Home School vs. Public School Essay

I prefer home schooling over public schooling; which one do you prefer? There are both pros and cons for both Home Schooling and Public Schooling. I am going to explain this all to you in my essay. I personally was home schooled for a few years during middle and high school. All of elementary school and part of middle school I went to a regular school. My reasoning for choosing to be home schooled is I have Agoraphobia which is an anxiety disorder caused by situations where people perceive the environment as being difficult to escape or get help. As soon as I would walk into a class room I would have a panic attack. One thing I liked about public school was being able to play volleyball. I loved playing it for the little bit of time that I was in middle school. Even though I wasn’t really all that great, So I didn’t play very much. That is one con of being home schooled. You cannot play sports affiliated with any school. A pro for public schooling is you have a group environment to learn in with others to help you. On the other hand with home schooling you are on your own. In home schooling you have less choices of curriculum as you would if you were going to public school. You also have more diversity in public school. When going to public school you have a higher student to teacher ratio, now with home schooling there is a small teacher to student ratio. In home schooling you are free to choose your schedule, as in public school your schedule is strict and chosen for you. Public school chooses the curriculum for you. Unlike in home schooling you can choose your own. There are now roughly millions of children being home schooled. Being home schooled teaches students to be independent in their learning choices. Sometimes home schooling can be more expensive than going to public school. Teachers are not always qualified to teach all subjects, and colleges sometimes have stricter admission policies concerning home schooled students. It is also harder to provide social interaction when being home schooled. Like I had stated before I prefer home schooling but everyone has their own opinions. This is the reason why I have enrolled myself into the University of Phoenix online. So that I can have the flexibility of my classes, this way I can work around my everyday life and not miss out when it comes to spending time with my boys. I hope that the information in my essay was helpful to you.

Managing Change

In any organization change is something which is inevitable therefore it is the responsibility of the manager of any given organization to ensure that the change is managed effectively.   One major mistake managers do make is that most of their times they tend to impose the change in the organization such that every employee has to abide by it.   The point is, we have to understand that change does occur but employees have to be made to go through the change gradually. Basically a change cannot take place at once; it is something which has to come gradually.   Therefore managers should not assume that once a change is started then every employee is to use the common sense to know that the change is either taking place or has taken place. What is important before change is adopted and incorporated in daily operating procedures of an organization is the individual differences in the organization.   This will help managers improve their leadership styles especially in institutions where democracy prevails.   In any business environment the main aim is to maximize the profit and minimization of losses.   If the change is going to bring positive results then it is as good as a rest. Before any restructuring or change take place in an organization, I believe it is good to understand why the change takes place, where it is from and the target group of people it is to affect.   This is because in problem solving situation, the root cause of the problem has to be identified is when possible solutions are identified.   Individual employees operating in the organization has to be made aware of the change and things explained to them more widely. The following are some of its methods followed in individual change process according to Robert Bacal(nd).   Generally there are three phases that are followed for change to take place.   The first phase is the preparation phase which is subdivided into two stages, namely: the contact and awareness stage. The contact stage is the beginning of change process. It is the sensing or predicting that change is either taking place or has taken place.   It is the preliminary state of change process.   The awareness stage is where an individual in an organization become well informed about the change.   The change is being contemplated in this stage.   The second phase of change is the acceptance phase which is also subdivided into understanding stage and positive perception stage. The understanding stage is where the individual is to conceptualize the subject matter that is analysis of the change.   This helps one to understand its nature and why it occurs. It can only take place when a detailed research has taken place.   The positive perception stage then takes place.   This is where an individual is made to view the change positively for it will help the organization improve the results it produces. Results in this case may be products produced by a company or services provided.   For this to happen change has to be given positive judgment and perception. The last phase in change process is commitment phase, which is further subdivided into four stages namely: the installation, adoption, institutionalization and internalization stage.   The installation stage is very important because it deals with the implementation of the change.   Question like how are people made to accept the change is very important.   A change which is not effectively managed will be rejected. So this becomes a crucial stage when it comes to change process.   Installation has to do with ensuring the change works in the organization and all the resources has to be used. After implementation, the change is then adopted. In the adoption stage, change now becomes something that everyone in organization is used to.   Could be its positive effects has been seen or   it might have added some value to the organization therefore   it is worthy.   The third stage in this phase is the stage of institutionalization.   The change is now taken to have a long history and regarded to be useful to the organization. It is viewed as durable, having some value and therefore it is incorporated into the daily operating procedures of the organization.   The change is made official and unanimously accepted in the running of the organization.   The last stage is the internalization where each individual is suppose to be dedicated to change.   This is because the change now becomes something which has been tested, experimented, tried and trusted by the organization. Any change should be made clear to the whole group of employees in a business organization.   This is when the employees will have faith in their leader.   It is believed that team work is the key element for good results to be obtained.   So dealing with individuals in an organization means the leader/ manager is trying to use divide and rule method and this will demoralize employees.   So for spirit of team work to be maintained things must just be done together and discussed. The change in this case must be known to everybody so that they can react to it before implementing it or else some members will not be comfortable with the change.   Piloting should be done before the actual implementation to judge whether it will bring negative or positive impact to the organization.   The feelings and interest of employees must just be considered because they always work as a team. Sources of information also matters a lot in any organization.   For example rumors spreading will confuse and misdirect the employees.   This normally occurs when information is leaked to a click of individuals.   The information should be made official from the top most person preferably the manager.   Otherwise when it comes to large companies, top most managers tend to use mass media such as television and radio system this is because the information is targeting  Ã‚   a large number of people and very much effective when the information is to be passed very fast. In conclusion effects of change will largely depend on how effective the change was implemented and the managers’ ability to ensure that the employees take the change more positively.   Therefore, he has to know the feelings and interests of employees before change take place.   He also needs to explain in time why the change is necessary. Bibliography Luecke R. (2003) Managing Change and Transition.Havard Business School press Gianna M., Enach & Herbert W. (1998) Embracing and Managing Change in Tourism.Routledge:Taylor&Francis Group publishers Peter E. & Amanda C. (1999) Managing Change: Changing the Role of Top Public Servants. Commonwealth Secretariat publishers. Ingham, G. (2000) Managing Change: A Guide to British Economic Policy.Manchester

Crt Monitors and Active and Passive Matrix Displays

CRT MONITORS AND ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MATRIX DISPLAYS The texts â€Å"CRT Monitors† and â€Å"Active and Passive Matrix Displays† gives us the necessary basic knowledge about the types of monitors. Most desktop computer systems sold now by default come with LCD monitors. But if you are one of those who want to know the difference between CRT and LCD monitors, these texts are immense help. To start with, a CRT monitor in general is nothing more than cathode ray tube with millions of diminutive red, green and blue phosphor dots.The working principle of CRT monitor is sustained by the theory of electron beam traveling across the tube to the area of deflection system where the beam is given direction to a specific pixel on the screen. The first CRT monitor has been invented in 1970s. However, monitor was greenish and the only possible sphere of usability was text-based computers. On the other hand, it was just a start. In 1987 when the VGA display system was invented and CRT monitors took a step into the astonishing success and recognition. As years went by, new technology of monitors was invented.These were an active and passive matrix display technology using monitors. First of all, these monitors were different from CRT because of the new thin film transistor technology. It was that kind of technology where particular row was switched on and a charge was generated and sent down the column. As result, the pixel appeared on the monitor at the intersect place of the row and the column. Moreover, it was a revolution in making computers portable. To sum up, it is essential to mention that technologies are not staying fixedly so it is natural that one technique displaces other as time goes by. 285 words

Recruiting and retaining women accountants Essay

Recruiting and retaining women accountants - Essay Example The following background information gives more detail on these issues. The role of women in CPA firms has changed significantly over the last 20 years. The whole new dimension that women have brought into accounting profession was about being more relationship-focused. But even more importantly, leadership roles are often taken by women at CPA firms now. "When I joined BK in 1982, we had no women partners or managers. Now we have five female partners and 21 women managers Clients also are more accepting of women in authority positions" (Burns 2003). Currently the traditional image of the leading man has been shaken with skillful women leaders at CPA companies. The statistics gathered by Stafford Specialized Information Services during its research of Women in Public Accounting 1992-2000 (2000, p. 4) shows that the Big Five auditors more than tripled ranks of women partners since 1992: there was 434 women partners in 1994 and 1,384 of them in 2000. At the same time women's share of partnership in big CPA firms has risen from 4,8% to 11,7% in 1992-2000. Although partnership is not always the most desired goal for every woman in CPA, still it is the most significant achievement for them. As statistics shows, more and more women become oriented towards leadership in CPA. Nowadays public accounting companies have also changed their view of women's role. "In addition to strong technical skills, firms now look very closely at the interpersonal skills of job candidates, too Approximately 50 percent of our entry-level hires are women." (Burns 2003). Meanwhile recruitment and retention still remains to be the most troubling concern for CPA firms. Finding qualified staff and developing future owners of CPA companies was identified as the first item in their top priorities list (The Practicing CPA 2003). Young professional women are now more acceptable with CPA companies than before, mainly due to more flexible scheduling. However, the old issue with work-life balance still remains the most challenging factor for women, who decided to bring career into their life. Studies of the past indicate that there are some positive changes, which is supported with an increasing number of women leaders in CPA firms. The research held in 1990 has revealed that one-third of 721 survey respondents "believe that their accounting work has had some negative affect on their opportunity to marry or on their marriage, while 28% of those who are unmarried believe that their job demands partly explain why they are not married" (Stockard 1990). According to Burns (2003) it is now possible for both men and women to have flexible work schedules and maintain a work-family balance. Nevertheless the problem of balance still remains to be urgent. Extensive travels to client offices, which may mean the accountant is away for several weeks, make it very hard to maintain a work-life balance for managers and partners. That is why women accountants pay attention to such

