the radiation. These included people living in that area and some workers at the plant. Below is a peice of the information given on BBC website: The biggest lifetime risks were seen in those exposed as infants, compared with children or adults. For girls exposed to radiation from the accident as infants, the report found a 4% increase above the lifetime expected risk of solid tumours and a 6% increase above that expected for breast cancer. Boys exposed as infants are expected to have a 7% increased risk of leukaemia above that expected in the normal population. The biggest risk was seen in thyroid cancer, which for infant girls could be up to 70% higher than expected over their lifetime. BBC Website: /news/health-21614722 It is estimated that you breathe 20,000 liters of air each day. This means the more polluted the air is, the more we breathe into our lungs dangerous chemicals. Air can be polluted both indoors and outdoors. Tobacco and other kinds of smoking are examples of indoor air pollution. Sick Building Syndrome is a health condition related to pesticides, insecticides and chemicals we use at home and offices. In the great Smog Disaster in London in 1952, four thousand people died in a few days due to the high concentrations of pollution. Air pollution affects kids more than adults  because, for their body size, kids breathe more air and spend more time playing outside. More hazardous pollutants are discharged into the air each year than are released to surface water, ground water, and land, combined. Motor vehicles produce more air pollution than any other single human activity. One full commuter bus can mean 40 less cars going through your neighborhood. In America, vehicle exhaust contributes roughly 60% of all carbon monoxide emissions nationwide, and up to 95% in cities. Indoor air pollution and health Around 3 billion people cook and heat their homes using open fires and leaky stoves burning biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal. Nearly 2 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to indoor air pollution from household solid fuel use. Nearly 50% of pneumonia deaths among children under five are due to particulate matter inhaled from indoor air pollution. More than 1 million people a year die from chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) that develop due to exposure to such indoor air pollution. Both women and men exposed to heavy indoor smoke are 2-3 times more likely to develop COPD Source: WHO Ozone Depletion: Losing Earth’s Protective Layer National Geographic The ozone layer is a belt of naturally occurring ozone gas that sits 9.3 to 18.6 miles (15 to 30 kilometers) above Earth and serves as a shield from the harmful ultraviolet B radiation emitted by the sun. Ozone is a highly reactive molecule that contains three oxygen atoms. It is constantly being formed and broken down in the high atmosphere, 6.2 to 31 miles (10 to 50 kilometers) above Earth, in the region called the stratosphere. Today, there is widespread concern that the ozone layer is deteriorating due to the release of pollution containing the chemicals chlorine and bromine. Such deterioration allows large amounts of ultraviolet B rays to reach Earth, which can cause skin cancer and cataracts in humans and harm animals as  well. Extra ultraviolet B radiation reaching Earth also inhibits the reproductive cycle of phytoplankton, single-celled organisms such as algae that make up the bottom rung of the food chain. Biologists fear that reductions in phytoplankton populations will in turn lower the populations of other animals. Researchers also have documented changes in the reproductive rates of young fish, shrimp, and crabs as well as frogs and salamanders exposed to excess ultraviolet B. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals found mainly in spray aerosols heavily used by industrialized nations for much of the past 50 years, are the primary culprits in ozone layer breakdown. When CFCs reach the upper atmosphere, they are exposed to ultraviolet rays, which causes them to break down into substances that include chlorine. The chlorine reacts with the oxygen atoms in ozone and rips apart the ozone molecule. One atom of chlorine can destroy more than a hundred thousand ozone molecules, according to the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The ozone layer above the Antarctic has been particularly impacted by pollution since the mid-1980s. This region’s low temperatures speed up the conversion of CFCs to chlorine. In the southern spring and summer, when the sun shines for long periods of the day, chlorine reacts with ultraviolet rays, destroying ozone on a massive scale, up to 65 percent. This is what some people erroneously refer to as the ozone hole. In other regions, the ozone layer has deteriorated by about 20 percent. About 90 percent of CFCs currently in the atmosphere were emitted by industrialized countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States and Europe. These countries banned CFCs by 1996, and the amount of chlorine in the atmosphere is falling now. But scientists estimate it will take another 50 years for chlorine levels to return to their natural levels. Clean Air Kids The Earth is wrapped in a blanket of air called the atmosphere, which is made up of several layers. About 19-30 kilometres above the Earth is a layer of gas called ozone, which is a form of oxygen. Ozone is produced naturally in the atmosphere. WHY DO WE HAVE AN OZONE LAYER? The ozone layer is very important because it stops too many of the suns ultra-violet rays (UV rays) getting