Community Development Theories Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Community Development Theories and Principles. Answer: Introduction Domestic violence is referred to the acts of violence that are carried out between people who either have or had any kind of intimate relationship inside domestic settings. These acts can be inclusive of sexual, physical, emotional and psychological abuse. Defining the types of violence, the perpetrators and their victims gets complex by means of different forms of family and intimate relationships and living arrangements that are existent in Australian communities (Aph.gov.au 2017). In this report, the social problem of domestic violence would be analyzed by applying different communitydevelopmenttheories and principles to find a proper change direction and probable evidence based solutions. Discussion The issue In Australia, the more pervasive form of violence that are faced by women is the violence that gets perpetrated by the male intimate partner, mostly known as domestic violence. It must also be noted that men and same sex relationship partners also face this form of violence. The major reasons behind domestic violence are complicated with the outcome that there are a lot of confusion and misinformation mirrored in public debate. However, there exists general agreement that power imbalances, gender inequality and controlling behaviors inside relationships which are the main determinants. The attitude of the community in the direction of domestic violence, sexuality, gender roles and sexual assault has the ability of strongly influencing both the prevalence of domestic violence and reporting rates. A wide range of strategies have been put to use for tackling domestic violence in Australia and globally. Even though majority of the strategies for the prevention of domestic violence have b een now going on for decades, there still exists a lack of reliable proof as to what is applicable and what is not (Fisher 2013). Back in 2012, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)conducted a Personal Safety Survey which provided the most up to date prevalence estimated in Australia. From the survey it was found that 41 per cent of women aged 18 years andabove, and 49 per cent of men aged 18 years and above has faced some form of violence from the age of 15. Around 62 per cent of women in comparison with 8 per cent of menfaced their very recent experience of physical assault at the hands of a male at their home. The report also found that equal proportions of men and women have shown reluctance in reporting or contacting to the police after their latest experience of physical assault (Abs.gov.au 2017). Theories To understand the importance of solving these issues of domestic violence, the community development theory can be referred to. The community development theory is the most practical framework that is used by social workers who are seeking a lasting change for individuals, societies and communities where they are living. The theory majorly focuses on the centrality of oppressed people continuing in the procedure of overcoming externally imposed social issues. This community development theory works as by the mere fact of the description it has a voice of its own. This theory is adaptable to other disciplines such as neighborhood development (Green and Haines 2015). The next theory that can work in this context is empowerment theory, which refers to the knowledge of personal growth and a development in self-definition which is happening as am outcome of the advancement of proficiencies and capabilities. One more definition proposes that empowerment is a mixture of initiative, personal strengths and natural helping systems for bringing in change. This theory is applicable to community development by means of empowerment of the people inside the community for developing their personal communities. This theory has the capability of adapting to other disciplines too, such as sociology (Peterson 2014). Inside the theory of positivism, the base of sociology claim in the direction of scientific paradigm that measures human attitudes, most of the times in a decontextualized wayand minus concerns for the actual intangible instinctive, feeling or emotional aspects of being a human. This theory displays a base in dichotomous thought along with bourgeois philosophy that looks in the direction of empirical science for being the real source of knowledge. Inside this theory the organizers look at the community as objects that require dealing with as a part of solving problem. However, the downside of this is that no thought is provided as to how the community members might be feeling regarding the issue in hand and the way they might be affected by possible changes. If the issue exists at an interpersonal level the practitioner would be just looking at the person, deciding what they require for solving the problem and do not even discuss with them as to the way they are looking for the change (Halfpenny 2014). Solution For solving the issue of domestic violence, the first step would be increasing awareness regarding domestic violence. Exploration of fear and concerns, providing