Sunday, October 6, 2019

Operations Managment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Operations Managment - Essay Example Through the utilization of new technological applications, the said process of recruiting shall be given the most important development it is expected to take to cater to the needs of the growing number of applicants. Computers and the benefits that it provides the society has made the present generation of humanity what it needs in terms of technological assistance. Along with this, several other supporting programs were then produced to be able to give answer to other demands of the society from computing operations. Yes, it just gets better every time. Some programs are created for individuals, while some are created especially for business companies, which are controlling the global economic stability of the society today. All these programs are considered assistance for users for them to be able to have better access to the technological innovations brought about by computing operations. According to an article entitled "Computer-Tool or Tyrant", Computers, through the history of mankind have provided the society with the necessary assistance at times even more than that as it continuously develop for better applications. This claim is especially true when the talk is all about companies who are dealing with multitasking in their daily activities. The storage of the files that are needed to be kept for record could not be done through the traditional file-shelves system. Hence, the introduction of programs and operating systems brought so much ease to this so called corporal responsibilities and duties. In this paper, a suggested process of operations management using the computer office operations shall be presented so as to assist in the process of shortening the time by which an institution approves the application of hopefuls who want to enroll in Marine Officer Programs offered by the organization. Through the said process to be suggested, it is expected that the process of application would become more efficient and the process of approval be less time consuming thus allowing the personnel of the organization to put their attention to more important things such as improving the whole program for the enrollees. The Importance of Knowing How OS Works Living in such a technologically driven world, it could not be denied that the interest of people in the developing systems of computing operations is also growing. As the computing operations and applications develop, the demands of the society from the benefits that it provides for the individuals and the large organizational companies also increases. The discussion that shall be presented herein Technology too, controls the present situation of the global economy. In fact, the internet applications have completely revolutionized the processes by which trade systems are operating in the current business industry. Certainly, it could be noticed that the production of operating systems that are ready to provide business entrepreneurs with the assistance that they need to be able to cope up with the global competition of industries, the global economy tends to grow even bigger and more stable. The discussion that would be presented in this paper then shall give a clear vision on how Linux is able to provide the said needs of companies worldwide. What is it that makes Linux one of the most reliable operating

Saturday, October 5, 2019

What role did Jews play in the American civil rights movement Essay

What role did Jews play in the American civil rights movement - Essay Example But in the 1960s, with the world watching on the evening news, many Jews traveled from northern cities to southern sites of marches, sit-ins, and rallies to support equal rights for African-Americans and to oppose those who would oppress them. Clearly there were motivating factors that made it beneficial for African Americans to have Jewish people helping them to attain equal rights. Any group who chose to support the civil rights movement would not only lend encouragement and backing, but also credibility and strength in numbers. Stephen J. Whitfield confirms that African Americans and Jews â€Å"have been so entangled that some twentieth-century Jews in the United States would imagine themselves black, and would blur the lines of race and ethnicity that bigotry had hoped to keep distinct† (Whitfield, 2008 , p. 353). However, it was not just an affinity or moral outrage that prompted Jewish people to become involved in the civil rights movement. Any victory for African Americans was a victory for Jews too. As a people, Jews have met with oppression throughout their history. Many felt as if they dwelt in a place somewhere between the dominant ethnicity of white Anglo-Saxon protestant and the most oppressed race in the United States, African American—sort of a gray area between black and white. By helping to obtain civil rights for African Americans, Jews knew that their cause would be swept along in the tide of change. They too would benefit from changes in federal legislation that would rein in some of the blatant injustice. Martin Luther King understood this. During the bus boycott in Montgomery, AL he said, â€Å"Our victory will not be a victory for Montgomery’s Negroes alone. It will be a victory for justice, a victory for fair play, and a victory for democracy.’ After the boycott proved successful, King refused to ‘take this as a victory over the white

Friday, October 4, 2019

Operation management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Operation management - Essay Example From this research it is clear that although OM is usually thought to be concerned with day-to-day operations of a limited number of resources and functionalities of a business, it is still an all encompassing field of study and more so in today’s fast paced business environment that demands that businesses brace up their operations strategies to face the highly competitive marketplace. While short-term goals of a business are important to be achieved in terms of efficiency and increased productivity, it is the business’s ability to achieve these results in the long-term that determines its success in the market, making it imperative that it tie its short-term efforts strategically for sustainability and profitability. Technological advancements and innovative approaches to business have constantly changed the face of the market for any business across the world, opening new avenues and options for implementing change in the way business is done. The sole focus being to increase productivity and reduce cost to attain a competitive advantage for survival in the long run. Different methodologies have been available through sets of frameworks for implementing the change strategically for operations of a firm and these will be explored and in the report. Research methodologies that are a best fit for implementing operations strategy will also be studied while exploring the concepts of soft systems methods like lean management, Six Sigma, etc. that help understand the relevance and success of operations strategy in OM.... that help understand the relevance and success of operations strategy in OM. Further, the process of OM itself will be understood with reference to the various development stages of a business in any market. 2. Defining Operations Management â€Å"OM is defined as the process of design, planning, controlling and executing operations in manufacturing and service industries† (Will et al., 2002). The management of a firm’s operations can be found to deal with a wide variety of activities including the design and management of products, services, processes and supply chains through acquisitions, development and utilization of resources at strategic, tactical and operational levels to deliver value to customer while increasing profitability for all the stakeholders of the business. OM encompasses tactical issues ranging from plant layout and structure, project management methods to equipment selection and replacement, operational issues like inventory management, process and production scheduling and controlling, quality control, and policies related to equipment handling and maintenance, etc. (MIT Sloan, 2011). 3. Strategy in Operations An operations strategy reflects what a firm does in the market and is one of the functional strategies of a firm that reflects its decisions which determine the direction of its operations. As the term operations refers to activities or functions of the firm that relate to the producing of products and services, operations strategy is well concerned with the long-term management of resources that are required to produce these products and services (Slack et al., 2010). 4. Importance of operations strategy a.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

