Critical analysis of Role of Regional Trade Agreements for the Essay

Critical analysis of Role of Regional Trade Agreements for the Developments of its Member Countries - Essay Example The World Bank also cautions that RTAs improve economic development in one country and negatively impact economic development in another member.3 Therefore RTAs can facilitate uneven development among the member states. This will occur when RTAs divert trade from some member states and divert trade to others.4 This research paper provides a critical analysis of the role that RTAs play in the developments of its member states. A definition of RTA and its historical developments are examined first. The role of RTAs in member state development will be examined in greater detail with specific reference to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and African Regional Trade Agreements and the role that these RTAs play in the development of their respective states. Contents Abstract 2 Contents 3 Introduction 4 I.Definition and Overview of RTAs 5 A.Definition 5 B.Overview of RTAs 7 II.Development of GCC States 14 III.African RTAs 19 Analysis/Conclusion 25 Bibliography 27 Introduction There are ess entially two opposing views relative to the role that RTAs play in its members’ development. ... two decades RTAs have emerged as the â€Å"defining features of the modern economy† and is largely seen as a significant influence relative to globalization.6 By the year end 2005, the World Trade Organization (WTO) had received notification of at least 250 RTAs.7 Since 1995, the WTO has received at least 15 RTA notifications each year as opposed to just 3 RTA notifications annually prior to 1995.8 The proliferation in RTAs therefore suggest that the countries engaging in regionalism have a positive vision of what RTAs can bring them in terms of development. This paper examines the perceived developmental benefits of RTAs and critically evaluates whether these perceptions are realistic. I. Definition and Overview of RTAs In order to effectively analyze the role that RTAs play in the development of its member states, a definition and an overview of the nature and development of RTAs are necessary. It is necessary to understand what RTAs are, how they function and what motivates the formation of RTAs. With this understanding of RTAs, their role in the development of member states can be examined. In other words, development will depend entirely on the developmental objective behind the formation of a RTA. For example if a RTA is formed in order to improve and develop the member states’ economy, the role of the RTA in that regard will have to be examined. If a RTA is formed for the purpose of harmonizing regional economic and security cohesion, the role of that RTA on development by member states will have to be examined. A. Definition In simple terms a RTA is defined as an agreement among â€Å"neighbouring states† in which tariffs and other trade restrictions are reduced or removed.9 RTAs are also defined as: †¦actions by governments to liberalise or facilitate trade

12 angry men movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

12 angry men movie - Essay Example The movie for nominated for three Oscars(Best Director, Best Picture and Best Writing, screenplay based on material from another medium) and finds a place in the list of all time great movies. In 2007, the library of Congress chose â€Å"12 angry men† for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Here, we analyze the dynamics of the 12 jurors and what might have influenced them in taking a decision in favor of or against the accused. The movie begins with the scene in which the judge is seen giving instructions to a jury consisting of 12 gentlemen. The judge informs the jury that the defendant will have to take the electric chair if proved guilty. The jury is also instructed that their judgment should be unanimous. The jury then moves into the jury room where they get acquainted with the other members of the jury and start their work. The case which opens up as an open and shut case takes a turn when one of jurors (juror #8) decides to veto the decision of the other eleven jurors. He is able to convince the other jurors that the defendant should be acquitted as there is doubt beyond reasonable limit questioning the authenticity of the witnesses. However, the other jurors do not follow the juror #8 quickly. The juror #8 faces strong argument from the other members which sets up the film. The jury decided to vote 12-0 in favor of acquittal and closing scene shows the twelve jurors leaving the jury room to present their findings of fact to the court. Juror #8(Henry Fonda) is the most important character of the plot as he is the first to veto the decision and question the authenticity of the witnesses. Though the juror #8 appears both confident and nervous at the beginning, as the discussion proceeds he succeeds in making the other jurors believe in his argument that there is doubt beyond reasonable limit in declaring the boy as guilty of murder. Juror #9 immediately supports the view of juror #8. Juror #5 and #2 also follow