through to the Earth these are the rays that cause our skin to tan. Too much UV can cause skin cancer and will also harm all plants and animals. Life on Earth could not exist without the protective shield of the ozone layer. WHAT IS THE OZONE HOLE? Every spring, a hole as big as the USA develops in the ozone layer over Antarctica, in the South Pole. A smaller hole develops each year over the Arctic, at the North Pole. And there are signs that the ozone layer is getting thinner all over the planet. Scientists have discovered that the ozone hole over Antarctica started in 1979, and that the ozone layer generally started to get thin in the early 1980s. The loss of the ozone layer occurs when more ozone is being destroyed than nature is creating. WHAT CAUSES THE OZONE HOLE? One group of gases is particularly likely to damage the ozone layer. These gases are called CFCs, Chloro-Fluoro-Carbons. CFCs are used in some spray cans to force the contents out of the can. They are also used in refrigerators, air conditioning systems and some fire extinguishers. They are used because they are not poisonous and do not catch fire. Most countries have now stopped using new CFCs that can be released into the atmosphere, but many scientists believe we must stop using old ones as well. THE OZONE HOLE AND OUR HEALTH The ozone layer is like a sunscreen, and a thinning of it would mean that more ultra-violet rays would be reaching us. Too many UV rays would cause more sunburn, and because sunburn causes skin cancer, this too would increase deaths. These UV rays are also dangerous for our eyes and could cause an increase in people becoming blind. That is why sun cream and sunglasses are very important. THE OZONE HOLE ON ANIMALS AND PLANTS UV rays can go through water and end up killing small water animals or  plants, called plankton which form the base of the food chain in oceans and seas. Whales and other fishes have plankton as their main food, and if plankton die because of these UV rays, whales will start dying too, because they will not have anything to eat. Large amounts of UV rays could damage all green plants. If the ozone layer keeps getting thinner, there could be fewer and fewer plants on Earth, then there would be less food in the whole world. THE TWO-FACED OZONE GAS Ozone found between 19 and 30 kilometres high in the atmosphere is one of the reasons why we are alive on Earth. But when the gas ozone is found lower down where we can breathe it in, it becomes very dangerous for our health. This ozone is caused by a reaction between air pollution and sunlight and can cause modern-day smog. This is different to the smog that formed in the early 20th century from smoke and fog. What can you do: There are many things we can do to help reduce air pollution and global warming. Use buses and trains instead of cars, as they can carry a lot more people in one journey. This cuts down the amount of pollution produced. Walking or cycling whenever you can will be even better, as it does not create any pollution. It will also be good for your body, as regular exercise will keep you fit and healthy. If your parents must use the car, ask them to avoid using it for very short journeys if possible, as this creates unnecessary pollution. Try to encourage them to share their journeys with other people, for example when they go to work or go shopping. Also encourage them to drive more slowly as this produces less pollution and less carbon dioxide. Energy is produced to generate electricity and to keep us warm. Most energy is produced by the burning of fossil fuels, like coal, oil and gas, which release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Fuel burnt in our cars also releases carbon dioxide. As an individual, you do not have a lot of control on how your energy is produced. However, you can control the way in which you use that energy. Using less energy means less of it needs to be produced. So less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. We can also help prevent pollution from our own homes which may contribute to acid rain and poor air quality, and increases emissions of carbon dioxide in the  atmosphere. Turning off lights when they are not needed and not wasting electricity will reduce the demand for energy. Less electricity will need to be produced and so less coal, oil and gas will have to be burnt in power stations, which means less air pollution and less carbon dioxide! Pollution formed indoors can be reduced by ensuring that all gas appliances are working correctly. Good ventilation will improve indoor air quality by dispersing biological pollutants like dust mite, and other pollutants such as cigarette smoke. Most of the rubbish we throw away can be recycled, such as glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium cans, plastic bottles and waste paper. Recycling used materials uses less energy than making new ones. Composting fruit and vegetable waste reduces the amount of rubbish buried at rubbish dumps. What are the Governments doing? Governments throughout the world have already taken action for these different environmental problems (i.e. Acid Rain, Air Quality, Ozone Hole, Global Warming). In their plans they hope to reduce the amount of emissions of greenhouse gases produced by man. About half of the greenhouse effect is caused by our use of energy, especially from fossil fuels. Other sources of energy could be used which do not emit carbon dioxide, e.g. wind power, solar (sun power) and wave power. In the home and at school, we must learn to use energy efficiently and not waste it. Rain is very