Morality in Henry Fielding's Tom Jones Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Morality in Henry Fielding's Tom Jones - Essay Example In â€Å"Tom Jones†, the entire story shows that Tom lacked the capacity to show prudence and this led to his constant failures and downfalls. His inability to be prudent made Tom vulnerable to his enemies and the adversaries took advantage of his imprudence to cause harm to him (Hipchen, 17). Tom’s imprudence also gave his antagonists the opportunity to drive away Sophia, his beloved one and chances are that she would have been driven away for eternity. This is despite the fact that Tom possessed some virtues such as generosity, kindness, loyalty, brevity, and good-heartedness. A clear manifestation of the lack of prudence in Tom is shown in the behavior that he displays with women. Notwithstanding the love that he has for Sophia, Tom is often falling into a number of dalliances with women rather taken to be unsavory. The relationships that he involves himself in happens to be hurting Sophia but this does not put an end to his escapades (Hipchen, 16). They are equally counterproductive since their disadvantages far much outweigh the advantages. This potentially makes Tom Jones a character that lacks the much-celebrated virtue of prudence. The imprudence of Tom poses various challenges that Tom and Sophia have to deal with. Temptations are advanced to Tom Jones and he completely fails to resist any of them. Molly Seagrim seduced Tom and although it took him approximately three months to fall for the same, he nevertheless failed in this part (Fielding and Sheridan, 74).

Macroeconomic Analysis of the Indian Economy Assignment

Macroeconomic Analysis of the Indian Economy - Assignment Example 8). Gross domestic product Gross domestic product indicates an economy’s productivity and possible investment advantages from the economy. High gross domestic product shows positive prospects and increasing trend implies a growing economy with investment opportunities and high demand for utilities among its citizens (Dwivedi 2012, p. 55). India’s gross domestic product is relatively high; it has been estimated at about $ 1867 billion and its possible implications on the proposed investment can be explored from its trend. Trend in the country’s economic data for the past eight years identifies an increasing gross domestic product and this shows an increasing productivity level. The economy reported gross domestic product at about $ 834 billion in 2006, a value that increased to about $ 949 billion in the fiscal year ended in 2007, and $ 1238.6 billion in the fiscal year ended 2008. The economy’s gross domestic product recorded $ 1867.4 billion by the year. This trend identifies the economy’s growth potentials and it is therefore suitable for the proposed investment. The increasing trend also means availability of utilities and employment opportunities (Exim Bank 2013, p. 1). Service industry is the most active in the economy followed by the industrial sector. The service industry contributes more than half of the economy’s gross domestic product with the industrial and agricultural sector as the other major contributors. A review of the gross domestic product by sectors over the past eight years further identifies a decline in significance of the agricultural sector to the economy and an increase in significance of the service industry’s significance. Significance of the industrial sector has however been constant. The agricultural sector and its... This paper makes a conclusion that consumer price index is another significant indicator for evaluation. Consumers prices have been gaining stability over the past years and this further ascertain stability in money value. The country’s consumer index is however high and this communicates high living standards besides high ability to spend. Further, the high propensity to spend communicates high local demand for the investment should it be done in India. Foreign direct investment into the economy has been increasing and the trend identifies recognition of the country’s investment potentials by global investors. The macroeconomic indicators therefore identify positive investment prospects with the Indian economy because the indicators have been improving in the past years. The economy’s gross domestic product, exchange rate, current account balance, foreign direct investment, and consumer price index indicate increasing stability. In addition, the country’s political environment, accessibility to the global economy, and its investment oriented fiscal and monetary policies identify its suitability to the company’s proposed investment. Its inflation rate and the low unemployment rate, however, raise concerns of potential economic challenges. Poor technology may further challenge the investment, but technology can be imported. This report therefore recommends the Indian economy for the proposed investments because of the diverse economic advantages that outweighs the possible disadvantages.

Organizational Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Organizational Behaviour - Essay Example The happier an individual is within their job, the more satisfied they are said to be. Job satisfaction is not the same as motivation, although it is clearly linked. Job design aims to enhance job satisfaction and performance, methods include job rotation, job enlargement and job enrichment. Other influences on satisfaction include the management style and culture, employee involvement, empowerment and autonomous work groups. Job satisfaction is a very important attitude which is frequently measured by organisations. The most common way of measurement is the use of rating scales where employees report their reactions to their jobs. Questions relate to rate of pay, work responsibilies, variety of tasks, promotional opportunities the work itself and co-workers. Current paper provides comparatative analysis of five articles about job satisfaction as well as reports research on two additional articles. Basically there are 7 sources that alltogether provide a good overview on the issue. Job satisfaction is in regard to ones feelings or state-of-mind regarding the nature of their work. Job satisfaction can be influenced by a variety of factors, eg, the quality of ones relationship with their supervisor, the quality of the physical environment in which they work, degree of fulfillment in their work, etc. In the articles of Joseph E. Gawel â€Å"Herzbergs theory of motivation and Maslows hierarchy of needs† the author describes two behavioral theories that were long generally believed and embraced by business – the one of Frederick Herzberg and Abraham Maslow. Herzberg, a psychologist, proposed a theory about job factors that motivate employees. Maslow, a behavioral scientist and contemporary of Herzbergs, developed a theory about the rank and satisfaction of various human needs and how people pursue these needs. These theories are widely cited in

Financial Managment IP 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Financial Managment IP 1 - Essay Example The New York Stock Exchange houses many of the largest companies in the United States and trades around 1.5 billion shares each day across the United States and Europe. The companies listed on the stock exchange represent over seventy-five percent of the market share in the nation. Most of the trading is done on the floor of the exchange where specialists and floor traders provide related services. Specialists  are the workers who have the responsibility of matching interested buyers to sellers. Every specialist is responsible for certain shares. These specialists make sure that trading of the stocks and shares they are responsible for occurs in a fair, orderly, competitive, and efficient market. This ensures that all customers will have an equal and fair opportunity to buy shares while the seller receives the best possible price according to the market conditions present at that time. They also work to prevent any large and unjust fluctuations in the prices of the shares between c onsecutive sales. The floor traders are the people present on the floor of the stock exchange waving their hands and making gestures to make trades. These are the members of the NYSE who trade for their own account, however they can serve as floor brokers for buyers and sell their services. Lastly the NYSE uses a SuperDOT system through which the specialists handle orders from brokers that are not on the floor. The system enables brokers to send messages through a common message switch to the proper specialist’s trading-floor workplace. These specialists then handle the buying and selling of the selected shares and as they become available they send an acceptance using the same switch to the originating brokerage firms. The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations uses three separate processes for the buying and selling of shares. These include the interface, the matching engine and the quote services. The interface electronically connects the buyers an d sellers as they enter their trades with the brokers. These trades then come into the NASDAQ system through hundreds of computers. The quote services provides up-to-date minute price quotes through its computers. Brokers then use these quotes for the people they deal with. Lastly the matching engine connects the buyers and sellers when the prices they offer match. Once this is done information is sent to the brokers of the buyer and seller who then complete the transaction. This information can also be seen through the quote services facility by any person interested in the transaction. The process is not as simple as it seems because numerous transactions take place simultaneously, therefore thousands of computers and brokers are needed to complete every transaction. Both the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations sell shares of the companies listed on their exchanges. These organizations use brokers which help in connecting buyers and sellers. There is increase in the use of machines as both organizations have a highly developed computer system which speeds up the trading process and aids the buyer and seller to negotiate. However as the name suggests NASDAQ is run mainly by machines where the interface connects the customers with each other and the matching engine finds suitable trades. On the other hand NYSE is still labour-oriented

Executive summaries of Should Small Businesses Adopt New Accounting Essay

Executive summaries of Should Small Businesses Adopt New Accounting Standards - Essay Example The AICPA financial reporting framework (FRF) revolves around various accounting terms such as debts, credit, risks, profits and losses as well as all assets and liabilities belonging to a business. Bob argues that the current financial reporting framework is an improvement of the previous frameworks. According to him, the improvement is meant to make it easier for SMEs to prepare their financial statements in a much simpler and consistent manner. For instance, with the current reporting framework business A and B can compare their financial statements over the years as they are prepared under specific guidelines as provided by the AICPA. The new financial reporting framework guides the SMEs on preparation of full financial statements. These include the statement of financial position, statement of changes in equity, statement of cash flows and statement of operations. The SMEs are also guided on how to prepare relevant notes that serve as supporting references to the financial statements. AICPA emphasizes on the need of preparing financial statements; for the benefit of the management as well as external users such as bankers and financiers. The purpose of improving on the accounting standards is to ensure that the financial statements of a business capture its economic performance, the economic obligations, resources and equity as well as changes on the same. Bob recommends adaption of this framework as it offers simpler methods of accounting. In an interview with Bob, Patrick notes that the current financial reporting framework is a bit complex for small and medium sized businesses as it entails detailed financial reporting most of which is only necessary for big industries. Bob adds that this is the main reason as to why the financial reporting framework was reviewed. He argues that they had the troubles SMEs go through in compliance with this tiring framework in mind as they redrafted

