Policy Brief Paper on ASEAN - China Free Trade Area Essay

Policy Brief Paper on ASEAN - China Free Trade Area - Essay Example The policy belief will also explore the goals of the ASEA free trade and the rule of origin that applies to the goods. It will also explain how the trade is administered and how the countries solve the disputes that may come across on the way. The audience of the policy belief is a branch of international organization. Statement of the problem Should the ASEAN – China free trade area agreement benefit the people and the countries themselves? Background of the problem The ASEAN is a trade free trade which consists of eleven member states of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The agreement was first signed on the 4th of November 2002 in Cambodia. The intention of the agreement was to start a free trade among the eleven countries by 2010. However, the agreement came in to effect on January 1st 2010. The trade area is the third largest in terms of GDP and the largest of all trade areas in terms of population. The trade area had a nominal GDP of 6 trillion US dollars a s at 2008. The combined population of the trade area is approximately 580 million. On the issue of tariffs, the agreement reduced the 90 % of the imported goods to zero. The importers did not have to pay anything for the importation of the goods. The amendment took effect immediately in China and other six countries in the agreement and the other four countries promised to effect the tariffs by 2015. The goals of the Association are to increase their competitive advantage through production of high quality goods and elimination of tariffs on all imported and exported goods. The other goal is the attraction of more foreign direct investment to the association. The administration of the association is handled by the trade authorities and also by the national customs within the association. The secretariat of the association has the responsibility of monitoring and ensuring that every member complies with the rules and the regulations of the association. The secretariat ensures that th ere is consistent in the application of the association measures to all the country members of the association. In the dispute resolution, the secretariat of the association is no allowed to resolve any dispute arising between any two member countries. The disputes arising between any two members of the organization are resolved through dispute resolution or through informal means bilaterally. If the two member countries cannot resolve the disputes, they can refer to Senior Economic Officials Meetings (SEOM). The SEOM establishes a panel of arbitrators who helps to resolve the disputes. The member countries can always appeal the decisions made by the panels if member countries feel dissatisfied by the decision. The member country can appeal to the ASEAN Economic Community Council. Statement of the Organization’s Interest in the Issue The issue at hand matters most because of the following factors. One reason why the free trade area matters the China Government is because it h as helped the Chinese Government in exportation and importation of its products. The Chinese Government has also benefited from the reduction of the tariffs for exportation and importation between the member countries. There has also been the exchange of technological knowledge between the member countries. The China Government has also benefited from the importation of goods from New Zealand. The elimination of ta

Immigration to USA Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Immigration to USA - Assignment Example The work of the new department was overseeing a range of agencies and especially those specializing with immigration (US immigration enforcers, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and US Customs and Borders Protection. Creation of the new department came with a huge funding hence increasing the cost of maintaining all the departments, (Rollings-Magnusson 274). Secondly, deportations spending increased this is because the coming of the new department increased the activities of the subordinate department and this resulted to deportation of roughly 200,000 people in 2001 and almost double in 2011. Third, removing of criminals and this included both deportation and voluntary and since then it has doubled. Fourthly, police officers at the local level were promoted into immigration officers, a project aimed at securing communities. They worked together with Homeland security to ensure accomplishment of their goals of arresting and deporting the non-United States citizens. Finally was the tying immigration enforcement to corporate profits, this ensures that the law is enforced and the rate of immigration is reduced. What are the differences between the service and enforcement sections of immigration policy? Which do you hear about in the news? What do you hear? The service section has specialized with giving services to the people migrating in and out of the US, and has the responsibility of issuing visa as well as other crucial travel document to the immigrants. Additionally, they are responsible for immigrants screening and inspection of the immigrants before their entry to the United States. Enforcement section on the other hand deals with enforcement of the immigration department policies, (Maxwell 34); they are involved with deportation of those who are in the US illegally and those who lack the proper documentations. The commonly heard in the news the about enforcement sections since 9/11 is that the US administration embarked on ensuring their nationals safety, (Tirman 67). New policies and measures were put in place to deport those who did not have the necessary documents to be in the country and also restrictive measure were put in to place limit immigration in to the US. The news items common are on the number of people deported a nd the number of criminals deported, it is all about how people are being shipped and flown out of the US. What are the pros and cons of a law like SB1070? What do you think is going to happen? The SB1070 law had extensive negative impacts to the economy compared to positive impacts. Some of the pros are that the United State citizens could now obtain employment opportunities where the aliens had dominated and due to the restrictive immigration laws, security was enhanced. The disadvantage entails the decrease in the sector of the tourism; the police were authorized to monitor the immigrants’ documents especially those they suspected to be lacking the necessary authority to be in Arizona. This discouraged tourist because nobody wants to be scrutinized all the time other than being left free to enjoy touring the country as they set out to. The laws influence the sector of agriculture sector and most crucially in Alabama whereby the sector of agriculture sector generates revenu e. The laws incapacitated the performance due to the many restrictive laws. The restrictive immigration laws also influenced the businesses and this was mainly due to the distortion they brought in the competitive advantages in attracting new businesses to the region. The higher education departments lost students because many had came other

