The View on Overpopulation Looking Deeper into the...

Introduction One would have thought that it was even more necessary to limit population than property...The neglect of this subject, which in existing states is so common, is a never-failing cause of poverty among the citizens; and poverty is the parent of both revolution and crime. This quote did not come from any professional doomsayer or modern writer, or even an ecologist or a historian. Aristotle said this, though he lived in a time where the population was four percent of what it is today. People have been worried about overpopulation since the period before Christ. This makes you wonder how something as serious as overpopulation got so far out of hand. So out of control, in fact, that overpopulation could be the biggest threat to†¦show more content†¦The taboo was named after the famous demographer Garrett Hardin, best known for The Tragedy of the Commons. He wrote extensively on the topic of overpopulation; he also wrote Stalking the Wild Taboo. Those who can’t look at the world ecology without optimism do not like what Hardin had to say about the world’s problems. That is what the Hardinian taboo is, broken down. Hardin was very curt that animals are not the only ones who suffer from overpopulation. He used a lot of straightforward talking to get his point across as bluntly as possible. â€Å"In an uncrowded world there may be no ethical need for the ecological concept of the carrying capacity. But ours is a crowded world.†(315 Hardin) Hardin expresses his own dislike of the situation our world is in right now, but he refuses to ignore the issue just to be politically correct. Hardin proposes the concern with this existing condition is, â€Å"†¦that taboo inhibits the discussion of many issues that, if carried far enough, might lead to acceptable solutions†(345 Hardin). Brilliant scientists are solving the problems that are the dependent variables, but refuse to tackle the root of all troubles. This is because of the politi cal incorrectness of population control that is a looming shadow over a very critical topic. Publications Avoid Demographic Entrapment The Hardinian taboo is so deeply seeded in the minds of those

The Dying of the Light, by Dr. Craig Bowron - 1422 Words

The Dying of the Light is an article by Dr. Craig Bowron that captures the controversy surrounding the role of medication in prolonging life. The author describes that many medical advancements have become a burden to particularly elderly patients who in most instances are ready to embrace the reality of death. Dr. Bowron believes that dying in these modern times has become a tiring and unnatural process. â€Å"Everyone wants to grow old and die in his or her sleep, but the truth is most of us will die in pieces,† Bowron notes (Bowron). The article does not advocate for euthanasia or the management of health care costs due to terminal or chronic illness. Bowron faults humanity for not embracing life and death with dignity as it was in the past.†¦show more content†¦Dr. Bowron also incorporates the opinions of his fellow professionals to embolden his ethos in this article. Nurses, in his hospital, share with him the desires of the elderly to embrace natural death rathe r than being subjected to medical advancements such as dialysis. Craig Bowron broaches the subject matter sensitively as much as possible striking a balance between the interests of individuals opposing his notions while at the same time emboldening the resolve of the many that support his idea. He, however, uses raw statements that are likely to irk the audience in some instances. Statements such as â€Å"once you have shoved some guy’s guts back into his stomach† can be rather upsetting to conservative audience that would rather be spared such graphic details. The next statement â€Å"everyone wants to grow old and die... but the truth is that most of us will die in pieces† also may rub readers in the wrong way. The author fails to capture the sensitivity of death as perceived by a number of people or cultures. The author acknowledges opposing argument by citing that the desire to have loved ones around would go to great lengths to use medication and technology. This goes to show that the writer understands that his opinion need not be paramount on the audience’s decisions and understanding of the article subject matter. Craig Bowron employs pathos or