important for life. All living things need water to live, even people. Rain brings us the water we need. But in many places in the world even where you live, rain has become a menace. Because of pollution in the air, acid gases from factories, cars and homes, the rain is becoming dangerous for the life of every living creature. This rain is known as acid rain. WHAT IS ACID RAIN? Acid gases are produced when fossil fuels like coal and oil are burned in power stations, factories and in our own homes. Most of these acid gases are blown into the sky, and when they mix with the clouds it can cause rain or snow, sleet, fog, mist or hail to become more acidic. The opposites of  acid are alkalis; for example, toothpaste and baking powder are both alkalis. Strong alkalis can also be dangerous, such as ammonia and bleach. Lemon juice, vinegar and cola are all acidic. Rain is naturally acidic, but acid gases make it even more acidic, sometimes as acid as lemon! Nature can also produce acid gases, such as volcanoes. When they erupt, the smoke that comes out of the crater is also full of acid gases. HOW DO WE MEASURE ACIDITY? There is a special scale called the pH scale that measures the strength of acids and alkalis. A low pH number means something is acid. A high number means something is alkali. And something in the middle is called neutral. Acidity can be tested using litmus paper. Usually rain is a little acidic, and has pH of about 5.5, if the pH of rainfall is less than 5.5, then the rain is probably polluted by acid gases. Acids turn litmus paper red, and alkalis turn it blue. With a special paper called universal indicator, you can test levels of acidity. WHAT ARE THE MAIN GASES THAT CAUSE ACID RAIN? When we burn fuels, chemicals called sulphur and nitrogen are released into the air. Once in the air, they mix with water in the air rain, snow, etc and are transformed into different chemicals called sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which can be very dangerous for plants, animals and people. Most of the sulphur comes from power stations, which make electricity, and also from volcanoes. Most of the nitrogen oxides come from car and truck exhausts. We call air pollution the bad gases that we produce and release in the air. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are the most important causes of acid rain. A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE WORLD Air pollution can be carried over long distances. When acid gases are released, they go high up in the sky, and then they are pushed by strong winds towards other countries. The acid rain in Sweden is caused by air pollution in Britain and other countries of Europe. The pollution produced in Britain ends up mostly in Scandinavia countries in northern Europe  including Sweden, Norway and Denmark. In the USA, the winds blow the air pollution to certain areas in Canada. HOW BAD IS ACID RAIN? When rain is acidic, it affects what it falls on: trees, lakes, buildings and farmland. Sometimes rain is not very acidic and does not cause a lot of problems, but when it is acidic, it can be very harmful to the environment. TREES AND PLANTS Acid rain can have terrible effects on a forest. The acid takes away important minerals from the leaves and the soil. Minerals are like vitamins for trees and plants. Without them, trees and plants cannot grow properly. They lose their leaves and become very weak. They are no longer strong enough to fight against illnesses and frost. They become very ill and can even die. Some soils are alkaline, when acid rain falls on them the acid becomes neutral. Plants and trees living on these soils are not in any big danger.. LAKES AND WATER LIFE Acid rain has a terrible effect on water life. Even if the acid rain does not fall straight into the lake, for example, it may enter from rivers and streams. Some of the life in the lake such as fish and plants may end up dying, because they cannot survive in acidic lakes. Thousands of lakes in Scandinavia have no more life in them. They have received so much acid rain for so many years, because of the winds pushing the acid gases, that nothing can survive. You can recognise a lake dead from acid rain by its clean and crystal clear water. But they look clean because there is very little living in them anymore. Tiny plants and animals are mostly unable to survive.. OUR HEALTH Particulates very small particles of debris found in some of the air pollution are one of the main causes of health problems. In towns and cities, these are released mainly by diesel engines from cars and trucks. When we breathe in air pollution, these very fine particulates can easily enter our body, where they can cause breathing problems, and over time even  cause cancer. Water we drink from taps can be contaminated by acid rain, which can damage the brain.. BUILDINGS Acid rain can also ruin buildings because the acid eats into metal and stone. It also damages stained glass and plastics. Some types of building materials are softer than others, and it is the softer ones which are most affected by acid rain. Sandstone and limestone are examples of stone which are fairly soft and are damaged easily. Granite is an example of a harder stone that can resist the effects of acid rain. In many places in the world, ancient and famous buildings and monuments are affected by acid rain. For example, the Statue of Liberty in New York, USA, has had to be restored because of acid rain damage. Buildings are naturally eroded by rain, wind, frost and the sun, but when acidic gases are present, it speeds up the erosion.