FedEx Technology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

FedEx Technology - Assignment Example FedEx case study presents a number of logistical problems including tracking goods problem caused by the airline’s reliance on disjointed data, delays in the assortment of goods and packaging, increased operating costs, overworked fast-cycle logistic system as well as a centralized structure for the airline. Tracking goods in is one of the major issues affecting the success of cargo airline because it determines the timely delivery of goods to perspective clients.   Notably, FedEx lacks proper tracking of goods that arrive from various destinations; hence, affecting some of the goods that arrive without the consent of the airline because management efficacy of the flow of goods solely depends on the capability to track goods from the origin to the client. Failure to tack all goods in an effective manner leads to the airline failure to meet the requirements by customer, which is a major logistical problem. Although delayed flights primarily cause sorting process inconsistenci es,   Ã‚  the consequence of increased costs is a logistical problem because FedEx should have a system that ensures delayed flights are sorted in a special isolated warehouse. This   ensures that the delayed arrival flight does not affect the departure, which is done by ensuring that the sorting process is done faster than it would be done by the existing package-sorting system at MEM.   The case study indicates that the fast-cycle logistics push is compressed particularly at night; hence, overworked because of the airlines centralized location, which is a logistical problem because the airline’s structure fails to streamline operations and monitoring costs. A single cargo flight delay consequences are just more than time and can have substantial effect on the cost of business because it contributes to the upward trend on the operating cost. The initial effect on the cost on business will be paying overtime expenses to the pilot and the crew.   The airline deals with time-sensitive cargo; hence, is prone to compensating customers of delayed time-sensitive goods such as horticulture products meant for specific timely occasions.  

Gold as a Hedge against the Devaluation of the Dollar Research Paper

Gold as a Hedge against the Devaluation of the Dollar - Research Paper Example For example, the price of gold had been remained the same for about two hundred years after when Sir Isaac Newton had set the gold price at L3, 17s. 10d. per troy ounce in 1717. The gold prices have been raised to extreme levels after 1973. The gold rate in 1973 was $97.39 which was average price, and it rose to $444.74 in 2005, which has now become $1224.53 at the end of 2010. The calculation of five-year annualized rate of return on gold as an investment alternative has been given below. The gold rates have been taken for year 2005 and 2010, which are $444.74 and $1224.53 respectively. The formula for computing the rate of return of gold is as follows: 100*(second price/ first price) ^ (1/ (second year – first year))-100 Putting the values for second price ($1224.53), first year ($444.74), second year (2010), and first year (2005), we will get the rate of return on gold as an investment alternative for the period of 2005-2010 as follows: 100*(1224.53/444.74) ^ (1/(2010-2005) )-100 = 22.4539074 From the result we have got, we can get the rate of return on gold as an alternative investment, which is in this case is 46%. Relationship between gold and USD value: This section will provide the necessary details about the relation between the gold and USD value in both the domestic as well as in the international economy. Some of the key factors will also be presented that affect key changes into the value of USD. Firstly, we will be talking about some of the factors affecting the US economy on the domestic economy. The domestic economy actually tends to affect the exchange rates of a country. The apparent position of the US economy in the economic cycle is one example, in which we experience a boom, bust, and then expansion or contradiction. Factors such as economic growth, inflation and economic outlook actually highlight the economic condition and health of the country. The level of interest rates will be influenced depending upon the economy’s posit ion in the economic cycle, e.g. the economic cycle’s booming phase will experience the interest rates to be increasing despite the slow demand. The possibility of the occurrence of the inflation is also reduced. The monetary policy of the US is quite similar to that of Australia in terms of interest rates rising to lower down the pressures from the inflation or monetary demand. On the other hand, an increase or a decrease in the interest rates in the US causes the demand or supply of the currency to increase or decrease. ‘Debt levels’ is considered to be the major problem with the US economy. The USA is still facing the severe debt crisis as it owes to the other countries trillions of dollars. This has the effect of pressurizing the economy of the US. Another alarming factor is that the US financial institutions pay more interests to their lenders than the one they receive from their borrowers. The difference in the two countries’ interest rates really aff ects the demand of the foreign currencies. In simple terms a country will only invest into another country if the former is getting a good return from the latter on the investments. The most suitable example for this event is the higher interest rates in Australia in 2009 and the US interest rates were lower. Hence the investors moved to Australia instead of US. The overall effect of that was the upward pressure imposed on Australian dollar and a downward on US dollar. Now about the gold

Memory Keepers Daughter Literary Analysis Essay Example for Free

Memory Keepers Daughter Literary Analysis Essay Kim Edwards shows through the whole book that we are only human, the themes that life is beyond our control and through the connection between suffering and joy. Edwards uses plot to set up a sort of life schedule. It goes in order into the future but occasionally skips years ahead. She also cleverly sets the book up so that each year, or â€Å"chapter† has both sides of the story, that of Caroline who is raising Phoebe and then the life of Norah and David raising their son Paul. As the book starts off it is that of a happy tone with Norah giving birth and then leading to a depressing and melancholy tone as Dr. Henry lies to his wife telling her that their daughter has died, to save her from the pain of their daughter having down syndrome. Norah gains more and more depression as the years go on, always wondering â€Å"what if†. With all the depression going on in the story line of Norah there is a gain of strength in Carolines story line as she raises Phoebe. This shows the theme of suffering and joy. The idea that even though the character is suffering they are the one with the most joy. Norah Henry has it all: the doctor husband, money and a healthy son but still wants what she never had; her daughter. Caroline has struggled with at first the decision to keep Phoebe and raise her as her own, then struggling with actually raising this baby girl with down syndrome alone and with no one, but she is joyful in the book never having the depression that plagues Norah and her marriage with David Henry. When Caroline finally sees David 18 years later, she says: You missed a lot of heartache, sure. But David, you missed a lot of joy. In the theme that life is beyond our control the author Kim Edwards has the book move through the years rapidly and at a fast pace in order to demonstrate how life flys by. Throughout the book Edwards uses photography as a metaphor showing the character Davids growing obsession with taking photographs as a desperate attempt to make time stand still: Photo after photo, as if he could stop time or make an image powerful nough to obscure the moment when he turned and handed his daughter to Caroline Gill. Life may also feel as it is out of their control with there being a constant aura of uncertainty or â€Å"what if† quality. That being said, the characters in the end will always wonder what life would have been like if David had never given his daughter away, but find it exhausting to wonder once they are brought together in the end after the death of David. As Paul reflects at the end of the novel: His mother was right; he could never know what might have happened. All he had were the facts. Life was also seeming to be out of anyones control with the struggle of the melancholy tone through the novel with Norah becoming more and more depressed becoming that of a drinker in Pauls young life and then being so unhappy with her marriage with David for him being so distant that she has an affair with a man while she is on a trip to Aruba with her job. Even with the tone the author seems to have it progress in a rapid fashion just as the years fly by in the story line. Life is inevitable, people make mistakes, and the mistakes people make have great impact and effect not only them, but the people around them; just as David Henrys mistake haunted his life and tormented that of his wifes. In day to day life there are always the people that make mistakes with good intentions. The authors point wasnt to completely make David the antagonist in the story but yet he was that one person whos mistake was made with half hearted good intentions, he wanted to spare his doting wife the pain of having to raise one child with down syndrome, he didnt want her to think that it was her fault in anyway. David just wanted the problem to go away not fully realizing that the problem wasnt his daughter it was him having to deal with his own past. David Henrys sister died at the young age of twelve and she had down syndrome as well, it is really sad that this character couldnt deal with his own past so much that he ruined his present and his future. He knew the pain that his sister having down syndrome had left on him and her death that not only was he trying to spare his wife the pain of having a daughter with down syndrome but yet the author was trying to convey to the reader that he also did it to protect his son from it as well. Norah becomes the character you feel bad for not a protagonist but yet just that good character whos life unfolding before her is the result of decisions from those around her. She is constantly depressed from thinking she lost her daughter, then she is also gaining more and more eternal sadness with her husband not letting her gain any sort of closure with this or even to simply tell her the truth of his actions and what he had done. The relationship between Norah and David grows further and further apart with him setting himself more distant from her as time goes on due to his guilty conscious eating away at him. Then on a happy note you have Caroline, she turned her whole life around for the life choices of David and that of herself. She raises Phoebe alone at first always fighting for more advanced learning abilities for down syndrome, she gains a man in her life named Al who helped her in the very beginning get to shelter when she had decided to keep the baby but then her car wont start in the middle of a blizzard, he becomes her knight in shining armor. Al becomes a big character having sought out Caroline after years and years of that first encounter with her and stays in her life loving and caring for both her and Phoebe, he becomes the father figure Phoebe never got to have. Kim Edwards set up all the right kind of characters for this plot and in every right way to develop the novel. In the end the themes of life being out of our control and the connection between suffering and joy are evident throughout the story. Kim Edwards used immense characterization that helped to develop those following themes with having the right selection of types of characters. The plot definitely has to do with developing the story, for it ties in with the life is out of our control theme having time go by so rapidly demonstrating that life is always constant and never stopping or standing still like a photograph for anyone or anything. Photos represent memories in life, David became enthralled with taking photographs in an effort to make time stop, maybe capture the memory he had when he made the decision to give his daughter away. The metaphor of David and his taking pictures ties into the Title â€Å"the memory keepers daughter† for he was the memory keeper, the keeper of the biggest life secret and lie. Kim Edwards made everything tie together with literary elements of metaphor, characterization, and Plot.

