Providing Safe Water For First Nation Communities †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Providing Safe Water For First Nation Communities. Answer: Part A- Introduction: Any country having abundant water resource does not mean it is able to provide safe drinking water. This report will suggest ideas on how to solve problems for first nations communities present in Canada. A mission statement will be provided from Bow valley club. Facts are based on research done from web-based e-papers, research journals, interview transcripts and videos. This following passage will give a brief idea about the problem. In the year 2005 north Ontario community which is in Canada made headlines because of its poor water quality and unsanitary conditions. This condition forced the evacuation of thousand residents ("Safe Water for First Nations | The Council of Canadians", 2018). Province of Ontario contains 18% of worlds fresh surface water. There is a reason to think because of this Canada will not have any water problems however it is not the case for first nations communities. This problem will be discussed in brief and recommendation will be provided at the end. Projects mission: Bow valleys main initiative would be to work closely with the indigenous people of Canada in Ontario province. Mission is to gather information about their culture, know their needs and to provide a set of recommendation to higher-level government officials. Additionally, Bow valley would provide financial assistance to support the mission cause. Discussion: Project research The first passage will talk about why people from indigenous communities are suing the federal government of Canada. Four first nations citizens in Alberta have successfully filed lawsuit for the inability on Ottawas part to provide safe drinking water available on reserves. Problems that have been highlighted by Blood tribe, Ermineskin, Sucker Creek and Tsuu Tina are floating objects such as mice found in cistern, high rates of hepatitis and cancer. They are accusing the government of sustaining unsafe drinking water and the level of water treatment facilities that are built on the reserves were termed as substandard (Grant, 2016). The tribes have demanded that federal government should upgrade the existing facility and to refund money that was lost due to years of inaction. The reason the claimants are so angry is that they are seeking for parity. They want to see if the water and wastewater infrastructure are in line with infrastructure accorded to non- aboriginal Canadians. In th e year 2011, the federal government did a national assessment but skipped some facts. Few contractors evaluated the situation and found out that out of 97 percent of first nation communities present in Canada, 73 percent of them were at high or medium risks. There were even advisories of not to consume water even if it is boiled which basically means boiling was not enough to remove the contaminants present in the water (Castleden et al., 2017). This passage will generally discuss findings based on research from a published literature. It has been determined that wastewater sanitation and providing safe drinking water are critical components of public health (Daley et al., 2015). If there is lack of access to these services, it results in death from diseases that are in most of the cases are preventable. Technologies related to water and wastewater treatment should be tailored to local conditions that suit the environment. Most important factors that are often overlooked are economic contexts, social and cultural contexts. The purpose for which the study was conducted was to understand the perception of residents for the functionality of wastewater and normal water. Based on the study, future health risks related to water was also identified. Interviews that were conducted were semi structured. The third passage will focus on a newspaper article about the problem faced by indigenous communities currently present in Canada. It talks about how health of residents is being affected due to contaminated water and systems that needs urgent maintenance. It was argued that first nation citizens do not have the same privileges that are being granted to the rest of the citizens that do not belong to the first nation community. There are serious repercussions on the prolonged consumption of water for indigenous people living reserves ("Canada: Water Crisis Puts First Nations Families at Risk", 2018). Indigenous people suffer from poverty but also reeling from the effects of prolonged consumption of water, which should be the basic human right for all citizens. Citizens should not be segregated because of their economic conditions. Many diseases such as psoriasis, eczema and other skin problems are direct consequence of using water meant for consumption. First nation families have even gone to the extent of changing their habits including limiting shower time for themselves and children. Caregivers in order to ensure risk elimination among elders and children had to shoulder added responsibility. The fourth passage will give a brief description of a video that highlights the problems of indigenous people surviving on water on reserves. It talks about the government, which regulates water quality in Canada but does not have any binding regulation for water, which is on the reserves. Even the internal audit of federal government has shown underperformance for water which is on the reserves (Canada's Water Crisis: Indigenous Families at Risk, 2016). Residents have frequently complained about skin problems. Contaminants that were found in water include cancer causing Trihalomethanes, coliform and E.coli. Finally, the fifth passage will deliver brief insights from the testimonial obtained from a citizen belonging first nations communities