Television Cultural Change

Television Cultural Change Television became the important part of peoples life. We cannot imagine our evening without an interesting film or news program. Many people like cinema even if they have TV at their homes. It became an ever-present part of the furniture. One person did not invent the television technologies; also, the technologies were not made at one blow. The discovery of â€Å"the photoelectric selenium effect e† became the underlie of the television. W. Smith made this discovery at the year of 1873. Eleven years after P. Nipckov innovated the scanning disk. The important event allowed developing the mechanic television. This type of television was popular until 1930-s. It was the very first attempts to provide television into peoples life. Many different scientists from all over the world took part in the developing of the television we know and use nowadays. The first moving image was transferred at the distance on July 26, 1928 by Russian scientists B. Grabovsky and E. Beliansky. Scientists all over the world consider this experiment the beginning of the modern television. At the same time scientist J. Baird from Scotland made the same experiment. He found â€Å"Baird Television Development Company†. On December 18, the year of 1953 the first colored TV broadcasting at the NTSC system. Television has been spreading very fast since second part of the XX century. United Nation Organization found the commemorative day the World Day of Television. How has the television changed since it was invented? It changed in many various ways and first technologically. We should find the answer on the one very important question whether the television affect peoples perceive? In addition, could the different TV programs, films and news that they see on television manipulate the society? The aim of my project is to compare the role of television nowadays and 60 years ago. I will discuss the different changes and their influence on the society life. First, let us pay attention to the technological progress of television over the years. It was a long way since the year of 1936 when television broadcasting was introduced in London; but I mentioned about it before. What was the number of available channels? The number of them was up to four main channels in larger cities. Television signals were not able to pass through the high mountains and distance villages. Those times television certainly had no much influence. It was just a privilege of urban residents. The people from the country did not feel an influence of the innovation. Nevertheless, scientists and those people who are now known as â€Å"showmen† were sure that television has a great future. They made many efforts to develop and improve television technologies. The problem was how to make television available for those people who lives at villages and small towns. In the year of 1948, the new technology was introduced. Now the technology is known as a cable television. What was the purpose of the cable television? According to Fisher and Marshall (1996) â€Å"The purpose of it was to be able to bring broadcast signals to rural areas with community antennas placed at high elevations†. Usually it was mountains and tops of the high poles. The innovation had a great success and it has grown fast. There were up to seven hundred cable systems by the year of 1960. By the year of 1971 it was 2.750 cable systems and 6 million families used them. At the end of XX century the numbers of the cable systems are up to 65 million and even more. But the cable TV was not the last and best invention of the scientists. Certainly many people still use the cable systems all over the world but television continues to advance with innovation of satellites. The new step in technologies gives an opportunity to use over 80 different channels most of which are 24-hours. They are movies, music, scientists, news and a lot of others. Now people cannot imagine their everyday life and spare time without TV. They agree to pay a lot of money to have television at their flats. Now we see that those people who decided to invest the development of television were perfectly right. The owners of premium channels have a lot of money now and a great influence also. Many years ago television offered us many different popular movies and programs without commercial interruption. Nevertheless, with time interactive television was brought out. Interactive TV created a communicative service between providers and users. It is obvious that television technologies will eternally develop. We have seen how the TV technologies were changed. But the main change in television is not a technological aspect. Television is the command centre of peoples culture now. TV is much different from other media. It is different from film, music or, for example, theatre and cinema. That is why we need to examine it attentively and deeply. We visit cinema and theatre to enjoy the play; we buy music to enjoy listening †¦ Nevertheless, we use television for everything. TV is an all-in-one phial. It has everything literature, music, news, politics, and commerce. We become â€Å"a television people†. Everything in our life should come through TV. Not only American society, but equally world society become depends on TV. If you want to be a Canadian, an American, or a deserving attention member of any society, you have to watch TV and make a contact with everything is happening in the culture. I think that if the human society had no television we would not know what is going on around the world and we would not be able to follow events like we use do it today. The TV images have a great power. Psychologists perfectly agree with it. The images are more important that the words. Nevertheless, both of them are changing the world and they are changing our minds, feelings, ways of thinking, points of view and even they way we relate other people and the world. Many people are using these features of television for their own benefits. Politics are the first group of influential people who wants to make their influent total. I do not want to discuss here how dangerous it is but independent experts are wonder how much human society has changed since television became a part and parcel of peoples life. With time, we began to see more murdering and blood on the TV screens the quality of TV programs has changed. Shiers (1997) mentioned that sixty years ago, they were just an entertainment equal with theatre and may be books. With time the power of the innovations influence become obvious. Time came for it to be wide used. Politics try to suggest thei r ideas to great number of people. Sometimes those ideas are dangerous like for example the political ideas of