Human Trafficking And Sexual Exploitation Criminology Essay

Human Trafficking And Sexual Exploitation Criminology Essay When I was in Holland in August 1999, I was curious to see Amsterdams Red Light District for myself. Then it was the only place I knew in the world where prostitution was legal and have heard that women pose in window inviting customers in. I was with a friend and she started taking pictures of the women in the windows. When my friend took another picture when we were in the middle of the walkway, a prostitute came from behind her window, descendent on us furiously, grabbed the camera and violently removed the film from the camera. We were stunned, apologised profusely and hurriedly tried to make our way. A man came from somewhere and explained that taking pictures were prohibited. At that time I, like most people, have not heard about human trafficking. The issue of human trafficking has received considerable attention in the last ten years from researchers, non-governmental organisations, governments and international bodies the world over. Like most countries, South Africa too is a signatory to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (generally referred to as the Palermo Protocol). We formally consented to the Palermo Protocol in December 2003. Thus, as a nation we are obligated to ensure that our internal laws address the issue of human trafficking. Human trafficking has been called a heinous, monstrous,  [1]  crime against humanity  [2]  . It has also been coined modern-day slavery. Human trafficking can take the form of sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, slavery, illegal adoptions, removal of organs and other body parts, for conveying drugs nationally and internationally. However, as much as the issue has been discussed and debated, it has contributed to the hype surrounding FIFA World Cup 2010 and how human trafficking for sexual exploitative purposes will increase [even though there is no research to draw from] during the soccer world cup. This led to discussions and public outcry on whether or not to legalise prostitution; and whether South Africa need a specific legislation dealing with human trafficking. When I wrote my proposal, I considered several key focus areas. It soon became apparent that due to limitations such as time and length of paper, that I needed to reduce the key focus areas. Consequently I have decided for this paper, to focus on definition of trafficking the causes of trafficking explore prostitution and whether or not it should be legalised explore legislative developments pertaining to trafficking protective measures available to victims of trafficking. Research Methodology The research methodology consisted majorly of in-depth desktop research on trafficking of adults, and not people under the age of 18 years, for purposes of sexual exploitation. Much has been written about human trafficking, but it is still difficult to find reliable studies thereof. Some of these factors include deficiencies in methodology; defining trafficking; high levels of mobility; and the underground nature of trafficking; links to organised crime; victims fears and unwillingness to participate in research; and potential dangers to researchers.  [3]   Gould and Fick wrote that they failed to find a single prostitute who said she was being forced by unscrupulous pimps to sell sex against her will.  [4]  This does not mean that there are no victims of sex trafficking in and around Cape Town. I thought I could draw on an article written by Immelback Interviewing a Victim of Human Trafficking.  [5]  Upon closer look I realised that she did not interview a victim of human trafficking, but interviewed the Victim Assistance team who works with victims of trafficking. As it is difficult  [6]  to set up interviews with victims of sex trafficking due to a host of reasons, including personal, I abandoned interviewing them for this paper due to my limitations. I decided to instead research movies and or documentaries that depict human trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation. I will reflect on one of such movies, namely the movie Taken where Liam Neeson plays the role of a concerned and heroic father, whose daughter and friend have been trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation, and he lengths he went to rescue them. Throughout the paper I will try to avoid preferring to victims in the feminine form, even if the majority of the persons who victims of sex trafficking are women. This is to prevent sexism in my writing.  [7]   A Review Of The Literature Defining Human Trafficking One of most debated issues of human trafficking is the definition of human trafficking. Article 3 of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Procol) defines trafficking as: trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include at a minimum the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour of services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs; the consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth in subparagraph (a) of this Article shall be irrelevant where any of the means set out in paragraph (a) have been used; Most countries have taken the definition verbatim when they drafted their anti-trafficking laws. Kara  [8]  undertook several research trips to investigate human trafficking on four continents. He questions whether the definition is subparagraph 3(a) includes exploitation.  [9]  He opines that the wording only speaks to the movement portion of the chain, which explains why anti-trafficking law focus on movement more than exploitation  [10]  . He argues that trafficking is not about movement, it is about slavery.  [11]  He writes that current anti-trafficking efforts primary seek to crack down on modern-day slave traders, resulting in little more than adjustments in routes, larger bribes to border guards, and the procurement of false travel documents.  [12]  He suggests that a much clearer understanding of sex trafficking is required- wherein the movement and the purpose of the movement are disaggregated as criminal acts- to achieve greater abolitionist effectivene ss.  [13]  He suggests two definitions which could be used to eradicate sex trafficking, namely Slave trading- process of acquiring, recruiting, harbouring, receiving, or transporting an individual, through any means and for any distance, into a condition of slavery or slave-like exploitation.  [14]   Slavery- process of coercing labour or other services from a captive individual, through any means, including exploitation of bodies or body parts. He argues breaking the definition into different parts should be effective when formulating efforts to combat the crime of sex trafficking, and that confusion over what trafficking is results in blunted purpose, diffracted focus and exclusion of important components of trafficking-related crimes.  [15]   The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Tsireledzani 2010 report dealt with the problems of trafficking. They have expanded the definition of trafficking to include trafficking within national borders; forced marriages; child labour; impregnation of a female against her will for the purposes of selling her child when born; and trafficking of body parts.  [16]   In South Africa Gould and Fick created a stir with their controversial research on sex trafficking in Cape Town. They argue that the definition is too broad  [17]  and that there seem to no agreement on what could be considered as exploitation  [18]  . Another criticism of the definition by Gould and Fick is the issue of consent of the victim being irrelevant.  [19]  They opine that by ignoring the fact that the victim consented to be trafficked, is to ignore the specific needs of the victim, especially the victim who do not wish to return home to the same circumstances that led the victim to be trafficked in the first place.  [20]  Gould and Fick conclude that critiques would suggest that the term trafficking may not be a useful lens through which to consider issues of exploitation and abuse in the sex work industry.  [21]   Sex trafficking and prostitution are often perceived as two sides of the same coin. However, it is not. It is important to differentiate between sex trafficking and prostitution. With sex trafficking the person is being exploited to perform sex work; the person is not directly paid, but money might be sent to the victims family; the person is compelled to do the sex work; the person is not in a position to stop working unless the person escape; the person does not have autonomy of movement- it is restricted; the person is not able to negotiate a rate, fee, hours; the person is not able to negotiate the sexual acts; the person is not able to negotiate safe sexual practices; With prostitution, however, the sex worker is paid directly (if the person is based at a brothel, money might be paid either to person self or the person managing the brothel); can decide to stop whenever; choose to do the sex work due personal circumstances; can negotiate sexual acts; can negotiate safe sexual practices; can negotiate the rate, fee and hours; is able to enjoy freedom of movement; can still enjoy life as a person (fall in love, have babies, etc) Why does sex trafficking occur? The root causes of trafficking are complex, the vulnerability resulting from poverty is a major contributor.  [22]  The HSRC list pull factors such as economic inequality, conflicts, adoption trade, the use of organs or body parts in rituals.  [23]  They list poverty and deprivation, persistent unemployment, gender discrimination, lack of information and education, harmful socio-cultural practices and lack of legislative and policy protection as push factors.  [24]  They also cite issues such as disempowerment, social exclusion, and economic vulnerability- the result of policies and practices- marginalise entire groups of people, rendering them vulnerable to being trafficked.  [25]   The general perception is that only men are traffickers. Women are also involved in human trafficking, not only as victims, but also as traffickers.  [26]  It has been found that traffickers are also women, as mainly Mozambican women in partnership with their compatriots and South African men who transport trafficked victims from Maputo to Johannesburg or Durban.  [27]  Victims trafficked to Europe are recruited by Malawian businesswomen.  [28]   Kara argues that sex trafficking occurs because it is a lucrative business.  [29]  He equates sex trafficking with drug trafficking.  [30]  He states that drug trafficking generate greater dollar revenues, but [sex] trafficking is more profitable.  [31]  Unlike a drug, a [human] does not have to be grown, cultivated, distilled, or packaged.  [32]  Unlike a drug, a [human] can be used by the customer again and again.  [33]  34It generates profits through the vulgar and wanton destruction of lives.  [35]   Kara describes several five ways how sex slaves are acquired, namely deceit, sale by family, abduction, seduction or romance, or recruitment by former sex slaves.  [36]  Each of these ways will be briefly illustrated below. Deceit Deceit involves false job offers, travel, or other income-generating opportunity, false marriage offers (mail order brides).  [37]  He opine that in countries where marriage is the only way for a female to secure social acceptance, basic rights, and avoid a lifetime of persecution, false marriage offers are effective ways to acquire sex slaves.  [38]  People living in refugee camps are very susceptible to sex trafficking as they are often not allowed to leave the camp to seek employment.  [39]  Traffickers visiting refugee camps with job offers are usually very successful in getting people.  [40]   Sale by or involvement of family members I first encountered family involvement when I read a news article.  [41]  The article said that police had rescued a seventeen year old teenage girl from Klerksdorp from a brothel in Table View.  [42]  It alleged that the mother of the teenager knew the brothel owner and have promised her daughter that she will be working as a child minder.  [43]  Did the mother knew that her daughter will be expected to do sex work? Poverty, desperation and displacement lead many families to sell a family member into slavery, and that they seldom are sold for greed.  [44]  Parents are often forced by poverty and ignorance to enlist their children, hoping to benefit from their wages and sustain the deteriorating family economic situation.  [45]   Abduction People are rarely abducted into sex trafficking, because it is difficult to transport person without drawing attention. People are also abducted in and from conflict zones and forced to serve as sex slaves to rebel commanders or are sold as slaves.  [46]   Kara says that not only is the abducted victim unwilling to travel, but also will to escape at any opportunity.  [47]  If a person is abducted into sex trafficking, the person is usually also drugged to facilitate easier movement. Seduction or Romance Victims are also lured into trafficking by promises of love and marriage. Traffickers would find attractive and vulnerable people (more often girls), offering them love and marriage, treating them to expensive gifts, seducing them to migrate to a rich country where they can build a life together.  [48]  Once the victim reaches the other country, they are forced into sexual slavery.  [49]   Recruitment by former slaves This too might be difficult to comprehend, but people are also recruited by other victims of trafficking.  [50]  Sex slaves employ adaptive mechanisms to survive their ordeals, including drug and alcohol abuse and the morose acceptance that their fate.  [51]  In East Africa, Ugandan women working as prostitutes in the Gulf States lure young girls from their country because they are usually preferred by male clients.  [52]   Lastly, Kara controversially opines that the United States is more responsible than any other nation for the inimical accretion in human exploitation, trafficking, slavery since the fall of the Berlin Wall. He notes that through the International Monetary Fund and other institutions, the US government rapidly imposed its particular brand of unfettered market economics upon the developing world, unleashing catastrophic increases in poverty, social upheaval, mass migration and lawlessness.  [53]   Should sex work be legalised? When dealing with the issue of sexual exploitation, the question is often raised whether or not to legalised or to decriminalise prostitution. Kara too addresses this in his research. He writes that the argument that prostitution be legalised rests on the premise that women have a right to control their bodies.  [54]  He indicates that legalisation would mean that prostitutes could enjoy the same benefits that other occupations do.  [55]  Legalisation would also allow for state monitoring to ensure that prostitutes were less subject to violence and exploitation and that it would make it more difficult to traffic people for sexual exploitation because victims would have rights under the law, and that criminalising prostitution leads to increased victimisation of trafficking victims.  [56]  Those who are against legalising prostitution argue that purchasing sex and operating sex establishments should be criminalised because prostitution can never be a choice and that the pr ofession is inherently based on a system of male sexual dominance, appropriating the female body for pleasure and reinforcing the subordination and sexual objectification of women.  [57]  He further writes that legalisation gives protection to brothel owners to purchase trafficking victims and inflict greater exploitation behind closed, but legal doors.  [58]  He writes that only governments, organized crime, and pimps benefit from legalisation and women and children suffer state-sanctioned rape and slavery.  [59]  He does not elaborate on how governments benefit from legalising prostitution. Kara investigated two countries, the Netherlands and Sweden legislation regarding prostitution. The Netherlands have legalised prostitution and Sweden has criminalised it. Even though prostitution was legal in Amsterdam, brothels were not until October 2000, when the ban was lifted to enable the Dutch government to exercise more control over the sex industry and counter abuses.  [60]  Brothel owners are issued licences if they are in compliance with certain standards, including panic buttons in work areas, hot and cold running water, and free condoms.  [61]   National Legislative framework Since South Africa signed and ratified the Palermo Protocol, we had to ensure that we enact legislation in accordance. The US Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons 2010 report ranked South Africa as Tier 2. This means that our government do not fully with the Trafficking Victims Protection Acts (TPVA) minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring us into compliance with those standards. Currently our anti-trafficking law is in draft stage, and it is not known if and when the bill will become law. It has been stated that we have several laws that deals with aspects of human trafficking, inter alia the Childrens Act 38 of 2005 (Chapter 18- sections 281 to 291); Films and Publications Board 65 of 1996; Human Tissues Act 65 of 1983; The Corruption Act 94 of 1992; Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998; Infringement of Immigration Act 13 of 1996; Refugee Act 130 of 1998; and Extradition Act 67 of 1962. I will discuss these legislative provisions contained in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act  [62]  as well as the Prevention and Combating Trafficking in Persons bill (2009). The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act The Sexual Offences Act (SOA) can be used in the interim to charge and prosecute traffickers and victims of trafficking. Section 70 and 71 of the SOA are transitional provisions relating to trafficking. Section 70 deals with application and interpretation and section 71 deals with trafficking in persons for sexual purposes. Section 70 states that 70(b) trafficking includes the supply, recruitment, procurement, capture, removal. Transportation, transfer, harbouring, sale, disposal, or receiving of a person, within or across the borders of the Republic, by means of a threat of harm; the threat or use of force, intimidation or other forms of coercion; abduction; fraud; deception or false pretences; the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, to the extent that the complainant is inhibited from indicating his or her unwillingness or resistance to being trafficked, or unwillingness to participate in such an act; or the giving or receiving of payments, compensation, rewards, benefits or any other advantages for the purpose of any form or manner of exploitation, grooming or abuse of a sexual nature of such person, including the commission of any sexual offence or any offence of a sexual nature in any other law against such person, whether committed in or outside the borders of the Republic, and trafficks and trafficked have a corresponding meaning. Section 71 reads 71(1) Any person (A) who trafficks any person (B) without consent of B, is guilty of the offence of trafficking in persons for sexual purposes. 71(2) A person who- orders, commands, organises, supervises, controls or directs trafficking performs any act which is aimed at committing, causing, bringing about, encouraging, promoting, contributing towards or participating in trafficking or incites, instigates, commands, aids, advises, recruits, encourages or procures any other person to commit, cause, bring about, promote, perform, contribute towards or participates in trafficking, is guilty of an offence of involvement in trafficking in persons for sexual purposes. 71(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), consent means voluntary or uncoerced agreement. The SOA elaborates further on the circumstances. It states that 71(4) Circumstances in which B does not voluntarily or without coercion agree to being trafficked, as contemplated in subsection (3), include, but are not limited to, the following where B submits or is subjected to such an act as a result of any one or more of the means or circumstances contemplated in subparagraphs (i) to (vii) of the definition of trafficking having been used or being present; or where B is incapable in law of appreciating the nature of the act, including where B is, at the time of the commission of such act- asleep; unconscious; in an altered state of consciousness, including under the influence of any medicine, drug, alcohol or other substance, to the extent that Bs consciousness or judgement is adversely affected. 71(5) Any person who has been trafficked is not liable to stand trial for any criminal offence, including any migration-related offence, which was committed as a direct result of being trafficked. Any act of trafficking which is not included in sections 70 and 71 of the SOA, such as kidnapping, assault (common, and assault GBH), extortion, slavery, attempted murder, and murder have to be prosecuted under general statutory or common law offences.  [63]   Malachi v Cape Dance Academy International Pty Ltd Others In a recent reportable case of Tatiana Malachi v Cape Dance Academy Others  [64]  , even though the legal question did not deal with human trafficking, I think that it was a case of human trafficking. The facts are cited as follows. Applicant is a citizen of the Republic of Moldova. She was employed as an exotic dancer at a nightclub managed by the first respondent (Cape Dance Academy International PTY LTD) and second respondent (House of Rasputin Properties PTY LTD). On her arrival in South Africa during March 2009, applicant handed her passport to the owner of Rasputin. Applicant was initially informed that her passport would be kept for 30 days in order to have it registered at the Police station. Second respondent subsequently kept applicants passport during the entire period of her employment. The owner of second respondent informed applicant that he would not return her passport unless the applicant paid him $2000 for her air ticket and R20 000 as a levy. The applicant was unable to pay either of these amounts, as she was not earning sufficient income during her employment with second respondent. The applicant was to remain in custody pending the return date, which was to be 30 July 2009. If the applicant furnished adequate and satisfactory security for the total claim of R100 000 plus interest and costs, the applicant would be released from custody and the order for arrest discharged. The applicant had no assets of any tangible value in South Africa and therefore was unable to furnish adequate and satisfactory security. By agreement between the parties, the first and second respondents secured the discharge of the arrest warrant by the third respondent and the applicant was released from the custody on 24 July 2009. Applicant sought and received the assistance of the Consul General of Russia to facilitate her return to her home country Moldova. Prior to her departure from South Africa on 9 July 2009, applicant was arrested and taken into custody at Pollsmoor Prison. The arrest was made pursuant to a court order issued by the third respondent ex parte on 9 July 2009 and warrant of arrest tanquam suspectus de fuga. If we interpreted sections 70 and 71 as is, based on the facts of this case, Ms Malachi arrived in March 2009 and employed as an exotic dancer. It not evident from the facts how she got to be employed as an erotic dancer. Lets for