UN Millenium Development GoalsFinal Project Essay

UN Millenium Development GoalsFinal Project - Essay Example Criticism which has accompanied the achievement of millennium development goals has taken note of uneven progress, difficulty in measurements of some goals and lack of proper analysis. Some developed countries had achieved more than what was expected of them while some were behind realizing any of the targets intended to achieve the goals. The key goals and targets were outlined so that every individual could have at least the dignity to his right of freedom and the basic standard of living. Various goals and their corresponding targets outlined below have been found to be the key to economic development in the world. The indicators of how progress has been made show the effort and determination of the United Nations to achieve the goals within their specified timeline (United Nations). Poverty has been a hindrance to economic development. It has brought about the suffering of mankind all over the world. Many people in most developing countries are living in substandard conditions (Snarr and Snarr 25). Eradication of poverty is vital to the development of developing nations, every means has been tried to make sure that the standard for the threshold of poverty which lies at 1.25$ per day has been achieved by most nations. When a large portion of people lives in poor conditions, it becomes difficult for a country to make any huge step in economic development. The provision of jobs to people holds the main key in minimizing the levels of poverty. Through creation of jobs that provide adequate wages, people earn income that enables them to sustain their living. Discrimination of the youth and women in employment spaces provide and increase the levels of poverty in a given country. As a result, the World Bank has come up with various strategies which entail providing z ero-interest loans and development grants to countries. The strategies include provision of capital to

Consumer Proection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Consumer Proection - Essay Example First of all, according to the Consumer Credit Act, a credit organization is now allowed to come into repossession of the goods bought in credit in case all payments and installments are performed in due time. According to the latest amendments, included into the Consumer Credit Act 2006, all agreements higher than  £25,000 are now subject to the regulation by this act and thus the Act statements can be used in Dove’s attempt to protect its rights. The case is in fact connected with the fact that the seller has used the misleading trade descriptions when selling the goods to Duck, and the seller in this case is subject to penalties according to the Trade Descriptions Law 1968. - the clause 17, on the basis of which Chicken Credit Ltd demanded the payment of the sum of  £13,629 in addition to the arrears of installments of  £5,043 is not valid, as Dove Ltd didn’t initiate the termination of the agreement, and just wanted the changes of the agreement on the basis of the dysfunction of the goods (the lorries) he has bought. - the clause 17 may be subjected by Dove Ltd under the statements and regulations of the Unfair Contract Terms Act as the agreement terms, which break the consumer rights of Dove Ltd and thus demand too high arrears sums and installments in case he decides to terminate the agreement with Chicken Credit Ltd; - even in case the actions of Chicken Credit Ltd were partially right, they had to keep to the term of 14 days before repossessing the goods, according to the Consumer Credit Act 2006. As far as the 14 days term has not been followed by the Chicken Credit Ltd after having sent the notice to Dove Ltd, it may address the court in his request to recognize the credit company’s actions as illegal. The same actions may be performed in relation to the clause 17 of the credit agreement, though there are some notes, which should be taken into account by Dove Ltd. First of all, under

Abdullahkim Muhammad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Abdullahkim Muhammad - Essay Example Abdullahkim Muhammad changed both his name and attitude, and then he met people in Yemen who promised him that they would give him a place to stay while he goes there to teach English. After going to Yemen, he came back and expressed different views such as not wanting to dance any more, he changed his attire, taking of alcohol. According to the Daily Mail Reporter, Abdullahkim Muhammad did this act in retribution of the Muslim deaths that were caused by the US military who were in Afghanistan and Iraq. The report also states that his father stated that Abdullahkim Muhammad spoke with, wrote a letter to his friends from Hamas, and from the way he acted it showed something was not right in his head. It is also true to say that Abdullahkim Muhammad teamed up with Al Qaeda that lived in the area of Arabian Peninsula, Yemen, and they could have been people who assisted Abdullahkim Muhammad in terms of giving him weapons. From these, it is evident that Abdullahkim Muhammad got assistance from outside in the attacking of the