Stalin and Hitler. People are also interested in the private life and spare time of their political candidates and different â€Å"stars† that it became dangerous for the opposite side of the TV screen. Paparazzi storm into singers, politicians and other famous peoples lives very often. It is always very unpleasant and even dangerous sometimes. Should we blame TV or humans curiosity also? The media manipulates us. It controls the way we view our political leaders, our lifes values and the way we view the world at all. It forms our opinions by what the famous people or scientists or any other men of influence say. Television becomes a centre of gossips. We never know if the information we watch is trustful or not. Television has changed totally during last 60 years. First of all, it became full of lies. I do not want to tell that television it is an evil. Many good things have been done by television. For example, high-developed countries have an opportunity to help regions that are suffered from war and natural disasters. We can find our lost relatives and even get a lot of new knowledge. But we cannot be sure if some important information we know from the television is true information. Sometimes it is just advertising and we may feel sorry for buying the goods that are not as good as advertising proclaimed. Moreover, sometimes it could be very important information that is able to save many lives. Rose (1986) said that it could be information about natural disasters or epidemic. If politicians hide a part of information and underestimate the danger to avoid panics the results could be dismal showing. The bright example is the blow of the nuclear power plant at the territory of the formal USSR. People were not let know beforehand of the great danger and millions of them died. Moreover, the soviet television reported that there was no danger at all. It is a grievous example of the negative influence of the television. Now I want to talk about the positive contribution of the television. First of all, I want to mention about the cultural exchange. It would be very difficult to get knowledge about people and their customs without television. For example, thanks to â€Å"Discovery† channel we can know many different interesting facts about other countries and even about the most distance parts of the world. We may get the information about the newest researches in medicine. Sometimes this information could be very useful if you make sure that it is trustful information. Television was very useful in solving the problem of Native Americans. Since Columbus discovered the New World, this group of people was under pressure. White conquistadors enslaved and oppressed American Indians. They were considered savages. Now when many TV programs about the American Indians culture were produced we know that they are ordinary people with high life values. We learned how to respect them and we do not afraid of them anymore. From another side Native Americans know a lot about the â€Å"white† culture. They are ready to cooperate with us. We tout them many useful things. It is an example of the positive role of television in the cultural exchange. If people learn how to use the power of TV in the right way we could avoid some wars and international conflicts. Nowadays due to the television the world is â€Å"a giant village†. We know all events that happen in other countries. We do not feel borders and it would be gorgeous if the humankind could feel itself like friendly neighborhood or even a family. I am sure that globalization could be a very useful social phenomenon if people would use it in a right way. I strongly believe that television is possibility for people to know about events all over the world and prevent some situations in own native country. Popular proverb said that a person who possess information possess the whole world. And we can make a conclusion from this proverb in relate to our situation that television allow people possess information and be informed in day to day. Our life is full of different changes and new innovations are the way of peoples efforts and progressive thoughts implementation. Television has changed in many ways since the first colored TV broadcasting at the NTSC system were performed on December 18, the year of 1953. We live now in highly developed technological era. And describing television technology we see that the technology became more developed and more people have an opportunity to use it. Television became a part of the private and social life. It connected the world population. It gives us a way to know each other better. At the same time, television has become the command centre of peoples culture. People did not know about the life of criminals and gangsters 60 years ago. Nowadays thanks to television, we know a lot about it and this type of â€Å"culture† is become popular among youth. In addition, we know a lot about so called â€Å"subcultures† like Goths, Emokids, hippie, punks and so on. From the one side, it gives us an opportunity to be more understandable to the way of somebodys life. From another side, it could be a negative example for young people. At the end of my project, I want to mention the great role of television in the field of religion. Those people who are looking for the sense of life and for the acceptable way of worship could get a lot of information about it. Television can help them to know about world religions and about the people who worships in this or another way. Television plays a great role in the live of everybody even if we do not think much about the fact. First, it is a very useful innovation, but we need to learn how to use it for the humans wellness. References Abramson, A. (1987). The History of Television, 1880 to 1941. Jefferson, NC: McFarland Co. Abramson, A. (2003). The History of Television, 1942 to 2000. Jefferson, NC: McFarland Co. Everson, G. (1949), The Story of Television, The Life of Philo T. Farnsworth New York, NY: W. W. Norton Co. Fisher, D. and Marshall, J.(1996). Tube: the Invention of Television. Washington: Counterpoint. Foote, J. and Minow, N. (1990). Television Access and Political Power: The Networks, the Presidency, and the â€Å"Loyal Opposition.† Praeger Publishers. Meyrowitz, J. (1985). No Sense of Place, Oxford University Press, New York. Rose, B. (1986). Television and the Performing Arts: A Handbook and Reference Guide to American Cultural Programming. Greenwood Press. Shiers, G. (1997). Early Television: A Bibliographic Guide to 1940. Garland Reference Library of Social Science. Toto, D. (2000). Job Growth in Television: Cable versus Broadcast, 1958-99. Monthly Labor Review, Vol. 123. Tulloch, J. (1990). Television Drama: Agency, Audience, and Myth. Routledge.