in Ontario. Debora, who is a woman lives with her 9-year-old son in Grassy Narrows. She states that it was very difficult for her to manage rash on her sons skin, which was recurrent. She took him to the clinic and the doctor diagnosed eczema. The ointment that was given did not work and finally she had to take him to the clinic again. Her son had a skin disease, which was rare, and it resists most antibiotics ("Canada: Water Crisis Puts First Nations Families at Risk", 2018). After this incident, she had to avoid using tap water to bath her son. She had to use bottled water and this shows how pathetic the situation was for her. She was not the only one who faced such conditions there were hundreds more. Recommendations: This will mainly address few recommendations to the government of Canada such that by enabling the plan crisis can be averted. The government should develop a plan in collaboration with first nations. The plan should have a fixed period for implementation of the plan, budget allocation should be consistent and there should be commitments towards operation and services (Dupont et al., 2014). INAC or Northern Affairs of Canada should prioritize allocations of capital for communities belonging to first nation ("Make it Safe | Canadas Obligation to End the First Nations Water Crisis", 2018). The government should also engage with communities to know their cultural aspect so that they are able to identify a policy, which is culturally acceptable. The parliament of Canada is also advised to stick to standards prescribed by international bodies and should present a framework based on that. Tribal Council is encouraged to support knowledge sharing among first nation communities so that they are able take preventive actions. In addition, the tribal council should take action so that experience on wastewater treatment should be shared. Initiative taken by Bow Valley Club: Bow valley club will provide a financial assistance that amounts to 20,000 United States Dollar. This will be directly handed over to tribal chief so that maintenance and support for existing treatment systems can start immediately. Conclusion: Based on the research, this report concludes the hardships faced by the people belonging to the first nations community in Canada. It was established that government has turned a blind eye to the needs of people belonging in the marginalized section. People belonging in that section do not enjoy the same benefits that are entitled to other citizens of Canada. There is a huge need to implement a regulatory framework that would be responsible for implementing a plan that would take care of the needs of these people. Therefore, it can be concluded that by developing a framework, which needs to be adopted by the government problems faced by the communities will disappear. I want to take this opportunity to inform you about the idea about providing free meals to about forty thousand children belonging to the marginalized sector. I am already aware that you have supported the project -Lunch for Kids spanning across two hundred cities in Canada. This fed over 2 million schoolchildren across three thousands schools in Canada. My colleague and I are very interested in successful implementation of this project. We have thought about the project title too. The project title is Feed the Kids. We will be able to provide free lunches by collaborating with local communities. There is a strong desire from our end to see that these kids get right kind of nutrition. These kids are from socially and economically weak backgrounds. It is our desire to seek the right kind of parity between these kids and affluent kids. We would appreciate your honest feedback on this idea. We would be grateful if you can financially assist us on this regard. We are expecting the best co-operation from your side. References: Canada: Water Crisis Puts First Nations Families at Risk. (2018).Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 22 March 2018, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/06/07/canada-water-crisis-puts-first-nations-families-risk Canada's Water Crisis: Indigenous Families at Risk. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arnqpnm70Ng Castleden, H., Hart, C., Cunsolo, A., Harper, S., Martin, D. (2017). Reconciliation and relationality in water research andmanagement in Canada: Implementing indigenous ontologies, epistemologies, and methodologies. InWater Policy and Governance in Canada(pp. 69-95). Springer, Cham Daley, K., Castleden, H., Jamieson, R., Furgal, C., Ell, L. (2015). Water systems, sanitation, and public health risks in remote communities: Inuit resident perspectives from the Canadian Arctic.Social Science Medicine,135, 124-132. Dupont, D., Waldner, C., Bharadwaj, L., Plummer, R., Carter, B., Cave, K., Zagozewski, R. (2014). Drinking water management: health risk perceptions and choices in First Nations and non-First Nations communities in Canada.International journal of environmental research and public health,11(6), 5889-5903. Grant, K. (2016).Drinking water source water protection plan implementation: barriers and supports for First Nations(Doctoral dissertation). Make it Safe | Canadas Obligation to End the First Nations Water Crisis. (2018).Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 22 March 2018, from https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/06/07/make-it-safe/canadas-obligation-end-first-nations-water-crisis Minsky, A. (2018).First Nations living in Third World conditions as communities endure water advisories.Global News. Retrieved 23 March 2018, from https://globalnews.ca/news/3238948/first-nations-drinking-water-crisis-liberals-promise/ Safe Water for First Nations | The Council of Canadians. (2018).Canadians.org. Retrieved 22 March 2018, from https://canadians.org/fn-water