Neil stonechild Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Neil stonechild - Essay Example Canada formed a Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) to attend to the concerns of the Aborigines of Canada such as previous government courses of action, to be able to present policy proposals. A final report was issued in 1996 by the commission with a 20-year period for change (Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia). This 20-year period ends by the year 2016. It has been 13 years after the RCAP issued its report and recommendations to the government. What has happened in the span of 13 years? Has anything changed between how the Aborigines, non-Aborigines, and the government relate to one other? Have you ever heard of Cameron Mulrunji Doomadgee, Corrine McKeown, Doreen LeClair, Helen Betty Osborne, Eva Taysup, Shelley Napope, Calinda Waterhen or Neil Stonechild? Most likely, you have never heard of them, but they do have one thing in common. They are Aborigines in Canada who are now all dead. Are they dead because of police brutality, racial discrimination, or because the public has turned a blind eye on what is really happening to the First Nation in Canada? Neil Stonechild is a 17-year old Aborigine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Four days after being picked up by the police for causing a disturbance, his body was found frozen in a field in the northwest area of the city. Autopsy reports showed hypothermia as the cause of death and investigations by the police service disproved foul play in his death. But there were qualms, especially by the family, about the circumstances surrounding the death of Stonechild especially since there were complaints about members of the police team moving Aborigines to remote places in and outside of the city of Saskatoon. Apparently, the principal investigator assigned to the case set aside important data pointed out to him regarding Neil Stonechild’s disappearance and demise. Further investigations were made and a decision was concluded in 2004, fourteen years after the primary incident. Several factors were pinpointed as

European free trade zone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

European free trade zone - Essay Example The seven member countries of EFTA including Austria, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland were not willing to be the part of the European Economic Community at that time. Finland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein joined EFTA later. Under the EFTA treaty, the member countries made a partnership in order to form and manage a free trade zone, and they initially established such a region among themselves; the free trade area then eventually broadened to include the European Community. By the formation of a European free trade zone, the member countries aimed â€Å"increased productivity, a more efficient use of resources, the expansion of economic activity and full employment as well as promoting financial stability and improving living standards† (â€Å"European free trade area†). Gradually, some countries left the EFTA and presently the EFTA comprises Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. In 1992, EFTA made agreements with EEA (Euro pean Economic Area) to aid its members to join the European internal market freely. These agreements contained specific provision regarding the preservation of social policy, consumer rights, environment, and company law and statistics. In addition, the agreement also included various provisions for the mutual cooperation of EEA-EFTA Member States in various areas such as researches and development, information technology, education, industrial operations, tourism, multimedia sector and civil protection (â€Å"European free trade area†). As Ranchev and Georgi point out, in Southeast Europe, seven countries including Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Macedonia, and FR Yugoslavia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 27th June 2001 for the establishment of a free trade zone in that area (1-13). After the collapse of the Iron curtain, two free trade areas namely Baltic Free Trade Area (BAFTA) and Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) were for med so as to stabilize the countries under these areas for membership of the EU. However, the original members from both these areas left the agreements and joined EU after the enlargement of EU in 2004. CEFTA has spread its operations to Southern Europe by adding members from Western Balkans and Moldova regions. The EU not only operates as a free trade area but it engages in more widespread operations with its predecessor, the European Economic Community. The EU offers services to EFTA members by sharing its single market through European Economic Area and it maintains provisions for making free trade agreements with most other European countries. Presently Europe includes three multi-lateral free trade areas in addition to the European Union which maintains a single market and one former-FTA. Crises to European Free Trade Zone The European free trade area has faced a large number of crises from the beginning of its history. Although, the free trade zone implementation process for Southeast Europe has been well structured, many economists opine that this trade liberalization process may result in adverse economic impacts. Ranchev and Georgi strongly argue that the concept of free trade zone would raise potential threats to the sustainable economic growth of the