knowledge and resources that includes safety planning and referral for local advocacy and support services also helps (Herman 2015). There is requirement of good multi agency relationships and referral systems for regular enquiry for enabling safe disclosure and providing further support for the women in question. There is a need for good mechanisms to be in place for all the staffs for receiving information, support and advice with the help of different methods like supervision, ongoing reviews and specialist advice. Domestic violence in itself is an underreported crime and there needs to be an increase in recording it as an appropriate performance indicator (Groves and Thomas 2013). There is a requirement for more research on the use of photographic proof and the impact it has. Conclusion In this report, the social problem of domestic violence was analyzed by applying different communitydevelopmenttheories and principles for finding a proper change direction and probable evidence based solutions. With the help of community development theory, empowerment theory and positivism theory, the importance of the community development and domestic violence as an issues was understood. Based on the severity of the issue, relevant solutions were provided. References Abs.gov.au. 2017.Personal Safety, Australia, 2012. [online] Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/0556FBD355B2719BCA2571C50074ABF2?opendocument [Accessed 31 Oct. 2017]. Aph.gov.au. 2017.Domestic violence in Australiaan overview of the issues Parliament of Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2011-2012/DVAustralia [Accessed 31 Oct. 2017]. Fisher, C., 2013. Changed and changing gender and family roles and domestic violence in African refugee background communities post-settlement in Perth, Australia.Violence Against Women,19(7), pp.833-847. Green, G.P. and Haines, A., 2015.Asset building community development. Sage publications. Groves, N. and Thomas, T., 2013.Domestic violence and criminal justice. Routledge. Halfpenny, P., 2014.Positivism and Sociology (RLE Social Theory): Explaining Social Life. Routledge. Herman, J.L., 2015.Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence--from domestic abuse to political terror. Hachette UK. Peterson, N.A., 2014. Empowerment Theory: Clarifying the Nature of Higher?Order Multidimensional Constructs.American journal of community psychology,53(1-2), pp.96-108.

Music 6 Essay Example

Music 6 Paper Wagner had an opera house built specifically for the performance of his own pears in the German town of .. Bayreuth Which pair are operatic compositions by Wagner? Tannhauser and The Ring In Music, the early twentieth century was a time of Revolt and Change All of the following composers worked in the early years of the twentieth century EXCEPT Hector Berlioz The glissando, a technique widely used in the twentieth century is A rapid slide up or down a scale The most famous riot in music history occurred in Paris in 1913 at the first performance of Stravinskys Rite of Spring Of the following, who was not a major influence on the breakdown of realism in the early 20th century? Copland A fourth chord is A chord in which the tones are a fourth apart, instead of a third. Striking a group of adjacent keys on a piano with the fist or forearm with result in a Tone cluster When two different triads such as that built on E and that built on A, are played at the same time, the technique is known as A polychord Rhythm in music of the 20th century tends to be either very asymmetrical or very symmetrical. Ostinato A scale made up of just the black keys within the octave on the piano keyboard is called a . scale Pentatonic Impressionism in music is characterized by a stress on tone color, atmosphere, and fluidity The most impressionist composer was Claude Debussy Impressionist painting and symbolist poetry as artistic movements originated in .. France Of the following, who was known as a creator of orchestral versions of his own and others great piano works? Ravel The immense success of Stravinskys 1910 ballet the first original work he composed for Diaghilevs Ballet Russe, established him as a leading young composer The Firebird After studying law at the University of St. Petersburg, Stravinsky at the age of twenty one began to study composition privately with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Expressionism is an art concerned with Social protest and nightmarish states of mind Schoenbergs personality inspired love and loyalty among his students, including Alban Berg and Anton Webern Some of Bergs pieces call for an unusual style of vocal performance halfway between speaking and singing called Sprechstimme The ordering of twelve chromatic tones in a twelve-tone composition is called All of the above In the opera Wozzeck, the title character is Soldier Wozzeck drowns while searching for a Knife

Untitleddocument 1 Essay