Demographics and the Housing Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Demographics and the Housing Market - Essay Example Canada has a unique pattern of land markets, wherein the markets have been rated as, "moderately unaffordable", "affordable", "seriously unaffordable" and "severely unaffordable". It has been observed that the national median multiple is slightly above the above the affordable standard. Over the years there has been a rapid increase in housing prices. Prices and quantities in housing markets are determined by the interaction of the supply with the demand. During this time the home ownership rates have eaten up a deeper chunk of house hold wealth, thereby increasing household debt. Most important variables governing the supply of new housing include prices, the costs of construction materials and land, the cost of financing, and the value of the housing stock. Similarly, the important variables governing the quantity of housing include prices, the level of mortgage rates, expectations of permanent income or wealth, rates of return on other investments, and demographic factors that influence the decision to buy a house. Let us take a closer look at Toronto that is well known for its multicultural society. It is situated in southern Ontario, Canada with a population of 5,113,149. It has an urbanised region of 8.1 million people. Toronto being the fifth largest city in North America is one of the most populated cities having people from diverse backgrounds. Its clean environment together with a generally high standard of living, Toronto remains the most desired destination for immigrants. It also has the second highest percentage of foreign-born population. People of different European origins form the largest ethnic group in Toronto. Afro-Caribbean, Filipinos, Latin American too, find a place for themselves in this place. This is reflected in the neighbourhood names, like Little Italy, The junction, Little India, Chinatown, Portugal Village and others similarly named. The Downtown area of Toronto remains most densely populated while the financial district of Bay Street boasts of the maximum number of skyscrapers in Canada. The historically wealthy residential enclaves stretch northwards from downtown. It is a paradox of sorts, wherein, on one hand the up scale homes exist and on the other hand in the core vicinity of downtown low income families and incomes reside. The east and west regions of downtown however, radiate with artists and middle and upper class professionals. The inner suburbs retain the small, single family homes, while the housing boom has led to the construction of many high rise apartments in many neighbourhoods. North Toronto and some western neighbourhoods in York are some such areas. The housing boom has had a cascading effect on many municipalities. The advent of skyscrapers has not only changed their skylines but also helped them develop as secondary business centres .However further growth in the housing market is affected by the temperament of the consumers in that whether they are prepared to take risks. If the price is high and the consumer is averse to taking risks, the purchase of houses will automatically fall. The buying strategy of a consumer therefore differs from one demographic group to another. It can be safety said thus, that consumers differ in their thought process with regards to procurement of a house. Their views may differ on the money spent to rent a house vis-a vis to purchase