Lead Poisoning In Children Health And Social Care Essay

Lead Poisoning In Children Health And Social Care Essay In 1988, the Agency for Toxic substances and Disease Registry released a report on lead poisoning giving health partners and stakeholders an overview of the adverse health effects of lead poisoning in children 6 months to 5 years of age. They found that about 2.4 million children nationwide (excluding other racial categories) living in metropolitan areas were at risk of lead exposure health effects using a blood-lead level of a maximum 15ug/dl acceptable standard. Higher blood-lead threshold levels were found in black children living in inner-cities as well as children from low income families. Another report in 1990 released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) saw varying differences in lead exposure in children ranging from racial, economic (Perkins, 1992) and residential location. Based on this study, lead exposures were found to be higher in states of the Midwest (Wisconsin) and Northeast where most of the housing were very old. This doesnt mean states with larger amounts of relatively new housing dont suffer from lead exposure as found in Las Vegas where despite increase in new buildings, over 12,000 children making up 28% of the entire population has blood-lead levels exceeding 10ug/dl. Among the states of the Mid West of the USA, Wisconsin stands out as one that has over the years being at high risk of lead exposure. In a study carried out in 2006 by the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (WCLPPP), lead exposure prevalence within the state stood at 2.6% in children tested under the age of 2 years. This was twice the national prevalence which stands at 1.4%. Lead exposure in children has been a major public health concern for over a century now. According to the CDC Surveillance Data of 1997-2006, the number of children being poisoned by lead in Wisconsin was greater than in other states, leading to serious health hazards with high financial burden to families especially low income families. In 2010, over 735 new cases of children w ith blood lead levels à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥10ug/dl were identified. In that same year the prevalence of lead poisoning in children tested in Milwaukee with blood lead levels à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥10 µg/dL stood at 3.4% which is 2.4 times the national average of 1.4%. Source: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Division of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health; April 201 In the state of Wisconsin the prà ©cised number of children at risk of lead poisoning still remains unknown but in compliance with the Chapter 151 of Wisconsin statutes which requires that every physician reports any conformed or suspected cases of blood-lead poisoning, over 3265 children with blood lead concentrations of over 20ug/dl were reported to the Wisconsin Department of health between the periods of July 1992 to June 1993 (Schirmer, 1993). Based on the national estimate of 17% of blood lead poisoning, the Wisconsin Division of Health estimated that over 36000 children within the state were at high risk of lead poisoning (Schirmer, 1993). According to the Title XIX program also known as the HealthCheck program which makes blood-lead screening mandatory for all children between the ages of 2-6years (Hoffman, 1993), in 1992, , over 12,435 children were screened for blood lead poisoning based on the HealthCheck under the Wisconsin Medicaid program and of this number 2644 of the m had blood-lead levels à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥ 10ug/dl (Department of Health and Social Services, 1992). In 2006, 5% of enrolled children in Wisconsin public schools had at least a blood lead concentration above the normal value. In two separate studies carried out in 2000 and 2007, their resulting data showed that childhood lead poisoning accounted for about 88% of violent crime rates in the USA over several decades as could be seen in the rate of school disciplinary problems resulting to an increase in school dropouts, juvenile delinquency and even adult criminality. In the fall of 2006, it was estimated that one in every 20 children between the ages of one and two years who entered the Wisconsin school system had lead poisoning and below a third of these children who are at high risk of lead exposure have been screened for lead in their blood (WI DHS; 2008). Most of the children identified in Wisconsin to be at risk of lead poison accounting for over 90% lived in very old homes that were built before the 1950s. Lead poisoning is not just a serious problem here in the Milwaukee County but its a major problem in all the 72 counties statewide affecting children primarily. In a study carried out in 2006, it was estimated that over 75% of children known to be poisoned with lead lived in 266 out of all 1330 high risk census tracts in Wisconsin with over 200,000 homes built before 1950. Blood lead levels equal to or greater than 10micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dl) is regarded as a call for concern as set by the center for Disease Control (CDC) in 1991 (CDC, 1991) and in 2007, the CDC reaffirmed this level (CDC, 2007). These findings made law makers to look deeper into the issue of lead poisoning as a major cause of unusual societal behaviors (Nevin 2000; 2007). Based on this blood lead level, Wisconsin children with these levels are considered to be lead poisoned and this blood lead concentration has been used for surveillance purposes to help identify, treat and manage new cases (Wis. Stats 245.11 CDC Blood Lead Surveillance Data, 1997 2006). Sources of childhood lead poisoning Most of the routes of lead poisoning in children include inhalation, ingestion of soil (Harrison et al., 1981) or household dust and drinking water (Harrison et al., 1991) that has been contaminated with lead from old paintings flakes which occurs during when old houses are being renovated or through lead paint coated surfaces found in the kitchen, bathroom walls and windows of homes that were built before 1950. Most of these lead particles are extremely small and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Since its ban in 1978 in the USA, it has still been used to coat walls, frames of windows, doors, floors and ceilings of old homes and toddlers and other children are at risk of ingesting these surface fall offs reason why the CDC recommended lead testing and required by the federal Medicaid policy in children under 6 years (CDC, 2000). Lead poisoning within the state is a complex combination of the poverty, and low socio economic status of most families coupled with the old housing puttin g children at risk. However, other sources of lead exposure have been found in some consumer products which may pose a health risk to children and adults alike. They include toys, lunch boxes, and jewelries for kids, ceramics, candies as well as products made in China and Mexico. The state recommends that people stop buying these products, dispose of them or return them for a refund if bought. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention through the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled a list of these items with unsafe levels of lead some of which include toys, candies such as SINDOOR a coloring food product was recalled by the Food and Drug administration (FDA) 2007 after a series of test were conducted by the Illinois Department of Public Health found this product to have over 87% of lead. Lead poisoning and its Adverse Health effects Lead, is a naturally occurring element on earth whose chemical properties allow for its use in building construction. Its use dates back to about 3500BC (Needleman, 1990) when Romans started using it to make lead pipes and storage containers. It has been extensively used in many products such as paint, gasoline, and ceramic. Even though adults can suffer from lead poisoning it is much more severe in children. Despite the fact that its preventable its health impact is severe ranging from behavioral defects, delay in speech, hearing problems, poor performance at school, increased juvenile delinquency and in severe cases death. There is really no safe level of lead in our bodies as even very smaller amounts below the Wisconsin blood lead concentration could cause serious long term health effects such as a brain damage (Mendelson et al, 1998). Other strange behaviors exhibited by lead poisoned children include aggression and the tendency to become over active (Nevin 2000). Other studies have shown that lead exposure in children may cause kidney disease when they reach adulthood, diabetes and even memory loss as seen in Alzheimers disease and severe cases stroke and heart attack (Needleman 1990). It affects especially their brains and the central nervous system since both systems are still forming and low exposure could result in reduced IQ learning disabilities, stunted growth (Brubaker et al., 2009). Studies have shown that blood lead concentrations as low as 70ug/dl and as high as 100ug/dl can lead to encephalopathy in children which is linked to anorexia, decreased in activity, poor coordination, vomiting and aggressiveness and rapidly progresses to death (CDC 1991) Structure of Wisconsins Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs The Wisconsin Department of Health services (DHS) is in charge of all health programs and services that are geared towards promoting the protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin. They carry out functions like assessment, policy development and advocacy. Of these programs is the WIC program which is a federally funded program under the child and youth services of the DHS. This program provides special supplemental nutrition to women, Infants and Children (WIC) in other to promote and maintain the health and wellbeing of pregnant women, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children. Children eligible for this program must be infants of up to a year or a child up to age 5 and whose parents are Wisconsin residents, be income eligible and have a health or nutrition needs. In the state of Wisconsin, children are required to be tested twice for lead in blood with the first testing taking place between 6-16 months of age and the second testing betw een 17-28 months. However within the DHS is the Wisconsin Division of Public health (DPH) which addresses three major lead hazard control programs namely the Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program, Asbestos and Lead Certification Unit and Wisconsin Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. The ABLES program focus on monitoring laboratory based lead levels in blood of adults most due to occupational exposure while the Asbestos and Lead Unit program provides accreditation and certification programs for the Wisconsin DHS under the Chapter 254 Wisconsin statue provision as well as standard guidelines required for abatement activities within the state. There is also the Wisconsin Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (WHHCLPPP) which makes possible resources such as technical, financial and consultations to help stakeholders completely eliminate and treat childhood lead poisoning Funding for Lead poisoning control programs Increased pressure from the Wisconsin public lead to the creation of a federal law called the Title X Residential Lead-based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 with focus on the federal government taking a major role in lead poisoning prevention. This law requires that all housing programs have lead safety addressed in them. It also calls for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set up guidelines for lead safety to be executed by a well trained workforce and lastly it calls for all owners of private property to provide basic information with any possibilities of lead exposure hazards to home buyers or new tenants. It was not until 1991 when the CDC started funding lead poisoning preventions programs within the state of Wisconsin such as blood lead testing, managing serious cases as well as raising programs aimed at educating the public on the issue. This led to increase testing of Wisconsin children for lead poisoning with many new cases being identified an indication that ma ny local health department within the state lacked sufficient resources to facilitate follow-ups of lead poisoned cases or identify potential lead hazards in homes. These concerns and pressure from parents and other NGOs such as the March of Dimes and the Council of Developmental Disabilities pushed the Wisconsin State Legislature to implement state laws by providing more resources to help facilitate the work of the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) and other local health departments to effectively response to lead poisoning prevention programs and develop a good reporting system for blood lead test results in children. This saw an increase in funding for local health departments from zero dollars to $1.2 million each year which subsequently decreased to $879,100 because of certain cuts in the state budget. Wisconsin was amongst the 12 grantees in 1994 to receive a housing grant of $6 million to help fund projects aimed at fixing lead hazards such as eliminating dust c ontaining lead in old homes and screening children living in these homes. The project was a huge success as lead dust levels greatly reduced in homes and since then many cities within the state namely Milwaukee, Kenosha and Sheboygan have submitted grant proposals and received competitive grant funds aimed at control lead hazards programs in high risk homes. In February of 2011, the city of Milwaukee received a $4.5 million grants from the U.S department of Housing and Urban Development to help fund a program aimed at controlling lead hazards in two areas namely the citys North and South sides known to have a very high rate of childhood poisoning within the city covering over 900 city homes. The prevalence of lead poisoning in these areas peaked 7.1% causing a serious alarm to public health officials. In a press release on January 2011, the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded over $127 million to some 48 projects nationally which focused on improving quality of lead paint based low income homes that served as a health hazard to its occupants. This grant would help clean up lead paint based hazards in over 11000 homes, increase public awareness on the issue as well as train more personnel in lead safety practices. The following is a breakdown of the grants Grant Program Funding Awarded Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program $66,600,000 Healthy Homes Initiative funding $2,300,000 Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program $48,000,000 Healthy Homes Production Grant Program $10,000,000 TOTAL $126,900,000 Wisconsin City of Milwaukee Health Dept LHRD $4,500,000 City of Sheboygan LBPHC $1,528,296 Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services HHP $1,000,000 HHP Healthy Homes Production, LBPHC Lead Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program (includes Healthy Homes Initiative supplemental funding, as applicable), LHRD Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program (Source: HUD, 2011 HUD No. 11-004) Ongoing Lead-based paint control programs In June 2004 the Phase 1 of the Wisconsin Childhood elimination strategic Plan was completed and this plan was developed by a diverse group of experts from the health field, the housing departments, government agencies and other community groups with the aim of eliminating childhood lead poisoning by 2010. This strategic work plan focus on achieving four main goals through the creation of these subcommittees namely; Education through which the general public will be aware of the problem within their community and how to protect children from lead exposure. Also parents and childcare providers would be educated about lead hazards through home visit. Policy makers and state legislators were to be educated on how much