Capital Maintenance and its Statutory Developments

Question: Discuss about the Capital Maintenance and its Statutory Developments. Answer: Introduction: The doctrine of capital maintenance is a fundamental principle of company law. The doctrine emphasizes that before a company issues its shares, it must first obtain proper consideration for shares. Moreover, the company cannot repay its members except in particular circumstances. In fact, this doctrine focuses on a fundamental duty of companies to ensure that they safeguard capital on behalf of the creditors, giving the courts the mandate of supervising the dissipation of capital by the companies. In other words, the doctrine empowers the courts to determine if a companys capital is dissipated lawfully or otherwise. There are two reasons for the origin of this doctrine. First, it was developed by the English courts to protect the interests of the creditors. Second, the doctrine emerged to ensure that the dissipation of a companys assets is lawful. It is important to note that the courts have often been keen to keep a companys capital assets intact because it is the creditor who gives the company credit. Furthermore, the creditors give a company credit on the faith of representation that the company shall use it only for the purpose of the business. Therefore, the creditor has a right to say that the company shall keep or maintain its capital and shall not return it to its shareholders. Nonetheless, it is of great significance to note that the doctrine has undergone tremendous development through a series of case laws involving companies, particularly in England. For example, in Flitcrofts Case, the court indirectly held that there are two main aspects of capital maintenance: i) the creditors have a right to ensure that a companys capital is dissipated in a lawful manner; and ii) the company does not return the capital to the members surreptitiously. Accordingly, these two aspects are under the guidance of the rules of company distributions and capital reduction. Subsequently, In another English case, Trevor v Whitworth, the House of Lords held that even if a companys memorandum of association provided that the company could purchase its shares, it would be ultra vires for it to do so as that would lead to a reduction of capital. The court further held that a company cannot return capital to the members unless there is a proper reduction of capital that has been duly sanctioned by the court. In the Australian context, the principle under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) is that a company has a legal obligation to preserve its capital. Therefore, a company should not purchase overvalued assets, give away capital, or buyback shares where such reduces the companys capital. Nonetheless, the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) provides exceptions to the doctrine of capital maintenance, thereby allowing a company to reduce its capital under particular circumstances. For example, s 256B of The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) provides that a company can reduce it s share capital if it satisfies three requirements. Other exceptions to the doctrine of capital maintenance under The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) are stipulated under s 260C(5)(a), s 260C(5)(b), s 260C(5)(c), and s 260C(5)(d). Overall, due to the availability of many exceptions to instances where a company can reduce its capital under The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), it is opined that the doctrine of capital maintenance has been watered down in the Australian corporate law. The numerous statutory exceptions that allow a company to reduce its capital lead to the conclusion that although it is necessary, the doctrine is no longer part of the Australian corporate law. References Davies, P.L., 2008. Gower Davies: the principles of modern company law. London, UK: Sweet Maxwell. Islam, M.S., 2015. The Doctrine of Capital Maintenance and its Statutory Developments: An Analysis. Northern University Journal of Law, 4, pp.47-55. Morris Ren Crabb, L., 2009. Charlesworth and Morse Company Law. London, UK: Sweet Maxwell. Tomasic, R., Bottomley, S. and McQueen, R., 2002. Corporations law in Australia. Leichhardt NSW, Australia: Federation Press.