Native American Spirituality Essay Example for Free

Native American Spirituality Essay The purpose of this essay is to present the spiritual world of the Native Americans, which is one of the oldest forms of Spirituality that exists on earth. The main reason why I have chosen this topic is because I want to find out more information about their spiritual dimension and perhaps to understand better the main differences between our religion and theirs. In order to better observe this aspect, I will be analyzing the religious beliefs of three Native American tribes, such as: The Iroquois, the Apache and the Dakota tribes. To start with, I consider it relevant to mention that the Native American religions centers on a collection of beliefs, which vary from tribe to tribe. However, almost all tribes practice a modified monotheism , which is the belief in the Great Spirit. They also have an animistic belief in individual spirits residing in animals and forces of nature, but none of these is higher than the Great Spirit (Hirschfelder Molin, 1992). In other words, this means that Native American spirituality is nature-based, since it is so closely connected with the earth. As I have previously mentioned, many Native Americans believe in The Great Spirit, who is â€Å"the high deity amongst all of the spirits† (Hirschfelder Molin, 1992). Since ancient times, the Native Americans have believed in a Supreme Being whom they called father and they believe this entity is either a man or an animal, especially a wolf, which has human thoughts and is even able to talk (Panther-Yates, n.d). In order to control the forces of the spiritual world , the Native Americans used ceremonial practices, since these were considered to â€Å"renewed the bond between human beings and the spirit world† (Irwin, 2000). I will later on mention about these ceremonies and the person who is entitled to contact the spirits. In order to have a better understanding of their beliefs I have inserted here one fragment of the spiritual speech held by Charley Elkhair, one of the Native American indian: â€Å"We are thankful to the East because everyone feels good in the morning when they awake, and sees the bright light coming from the East; and when the Sun goes down in the West we feel good and glad we are well; then we are thankful to the West. And we are thankful to the North, because when the cold winds come we are glad to have lived to see the leaves fall again; and to the South, for when the south wind blows and everything is coming up in the spring, we are glad to live to see the grass growing and everything green again. We thank the Thunders, for they are the manitous that bring the rain, which the Creator has given them power to rule over. And we thank our mother, the Earth, whom we claim as mother because the Earth carries us and everything we need.† (Elkhair in M. R. Harrington, 1921). When researching for this essay I came across a very interesting comparison belonging to professor Harrington, who states that: â€Å" The juxtaposition of a personal creator God and anthropomorphic animals derived from mythology is no more inappropriate, however, than the behavior of Christians at Christmas time who set out a creche depicting the birth of Jesus next to a Christmas tree derived from an ancient pagan festival† ( Harrington, 1921). Another interesting element about at the Native American religions is the fact that they are basically free of any priesthood. However, there are still people who have a special connection to the spiritual world, called shamans: â€Å"Shamans are spiritually gifted people who through a variety of means have acquired the ability to help others through trance and dream journeying† (Irwin, 2000). Moreover, it is quite strange that the white anthropologists have often used the name medicine man (even though many were women) to indicate a mixture of shamanic and priestly capacities (Irwin, 2000). Shamanic trances can be induced through a variety of techniques, including chanting or drumming, fasting, and in some cases the use of psychotropic substances, the mildest of which might be tobacco ( McGaa, n.d). During these trance contacts, shamans may communicate with spirits of the dead or other spirits and learn what they need to know to help heal the body, mind, or soul of a patient, to locate game, or to predict the future ( McGaa, n.d). In the following lines, I will briefly present three Indian tribes in order to observe the differences and similarities between them as far as their spiritual world is concerned. The first tribe I will be analyzing is the Iroquois. This Native American tribe believes in twin forces known as Loskeha meaning good and Tawiscara meaning bad (Robinso n, 2002). The Native Americans believe Loskeha brought all the goodness in life, while Tawiscara spread sufferings and brought ill-luck (Robinson, 2002). The Iroquois also believed in the constant care of the Great Spirit, who †ruled and administered the world, and the affairs of the red race. (Robinson, 2002). What really fascinates me at this tribe is that it does not have a detailed conception of his creator because they believe that the Great Spirit was beyond their abilities to understand. However, they have some very detailed descriptions of this lower class of spirits that is believed to interact with the material world. The were known as Invisible Agents or Ho-no-che-no-keh. (Morgan in Robinson, 1954). These spirits possessed their power from the Great Spirit and were considered to be the manifestations of his unlimited power (Morgan in Robinson, 1954). Some of these spirits were given names and they were often identified with the object or force that they presided over (Morgan in Robinson, 1954). For example, He-no, one important spirit, was given the thunderbolt and controlled the weather. Morgan states that: â€Å"he had the form of man and wore the costume of a warrior† ((Morgan in Robinson, 1954). The Iroquois tribe believes not only in the kindness of the Great Spirit but also in the forces of evil. According to their belief, evil is represented by the brother of the Great Spirit, Ha-ne-go-ate-geh, or the Evil-minded (Robinson, 2002), who controls its own inferior spiritual beings. This tribe also believes that the Great Spirit does not have any type of positive authority over the forces of evil, except for â€Å"the power to overcome them when necessary†(Robinson, 2002). Therefore, the Iroquois can either choose to obey the Great Spirit or to the Evil-minded. It is important to note that the Iroquois developed the idea of an immortal soul, which will be judged by the Great Spirit the moment the body will die. This is why, they are afraid of being punished in the afterlife and therefore they worship him through many rituals and ceremonies (Robinson, 2002). These ritual ceremonies practiced by the Iroquois tribes occurred in certain seasonal periods throughout the year, but most commonly during important agricultural periods (Irwin, 2000). Even some of the Invisible Agents were honored at this ceremonies depending on what time of year the ceremony