impact lead poisoning has in the community while addressing issues of neglect of the problem and what needs to be done to overcome some of this negligence which could be potentially costly. Property owners and construction contractors would be educated and provided with opportunities to maintain old homes while ensuring a safe work environment Lead hazard correction in homes with emphasis on identifying and analyzing some of the risk factors associated with lead poisoning while focusing resources on homes that were built before the 1950s as they pose a high risk of lead exposure. This goal focused on enforcing home owners so they can repair possible lead hazards in their buildings and to ensure a strong community engagement on the problem, incentives were to be provided to home owners who comply with all these regulations. Screening for lead poising in high risk groups through the provision of enough funds to help identify and evaluate children with risk of lead exposure as well as evaluate existing practices being performed by physicians and the barriers they may pose to families and healthcare providers in terms of providing blood lead screening to children. This goal also emphasized on the need for better data sharing and quality reporting like the STELLAR or the Wisconsin Immunization Registry among partners within the community so that children who are at risk of lead exposure are identified and tested Funding through the allocation of and resources and making available increased funding for lead hazard control in Wisconsin was a major priority. This funding would help local communities with high risk housing by investing in homes so that the financial burden of having to treat or manage children with lead poisoning will be less on the state. Phase 2 of the Wisconsin Elimination Plan is ongoing but in 2009 the sub committees in charge of Funding and Resources and Correcting Hazards in housing combined their efforts and all 3 existing committees now meet independently of the Implementation and Oversight Committee (IOC) and provide a progress report at each IOC meeting which usually meets 3 times a years (January, May and September). These meetings are aimed at evaluating progress made so far and identifying some of the challenges faced in the execution of some of the existing programs as well as make recommendations to the IOC for effective and efficient implementation. The IOC is made up of partners from the Wisconsin Division of public health, local councils, State departments of Hygiene and administration, community health centers as well as insurance companies. Within the city of Milwaukee, over 40 employees are involved in lead based prevention programs which provide resources and services to identified children at ri sk if lead poisoning and those with lead poisoning as well as programs geared towards prevention of lead poisoning before it even happens Huge Financial burden of lead poisoning in its impact on the state of Wisconsin The negative burden of lead poisoning to the community is the huge medical expenses in treatment and management of the health problem, increased health care premiums and increase in Medicaid expenses. Since childhood Lead Poisoning (CLP) often results to attention disorders and developmental delays (Canfield et al, 2003) in lead poisoned children, there is need for increased special education expenses for programs to help accommodate children with disabilities as well as programs to cope with juvenile delinquent lead poisoned children who are at high risk of dropping out from school and early teen pregnancies (Needleman, et al, 1990). It has been shown that most children who are poisoned by lead are thrice more likely to fail standardize test as well as being arrested for a criminal case as they transition into a young adult. Also, lead poisoned children at fourth grade where three times more likely to fail their reading tests compared to those with very minute amounts of lead exposu re (Miranda et al. 2007). The state spends an estimated $5 billion in school aids to children including a $375 million to assist children with special needs and a $1 billion for children who need corrects with most of these cost is attributed to lead poisoning. The number if children living in Wisconsin between the ages 0-6 is approximately 540,000 and if the state embarks on lead hazard control programs that aim at eliminating lead exposure in homes build pre 1950, it would save the state about $7 billion in direct cost with an increase in earnings of over $21 billion based on an analysis that was conducted in New Jersey that analyzed cost savings such as direct medical cost, special education, crime and juvenile delinquency, low rates of high school graduation and cost to state government (Muennin et al., 2009). The recommendation from the Wisconsin Childhood Elimination Plan and the Implementation and Oversight Committee (IOC) suggested an annual investment of $20 million would g o a long way to provide resources to help control lead pain hazards in over 2,000 pre-1950 homes annually. The state would safe over $28 billion in savings if all children between the ages of 0-6 years were protected from lead hazards which will further help lead to an increase in the graduation rate of the state as well as crime reduction (Muennin et al., 2009) In the spring of 2010, a Joint Resolution 65 was passed and approved by the Wisconsin State Legislature which called on the Implementation and Oversight Committee of the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Elimination plan, a program within the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to provide report on the financial burden result from childhood lead poisoning been experienced through the states education and criminal justice systems resulting from juvenile delinquent risk behaviors that most children with lead poisoning are at high risk at encountering at some stage in their lives which will help policy makers and state officials make financial resources and other logistics available to address lead paint hazards as well as create a widespread community awareness campaign program which makes loans available to home owners of house build pre 1950 thus reducing lead hazard risk. This report was delivered to the State legislature on December 30th of that year. This joint resolution gai ned several approval from state agencies such as Departments of Public Instruction, Children and Families, Corrections Division of Juvenile Correction, the Wisconsin Court System and State Prosecutors Office with the creation of a committee that helps gather relevant data which will help stakeholders within the state to better evaluate the cost due to lead poisoning and ways to completely eliminate lead hazards in homes. In a 2006 study, over 80,000 young children are estimated to be living in lead paint hazards in Wisconsin and if the state focuses more on protecting families from exposure, we would be saving over $40,000-50,000 for each under the age of six giving us a estimated savings of over $3.6 billion (Jacobs and Nevin, 2006). Lead Testing and Reporting To increase blood lead testing coverage within the state of Wisconsin, four main Medicaid managed Care organizations teamed up with state and local WIC agencies in 2010 and together donated a quick three minute LeadCare II testing instrument approved by the CDC with the overall aim to improve on the blood lead testing levels in children at risk. These organizations also gave WIC staff access to the electronic reporting system that exists within the state as well as resources to follow up children who showed high levels of lead in blood. Within the city of Milwaukee, the WIC program is the only program that has got direct access to the STELLAR (State Blood-Lead Reporting System) and the WIR (Wisconsin Immunization Registry) and this enables them to enter data correctly which is required for state and federal reporting compliance. This system also helps WIC staff to easily identify children who have not been tested for blood lead and follow-up with them to get tested as well as follow up with cases that show elevated levels of lead in their blood. With the donation of 10 LeadCare II analyzers as well as 20 test kids in 2010 in all 10 WIC clinics within the state of Wisconsin, the program has witnessed over 41% increase in the number of WIC children tested for lead in blood in the city of Milwaukee. Children enrolled in the WIC program receive two rapid tests namely an Iron and blood lead test using a finger stick. Over 139 children in 2009 tested positive for high levels of lead in their blood samples giving a 300% increase in lead poisoning cases when compared to the previous 2 years due to the fact that most of the children living in high risk urban areas who were now being tested had previously been missed. Since 2006, Medicaid health care providers have received an annual Blood Lead Testing developed through collaboration with the Wisconsin Medicaid Program and the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. The individualized reports summarize the blood lead testing data for children under age 6 within each providers practice. In addition providers received a list of untested children in their practice to facilitate follow-up to ensure these children get tested. It is normally required that children be tested for lead poisoning at ages 1 and 2 and since most of them are not tested at those early ages because of lack of follow-up, it is mandatory that they get at least a test between the ages of 3 to 5 years. For example in 2007, over 2,049 children with blood lead levels of greater than or equal to 10mcg/dL were identified within the state and almost two thirds of children eligible for the Medicaid program entering the Wisconsin school system that fall have not properly tes ted even though 88% of children eligible for Medicaid which covers blood lead poisoning were enrolled that year. (Data is from Individual Medicaid Providers for period of July 1, 2006 through June 30 2007 (SFY07) Collaborative Partnerships There are some NGOs within the state that are focused on raising awareness through community leadership on lead poisoning and one of them is the Milwaukees Hmong American Friendship Association (HAFA) through its Parents Against Lead (PAL) alliance. Its made up of neighbors, parents and other passionate individuals who have come together to collectively eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Being a great partner with city of Milwaukee Health Department, they have promoted lead abatement activities in families living in pre 1950 homes as well as amongst home owners on how to eliminate possible lead hazard within the city. Another community based group working within the community is the Sherman Park Community Association (SPCA), a group of over 167 residents who come together during a cold Winter day and have breakfast with Santa Claus as a way to bring communities together and educate them on the work they do including a window repair/replacement program with emphasis on lead based pai n hazard. Advocacy and Public Policies The presence of GIS Maps within each Wisconsin legislative district identifying areas with Lead poisoning is now available and from this data no place within the state is free from lead poisoning with more cases in communities with old housing. As part of the Healthier People 2020 Public Health plan, the state of Wisconsin through the U.S Department of Health Services, EPA, HUD, Energy and the CDC came together during the 2011 National Healthy Homes Conference which brings partners, leaders and experts from the public and private sector to discuss on how to improving on housing conditions and making them safe from lead paint based hazard and environmentally sustainable. However, certain rules and number of statutes that regulate activities geared towards lead hazard control have been approved within the State and these rules protect residential areas, tenant/landlord agreements, drinking water facilities, lead hazard reduction and the manner in which blood lead results are reported. They include the Wisconsin statute Chapter 254 which lays emphasis on detection, treatment and response to lead hazards. In Wisconsin, a number of statutes and rules have been enacted to regulate activities having to do with hazards due to lead-based paint and include residential facilities, worker protection, landlord and tenant agreements, housing sales, lead hazard reduction, drinking water, reporting of blood lead test results and public health response to lead poisoning. There is the Wisconsin Statute Chapter 704 which outlines conditions in which tenants could move without having to face any liabilities from health hazards such as lead. We have the Statue Chapter 709 which requires that owners of residential real estate make certain disclosures about their property. Amongst the administrative rules is the DHS 163 which requires people such as contractors to get certification for identification, removal and reduction of Lead-based paint which was amended in 2009 and the DHS 181 which allows for quality reporting of blood lead test results. Assessment Performance of Childhood Poisoning in Wisconsin The State department of Health and Services is charged with the collection, evaluation and sharing information concerning the incidence of lead poisoning in risk populations and communities while the local health departments within the state would maintain a local surveillance system that gives the population an idea of the prevalence and trends of testing and making this information available to the state Department of Public health and other stakeholders. A tracking system to effectively monitor children at risk and those with very high blood levels would be maintained and made available to the department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) through the WCLPPP. The local health departments trough the support of state agencies of Public health would develop protocols and procedures to better monitor the screening of children at risk of lead poisoning and well as provide clinical and educational resources for better programming and reporting Lead Prevention and Control Lead poisoning is preventable if the necessary precautions are well respected one of which is the lead abatement of homes. The primary way to protect Wisconsin children from lead exposure is by stabilizing all cracked, deteriorating, peeled or flaking paint in old homes, replacing very old windows, fixing roofs with and other leaks, while making sure that the window sills and floors remain smooth hence eliminating major sources of lead exposure. Other precautionary measures include re-painting on interior surfaces with no friction such as ceiling, walls but surfaces that are susceptible to friction or bad weather should not be repainted. All the above precautions are carried out through a process called Lead abatement which refers to any action by and individual (a certified lead abatement contractor), the state or a company to effective minimize lead exposure by permanently eliminating or removing lead-based paint or dust lead hazards or any possible lead containing object or surfac e in response to orders from the state or the local council. The Milwaukee Health Department is charged with giving orders so that homes identified within the community to be at risk of lead exposure are lead abated and this requires either voluntary consent from the owner of the property or through a Court order in case the home owner doesnt comply with orders from the Health department to allow his property to be abated. Conclusion Despite the huge progress in reducing childhood lead poisoning rate within the city of Milwaukee, the number of children been identified with lead poisoning is still on the rise within the state and it has surpass the national average. In 2009, the state prevalence of lead poisoning was 1.5 and in Milwaukee alone, of all the children tested for lead poisoning 4.4% of them had blood lead levels greater than 10ug/dl. More work is needed in this fight despite the progress mad