Untitleddocument 1 Essay Untitleddocument 1 Essay Miss Lilly Anne Martinez 146 silkmore Lane | Stafford | Staffordshire | ST17 4JD | 01785 251809 07866677715 lillyanne1234@live.co.uk STATEMENT I am ambitious, self-motivated, reliable and punctual. I like to take pride in my appearance and always dress well for the occasion at hand. I work well with other people and I have great communication skills, whether it be with work colleagues or customers. I am willing to work hard and I am also very co-operative. I am an efficient and organised person who likes to try out new challenges. I enjoy learning new skills and I work well as part of a team as well as on my own. Employers would find me extremely adaptable to different work environments. I am a thoughtful, generous, and charitable person; my fundraising for multiple children’s cancer charities proves this. In June 2012, I raised  £1600, by shaving my hair completely off for Families Against Neuroblastoma in memory of my 5 year old brother. In total I have raised over  £2000 by fundraising in the past and I am extremely passionate about continuing with this. CAREER OBJECTIVES My Main objectives are to gain experience and learn new skills. I would like to establish a firm base of knowledge that I can build on. EDUCATION Stafford Sports College Degree Type: GCSE’s Fields of Study: English, Science, Maths, ICT, History, Art and R.E Grades expected: English- Grade B, Science- Grade B, Maths- Grade A, ICT- Distinction A*, History- B, Art- A, R.E- B Dates: 2008- 2013

Political Speeches and Press Releases Assignment

Political Speeches and Press Releases - Assignment Example The President did not talk of the need or goal of creating a world without boundaries; in fact, he vehemently recognized and accepted the differences between the people, their cultures, and their faiths (Obama). Instead, he stressed on the need to view one populace as alien or enemies if the other; in essence, he denounced the concept of â€Å"othering† as regards the political and social environment (Obama). He stressed that it was imperative for the global development of the world for countries to exist in peace and to understand that diversity can be used to unify the communities instead of breaking them apart (Obama). He maintained that it was very important for the Oriental countries to decide their leadership themselves and to own their freedom through the process of democracy (Obama), since it was in the vested interest of the American government to bring harmony in the Eastern society so that new market could open up for the American trade, and business could flourish, which would result in the progress and development of the countries

The film, Aviator, illustrates the terrible problems sometimes Research Paper

The film, Aviator, illustrates the terrible problems sometimes associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in both the life of - Research Paper Example Analysis of the Film Aviator Aviator is a film based on the life of one of the most significant personalities in the field of aviation, Howard Hughes. His story is exceptional due to his achievements in two fields namely filmmaking and the field of aviation. The story presented his feat in his first movie which is entitled Hell’s Angels, a war film that he had made through his trait of being perfectionist. At around the same time, Hughes explored the construction, engineering and production of different types of planes (Aviator film 2004). Howard Hughes explorations and successes in different fields are the main highlights of his life. He is one of the greatest Americans of his time because he is known as an not only as an aviator but also engineer, industrialist, film producer, director, and one of the wealthiest man in the world. His endeavors and projects were financed on his billion dollar inheritance from an equally inventive father who had developed the drill bit or the Hughes rollerbit which became the main apparatus for 75 percent of the world oil wells (Brown and Broeske 10). Through his life though, Hughes had one considered flaw which was his behavior. He is considered by people around him as a person who was very hard to get along with. His exaggerated attention to details often caused and escalated problems in his work and his interactions and relationships with other people. His behavior ranges from minor actions described by people who know him as bizarre to serious and threatening circumstances that often lead to accidents in his flight or lost of relationship with a woman or with work acquaintances (Brown and Broeske 165). Hughes profound personality attracted the interest of medical experts. Thus in the long run he was considered as the most well known example of a condition referred to as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). One of the experts who studied Hughes life, Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz who is a professor in UCLA School of medicine a nd a forerunner in the research on OCD confirmed that the aviator’s ‘four decades of profound emotional anguish.’ Upon recognition of Hughes’ case, his life and behavior became one of the most studied cases of OCD in countries all over the world. Another expert who concluded that Hugh Hughes has OCD is Dr. Anthony Dietrich. He is the son of Noah Dietrich who is the Hughes Empire Chief Executive Officer. Hughes characteristics namely nonconformity, over adventurous disposition can be considered as general signs of his struggle to control obsessions and compulsions (Brown and Broeske 184). In his life, the effects of OCD covered different aspects of his life such as his job, his behavior, his life choices and his relationships and interactions with people surrounding him. It is then important to study the present knowledge, information and developments on the condition which is one of the main themes in the film Aviator. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD Ob sessive-compulsive disorder, OCD, is a type of anxiety disorder. It is described as a condition which is based on the fixation to undertake ‘recurrent, unwanted, thoughts or obsessions and/or behaviors that are repetitive or referred to as compulsions.’ Compulsions are performed to be able to achieve a feeling of satisfaction and temporary relief. Failure to perform such rituals can

The Importance Of Gunshot Residue As Evidence

The Importance Of Gunshot Residue As Evidence Gunshot residue is made of particles that form when gasses coming out of a gun hit a surface and instantly cool and condense. The presence or absence of gunshot residue can suggest whether a person fired the weapon or was the victim. There are many tests to show whether or not gunshot residue is present on a surface. The techniques and methods of testing have gotten much more scientifically advanced and more sensitive to minor details. There have also been many experiments to disprove the concerns of gunshot residue testing, such as false positives, transferability, and destruction of evidence. These facts alone disprove many of the arguments that gunshot residue is unreliable and should not be used as a source of evidence. Strengths and Importance of Gunshot Residue as Evidence in Court Cases Firearms are not a rare commodity in the United States, or the world for that matter, and so a basic understanding of what happens when the trigger of a gun is pulled is necessary. Many people know that when the trigger of a weapon is pulled the hammer strikes the back of the bullet casing, which ignites the primer, and creates pressure and heat in the barrel. This pressure buildup is what propels the projectile down the barrel and towards wherever the gun is pointing. The knowledge of what else comes out of the barrel and what happens with it that is not quite as well known. When the primer is struck, the intense heat causes the chemicals in the primer to vaporize and get mixed in with the gasses that are building up. When the projectile is pushed out of the barrel the gasses and the burning and unburned grains of gunpowder travel with the bullet. These gasses hit a surface such as the hands of the shooter, the victim, or surface that is being fired at. The gasses then condensate on the surface, leaving particles that are composed of the chemicals in the primer. This condensation of chemicals is referred to as gunshot residue, or GSR (Wolten Nesbitt, 1980). Gunshot residue has been used for many years as a source of evidence to not only suggest if a person has fired a gun or how far from a surface a gun was fired, but also if a case was a homicide or a suicide. However, there have been disputes over whether or not GSR is a reliable source of evidence. The points brought up in this argument are that gunshot residue tests can have false positives and false negatives, GSR can be transferred from person to person or surface to surface, and that test results can be different and sometimes inconsistent (Wolten Nesbitt, 1980). Over the years the methods of testing for gunshot residue have dramatically improved and become much more scientific. There are much less false positives due to the increased sensitivity of the tests. Research has been done that shows that even though GSR may transfer, investigators can still tell if a person fired a weapon, or just came in contact with it (DiMaio, 1999). There are also many other uses for gunshot residue analysis other then knowing if a person came in contact with a weapon, such as range determination (Saferstein, 2006). The purpose of this paper is to show the strengths and importance of gunshot residue analysis as substantial evidence in criminal court cases. Literature Review In the detection of GSR, DiMaio (1999) states that scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) has a much higher sensitivity because it uses a scanning electron microscope to view questionable GSR particles at a high magnification. Torre, Mattutino, Vasino, and Robino (2004) agree with using SEM-EDX because the technique can distinguish between GSR and brake lining particles. By using an adhesive lifting method the SEM-EDX is even more effective (Nesbitt, Wessel, Jones, 1976). Bird, Agg, Barnett, and Smith (2007) disagree with the use of SEM-EDX. They say that time resolved x-ray fluorescence should be used. On the topic of transferability of gunshot residue, Gialamas, Rhodes, and Sugarman, (1995) states that police officers are very unlikely to transfer GSR to suspects. Vinokurov, Zeichner, Glattstein, Koffman, Levin, and Rosengarten (2001) agree that GSR is not transferred or destroyed very easily with an experiment on the destruction of GSR due to machine washing or