Consumption of Natural Resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Consumption of Natural Resources - Essay Example The US tops consumption in natural gas, 2 oil, coffee, corn, zinc, lead, aluminum, rubber and many other resources. There are numerous ways in which this consumption rates can be illustrated. For example, a commodity like meat is consumed by almost all nations. However, consumption should be such that it corresponds with the overall population. China is therefore justified for being the largest overall consumer since they have the largest population. But when one examines the amount of meat consumed by individuals in each country, the US carries the day. It was found that this country exceeds the world average by three hundred percent. Southern Asian meat consumers fall below the world average by seventy five percent. African countries on the other hand fall below the world average consumption by fifty percent. Other products such as fish are consumed by populations depending on their availability. This is because fish is quite cheap if it is located near consumers. Maldives - which is a relatively poor country - has recorded high fish consumption rates. Even other rich nations such as Japan have high fish consumption rates because this has been part of their tradition ever since time immemorial. It should be noted that consumption rates normally indicate the extent of industrialization in any given country. Countries such as Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia are growing economies. Most of them are engaging in building projects since they are all trying to develop their infrastructure. Consequently, the latter three countries are the world's largest Cement consumers. Surveys found that these countries exceeded US cement consumption with a ratio of 2:1. On the other hand, industrialized nations like the UK consume about a quarter of the cement that the Asian countries mentioned above consume. 3 Water consumption largely depends upon the geographical location of a specific country. For instance Egypt gets most of its water from other countries that have large portions of fresh water from the Nile. Sudan is also faced with a similar situation. It does not have access to the River Nile and therefore gets most of its water from its neighbors. Other countries that also depend on their neighbors for water are Iraq and Syria. The latter countries depend on the Euphrates for survival. It should however be noted that water consumption mostly depends on the rate of development and the economic activities that go on in a country. For example, countries growing cash crops that require a lot of water are more likely to record high water consumption rates per person. On the other hand, countries that have poor infrastructural facilities are more likely to waste water resources and will therefore record higher levels of water consumption. Statistics comparing annually water consumption in a number of countries throughout the world found that a relatively under developed country such as Turkmenistan in the Soviet Union consumed five million liters per person as compared 1.8 million liters of water per person. France take up 0.65 million liters while the United Kingdom uses 0.2 million liters of water per person. 4 Some natural resources are taken up depending on the end products they can produce. One such resource is timber or forest resources. Finland has been recorded as the highest timber consumer because they are also the largest producers of paper. In light of this, it should be

The Underground Railroad Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Underground Railroad - Research Paper Example The growing activity of Underground Railroad gave a completely new meaning to the concept of slavery and freedom among American society. The activity did not accurately take place underground but it was carried out in clandestine, using masquerade or in the night. The term railroad subsequently came as an identity because the resting places were known as stations and those who helped the slaves to travel towards their freedom were conductors and the payments they collected were either called parcels or shipment. The whole network spread across through 14 northern states and the freedom land, which was either Canada or Mexico (Foner et al 1991). There are many stories explaining about the source of the title Underground Railway. One source narrates the story that in early 1831; Tice David found his way out from Kentucky somewhere near Sandusky in Northern Ohio. The person who was in charge of imprisoning Tice David started a search across the Ohio River in Ripley and stated the term Underground Railroad by saying, â€Å"The Nigger must have gone off on an underground railroad†. The second source claims the identity of the term Underground Railroad similar to the first one but they claim that it was coined in Pennsylvania by the slave hunters. Whereas the third allegation was in Washington DC in 1839, where a tortured slave stated that after his successful escape, he came north where he found the Underground Railroad that would led him to Boston.... No one really knows the true reason behind what gave the slave runaway an identity as The Underground Railroad (Blight 1986). Underground Railroad system helped many slaves to make their way from South to North to a safe place. The activity started in 1787, when an escaped prisoner named Isaac T. Hooper designed a way to help the enslaved people to escape, giving them a place to hide with food and shelter. People who opposed the system of slavery contributed to provide homes as a shelter for the slaves. The network of Underground Railroad was across in 14 Northern states and Canada and by 1850, more than 3000 people worked together to help the slaves to reach the Promised Land (Blight 1990). Before the Civil War, many slaves found their way to gain freedom from the slavery. According to some figures, it was estimated that more than 1000 slaves escaped per year. Most of the people who escaped wanted to end the slavery and some of them just wanted to reach to their friends and families . Some slaves settled in the southern region in different towns and cities using fake documents. It is believed that the majority of fugitives tried to find their way to North and many of the fugitives kept going towards Canada. Some of the escaped prisoners willingly came back to their masters and a large number of slaves got caught by slave hunters. For those who attempted to get to the North, support came from many Native Americans and Africans. This support become obvious as the years passed. When the year 1830 passed, the supporters showed high support in carrying out this activity. The black community played an important role and later on the support was named The Underground Railroad. African people after escaping played a very important role in routing people to