The Rights Of Women In Afghanistan Sociology Essay

The Rights Of Women In Afghanistan Sociology Essay Majority of Afghanistans nationalities profess Islam as their religion. Originally Islam religion regards men more superior than women in every aspect of life. Due to civilization across the world, Islam reformed and some of its doctrines were changes in favor of women. Equality among human beings was included in Islam, regarding men and women equal in various ways. Since then Islam women acquired different rights that allow them to choose marriage partners, inherit, vote and work among other rights. In Afghanistan, women have experienced continued denial of such rights despite acceptance according to Islam doctrines (Mittra and Kunar 267). Fathers, husbands, brothers and government decrees are some of the factors that hinder women from enjoying their human rights in Afghanistan. Most of these restrictions were rampant during rule of Taliban who forced Afghan women to abandon their decent jobs such as teaching and remain indoors or when outside they ought to be in a mans escort. Since 2001, a new era began with end of Taliban reign; an improvement was recorded in regard to cultural and political position of women in Afghan. Human rights accepted under Islam law, so far are practiced in various parts of Afghan though in rural and remote areas many population regard women unequal (Zama and Sifton 25). For instance, cases of forced marriages, death threats due education matters and denial of chance to participate or enjoy public life are recordable according to research. Inequality and repressiveness of women in Afghanistan can be further be illustrated by statistics that show 75% of women are forced into marriages, 87% of women are illiterate, 33% of women experience sexual violence or physical assault, in every 30 minutes death occurs in relation to child birt h and only 30% of girls access education in Afghanistan. Literature review Introduction Afghanistan remains one of many Islamic regions where women are denied their rights and freedom. Despite acceptance by Islam Laws and governmental regulations and policies to uphold Afghan womans rights throughout in Afghanistan, many Islamic men have continued to oppress women. Most of womens rights have been upheld following intense campaigns by human rights activities from Afghan and other parts of the world (Thomsen 227). Also government efforts have helped in promoting equality by criminalizing oppression of women despite their originality and religion. Most of these changes are focused on matters that concern education, marriage and public life. In literature review section of this research, rights of Afghans woman in regard to freedom of live, dressing, education, marriage and expression will be discussed. Recommendations and conclusion will follow this discussion as part of this research work. Communication freedom Currently, Afghanistan is undergoing reconstruction after many years of war and reign of Taliban. During 1995-2001, Afghan remained under dictatorial leadership by Taliban who encouraged oppression of women and girls through out Afghan. Talibans brutality was to extent of denying women a chance to communicate with other women apart from family members. In most cases, women remained locked in their houses with small dark windows hence disallowing public intermingling. According to research, an Afghan woman could only walk to public with a company of a male counterpart who was supposed to be of the family (Osmańczyk and Mango 2708). These men act as a barrier to communication and information flow among women and men in public. Information could only be acquired from husbands, brothers and fathers who also were women oppressors according to Talibans regulations. Harsh circumstances under which afghan women lived in were not conducive for effective communication. Women associa tions that encourage information sharing in regard to social affairs are not allowed in most parts of Afghanistan. Information flow from one Woman to another is difficult in such situations hence hindering effective communication. As much as right of expression is among rights upheld by Afghan government, many women are denied such rights by men close in their lives. Womans opinion is regarded inferior and a chance to speak out is not availed to many women willing to do so. Rising of voices is made difficult due to widespread of discrimination against female gender in other major areas that contribute towards information flow. Lack of education for girl-child is a major hindrance to free flow of information. Many Afghan women can only converse in their vernacular languages due to illiteracy (Mittra and Kunar 143). Lack of access to education continues to pin many women down in decision making even those concerning their own plight. Lack of ideas coupled with fear is a key factor that makes Afghan women lag behind in raising their voices beyond their homestead. Freedom of communication by women is also prevented their lack of voting freedom. Many women are hindered fro acquiring voting cards to prevent them from taking part in political decisions. Instances of murder of electoral commissioners who tried to register women for voting processes show how far brutalism and discrimination against women has extended in Afghanistan (Thomsen 270). Such situations block womens effort to