brushing. Havekost, Peters, and Koons (1990) state that the investigator also has to look at where the GSR is located on a person to tell if the particles have been transferred or not. Firing distance determination is a common factor in investigations. Saferstein (2006) states that using the Greiss Test method provides a more contrasted view of GSR on a surface. DiMaio (1999) states that using Greiss Test results can help determine whether a case is a homicide or a suicide. Brazeau and Wong (1997) say that using GSR tests can also help determine whether a bullet wound is an entrance or an exit wound. Discussion Detection Methods Gunshot residue detection tests first came to the United States in 1933 in the form of a paraffin test, which was used by covering the hands with paraffin wax and using a color-changing reagent on the wax. Swabs were used instead of wax starting in 1959, but in the 1980s neutron activation and flameless automatic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) were the methods used most commonly. The above methods were effective for the detection of the three main elemental components in GSR, antimony, barium, and lead, but came up with many false positives and negatives (DiMaio, 1999). The occurrence of false negatives and positives is one of the main reasons that gunshot residue is sometimes considered a risky or an unreliable source of evidence. Since the previous tests only tested for the presence of barium, antimony, and lead, any other substance including those elements had the potential to give a false positive result. Defense attorneys could use these false positives as defense tactics to suppress evidence. In the late 1980s a new GSR test, scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), started to be used. SEM-EDX has a much higher sensitivity, because this technique uses a scanning electron microscope to view questionable GSR particles at a high magnification and look at the size and shape of the particles. After particles are found under the microscope, x-ray waves are used to identify the elements on and inside the particles (DiMaio, 1999). Since SEM-EDX allows a person to look at the size and shape of a particle, GSR particles can be distinguished from other environmental or chemical particles that may also appear on the tested surfaces. Being able to differentiate between sources of particles diminishes the false positives to a very few occurrences, if any. This also means that gunshot residue tests and results cannot be as easily disputed in court. The theory of having less false positives has been tested on different occasions to show that using SEM-EDX makes GSR tests more reliable. Research by Torre et al. (2004) shows the results of tests involving particles and residue from the hands of people who work with automobiles. Particles from the brake linings and other moving parts of a car contain barium, lead, and antimony similar to GSR. This experiment proved that SEM-EDX successfully differentiates between gunshot residue and automobile particles using blind tests, which are tests where the person running using the SEM-EDX does not know where the sample came from (Torre et al., 2004). Other tests and experiments included testing to see if SEM-EDX can differentiate between leaded gasoline, which has particles most similar to GSR, and gunshot residue. The experiment was also done in a blind test fashion and was completely successful in further proving the reliability of SEM-EDX (Nesbitt, Wessel, Jones, 1976). Another positive benefit of the scanning electron microscope tests is the methodology of the collection of the samples that was used. Instead of swabbing the hands an adhesive lift is used (Nesbitt et al., 1976). Since an adhesive lift collects the particles in their relative spots it is possible to determine the ratio of particles in a particular surface area. This gives a more accurate distribution and concentration ratio than swabbing a surface and analyzing the number of particles on the swab. The scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry method allows a much longer testing window from the time the gun was fired. With SEM-EDX positive results can be received up to twelve hours after the shooting (DiMaio, 1999). This is because SEM-EDX combines visual inspection of individual particles as well as a mass calculation of the elemental concentrations. There is also another test that can have positive results for as long as thirty-six to forty-eight hours after the gun was fired. This is done with the trace metal detection technique (TMDT), which uses reagents that change colors under a ultraviolet light after they have come in contact with the elements in GSR (DiMaio, 1999). With the newest technological advances, x-ray fluorescence microscopy allows for an even more precise look at GSR particles. This method uses the excited state of particles due to x-rays and investigators observe these particles underneath high powered microscopes. The particles fluoresce and appear brighter then the surface (Bird, Agg, Barnett, Smith, 2007). The fluorescing particles make the visualization of GSR particles much easier and allows for a more specific determination