Developing as a hr practitioner Essay Example for Free

Developing as a hr practitioner Essay The CIPD Profession map is a strategic tool used to help ensure HR is fully utilised in the organisation it operate in. It is used to add value to the organisation and define the highest level of professional competency required. The Profession Map is made up of 2 core professional areas, 8 specialist areas, 8 behaviours and 4 level Insights, strategy and solutions is the first core professional area, which helps the organisation to make informed choices about the direction of business. It allows decisions to be made about how the business will operate and identifies opportunities for improvement and development. Leading HR is the second professional area, which focuses on ensuring HR own, shape and drive themselves and the development of others within the organisation. They cover 3 key leadership areas, Personal leadership, leading others and leading issues. HR are seen as proactive rather than observational. Organisation design This ensures that the organisation is correctly setup to deliver it objectives in the short, medium and long term and a robust plan is in place to deal with restructuring.

Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicides Essay Example for Free

Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicides Essay Proponents of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide argue that terminally ill people should have the right to end their suffering with a quick, dignified, and compassionate death. Opponents of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide argue that doctors have a moral responsibility to keep their patients alive as reflected by the Hippocratic Oath. Euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide should be legal because terminally ill people should have the right to end their suffering with a quick, dignified, and compassionate death. On October 1, 1976, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed the California Natural Death Act into law and California became the first state in the nation to grant terminally ill persons the right to authorize withdrawal of life-sustaining medical treatment when death is believed to be imminent. By 1977, eight states California, New Mexico, Arkansas, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, North Carolina, and Texas had signed right- to-die bills into law. The World Federation of Right to Die Societies was founded in 1980. Margaret P. Battin, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Adjunct Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah, and Timothy E. Quill, MD, Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Medical Humanities at the University of Rochester, stated the following in their 2004 book Physician-Assisted Dying: The Case for Palliative Care Patient Choice: We firmly believe that physician-assisted death should be onenot the only one, but oneof the last-resort options available to a patient facing a hard death. We agree that these options should include high dose pain medication if needed, cessation of life-sustaining therapy, voluntary cessation of eating and drinking, and terminal sedation. We also believe, however, that physician-assisted dying, whether it is called physician-assisted death or physician aid in dying or physician-assisted suicide, should be among the options available to patients at the end of life. Terminally ill patients feel like life is no longer worth living. Physicians indicated that patient requests for lethal medications stemmed from multiple concerns, with eight in ten patients having at least three concerns. The most frequently mentioned end-of-life concerns during 2005 were: a decreasing ability to participate in activities that made life enjoyable, loss of dignity, and loss of autonomy. The United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals stated in its 1996 Opinion from Compassion in Dying v. Washington: While some people refer to the liberty interest implicated in right-to-die cases as a liberty interest in committing suicide, we do not describe it that way. We use the broader and more accurate terms, the right to die, determining the time and manner of ones death, and hastening ones death for an important reason. The liberty interest we examine encompasses a whole range of acts that are generally not considered to constitute suicide. Included within the liberty interest we examine, is for example, the act of refusing or terminating unwanted medical treatment Casey and Cruzan provide persuasive evidence that the Constitution encompasses a due process liberty interest in controlling the time and manner of ones death that there is, in short, a constitutionally recognized right to die.' Legalizing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide would save money for the American healthcare system. The International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide wrote: Savings to governments could become a consideration. Drugs for assisted suicide cost about $35 to $45, making them far less expensive than providing medical care. This could fill the void from cutbacks for treatment and care with the treatment of death. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should be made legal. To do this, all states must follow in California’s footsteps and put right-to-die bills into effect. And anyone with terminally ill loved ones will agree, unless they’re comfortable with loved ones losing their dignity, autonomy, and ability to enjoy life. Works Cited Is There a Legal Right to Die? Euthanasia ProCon.org. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. Should Euthanasia or Physician-assisted Suicide Be Legal? Euthanasia ProCon.org. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. Why Do Patients Request Physician-assisted Death (a.k.a. Physician-assisted Suicide)? Euthanasia ProCon.org. Web. 05 Jan. 2012. Would Legalizing Euthanasia and Physician-assisted Suicide save Money for the American Healthcare System? Euthanasia ProCon.org. Web. 13 Dec. 2011.