communicate their views in regard to type of governance they want. Similarly, women candidates can not be enrolled easily for similar positions to those held by men due to repression in association to voting rights. Women representatives in other parts of the world represent other women opinions therefore ensuring plight of female gender is communicated to authorities. In Afghan such chances are not provided hence continued lack of communication freedom. Additionally, lack of media freedom is another obstacle that contributes to communication problems in Afghanistan. Widespread violence coupled with political wrangles in Afghanistan prevents media efforts in steering women in fighting for their rights by speaking out loud. For instance, many journalists have been killed including and others such as Kambakhsh imprisoned for exercising their expression rights (Afkhami 179). Such situations leave women threatened and in fear of going against their male counterparts hence remain silent and oppressed. A country without freedom of expression by non-Taliban has efforts by women to communicate their views to governing bodies. Such strictness by rulers and men in the society has hindered efforts for free communication among women and men. This situation is changing as women with the support of their men, actively create awareness in regard to human equality across Afghanistan. Formation of RAWA in 1977 was an effort to eradicate violence against women and air their voices to the world. RAWA is an organization established by women and its goal is to promote Afghan women rights (Silkenat and Shulman 64). The organization major objective is to create awareness throughout Afghanistan concerning plight of girl-child and women. It also aims at reaching as many women as possible by communicating benefits of treating women with equality. Organization airs womens voices through conferences, public campaigns, internet and demonstrations. RAWA efforts have been realized over the years though right of expression by Afghan women is yet to be gained fully. Freedom of women and girls lives Since the seizure of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan, over 9 million women and girls have been denied basic human rights. This government has imposed laws against women citing religious purity while in the real sense it is persecution against women. For instance, Afghan women are not allowed to either go to school or work away from home a move which has led to closure of several schools owing to shortage of teaching staff as prior to the invasion of the Taliban about 70% of the teaching fraternity comprised of women (Afkhami 201). Devastating effects have been advanced towards widowed women who were the only source of livelihood for their families. In case women and girls want to leave their homes, then they must be escorted by a male relative. A whole body covering known as burqa must be worn. Instances of killings and beatings of the women have been witnessed due to failure of the women to be fully covered or escorted. Specific aspects of life on which Afghan women are oppresse d and to be discussed under this heading include education, marriage and dressing Education A large percentage of women in Afghanistan are illiterate due to banning of schooling for all women and successive wars in the nation had completely paralyzed the Education system. During the reign of the Taliban, community schools were opened and ran by women where girls were taught literacy skills, numeracy skills and such like subjects as Biology, English, cooking, and knitting (Zama and Sifton 27). Unfortunately instances of torture and killings of women teachers by the Taliban were witnessed. After the overthrow of the Taliban administration, substantial aid was advanced to the Karzai administration in order to restore the girl-child education. Lack of funding poses major setbacks to girl-child education with many girls opting to drop out as the facilities are not conducive. For instance, the learning facilities under unprotected structures like tents. Lack of women teachers means that majority of the girls do not attend school as their parents fail to place the care of the girls under men teachers. Since most of the girls schools were destroyed during the Taliban administration, girls and boys learn in the same facilities: a move which has caused massive criticism especially from high ranking government officials (Thomsen 184). This largely translates to discrimination and lack of freedom. Several Afghanistan women have consistently risked their lives by running clandestine schools for the women population. From 2001, Education facilities have recorded increased numbers of female students though persistent attacks by the Taliban as well as other forces present in the area continue to demean the progress achieved in the female Education sector. Cases girls dropping from schools before completing primary level education have been witnessed due to early marriages and family obligations Dressing The Afghanistan women have continually suffered turmoil especially in the type of dressing they are supposed to constantly wear. A specialty made traditional garment known as the Burqa which covers the whole body with a small grind for seeing and breathing must be worn by the women. The Burqa is extremely uncomfortable especially during hot weather (Silkenat and