was taking place. The ceremonies were led by Keepers of the Faith, or Ho-nun-den-ont (Irwin, 2000), who were â€Å"a loosely organized council of qualified individuals who were assigned the task of maintaining the ritual practices of the Iroquois people†(Irwin, 2000). The second tribe I will briefly describe is The Apache tribe. Little is known about this nomadic group of Native Americans due to the fact that it lived an isolated existence in the harsh environment of the arid southwest. This tribe relied on scarce resources found in their desert environment for survival (Hirschfelder Molin, 1992). Due to the fact that survival was difficult under these conditions they were not so preoccupied of the spiritual world (Hirschfelder Molin, 1992). This is the reason why the belief system of the Apache tribes is less developed than the other tribe mentioned earlier. For instance, the Apache religion did not recognize a large pantheon of gods and goddesses. (Opler in Hirschfelder Molin, 1992) and focused on supernatural cultural figures that are responsible for the Apache way of life. What is interesting to notice at these entities is the fact that they interfered little in the daily activities of the people unless people called for their help. (Opler in Hirschfelder Molin, 1992). The Apache tribe has no religious ritual either since it is a non-agricultural society. Thus, they had no reason to celebrate seasonal periods and rarely celebrated any type of annual gathering. Instead, they focused all their time and energy on survival (Opler in Hirschfelder Molin, 1992). More importantly, however, was the fact that the Apache lacked an organized belief in an afterlife and instead they focused all attention towards survival in this world. This is why the most common form of ceremony for them were the curing rites, performed only by shamans (Hirschfelder Molin, 1992). Opler describes the Apache religion as a form of devotional shamanism. : It conceives of a universe permeated with supernatural power which must realize itself through man or not at all. (Opler in Hirschfelder Molin, 1992). The third tribe I will be analyzing is the Dakota tribe. According to Raymond J. DeMallie, the Dakota world was characterized by its oneness, its unity. (DeMallie, 1987:27). There was no separation of the natural world from the world of the supernatural: †This unity in nature was thought to be beyond the comprehension of mankind and could only be shared in through the practice of rituals† (DeMallie, 1987:27). The animating force that acted as the common denominator of the universe was known as Wakan Tanka (Densmore,1918:85).The physical world was composed of the manifestations of this animating force, which basically means that they believed that every object was spirit, or wakan. (Densmore, 1918:85). In other words, the Dakota tribe believed that nothing was real in the universe since everything in the material world had only the appearance of being real. Like the inferior spirits in the Iroquois belief system, Wakan Tanka employed the use of Wakan people (DeMallie 1987) to interact with the material world and control the lives of men. These characters were often the objects of worship and praise. According to DeMallie, Wakan Tanka was explained in relation to the Dakota by wicasa wakan, or holy men. (DeMallie 1987). These men attempted to create some type of order and understanding of this Great Incomprehensibility. (DeMallie 1987). White Buffalo Woman was one of the most important Wakan people to the Dakota. Their myth states that she gave the Dakota people the Calf Pipe (DeMallie, 1987) through which they could communicate with the invisible spirit world. According to DeMallie, Dakota rituals were based on mystical experiences instead of systematic worship. The most important aspect of ritual was the individual personal experience. The experience was usually related in the form of an interpretive dance inspired by a personal vision (DeMallie, 1987). There are several observations I need to make at the end of this research about the Native American spirituality. The first observation is that each of the tribes presented above are similar in the way in which they interact with the natural world. Therefore, the Native American spirituality can be characterized by this intimate relationship these people have with nature. They have a deep respect for Mother Earth and they praise her through these rituals that they so often perform. Secondly, I consider it important to mention the fact that there isn’t a clear distinction between the natural and the supernatural in any of the three tribes mentioned earlier. Also, their beliefs are rather a way of life and each tribe has his own system of beliefs. Based on the analysis of these Native American tribes the following conclusion can be formulated: these people have this deep religious feeling, even when systematic rituals are absent (which was the case of the Apache tribe). Kahlil Gibran once asked, Who can separate his faith from his actions, or his belief from his occupation?(Gibran in Robinson, 2002). It seems that Native Americans could not make this distinction either. I believe that is very difficult for other cultures, including our own, to have a full perception and understanding towards the Native American spirituality, since we were not educated into their belief system .Therefore, there are too many differences between the Christians beliefs and theirs, (I am not referring here to religion only, but also to their whole different culture and their unique way of life) which makes it almost impossible to fully understand their spiritual world. Bibliography Arlene B. Hirschfelder Paulette Molin, The Encyclopedia of Native American Religions: An Introduction, Facts on File, (1992). Charley Elkhair, quoted in M. R. Harrington, Religion and Ceremonies of the Lenape, Indian Notes and Monographs, Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, vol 19 (1921). Lee Irwin, Native American Spirituality: A critical reader, University of Nebraska Press, (2000). McGaa, Ed Eagle Man. Interview with Jean Holmes. LightNews.org: NativeAmerican Beliefs- Culture Near Extinction. http://www.lightnews.org/November%20Light%20News/Native_American_Beliefs.htm Native American Spirituality. Ed. Donna Ladkin. GreenSpirit. http://www.greenspirit.org.uk/resources/NatAmerSpirit.htm Native American Beliefs. http://4thmoon.com/styx/nativeam.htm Native American Religion. 1998. The Institute for Philosophy, Religion, and the Life Sciences, Inc. 24 Nov. 2002 http://www.stormwind.com/common/nareligion.html Panther-Yates, Donald. Remarks on Native American Tribal Religions. Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia. http://www.wintercount.org/remark.doc Religious Movements Homepage: Native American Spirituality.,University of Virginia, Nov. 2002 http://http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/naspirit.html Robinson, B.A.. Religious Tolerance.org: Native American Spirituality, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, Nov. 2002 http://www.religioustolerance.org/nataspir.html