The Mauritius As A Green Destination Tourism Essay

The Mauritius As A Green Destination Tourism Essay Fifty years ago, tourism was a word rarely used by most people. However, over the time, it has witnessed a dramatic transformation into a multifaceted activity. Travel and tourism have been confined to a privileged few, namely the rich at the early time. Now, tourism has grown to such dimensions and importance that it is regarded as one of the fastest growing industry in the world, transforming into a mean of development for several countries, including many Small Island Developing Countries (SIDS) like Mauritius (UNWTO, 2011). Today, it is understood by people all over the world, many regard holidays as part of everyday life and foreign travel is taken for granted. Consequently, holidays making has become a booming business. Tourism and hospitality industry is now recognized as the worlds largest and fastest growing industry, as it is estimated that between 1950 and 2004, tourism activities have increased from 25 million to 763 million worldwide, with an estimation of 1.6 billion by 2020- an average annual rate of about 6.5 percent (WTO, 2004). Profile of Mauritius Mauritius, an island on the outskirts of tropical Africa, has a nice card to play as a tourism destination and it is endowed with resources and has the potential to be a green destination. Mauritius surrounded by cobalt blue seas with long beaches and soft and silvery sand makes the island an ideal tourist attraction. Mauritius is a fascinating island which is loaded with historic sites, cultural diversity, geographic variations and nature. The Aapravasi Ghat- the Immigration Depot where indentured laborers disembarked, was declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2006. Later on in 2008, Le Morne Cultural Landscapes- which encompasses a natural fortress that was used as a retreat for escaping slaves in the island in the 18th and early 19th century was nominated as World Heritage Site. Black River Gorges National Park is on the tentative list of Mauritius to be nominated by UNESCO as World Heritage Site. 1.2 Mauritius as a green Destination Across the globe, public is increasingly concerned about environment issues, thus tourism destinations are realizing that adopting green practices and green management are rapidly becoming a strategic tool that can enhance a destinations competitive advantage. The facts that people are beginning to look at green practices in a whole new way; it is a must to involve sustainability in the hotel industry. The perception of green has change; it has gone from a fringe movement to a mainstream. The tourism market has been diversifying into different sub segments in order to respond to the exact needs and wants of their customers. Tourism is regarded as the main economic pillar of Mauritius, indeed the Travel and Tourism industry brings many positive impacts in Mauritius but the fact that alongside with these advantages, other factors like climate change, pollution and effects of tourism practices have also created a hot issue in the Tourism arena. The negative impacts of tourism activities has resulted in an increasing demand of green destination, meaning destination where there are visible efforts of protecting and sustaining the environment by dealing with issues like carbon emissions, bio diversity conservation, resources usage, water supply and waste management. It can be said that the tourism and the environment sustainability concept are visibly becoming natural partners. Green tourism, for the past couple of years, has been a crucial factor for tourists while opting for a destination. Mauritius has several sites that encourage green tourism such as Pamplemousses Garden (it ranks among the most famous botanical gardens in the world with its giants water lilies and evocation spice plants), Domaine Les Pailles (a natural park spreading over 3000 acres at the foot of a mountain range), Casela Bird Park (which stretches over 25 hectares and contains more than 140 species of birds from five continents), Black River Gorges, Ile aux Aigrette and among others. A green destination can contribute to favourable behavioural intentions: intentions to revisit or an intention to offer positive recommendations to others. 1.3 Problem Statement Although Mauritius is heavily dependent on income derived from tourism, it is important that the countrys natural resources be maintained for future generation to experience. Therefore, going green is a key component of the next phase of change in the industry. To better analyze the relevance of Mauritius in relation to green destination, the concept must clearly be defined: Green Tourism may be defined as In short, green tourism is all about adapting to and mitigating climate change in relation to tourism, about green market, green programmes, green practices and among others. Originally, the term green related in business operations to environmental matters but now it embraces all aspects of sustainable development. Mauritius hosted 925 000 tourists excluding transit and cruise passengers in 2011, whereas in the year 2010 the arrival rate was 898 000. Although there is an increase of 3% which may seem respectable at first sight but, however, it pales in comparison to double digit growth rates earned by Indian Ocean peers, for example Maldives +18%, Seychelles +11% and Sri Lanka +31%. Mauritius registered