Professional Values and Ethics Paper Essays - Social Philosophy

Professional Values and Ethics Paper Ethics and values are a big part of our lives on a day to day basis. Ethics is defined as the moral principles of an individual; this included the ability to distinguish wrong from right (Dictionary.com, 2010). Our values on the other hand can include numerous things that vary from one person to another such as family, work, personal belongings and money. The ways we carry ourselves affect our personal and professional life and determine our career success in life. I believe that without ethics and the consideration for values one will never be triumphant in their professional and personal life. In order to have success in ones careers one must consider that in the professional world the following things can be considered, ones professional integrity, academic integrity and personal values. Professional integrity determines that ones will strive to do what is best for career success. This means that you are aware of the importance to carry yourself at the highest professional standard at all times. Academic integrity is important because it determines that you consider your ethics in your school work and always did a good job without being mischievous. Personal values, what is important to me, why I am starving to do a good job in what I do. This plays an important role in career success. Why does one go to school, to get a better job and make more money and provide a better life for their family? These personal values are important to consider in ones careers success. We would also like to stress the importance of good ethics, when it comes to the Professional life. Many people neglect good ethics in the work environment, and this could end up with a negative effect among employee?s, and managers. In other words one can?t go wrong when good ethics are present in their lives regardless of whether it?s a professional environment or even when a personal lifestyle. Without good ethics there wouldn?t be any honesty, therefore this would become a negative influence, and it may encourage others to act with less care as well. Nevertheless you never want people to see you as a person who has no integrity or good ethics, because this will turn them off towards you, and it could result in a failure of a good opportunity. I believe that every single thing that we do must, and should be thought out carefully, because the last thing we want is to make unfixable mistakes, and have terrible regrets over something that could have been easily avoided, by being simply more attentive. However the reality of this is that we are human, and we are likely to make mistakes, the important thing is to learn from our mistakes, and make sure that we grow from them, and don?t make the same mistake twice. Even though this may sound familiar, surprisingly many continue to make the same mistakes one, after another. All we can really do is improve ourselves, and focus on us, before we try to help the entire world. In conclusion, ethics and values play a huge role in everyone?s lives. They both contribute hand in hand with each other in many different ways. People can?t have ethics without having values, and vice versa. Values tend to be more important than ethics because they represent someone?s persona, while ethics bring out their character. Ethics are made based upon the values that people portray. Ethics and values work together, as a team, to advise every single person towards the right path of life.