of the spread of the residue. Destruction and Transferability Some people may say that allowing more time to pass between the firing of the weapon and when the sample is collected is a detrimental thing. The extra time allows people to wash their clothes or hands or try to at least wipe them off. This is another point argued by people who say GSR is unreliable. There is always the possibility that a suspect can wash their hands and clothes after firing a weapon. The fear is that once that has been done that there will no longer be particles left to detect. In the experiment published by Vinokurov, et al. (2001), tests were done on clothes that had been machine-washed and other tests on clothes that had been brushed with another piece of material. The tests showed that even though a majority of the GSR particles had been removed, there were still enough particles in some circumstances to get a positive GSR detection (Vinokurov, et al., 2001). The results of this experiment proved that even though investigators may allow more time before testing, there are still chances that investigators can get results even after evidence is washed. Besides washing clothes and hands, there is also the possibility that GSR particles can be transferred to another person or surface by direct contact, or if a person is within a close distance when a gun is fired. Gunshot residue is easily rubbed off or transferred to someone else, which sometimes can make deciding what really happened difficult, but not impossible. Even though gunshot residue can be found on a person who did not fire a weapon, there will be certain circumstances in order to prove they didnt fire the gun. A person standing within a close range can have GSR on them. Although a person will test positive the location of the GSR and the concentrations will be different then if that person pulled the trigger and fired the weapon. For instance, if a person puts their hand out in self-defense of a shooter, there will be residue found on the palm of the hand in but very little if any on the back of the hand. If the person fired the gun, there would be a high concentration on the back of the hand (Havekost, Peters, Koons, 1990). Another situation is one that has been argued by defense attorneys. Defense attorneys say that the GSR that was found on the suspect could have been transferred from the hands of the police officer that arrested them. In theory, this may sound possible, but most officers do not even touch their gun on a daily basis, let alone fire it. In a study published by Gialamas, Rhodes, and Sugarman (1995) police officers that had not fired their weapon over a certain period of time were tested for gunshot residue. Forty-three officers were tested, and out of those officers twenty-five showed absolutely no particles that even resembled GSR. Seventeen officers were found to have particles similar to GSR, but were only environmental contaminates, and three officers were found to have only one particle of GSR (Gialamas, et al., 1995). Even though a couple of the officers showed a particle of GSR, there would have to be a much higher concentration of particles in order to conclude that that officer had fired a weapon. Even if the officer had a GSR particle on them, although possible, the likelihood of touch transfer is extremely small. Even if that particle did transfer when an officer touched a person, the particle would be in a place inconsistent with firing a weapon, such as the shoulder, wrists, back of the neck, etc. Range Determination Gunshot residue analysis can be used for purposes other then determining if a suspect was holding the gun that was fired. Gunshot residue can be used to determine how far away from an object the gun was when it was fired. This is done by the GSR pattern left on the surface of the target. There are other tests that can be used to better develop and lift the residue pattern from a surface. One of the methods that can be used is the Greiss test. This test involves the use of a chemically treated gelatin-coated photograph paper. The paper transfers the residue pattern by reacting with the nitrates in the gunshot residue. After the pattern is transferred off of the target surface test fires are done to match the spread and distribution of the GSR and determine the relative distance of the shooter (Saferstein, 2006). Since the Greiss test can be used on clothes and other target surfaces this technique suggests that gunshot residue is very valuable in the determination of distance. Using gunshot residue as a distance determination can also help determine whether the case is a homicide or a suicide (DiMaio, 1999). Sometimes a homicide can be staged to look like a suicide, usually by placing the gun in the hands of the victim. By using the gunshot residue pattern to determine the distance of the weapon when fired, investigators can tell whether or not the victim was holding the weapon. It is only physically possible for a human to hold a gun aimed at themself a certain distance away from their own body and still be able to pull the trigger. This distance is directly related to the victims arm length. If the range determination suggests that the