a decline which was partly offset by greater penetration into Eastern Europe and Asia. Mauritius has plunged from a dominant 41% to 33% of Indian Ocean market in just two short years. The tourists arrival for 2012 was 938 000 and the year 2012 was a difficult year wherein Europe slipped back into recession and this recession is unlikely to be resolved any time soon. It is feared that 2013 may be as harsh as 2012. However, tourism has not reached the end of the journey; it finds itself at a critical juncture where Mauritius has to diverse to a new market segment which is the green market. Mauritius must realize that in order to stay competitive, becoming green must be a principal element of branding and marketing policies. Failing to adopt such an approach may mean losing a loyal customer base. By advertising Mauritius as a green destination, the tourism industry will show their environmental responsibility of tourist operations to attract green tourists and improve their standard with customers. 1.4 Aims and Objectives of the research Green tourism has been identified as one of the most important economy driver for most developing countries. My objective is to market Mauritius as a green destination to benefit from competitive advantage. Therefore, my aims are: To explore the reasons why Mauritius should be promoted as Green-destination To explore the possible ways to build up a sustainable image of the country To focus on the potential ways for establishing green tourism that can benefits local community To examine on some critical issues which could act as barriers from benefitting from green tourism In particular based on the research findings, I will offer recommendations in the field of green tourism in Mauritius 1.5 Organisation of the study This study is organized into five chapters listed as below: Chapter one: deals with the background information, problem statement, research aims and objectives Chapter two: provides a review of the literature on Green Destination Chapter three: presents the methodology of the study, explains the steps involved in developing research design, sampling and data collection procedures Chapter four: includes and presents the findings and results in the statistical analysis Chapter five: summarise the whole study with a conclusion and recommendation. LITTERATURE REVIEW The modern tourists opt for green tourism: Green Tourism, synonymous in meaning with eco-tourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people (TIES, 1990), as they want to lower their carbon footprint. Nowadays, customers no longer accept just linen and towel reuse programs as being enough green practices in the green destination concept. They consider factors that are leading to energy efficiency, a proper waste division, procurement, and water conservation (Heisterkamp, 2009; Wolff, 2008). Tourism destinations and tourism industry need to position themselves to meet these challenges and take advantage of new opportunities arising from changing consumer preferences as well as changing environmental and business practices. Green Research within Hospitality Industry Buying a certificate doesnt make you green said Lyndall De Marco, executive director, International Tourism Partnership, The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum. Being green begins with a thought process De Marco said. What makes hotel sustainable involves an integrated, holistic process that encompasses site use, water and energy use, materials and resources, operations and community and social relations. (DESIGN: Patricia Sheehan, Hotel Design Managing Editor) The global environmental certification program for the travel and tourism industry was developed in 1996 by three international organizations: the World Travel Tourism Council, the World Tourism Organisation and the Earth Council. These organizations jointly launched an action plan entitled Agenda 21 for the Travel Tourism Industry: Towards Environmentally Sustainable Development. Subsequently, Green Globe, a benchmarking, certification and performance-improvement program based on the Agenda 21 principles, was created. This program identifies the environmental and developmental issues which threaten the economy and ecological balance, and presents a strategy for transition to more sustainable development practices. Hotels receive Green Globe certification by addressing major environmental issues in key areas including: greenhouse emissions, energy efficiency, management of freshwater resources, ecosystem conservation, and waste water and solid waste management. Reasons to go for Green Destination: Eco-tourism is not a new phenomenon. Nature-based tourism has a long tradition (Ousby, 2002). Modern forms of eco-tourism became popular in the 1980s but can be traced back to the wildlife conservation reserves in Kenya opening to tourists in the 1960s (Honey, 2009). Academic study of eco-tourism has grown steadily over the past two decades (Jayawardena et al., 2008). Enthusiasm for the issue reflects the segments buoyancy over the past 20 years (Mastny, 2001, The International Ecotourism Society, 2006) and greater consensus on the meaning of key concepts (Horobin, 1996). A destinations environment, often a core component of its image, is a key factor motivating tourists destination choice and loyalty (Meng and Uysal, 2008; Hosany et al., 2006). With rising concern over the impacts of global