Predictors of Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Use

Drug and alcohol use among adolescents in the United States tends to increase, and the lack of monitoring the adolescents’ behaviors by parents and teachers can lead to developing this tendency in the future.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Predictors of Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Use specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Much attention should be paid to identifying predicting factors in order to avoid impacts on adolescents’ well-being, health, academic performance, and social interactions. The results of the studies mentioned by McWhirter and the group of researchers in their work indicate that a range of factors related to the family, peer relations, and individual characteristics can be discussed as helpful to predict substance and alcohol use (McWhirter, McWhirter, McWhirter, McWhirter, 2013, p. 173). In this context, it is important to discuss predicting factors, focus on the role of the family, peers, and individual features to influence substance use, concentrate on the legal and ethical aspects, and to determine connections between stated risks and youth’s development. Variables Related to Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Adolescents Family-Related Characteristics Parents play the key role in predicting the abuse of drugs and alcohol in adolescents, but the problem is in the fact that there are also specific family factors associated with adolescents’ use of substances. The first factor is the approach used by parents to interact with their children. The research shows that the authoritative parents’ behavior and the associated pressure within the family can be discussed as a factor to cause the alcohol and substance use in adolescents as a form of protest (McWhirter et al., 2013, p. 174). The second factor is the absence of the parents’ monitoring within the family. Adolescents need the constant monitoring and support in their families, and the lac k of attention leads to developing harmful behaviors in young people (McWhirter et al., 2013, p. 177).Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More If adolescents feel lonely in their families because they do not feel the parents’ support, love, and attention, the threat of risky behaviors increases. Peer-Related Characteristics Research demonstrates that two basic variables associated with the adolescents’ use of alcohol and drugs are provision of the information about drugs and provision of actual substances as well as the peer pressure (McWhirter et al., 2013, p. 178). When adolescents receive the information about alcohol and drugs from their peers, their attitudes to this information can be often discussed as positive (Clinton, Clark, Straub, 2010, p. 121). The peer influence is one of the strongest indicators related to drug and alcohol use in adolescents. Providing alcohol and drugs, peers create the first experience for other adolescents while affecting the attitude towards these substances (Hannigan Delaney-Black, 2012, p. 890). The other important factor is peer pressure. When adolescents reject provided substances or act against the peer group’s rules, they become isolated or oppressed (Hannigan Delaney-Black, 2012, p. 890). As a result, the use of alcohol and substances is often a kind of avoiding the peer pressure. Individual Characteristics In spite of the significant role of the external factors as the relations of adolescents with parents and peers to influence the choice of alcohol and drugs, much attention should be paid to variables related to the youth inner world. The first important factor is the low self-esteem. This factor drives a young person to win the respect of peers and their positive attitude with the focus on following their behavioral patterns (McWhirter et al., 2013, p. 179).Advertising We will write a custom r eport sample on Predictors of Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Use specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The other factor is the feelings of loneliness and isolation in the family, peer group, and community. Adolescents are vulnerable in terms of received recognition, and they are inclined to concentrate on their doubts if they do not receive the enough recognition and support from the peers and relatives (â€Å"How to spot drug and alcohol use in teens†, 2013, p. 1). Depressive moods can make adolescent avoid worries with the help of alcohol and drugs. Predictors of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in the Context of Legal and Ethical Issues While focusing on the ethical and legal aspects of predicting adolescents’ substance and alcohol use in the context of the family, it is important to point at such aspects as the necessity of controlling the adolescents’ behaviors by parents and the necessity of making decisions regarding the ado lescents’ treatment. In the context of peer relations, adolescents should be guaranteed that their privacy is protected and the issue of confidentiality is addressed when they attend counselors or receive the necessary treatment. These two measures are important to avoid peers’ negative attitudes and pressure (Clinton et al., 2010, p. 123). In addition, there are legal and ethical issues associated with substance users’ individual characteristics. Counselors, teachers, and parents need to realize the control over adolescents’ behaviors without the pressure, in order to prevent aggression and disobedience. The other important point is the focus on activities to prevent harmful behaviors and crimes associated with alcohol and drug abuse.Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Relations between Systems’ Risk Factors and At-Risk Youth’s Growth Focusing on the family as the system within which an adolescent interacts, it is important to note that such parenting issues as the lack of communication and monitoring lead to worsening the relations with young people and to their further unpunished use of substances. The character of relationship between relatives and adolescents changes when young people start using drugs because they become secretive and spend more time alone or with peers, and it is rather difficult to control adolescents’ actions in this situation. The problems are also associated with the sphere of peer relations. Adolescents choose drugs and alcohol proposed by their friends because they are inclined to improve social relations and increase their status in the peer group. In this context, peer pressure is one of the most influential factors (McWhirter et al., 2013, p. 179). While discussing the sphere of the adolescentâ €™s individual development, it is important to state that risks are associated with the person’s difficulties at school and in personal relations. Adolescents often demonstrate the lack of motivation to overcome barriers, and they choose drugs and alcohol instead of communicating with parents and teachers. Conclusion Factors that can predict the alcohol and substance use in adolescents can be divided into three categories, and they can be related to the family, peers, and individual characteristics. In order to address the problem of alcohol and drug abuse in the youth, it is necessary to pay attention to these risky factors and focus on their connections with the aspects of adolescents’ attitude to substances and motivation. References Clinton, T., Clark, C., Straub, J. (2010). The quick-reference guide to counseling teenagers. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. Hannigan, J., Delaney-Black, V. (2012). Faithful friends: Teen reporters of peer substance use. Addiction , 107(1), 885–891. How to spot drug and alcohol use in teens: Guide for parents. (2013). The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, 29(S5), 1-2. McWhirter, J. J., McWhirter, B. T., McWhirter, E. H., McWhirter, R. J. (2013). At-risk youth: A comprehensive response for counselors, teachers, psychologists and human service professionals. Belmont, TN: Brooks/Cole Publishers. This report on Predictors of Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Use was written and submitted by user Gemma Pacheco 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.