distance between the victim and the gun was much greater then the victims arm length, then the crime was more then likely a homicide (DiMaio, 1999). Gunshot residue cannot only be used to determine the distance that the weapon was fired at, but also whether or not a wound is an entrance or an exit wound. A GSR test can be done on the edges of the wound to see if there is residue present (Brazeau Wong, 1997). A medical examiner may need help determining whether a wound is an entrance or an exit in a couple of circumstances. Sometimes a bullet can ricochet off of another object before hitting the target, which can cause the wound to look different then the normal entrance wound. The medical examiner may also consider using a GSR test to determine if the wound is an entrance wound if the projectile has entered and exited the body multiple times due to the way the victims body is positioned (Brazeau Wong, 1997). Another use of gunshot residue tests around the edges of a wound is to see if the wound is in fact from a firearm. Sometimes wounds can look like a gunshot wound but are actually from other sources. One of the sources for wounds that can appear as a gunshot wound is the hole some insects will make while they are feasting and laying eggs on a dead body (Brazeau Wong, 1997). Conclusion There are no two cases that are completely and indisputably the same. That is why each case has to be looked at individually. Investigators need to take the time to evaluate the results of any tests and evidence, including gunshot residue. Just because a gunshot residue comes back negative does not necessarily mean there was never and residue there. The same goes for a positive result, just because a test comes back positive does not necessarily mean that that person was the shooter or held the gun. With all the new advances in the technology used to test for gunshot residue the downfalls and errors previously associated with GSR have almost completely been eliminated. Many different studies and experiments have disproved many of the concerns over the tests and results of GSR tests being unreliable. GSR also has many other helpful uses in solving cases such as distance determination and the difference between a homicide and a suicide. While gunshot residue may have been made out to have many downfalls and disadvantages, and while it is not absolutely accurate, nothing in the scientific world is absolutely error proof, and therefore GSR is extremely helpful and is reliable enough to be considered substantial evidence not only in cases but also in court.

Between The Forest And Greed :: essays research papers

Between The Forest and Greed Within the past decade there has been a rising "environmentally conscious" movement. The spectrum of issues in contention by environmentalism has expanded virulently and is reaching its zenith. Public dissatisfaction with the environmental movement is forming, as the movement has taken the fight for the environment too far. Donella Meadows is an environmentalist who has yet to fully think about the issue she is arguing. In her piece "Not Seeing the Forest for the Dollar Bills," she takes an almost infantile approach to the logging industry and the concept of clear cutting. The monetary motivations behind the logging industry is her explanation for clear cutting, trying to portray the logging industry as a cold money making machine. This of course neglects the fact that the reason logging generates capital is because the world needs wood. There are several economic and environmental issues that are considered when loggers enter and area. Haphazard clear cutting of forests, while it maybe what Meadows would like us to think, does not happen. With every industry, every aspect is carefully debated and analyzed for the short and long term outcomes. Any industry that capitalizes on earth's resources figuratively signs a pact with the earth. This pact bonds this industry to the earth and requires that any harvesting of resources is not done so with haste and waste. There is a symbiotic relationship between the two. For the industry to exist there must be a constant supply of the resource. Without a constant supply the industry dies. Now, many people believe that the logging industry's objective is to cut down all the trees that are currently standing. As horrific as this scenario may sound, it is far from the truth. Without trees to cut down there is no industry. The logging industry is not so foolish as to rampage the forests and cut down all the trees. As they cut, they plant. Replacing forests with samplings may look inadequate, but over a long period of time these samplings will become a new forest. The earth as we know it today has been in existence for millions of years. Even if newly planted tress take a century to grow back that is only a pinpoint on the time line. The millions of acres of forested land left untouched currently will not be engulfed by blades and tractors instantly. It will take time to cut down the trees, as it will take time to grow them back. Meadows seems to have a misconception of industries and the service they provide. All industries, whether it be recycling to logging, are trying to