warming, there is a danger that tourism operators and destination marketing organizations (DMOs) will exaggerate their eco-credentials. Consumer Demand The last few years have been a considerable increase in consumer awareness of green tourism, partly may be because of extensive media coverage. Consumers are increasingly seeking environmentally friendly products and have a greater understanding of the impacts of green practices and climate change. There are an increasing number of consumers who are willing to change their actions in relation to these issues, and tourism industry can target these consumers to gain a competitive advantage. A range of studies, three of which are referenced below, have been undertaken to look at the correlation between environmental impacts of tourism and changes in consumer behavior. The studies have investigate the gap between what people who have changed their behavior or are willing to pay more for a green experience. Tourists are increasingly demanding that the destinations are pollution free as well as interesting. Consumers awareness regarding green tourism has also fuelled concern among some travelers and made them reluctant to undertake tourism activities such as long haul travel. In May 2008, a joint Commonwealth and State study into consumer awareness found that although consumers feel that the environment is of major important, they have the tendancy not to take responsibility for environmental issues. Many also feel that travel is a compensation to be enjoyed with carefree and without any tension that they are causing any harm to the environment. Their main purpose is to enjoy. The study notes that there is a difference between attitudes and behaviours for approximately 44 percent of those surveyed. However, supporting the findings of the 2007 Lonely Planet Travellers Pulse Survey (24, 500 respondents worldwide) found the following in relation to consumer demand: 84 percent of respondents said they would consider offsetting their emissions in the future (3 percent had done so in the past). 90 percent of people said they would or might purposefully travel in a low impact way; and 93 percent of people said they would or might purposefully partake in environmentally friendly travel in the future. A Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) study also found out that 70 percent of tourists surveyed indicated that they would change their travel pattern or plans in the future to be more green. Another study conducted in India which surveyed Indian consumers about their attitudes towards green practices in the tourism industry showed that 22 percent of the respondents seek out environmental properties (Manaktola Jauhari, 2007). In the United States, 43,000,000 travelers are environmentally concerned (Greening your travel experience, 1998). Gustin and Weaver (1996) found that 73.7 percent of respondents considered themselves environmentally conscious consumers; while 54.3 percent thought of themselves as environmentally conscious travelers. Competitive Advantage Green destinations are becoming increasingly popular due to the current environmental crisis that is occurring worldwide. It has become obvious that the tourism industry does more than its share in damaging and exploiting environmental resources. As a result, more and more tourists are looking for destinations following practices to protect environment. Becoming a green destination can be the foundation for a great marketing strategy and the first step in marketing is providing consumers with what they or need. A growing consumer base exists for green destinations, and marketing the green practices of a destination can help to position it distinctly in the market place. Therefore, going green makes each property unique, and furthermore creates a competitive advantage. Sustainable competitive advantage exists with the ownership or a valuable resource that allows the organizations to perform better or more efficient than their competitors (Graci Dodds, 2008, p.256). For tourism industry, green programmes can provide a competitive advantage, as long as green activities are still optional in the market. Eventually, green practices are becoming a baseline requirement, because the cost of non-renewable energy continues to increase. Therefore, proactive tourism destinations with sustainable green models will have the strongest opportunity of achieving a competitive advantage (Ernst Young Report: Hospitality Going Green). By doing and practicing environment friendly practices destinations gain positive publicity, customer loyalty, hence a definite competitive edge over competitors (Guskin Weaver, 1996). Green hotels create a competitive advantage for themselves by attracting and retaining their employees. Employee turnover is one of the biggest problems and expenses within the hotel industry. However, studies have shown that environmentally conscious hotels have greater employee loyalty. A Canadian study reported that employees are far more likely to identify with an employer whose principles and practices are in tune with current trends (Graci Dodds, 2008). Environmental initiatives have shown to be a valuable way to create passion and encourage team work to achieve a central goal (Graci Dodds, 2008). Team work must be inspired from the top down in a hotel. The Orchard Gardens general manager, Stefan Muhle, said you just cant send out a