Shulman 58). The excessive covering may instigate illnesses such as asthma due to the discomfort of the dress as dust sticks thus enhancing dampness during breathing. The visibility of the wearer is largely limited as the size of the mesh opening does not provide adequate perceptibility. Afghanistan women claim that when they are wearing the burqa, total invisibility is exuded. It is impossible to know the kind of emotion displayed by a woman during normal conversation. Marriage In this patriarchal society, decisions are largely made by men fraternity. Women do not have the freedom to choose their marriage partners. Arranged marriages are largely advanced in this country based on economic and political reasons. Instances of girls being engaged before they are born are widespread (Zama and Sifton 54). The authority of who should marry a girl lies with the father who can opt to wed his daughter to a person who may be very old but rich. In areas badly hit by poverty, girls are sold off or exchanged for meals. Women are treated as properties as once the marriage contract is signed the girl cannot marry another man. In case she dies a suitable replacement must be offered. Violent cases have resulted when multiple betrothing is done so as to collect dowry from several men. Dowry payment is regarded as compensation for the care and upbringing of the bride. A married Afghanistan woman is controlled by the mother-in-law who makes such critical decisions on her behalf as whether to attend hospital or not and the activities to undertake (Thomsen 130). Women do not receive custody of children in case of a divorce. Though obtaining a divorce is largely difficult for women who are in abusive marriages, the divorced Afghanistan women are regarded as outcasts especially due to the Islamic beliefs and traditions. Recommendations Afghan women should fight for a chance to speak out and join others international women who are fighting against women oppression. By communicating their views to their spouses, brothers and the public will be a major start step towards their social life improvement. Freedom of expression is known as an effective tool for resistance against practices that oppress women. Lack of such freedom, means Afghan women may continue to tolerate discrimination by men under religious grounds which are used for personal political benefit. Social oppression can be overcome through speaking out in any context cultural, political or religious. Granting of women rights in education, employment , leadership and other roles in public life come as a primarily result of women expression against discrimination. Opening of communication channels in Afghanistan is a basic step in eliminating injustices that surround lives of many women and girls. Of importance is the right to vote, that has been used by many countries in defining future of women in those countries. I recommend Afghan women to retain and utilize their rights to vote intelligently as it is part of decision making. Through voting women elect leaders in support of their rights therefore acquiring access to equal opportunities similar to those awarded to men. Continued efforts by women by speaking out, eventually leads to liberation of girls and women from oppressive societal rules. Again, society starts to appreciate need to uphold plight of women and girls hence creating a balanced society that pays attention to both genders. International community should offer greater support to women organizations working with minority women at the grass roots. Awareness creations through educational programs are essential effort towards liberation of Afghan women from social, cultural, religious and political injustices in Afghanistan. International support through funding and enlightenment of few educated afghan women should be upheld as away of developing strong women leaders in Afghanistan. Conclusion In conclusion, Afghanistan is a region known for oppression of women and girls in various aspects of life. Existence of connection between Islam and governance of Afghans facilitates dehumanization among Afghan women. Most life rights and expression freedom are denied to female gender despite acceptance by Islam doctrines. Afghan constitutional rights are not upheld due lack of commitment by authorities concerned and political instabilities hence impacting on women by denying them their legal and human rights. International intervention has calmed Afghanistan human situation but majority of Afghan women and girls remain discriminated and repressed. Work-cited Afkhami, Mahnaz. Faith and freedom: womens human rights in the Muslim world. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1995. Mittra, Sangh and Kunar, Bachchan. Encyclopaedia of Women in South Asia: Afghanistan. New Delhi, India: Gyan Publishing House, 2004 Osmańczyk, Edmund and Mango, Anthony. Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: T to Z. London, UK: Taylor Francis Press, 2003 Silkenat, James and Shulman, Mark. The imperial presidency and the consequences of 9/11: lawyers react to the global war on terrorism. Westport, U.S.A: Greenwood Publishing Group. 2007 Thomsen, Natasha. Womens rights. New York. U.S.A: Facts On File publisher, 2007 Zama, Coursen-Neff and Sifton, John. We want to live as humans: repression of women and girls in western Afghanistan. Washington, D.C: Human Rights Watch, 2002