The Banning of Harry Potter at Omaha Christian Academy Essay -- Censor

The Banning of Harry Potter at Omaha Christian Academy Imagine discovering that you’re not an ordinary person, but a wizard with magnificent, magical powers. Imagine attending a school where you’ll study transfiguration and charms instead of trigonometry and chem. Imagine the thrill of flying across the sky on a broomstick. These adventures and many others are waiting to be experienced in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by novelist J. K. Rowling. This fanciful and entertaining tale has taken the youth of the nation by storm, and its sales have only been surpassed by the book’s sequels, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Unfortunately, not all children are welcome to enjoy the magic of J.K. Rowling’s literature. Because the books discuss witchcraft and wizardry, some parents and teachers have assumed that the books do not reflect religious teachings and must, therefore, be banned. The Omaha Christian Academy in Omaha, Nebraska has recently banned the sale of Harry Potter books at its book fair and refuses to purchase copies for the classrooms or library. However, the administration at Omaha Christian Academy should not prohibit reading books in the Harry Potter series. Potter Gets Cold Shoulder On October 15, 1999 an article was published in the Omaha World-Herald that angered and agitated devoted fans of Harry Potter. Omahans already knew that the Harry Potter books had been challenged in South Carolina and a few other places across the nation. Now, the controversy over the fantasy stories by J. K. Rowling had hit their home town. Apparently, the administration at Omaha Christian Academy learned of the popularity of the books and... ...The kids who read Harry Potter will not grow up to be antireligious witches and warlocks. They will develop into well-adjusted young adults who have a better understanding of how to be a hero. In order to act in the best interest of their students, the administration at Omaha Christian Academy needs to introduce the Harry Potter books into their school as soon as possible. It’s time that Christian schools be made a safe haven for Harry Potter. Works Cited Bettelheim, Bruno. The Uses of Enchantment. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1976. Heuscher, Julius. A Psychiatric Study of Myths and Fairy Tales. Illinois: Charles Thomas, 1974. O’Connor, Michael. â€Å"Potter Gets Cold Shoulder.† Omaha World-Herald. 15 October 1999. â€Å"Save Harry Potter!† About.com. 29 October 1999.

The Deadly Nature of Chronic Wasting Disease Essay -- Exploratory Essa

The Deadly Nature of Chronic Wasting Disease The newly born fawn, still wet with milk on its lips, suddenly tumbles over from the huge impact of the .300 weatherby rifle. Next, goes a small two point, followed by a fat doe packing twins. As the rest of the herd trots off, the big four point buck gets his last taste of life. This, all a result of the rifleman atop the hill who has begun the culling of deer to control Chronic Wasting Disease. The recent outbreaks of Chronic Wasting Disease on Colorado's commercial elk herds, is considered to be the worst ever. Biologists are trying to find out what this means to the wild herds of deer and elk on the Western Slope. Unfortunately, so far, the only method of treatment that has been discovered is complete eradication of the entire herd. Now, scientists are wondering if Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a disease that has been around forever, or do we need to spend millions of dollars on the research (Herring, 2002). Research and Background The origin of CWD is unknown at this day and age, but it was first discovered by researchers in a Colorado research facility in the late 1960's. Researcher's say that wildlife diseases seem to have a way of going undetected or unnoticed. The early cases of CWD were found in northeastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming. Commercial elk herds in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have been diagnosed with CWD. Although, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Saskatewan have found cases of CWD in their state's wild deer herds. CWD is a brain and nervous system disease that is very fatal, and occurs in deer and elk. It is very similar to Mad Cow Disease becaus... ...rch 16, 2004, from Chronic Wasting Disease: Moving on: http://www.cwd-info.org/pdf/WYcwdarticle.pdf Madson, C. "CWD's impact on deer herds". Retrieved March 16, 2004, from Chronic Wasting Disease: Moving on: http://www.cwd-info.org/pdf/WYcwdarticle.pdf Meredith, T. "Managing CWD". Retrieved March 16, 2004, from Chronic Wasting Disease: Moving on: http://www.cwd-info.org/pdf/WYcwdarticle.pdf Meredith, T. "New research". Retrieved March 16, 2004, from Chronic Wasting Disease: Moving on: http://www.cwd-info.org/pdf/WYcwdarticle.pdf Reed, T. "Risk to humans". Retrieved March 16, 2004, from Chronic Wasting Disease: Moving on: http://www.cwd-info.org/pdf/WYcwdarticle.pdf Zitek, M. & Reed, T. "Surveillance and regulations". Retrieved March 16, 2004, from Chronic Wasting Disease: Moving on: http://www.cwdinfo.org/info.org/pdf/ WYcwdarticle.pdf