memo, (Dicum, 2007) All the staffs have to be included front to back. Their heart has to be in it (Dicum, 2007). Each staff member needs to be educated in what the hotel is doing to achieve sustainability goals so they can not only participate, bu t also answer guest questions (Dicum, 2007). By educating staff members, including them, keeping them informed and challenging them to achieve goals, management of green hotels excites their staff and allows them to identify with their organization; which leads to lower turnover rates. Lower turnover rates in turn save the hotel expenses involved with recruiting, hiring, and training new employees. The competitive advantages realized by green hotels do not stop with retaining employees; consumers do seek out green hotels. Green hotels are becoming increasingly popular due to the current environmental crisis that is occurring worldwide. Green hotels are few and far between across not only the United States, but also the world. Therefore, going green makes each property unique, and furthermore creates a competitive advantage. Therefore, sustainable competitive advantage exists with the ownership or a valuable resource that allows the organizations to perform better or more efficient t han their competitors (Graci Dodds, 2008, p. 256). The Cedar House Sport Hotel, for example, has gardens on the roof of their hotel. The gardens attract local birds and insects for guests to observe, which in turn attracts more guests. However, the gardens also serve another purpose, as they cool the hotel during the summer months (Dicum, 2007). Environment Toolkit Unplanned or uncontrolled tourism can be a cause of negative impacts such as the physical deterioration of the destination facilities and the destruction of the natural environment. It can also create conflict at the destination areas on the issues of access, irresponsible behavior by tourists, competition for labour, soil, erosion and land prices (Mathieson and Wall, 1982). Environment responsibility makes ecological sense, because keeping the environment pristine means that tourists will come to appreciate and enjoy the natural beauty of the destination. Gone are the days when going green necessarily meant making large investments in expensive technology. The main reason for tourists to travel to a destination is to look for authencity and real experiences (not artificial culture devised to deceive tourists) such as wildlife, historic townscape, scenery. They also respect local identity, its special features that make a destination different and unique- this could be the Taj Mahal of India, or cobalt blue seas of Mauritius. Tourism is among the highest contributor to green house gas emissions and these emissions are likely to increase with tourism sector growth. Tourism accommodation, transport, events and attractions consume significant amount of fuel, energy and water and can impact the natural environment. Of these, air transport is by far the largest contributor to tourism, accounting for 40% of the sectors contribution to co2 emissions globally. The introduction of low cost carriers airlines has improved accessibility to flights and opened travel markets but in turn has increased energy consumption. These wildlife, historic townscape and scenery form the core products of tourism industry and if these core products continued to be harmed by the pollution or other environmental impacts, then the very foundation on which the industry stands will be eroded. The tourism industry in particular has recently received much attention with awareness of the negative impacts that are having on the environment (Kasim, 2004). Emergence of Alternative Tourism The government has announced a visitor target of 2 million by 2020, therefore Mauritius has recently been experiencing a surge in tourism and tourism-related activities, but this growth is also raising concerns that mass tourism development could lead to the destruction of the countrys fragile coastline, fauna and flora. There has been a narrow thinking in pursuit of increased number of tourists without seriously understanding the benefit that local communities derived from tourism or the real cost of tourism for the local community and environment being assessed. Setting targets for doubling the tourist arrival rate, which were believed to bring much more capital, but this is not the case. Alternative forms of tourism tend to be geared to more responsible tourism. Different forms of alternative tourism serve different purposes. Most forms aim to reduce the adverse impacts of mass tourism. Some forms may aim to reduce or dissipate the influence of the existing industry that has developed under a strong western influence, while some aim only for a new or special market that have emerged as a result of shifts in global trade and the political relationship among different nations. Thus, alternative tourism can be seen both as a vision of the future and as an adaptation to mass tourism, however, are closely linked with the sustainable development paradigm. The benefits of responsible tourism are not far off and unclear. They are achievable, and in most cases, can be perceived immediately. On the other hand, it may take years before the negative impacts of environmental neglect are felt. By advertising Mauritius as a green destination, Mauritius will not just pursue an increase in tourist number but instead they will focus