What are the main factors contributing to low expectancy in the Essay - 1

What are the main factors contributing to low expectancy in the developing world Investigate possible solutions to these problems - Essay Example re (2011), â€Å"life expectancy is an indicator of how long a person can expect to live on average given prevailing mortality rates.† Different countries have different life expectancy rates because of differences in prevailing mortality factors. Existing research shows that there is generally low expectancy in developing countries as compared to developed world (Dalkhat, 2007). In this essay, the various factors that accounts for the low expectancy in developing world are critically analysed. The table above gives a very glaring proof of the fact that poverty is a factor that accounts for low expectancy in developing countries. This is because all least scoring countries on the expectancy have very low low per capita income as compared to the first ten highest scoring countries. Poverty leads to malnutrition, ill-health and other life threatening health and social issues that affect the chances of people living for long. Highly related to the first factor, poverty causes most developing countries not to have very comprehensive and well managed healthcare system in place. Undeniably, quality healthcare is responsible for improved and increased quality healthcare of the citizenry. The Insurance Risk Guide (2009) outlines three major components of quality healthcare system. These include â€Å"adequate scientiï ¬ c knowledge for supporting high quality health care† (Insurance Risk Guide, 2009). This point trumpets the need for comprehensive scientific research into finding new and most workable discoveries that need to be put in place in the health sector. Without any doubt, this cannot be done in the absence of personnel, financing sourcing and scientific techniques. Sadly, these cannot be done in the midst of poverty. The second component is adequate access to Health Care. In developing countries, it is sad to note that access to healthcare is only available to the privileged few. The final component is Medical Persons and Medical Institutions. The meaning of this

Evolution of Jazz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evolution of Jazz - Essay Example Many of the Jazz musicians relieved themselves from racial, social and cultural tensions in their hometown and spread Jazz music as ambassadors of their new found freedom. Hence, between the First and Second World Wars (1914 – 1940) Paris adopted Jazz music as its own. In this way, there was a huge transformation of Jazz music from an African- American genre to becoming an iconic phenomenon of international repute. Jazz music, that began with small marching bands, big bands, or by piano and banjo solos soon disintegrated as the focus centered on smaller ensembles. The Jazz musician I have chosen to write about is Louis Armstrong, (1901 – 1971) who is considered to be one among the best of Jazz musicians. Born in New Orleans on 4th August, 1901, Louis overcame his poverty-stricken background and rose to become one of the greatest solo improvisers in the field of Jazz music. Louis played the trumpet in a very innovative and interesting way and his style relied on improvis ation during his playing the trumpet. He also pioneered a new style of singing called ‘scat’ which is improvising during singing without real lyrics but in perfect tempo and melody. Armstrong had a sort of gravelly voice and besides his virtuosity in his trumpet playing abilities, he was quite famous for his ‘scat’ singing. In fact, he holds the record of being the oldest Jazz artist to have cut a No. 1 record at 63 years old, which is called ‘Hello Dolly’. What is most spectacular about this record is that it toppled the Beatles by reaching number 1 on the charts in 1964. ‘Hello Dolly’ (1964) was the chart-buster title song for the award winning musical ‘Hello Dolly’. This wonderful song also won a Grammy for the best vocal performance by Louis Armstrong which enthralled his audiences all over the world. It was later made into a movie where Armstrong appeared and dueted with Barbara Streisand. Composed by Jerry Herman , ‘Hello Dolly’ is a very vibrant and catchy number rendered with equal enthusiasm and energy by the famed Louis Armstrong. The song begins with a rhythmic syncopated style using instruments. After the instrumental introduction, Armstrong begins singing in his own inimitable ‘scat’ singing style. He has a deep voice that is highly expressive of the lyrics ‘Hello Dolly’. The band comprising of saxophone, drums and trumpet played by Armstrong himself lends complete support in between the vocals. The interlude of ‘Hello Dolly’ is quite a lengthy one, with the trumpet as the main instrument and the other instruments filling in to add a different flavor. His flair for innovation is a major plus point for this singer as he uses a lot of improvisation both in his trumpet playing as well as in his singing. Some of the rhythmic beats used are long while others are staccato in presentation. Armstrong’s voice is throaty and guttural b ut even so very captivating. The pace of the entire song is medium paced while the tone is highly energetic with snatches of highs and lows that give it its own uniqueness and beauty. The final bar of the instrumental part has Armstrong improvising into a crescendo and this is duly answered by the supporting saxophone. Immediately after the interlude, Armstrong takes over and concludes the piece by singing using both lyrics as well as syncopated sounds that makes it so unique and attractive. Armstrong is considered to be one of the greatest Jazz musicians of all time who has