Natural Mosquito Repellents

Natural Mosquito Repellents When I was pregnant, I wanted to avoid using toxic chemical insect repellents, yet the mosquitoes seemed to find me tastier than ever. My solution at that time was to wear what I called my DEET sheet, which was an old cotton sheet that had been sprayed with S.C. Johnsons Off! Deep Woods formula. While this was highly effective, it wasnt practical for use around kids, so I did research into safer, natural mosquito repellents. I learned that many so-called natural mosquito repellents dont repel mosquitoes (e.g., ultrasonic electronic devices), but some are backed by reputable research and really work. Key Takeaways The two ways to repel mosquitoes are to attract them away from you or to repel them directly.Mosquitoes are often repelled by plant essential oils, especially lemon eucalyptus oil.Even the best repellent may be compromised by a reaction with sunscreen, dilution in water, absorption into the skin, or evaporation into the air. Its important to re-apply repellent to maintain its effectiveness. Mosquitoes have complex methods of detecting hosts and different types of mosquitoes react to different stimuli. Most mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk, but there are also mosquitoes that seek hosts during the day. You can avoid being bitten by making sure you arent attracting mosquitoes, using attractants to lure mosquitoes elsewhere, using a repellent, and avoiding actions that diminish the effectiveness of the repellent. Mosquito Attractants Use this list of items and activities that attract mosquitoes as a list of things to avoid or that can be used as bait to lure mosquitoes away from you. Dark ClothingMany mosquitoes use vision to locate hosts from a distance. Dark clothes and foliage are initial attractants.Carbon DioxideYou give off more carbon dioxide when you are hot or have been exercising. A burning candle or other fire is another source of carbon dioxide.Lactic AcidYou release more lactic acid when you have been exercising or after eating certain foods (e.g., salty foods, high-potassium foods).Floral or Fruity FragrancesIn addition to perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, watch for the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets.Skin TemperatureThe exact temperature depends on the type of mosquito. Many mosquitoes are attracted to the slightly cooler temperatures of the extremities.MoistureMosquitoes are attracted by perspiration because of the chemicals it contains and also because it increases the humidity around your body. Even small amounts of water (e.g., moist plants or mud puddles) will draw mosquitoes. Standing water also a llows mosquitoes to reproduce. Blood TypePerson with type O blood are more attractive to mosquitoes than those with A, B, or AB blood. This blood type is rare, but if you have a friend or family member with type O blood, mosquitoes (and the Red Cross) like them better than they like you. Natural Mosquito Repellents Its very easy to make your own natural mosquito repellent. These natural products will effectively repel mosquitoes, but they require more frequent reapplication (at least every 2 hours) and higher concentrations than DEET. Because of the differences between types of mosquitoes, products that contain multiple repellents tend to be more effective than those containing a single ingredient. As you can see, natural repellents tend to be volatile plant oils. Citronella OilLemon Eucalyptus OilCinnamon OilCastor OilRosemary OilLemongrass OilCedar OilPeppermint OilClove OilGeranium OilCatnip OilTobaccoNeem OilBirch Tree BarkPossibly Oils from Verbena, Pennyroyal, Lavender, Pine, Cajeput, Basil, Thyme, Allspice, Soybean, and Garlic Another plant-derived substance, pyrethrum, is an insecticide. Pyrethrum comes from the flowers of the daisy Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. Things that Lower Repellent Effectiveness Despite your best efforts, you may be unintentionally sabotaging your repellents effectiveness. Mosquito repellent doesnt play nicely with: Many SunscreensDilution From Rain, Perspiration, or SwimmingAbsorption Into the SkinEvaporation From Wind or High Temperatures Keep in mind that natural does not automatically imply safe. Many people are sensitive to plant oils. Some natural insect repellents are actually toxic. Therefore, although natural repellents provide an alternative to synthetic chemicals, please remember to follow the manufacturers instructions when using these products. Source M. S. Fradin; J. F. Day (2002). Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents against Mosquito Bites. N Engl J Med. 347 (1): 13–18. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa011699

LITERATURE REVIEW Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

LITERATURE REVIEW - Research Paper Example Equally important, security and monitoring of the movement of narcotics drugs strongly indicate laxity of the responsible agencies because of the increasing accessibility of the drugs to many users and dealers, including minors. In relation to monitoring of narcotics drugs, the agencies responsible for the role should enhance surveillance on all possible channels of accessing and distributing drugs including prescription drugs. Three main concepts and ideas will be explored in the literature review in relation to the problem statement of the research study. The first is investigating pertinent factors that contribute to the increasing abuse of narcotic drugs in the society in addition to the recent policies and regulations aimed at preventing accessibility to narcotic drugs. To collect relevant information pertaining to the concept, authoritative sources from medical, legal, sociological and psychological backgrounds will be used. One of the authoritative sources is a journal by Barrett and Veerman titled â€Å"Children Who Use Drugs: The Need for More Clarity on State Obligations in International Law.† Narcotics drugs are increasingly being accessed through prescription and this is the second concept of investigating the problem statement in the literature review. Patients with chronic ailments are legally permitted to use some of the illegal narcotics drugs under strict medical prescription (Howe, 1957). However, the effects that the drugs impart on the prescribed users are a matter of concern to policy makers because it influences the society’s perception to the drugs. In particular, the outcome of the drugs on the prescribed patients such as dependency or addiction and their overall effectiveness in managing the intended medical condition will be examined. The accessibility of prescribed drugs in stores could encourage members of the society to conspire with pharmaceutical