more on what kind of tourists want and these tourists will then be directed to the most appropriate areas as suitable. Creating a Green Destination The breadth and depth of opportunity for a destination to establish green credentials is immense, and continues to grow. There are a number of ways in which a destination can work with the environment to create a unique, compelling, and competitive destination. To name a few: ECO-TOURISM: One of the most popular approaches to Going Green eco-tourism (as a globally recognized and celebrated niche offering) puts engaging with the natural environment of the destination at the centre of the offering. Destinations which take pride in their abundant wildlife, flora and fauna have successfully created traveler experiences which make it possible to be immersed in and involved with nature as a tourism attraction which can be seen, felt and even contributed to. In addition, eco-tourism destinations offer the benefit of an enhanced sense of wellness from being in such a pure environment (even if sophisticated in design, that is: Six Senses Wellness Resorts) with opportunity to partake in excursions focused on being at one with nature. ECO-FRIENDLY: Destinations which define themselves as Going Green from an ecofriendly perspective openly and voluntarily adopt and express environmentally friendly practices which, while seemingly small, can in fact make a big difference when added up. The desire to be considerate of the impact of the industry (or parts of it) on the environment are there, with efforts made to do the little things which are simply the right thing to do. Eco-friendly efforts include basic environmentally considerate changes to existing infrastructure, i.e. frequency of linen washing, keypads in hotel rooms to turn on/off power mains, increased air conditioner temperatures in large spaces, replacement of traditional light bulb to energy saving bulbs, selective recycling efforts (like grey water). Interestingly, destinations venturing into these even incremental practices will notice a positive impact on the bottom line. ECO-POLICIES: Getting more serious about the impact which the industry has on the environment, enforcement of eco-policies by governments and tourism corporations reflects the fundamental philosophy held by leaders of a destination and tourism business towards energy conservation and environmental responsibility. Enforcement of policy removes the window of choice for members of the Tourism community, making changes to existing and future tourism products and services changes to increase energy efficiency and/or reduce wastage of resources a must. These policies do not apply purely to destinations which exist within locations surrounded by greenery and teeming with wildlife. Even the most built-up, uber-urban, heavily-populated areas which could be described more as concrete jungles than even garden cities can successfully impose and activate green policies and incentives. Macau, as an example, has put in place a green hotel awards programme for international developers of resorts and casinos scr ambling to get a piece of the action and place a bet on tourism growth in the new Asian tourism hot spot. The initiative by Macaus Environment Council (now Environmental Protection Bureau), which was introduced in 2007, drives across the industry the importance of environmental management in the hotel sector while giving high-profile, highly-respected recognition to those hotels mobilising environmentally sound management policies. ECO-ENGINEERED: Linked to the above, eco-engineering is the adoption of new generation technology and practices into new tourism products, services and developments, effectively making obsolete old, less energy-efficient methods. This increasing sensitivity to the design and development of tourism industry assets, particularly major structures such as airports, retail centres, theatres, hotels and conference centres, can have a dramatic effect on the impact which the industry has on the environment, both visibly and invisibly. The following eco-engineering concepts are just a few of the energy-smart and environmentally sensitive techniques increasingly being built into new TT infrastructure: o Water heating: heat recovered from the hotels air-conditioning system used to warm water for swimming pools; solar panels for water used in hotels and spas; o Temperature Control: solar glazing in windows and doors assists in maintaining constant interior temperatures; o Lighting: energy efficient lights and lamps; movement sensors for after-hour lighting in common areas and underground parking; keycard room power control; o Air conditioning: sensors automatically switch off air-conditioning in the bedrooms when doors to balconies or terraces are opened; o Irrigation: rainwater is directed off the roofs via an extensive underground pipe network to a large storage tank for use in the gardens; Interestingly, initial investment into green design often proves to be a valuable revenue protector as operating costs can be dramatically reduced. The green economy is a reality, a much needed and a deeply meaningful one. Taking into account the above possible approaches to Going Green, and many others which exist, tourism industry leaders within both the public and private sector need to look closely at how they plan to, and often must, incorporate Going Green into their tourism growth strategy, ethos, Brand and business models. Form follows function. Function follows philosophy