Searching for ideology in spite of Media Essay Example for Free

Searching for ideology in spite of Media Essay As individuals, we constantly struggle to find a balance between personal opinion and societal compliance; between our personal value systems and what society in general regards as acceptable, or at least what it wants us to believe. However, some would agree that the influence that media exerts on our psyche can upset such a balance. Every individual aims to be unique and original with their reasoning, but the odds are stacked against them as streams of media flow with such a prominent impact on societal ideology. The effect of the media is significant and far-reaching. Everywhere, the media encroaches upon our ideologies and everything that we hold sacred and changes it in ways that we are often unaware of. Holding on to our personal ideologies in the face of media is swimming upstream against resistance and the irresistible currents of change. Indeed the media has been a powerful force in influencing people’s perceptions, and by extension, their actions as well. Business, politicians, and showbiz personalities pay huge sums of money to media firms in order to create an image or change an existing one. Politics in particular, has been making use of the media to generate public support for certain policies. As an economic force the media has been used by Western nations to trespass into Third World Cultures and impose their own Western views and in effect promote Western goods. The westernization of these countries has led to the destruction of the many elements of native cultures. Similarly, the media infringes upon our system of values and we are never the same. With the greater outpouring of media coming from the United States, advertisers, writers and even politicians of other countries are forced to swim upstream against certain influences from a society that preaches to a larger audience than it can actually support. A trend is emerging in the presentation of media products which Sony has described as ‘global localization’: the structuring of media products designed for certain cultural consumption or presentation, which are assembled without particular concerns for national cultural heritage or tradition (Thussu 21). Of course it must be said that media per se is not the culprit. It is a neutral instrument that can be used both for good and bad ends. The capacity of media to effect positive or negative effects on an individual or a given society depends on the people using the media as a very powerful tool to advance their own, often selfish causes. As such, this paper intends to look at how the media is being used as a tool primarily to promote political and economic agendas. Ideas on Ideology Ideologies refer to a set of beliefs of ways of living that structures the way we see things and act upon accordingly. These ideologies often act below the surface and are the driving force that determines our actions of a daily basis. Ideologies are products of the culture that people were exposed to. In the realm of the social sciences, ideology is perhaps one of the most difficult to define because of its highly complex nature (Bailey 4). Regardless of the difficulties of the concept, we all have some functional grasp of our own ideologies, and it serves as the framework with which we perceive the world at large and by which we base our decisions and value judgments. In terms of society, the word ideology basically makes the connection between ideas and the kind of society that we have (Bailey 23). This implies that a society is the realization of the collective thoughts or ideas of a people, and as such, can also be changed by the same token. For sociologist, ideology refers to ideas that are actually forwarded and manifested for the very purpose of effecting change. These ideologies are ideas or beliefs applied in the public realm; abstract made real. As such, every political entity has a set of ideologies that form the basis of its platform and policies. This paper uses the term ideology in a more general sense; ideology as the set of beliefs and values that buttress an individual and how such ideologies change in the face of media manipulation. As such, these ideologies are the main targets of media as they endeavor to convince people to change their beliefs and value systems.