Discuss the rationale and impact of the decision on company law Assignment

Discuss the rationale and impact of the decision on company law - Assignment Example The conflict between the personal opinion of judges and the legal provisions of the law has been in existence for years, and this conflict has resulted in the determination of cases in a manner that does not reflect the legal provisions. However, under the case Salomon v Salomon & Co Ltd [1897] AC 22, the supremacy of the law as the principle that guides courts in determining cases was cemented. This is because; in both the High Court and the courts of appeal, the judges held that the merit of the case Broderip v. Salomon [1985] 2 simply warranted the consideration of Salomon Ltd as an ‘alias’, thus allowing for the treatment of Salomon Ltd and Mr. Aron Salomon as one and the same thing (Rickett, 1998:16). Therefore, the High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled that Mr. Aron Salomon was responsible for paying the debts incurred by Salomon Ltd. However, the House of Lords unanimously overturned the ruling, by holding that the opinions and personal perspectives of the judges were subordinate to the provisions of the law, and the provisions of the law under Companies Act (1862) had provided that a company could be incorporated for as long as it had seven members, regardless of whether the members contributed to the company in any substantial way or whether they were just mere individuals enlisted as part of the company ownership (Sealy, 2010:36). Thus, the relevance of the case Salomon v Salomon & Co Ltd [1897] AC 22 in company law is that it cemented the position of law as the principle reference for which the courts should base their judgments, while placing the opinion and fair judgment of the juries subordinate to the principle of the law. This is considering the fact that judge Vaughan Williams J. of the High Court had applied his opinion in ruling the case Broderip v. Salomon [1985] 2, whereby he opined that as opposed to the application of the legal provisions of Companies Act 1862 in the case, it was a bit more

NWICO An International Debate on Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

NWICO An International Debate on Culture - Essay Example (Kirkpatrick, 2004. p 235 - 240) In this context, it has been held by people from various quarters that the Third World has been widely ignored on many counts that will be discussed through this essay. The West has been criticised for cultural domination in the operating values of the NWICO. This is a fact that comes across in role played by the U.S. when it comes to the creation and reproduction of this worldwide consumer society. This role might have reduced in significance, but there is still a strong American upper hand in the complementary institutions and the content that is transmitted. In terms of assessing the NWICO's stand regarding the third world criticisms of the cultural domination of the west, this essay tries to look at the justifications for such claims. Through a study of various examples from different areas, I will seek to discuss the options available to study and combat the disbursement of unequal information flow in terms of the results it reaps and the events it triggers. This paper will thus aim at an analysis of the conception of the Western strategy that is targeting the third world nations by giving them "false consolation". ... Origin of the Debate The debate revolving around unequal information flow in different corners of the globe first began in the 1970s. This was an overthrow of the demands by the Third World leaders for a New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO). At that time, these people tried to argue their case by stating that the control of major international information channels and sources is held tightly by the West and its media owing to which the rest of the world ends up being showcased along a disadvantageous line. (Reeves, 1993. p 25 to 44) With the concept of "de facto hegemony", the Tunisian Information Minister Mustapha Masmoudi based demands on the claims that West was ignorant of the aspirations and sentiments that shaped the events and trends in the developing world which led to transmission of information regarding any and every events in a way where emphasis was on the West. This resulted in the McBride Commission which laid down that each nation must have a platform to express itself in terms of relevant transmission of its interests, values and events, so as to command equal respect from all quarters. Therefore, it acknowledged the fact that the West and its monopoly over communication, paid attention only to the political instability and economic backwardness of the Third World. (Reeves, 1993. p 56 to 70) In response, Margaret Thatcher and Ronal Reagan led an attack on the possible reforms for international information flow models with the claim that the third world was simply a throw back on the Soviet syndrome. The fall of the Soviet Union led to a death of the debate. Finally in 1996, information ministers of several non-aligned nations were seen