Behavioral Economics Essay -- Neo-economists, Labor Market

Introduction Described as the economic field that deals with the analysis of the effect that the process of decision making impacts on the decisions reached, behavioral economics is a field that has elicited lots of interest from various scholars (Altman, 24). The economists consider this branch of economics as cognitive science due to the fact that it deals with analysis of the process of decision making. Eric Wanner one of the earlier founders of the discipline describes this economic field as a component of cognitive science in his attempt to explain the basis and the characteristic analysis of the discipline in terms of strengths and weaknesses. Simply put it is a field of economic that explains the decision making process of economic agents based on theories formulated in its different branches (Altman, 25-26). Behavioral economics is a diverse subject dealing with numerous topics but for purposes of this research paper, my focus will be on the labor market; fairness and reciprocity. Employ ees as well as their employers have financial interests for which they desire to achieve from their entry into the labor market or the industry for which the employers are recruiting employee (Altman, 29-30). The employee will always seem to reciprocate any extra pay from the employer with additional input whereas the employer will give incentives to encourage extra output. Literature review Neo-economists describe the labor market as one having employees who work for a wage and employers who pay wages for the work performed. Arkelof theory on fair wage stated that for an employer to pay extra money to the employee the employee always viewed the extra money as mere compensation for the above average work that they performed (Colin, 2010... ...effort in the tasks they perform. Fairness by the employer is the determinant in the level of output from an employee. The essay has also illustrated the impact that fairness and reciprocity has on the nature or mix of employment contracts that an employer decides to employ for the different tasks performed by the different employees. There are two classes of employee; some employees fall in the category of fair employees while the rest are trust employee. Most employees however are fair employees who expect fair treatment from their employers in order for them to reciprocate the generosity with increased output. The most popular kind of engagement is the bonus reward system. Further research needs to be carried out in determination of the relationship between fairness and reciprocity in the labor market and demand of goods of high quality at the product market.

Essay --

Williams 1 Michael R. Williams Jr. Ms. White English 3 14 October 2013 The Illuminati Did you know that the Illuminati originated around the 1760s. A Freemason named Adam Weishaupt started it all by himself. The Illuminati’s ultimate goal is to make the world all one big government and one big religion (religion is allegedly known to be Scientific). The hopes were for the borders around each country, state, et cetera to be diminished. They have been pursuing their goal since the French Revolution. The ‘International Bankers’ helped finance the Illuminati so they could start the path iwhich was their main goal. (Ellis-Christensen) The Illuminati was credited for weakening the British and French Empire, which was their first step in their plan that was written in the 1770s (Ellis-Christensen). In the 1780s the Bavarian Government found out about the Illuminati and the government forced the Illuminati to â€Å"stop† what they were doing. But the Illuminati continued doing their strategic plan(s) by going under different aliases; so the Bavarian Government wouldn’t catch them again. By doing so and still continuing their plans, the Illuminati acclaimed to have taken complete control over the European Government, they were helped once again by their alliance the International Bankers, to succeed at doing this. (Wallace) Williams 2 The Illuminati was supposedly the cause of the â€Å"Congress of Vienna† which was formed to still make the world a one-world government. But the attempt was a failure due to Russia not agreeing, so it never happened. A director by the name of Karl Marx created an idea to divide races up into different camps to brainwash them. Once everybody was brainwashed the idea was for the different races to fight each... ...er think. The one world government and religion may just happen, but we won’t know until it happens--if it happens. Certain people can join it, but can you leave? The outside public will never know, we just have to go off assumptions on what happens within the Illuminati. If you leave you might just have to die, but you never know you might be able to just leave? People ask why I would choose this topic, because it’s a very controversial topic to do and it would come with criticism. Even though it is a topic that’s surrounded around controversy it’s a great topic to choose and talk about. People just fear what they don’t understand and a lot of people don’t understand the Illuminati--so that’s why they fear it and rather avoid anything dealing with it. The Illuminati has a long history dating back to year 1784, and it’s still continuing on until this day.