The Individual and Ethnicity Choice

Introduction Recent analysis of international affairs paints the picture that the world is embroiled in age-old ethnic conflicts. Proponents of this notion contend that people from different ethnic groups harbor deep hatred for one another, and are only restrained by modern civilizations.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Individual and Ethnicity Choice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They predict that, in the future, either the modern states will break up into smaller ethnic groupings or great civilizations will rise against each other (Gurr 43). However, the general agreement is that modern regional conflicts can be attributed to cultural differences and affective ties of tribal groupings. This notion does not foresee a situation where diverse people can coexist. In fact, most ethnic conflicts do not result from ethnic diversity; rather, these conflicts are often fueled by the struggle for power and scarce resources such as land. This implies that in talking about ethnic conflicts, the assumption that ethnic identities are age-old and unchanging may be misleading. In other words, contrary to this assumption, ethnicity or race is a creation of contemporary politics that denies some people opportunities and gives others access to resources and power (Gurr 44). Cultural or religious differences have not, by themselves, resulted in ethnic conflict. Moreover, in modern times, culturally different people have learned one another’s cultural behaviors and have even intermarried, hence blurring contrasts between ethnic groupings. Contemporary Situation of Ethnic Conflicts In modern times, there is a common notion that ethnicity is age-old and often presents itself as ethnocentricism particularly in governance. In Eastern Europe, the current conflicts portray various ethnic groups as having strong nationalistic tendencies, which can only be suppressed by an autocratic government. In contrast, in the Western world, the American ‘melting pot’ suggests ethnicities are fast disintegrating while Eastern ethnicities must be suppressed by the autocratic leadership (Gurr 118). In former Yugoslavia, the Bosnians, Croats, and Serbs are different ethnic groupings, which, historically clashed from time to time over resources. However, due to intermarriages, the differences between these currently warring communities are actually so small. The Bosnians, Croats, and Serbs all speak Italian language and have coexisted in peace for a long time. Although these ethnic groups profess different religions-Serbs being mainly Orthodox, Croats being Roman Catholic and Bosnians being predominantly Muslim-still, each ethnic group comprises of considerable numbers of each religion. This, coupled with high rates of intermarriages, has blurred the differences between these groups.Advertising Looking for research paper on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you ! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, it is clear that the cause of the current Balkan wars is not fueled by ancient religious and ethnic differences, but rather by the contemporary politics, which rally individuals around nationalistic ideologies. In this regard, ‘ethnicity’ is packaged as ‘nationalism’ in the pretext of gaining access to resources, land, and power. The Serb and Croat leaders advocated for a right to self-rule in nation states. Serbs on their part wanted to expand outwards and include other ethnic groups (Horowitz 77). Croats on the other hand held a different nationalistic ideology, which promised to keep out non-Croats. In this view, different nationalistic ideologies are factors that fuelled the massacre of Serbs during the Second World War and in the 1990s. The Effect of Colonialism The origin of ethnic conflict in Eastern Europe is different from that of Africa. African violence is not fueled by conflictin g ideologies, but rather by ancient warfare between tribes that was propagated by the colonial powers (Horowitz 51). Ethnic conflict in Africa can be defined by four factors, namely; membership ties in a group, prejudice towards non-members, fear, and expectations about resource allocation. Ethnicities produce affection for in-group members, where the members prefer their â€Å"own† and exclude or discriminate against non-members (Gurr 87). Often, discrimination arises because of these strong in-group ties and loyalty. Usually, people have a positive social relationship with in-group members. A close relationship exists between the positive feelings between co-ethnics and the prejudice or fear for ethnic strangers. According to Horowitz, â€Å"contemporary politics breed fear and prejudice, which ultimately determine political behavior,† (91). In contemporary politics, politicians often use fear and prejudice against ‘out groups’ when seeking support from members of their race or tribe. In the United States, whites predominantly hold a social aversion to participation of blacks in mainstream politics. This stems from learned racist practices in the south. Past voting trends in the US, white voting behavior reflect an aversion towards blacks. In the African case, ethnic conflict, in the political perspective, is a product of the struggle over power and resources. True, in earlier decades, Africans identified themselves with their ethnic identity, or lineage. However, as people migrate to far places seeking for employment and trade opportunities; ethnic or racial identity has become less important (American Anthropological Association Par. 8).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Individual and Ethnicity Choice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Now, the conflict is rarely caused by ethnic differences but a struggle for scarce resources such as land, water an d pastoral land. The colonial system determined that each person belonged to a particular ethnic identity within the colony. This meant that each had to belong or show loyalty to a particular African group. This was not restricted to Africa: in India, the British Empire promoted the Hindu nationalism where people identified themselves as either Hindu or Sikh. This later transformed to distinct ‘ethnic groups’ after independence. Other cases include the Maronites in Lebanon, Moluccans in Dutch and Karens in Burma where colonial states created groupings, which they christened as either ethnic or religious groups. Nevertheless, in modern times, the need for political autonomy, resources, jobs, and better livelihoods has become the new frontier for ethnic conflicts. Thus, age-old tribal loyalties have become less significant as people strive to attain better socioeconomic status. Ethnic Diversity and Conflict It is often assumed that ethnic diversity is the cause of ethnic conflict and political instability. To the contrary, ethnic diversity has less to do with tribal or racial conflicts. In ethnically diverse countries such as Indonesia and Pakistan, less inter-ethnic conflicts have been experienced compared to countries such as Somalia, Yugoslavia, and Rwanda that are relatively less ethnically diverse (Glenny 78). This indicates that ethnic diversity does not breed ethnic conflicts, but rather relationships of people relative to power that cause local conflicts. A good example is Indonesia. Indonesia is known for its suppression of political activism in East Timor (Glenny 85). This cannot be classified as an ethnic conflict, as the country has over three hundred ethnic groupings with distinct language and religion. In fact, the recent ethnic conflict has much to do with the struggle for control of local resources, specifically oil and gas resources. Ethnic diversity can sometimes affect national integration in most nation states. However, some coun tries often succeed in fostering national integration while others fail. It all depends on the social cohesion policies implemented. In countries such as Rwanda and Burundi, where one ethnic group has been dominating over the others, avoiding ethnic conflicts requires concerted efforts to enhance national healing and reconciliation (Horowitz 86). Often systems where one or two major groups polarize regional politics are less stable compared to systems where smaller groups have an equal chance to participate in national politics.Advertising Looking for research paper on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More An example is Malaysia where politicians established an all-inclusive political coalition that strengthened ties between diverse ethnic groupings, i.e. the Chinese communities and Malay people. In contrast, in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese people formed a government, which, however, split into two ethnic factions, Tamils and Sinhalese, resulted in ethnic conflict. Political systems can also be modified to accommodate diverse ethnic groups and prevent ethnic tensions. In Nigeria, for instance, after the Biafra war in 1965 a new political system that curved the country into 19 states comprising of the major ethnic groups, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, was implemented (Horowitz 119). The states comprised of multiethnic coalitions, which helped to foster cohesion and avoid ethnic tensions. However, competing political interests resulted to excessive fragmentations, and subsequently the recurrence of ethnic tensions. It is apparent that negative stereotypes, prejudice, and fear of members of other groups are effects of contemporary political choices made by leaders. Conclusion Contemporary ethnic conflicts are not based on ancient cultural or religious differences. In fact, studies have established that ethnic diversity does not necessarily lead to ethnic conflict. The competition for resources causes ethnic tension and violence. In addition, political choices made by the leaders often cause intergroup tensions. Hence, leaders who develop perverse nationalistic ideologies cultivate hatred, which eventually breeds ethnic violence. Works Cited American Anthropological Association (AAA). â€Å"Statement on ‘Race’†. 17 May 1998. Web.9 Mar. 2013. https://www.americananthro.org/ConnectWithAAA/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=2583 Glenny, Misha. The Fall of Yugoslavia. New York: Penguin, 1992. Print. Gurr, Ted. Ethnic Conflict in World Politics. Boulder, Colo: Westview, 1994. Print. Horowitz, Donald. Ethnic Groups in conflict. Berkeley: University of California Press, 19 99. Print. This research paper on The Individual and Ethnicity Choice was written and submitted by user Chronomancer to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.