The Issue of Female Identity in the Novel The Trick Essay Example for Free

The Issue of Female Identity in the Novel The Trick Essay This paper examines the issues of gender within Janice Galloway’s novel, The Trick is to Keep Breathing. The paper considers the identity crisis that the character of Joy Stone in the novel faces and discloses how this crisis is triggered as a result of social oppression. The Trick is to Keep Breathing is primarily a story about the mental health of an individual and tells of how she has suffered to such an extent that she has been plummeted into depression, self-loathing and anorexia. One of the key themes in the book is that of alienation. The main character, Joy, is suffering from a loss, a loss that is not recognized in the eyes of society; she is the mistress of a dead man. Whilst the family of the man are able to openly grieve and be acknowledged for their position in her lover’s life, she is forced to hide her feelings away, together with her knowledge of her lover’s feelings for her, in her own secret prison. Her position as a mistress leaves her with no place to grieve and the social constraints of society entail she is restrained from mourning. Social institutions mean that she has no justifiable relationship with Michael and therefore is without purpose, she has no existence. She is thus socially oppressed and such oppression acts as means by which Joy’s identity and place in the world is stripped from her. Joy has no real control over her life. . She is thus trying to grief alone and quietly but her inability to publicly release her feelings and gain recognition for how significant she was in her lover life mean that loses all self respect and she subsequently endures a lifestyle that is devoid of any significance. She completes her daily chores with very little feeling and her future stretches before her in a daunting and formidable fashion. Even time is meaningless to her. Joy’s depressed and emptiness plays out on both a psychological and a physical level. She is obsessed with her own image and allows her self perception to be negatively impacted by the magazines she reads and the inferior way in which they make her feel. The only way in which she seems capable of having some control over her feelings is through denying herself food. She attempts to rid herself of her sense of loss and her frustration with the way in which society treats her by starving herself and thus intertwines her identity crisis with her physical body. But the physical manifestations of her oppression only serve to enhance her feelings of loss, â€Å"Empty space. I had nothing inside me† (147). She is increasingly becoming separated from the world in which she lives, the people who surround her and even her own body. Gender is of extremely relevance within the novel and her relationships with various male figures such as the doctors, an ex boyfriend and her boss form an important element of the story. All of the men she encounters are dominant, overpowering characters who, in their own ways, wish Joy to submit to their wishes. Her memories of her ex-lover control her, the doctors think they know what is best for her and wish for her to do as she is told and other characters simply want to seduce her. However, Joy has lost all ability to adhere to the men’s wishes and she suffers a form of breakdown; one which rebels against what is socially expected of her and strives for freedom from the entrapment of the male gaze and their endless orders. She learns to create meaning for herself, not by adhering to what society deems meaningful but by defining this for herself. By stripping things of the meaning attributed to them by society she is able to rid herself of her oppression and see life in a new light. She learns that she is happier if she doesn’t live by society’s rules and, whilst this may her appear chaotic to an outside audience, it frees her from her personal prison.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

The Roles And Responsibility Of A Teacher

The Roles And Responsibility Of A Teacher Introduction This report is designed to help an individual who wishes to be employed in the teaching field. The main focus of this report will be on primary school teaching. The report will talk about the key entry requirements that are needed, the key issues and policies that are usually required and a summary on what would make this profession considered an attractive occupation and why it would be recommended. Rationale: The report is designed to help any individual to know what they are looking for when deciding to join the professional field of primary teaching. Methods: The methods that were use to find information on the topic was mainly from internet sources, books and journal, Results: The Roles and Responsibility of a teacher: The roles and the responsibilities that a teacher must have are that they must be able to maintain a professional manner when working with children. They also must have a high expectation from the parent and the children. The parents ask that their child do very good compared to other school. The teacher must also have the updated knowledge of any up coming or current polices regarding the children. (Teachernet.gov.uk/ Standards 2007) According to Teachernet (2007) it also explains that the teacher must also have the ability to work together as a team and must also be expected to work longer hours if required. They also must be able to use different ranges of strategies to help develop children abilities. Like help develop knowledge and understanding for example. Support those who need guidance on their learning methods. Establish safe environments for everyone; ensure what is happening in the classroom and outside as well. They must have a good knowledge of literacy and numeracy ski lls and IT skills as well. Teachers must also mark assessments to the correct requirement and make sure that the marking is approved by the second marker. Entry Requirement for the teacher: To become a teacher the standard entry requirement that a person must have is GCSE five A- C in Maths, English and Science. A CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) and experience with working with children. These are the standard that the person working towards teaching must have. The next stage would be to achieve a QTS Qualified Teacher Status by doing ITT Initial Teacher Training. There are several routes to ITT. Postgraduate path With a degree or similar in a relevant subject for the primary National Curriculum, a PGCE Postgraduate Certificate of Education could be a good route. You can study by distance learning on a flexible basis, two years part-time or one year full-time. SCITT School-Centred Initial Teacher Training SCITT is a classroom-based training programme taking one year and normally leading on to the PGCE qualification. You need a degree to qualify. Employment-based routes You could gain QTS in a school while working on a trainee salary along a programme shown below: GTP Graduate Teacher Programme (you must have a degree) RTP Registered Teacher Programme (you must have degree, BTEC HND or two years of a degree) OTTP Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (you must have a non-EU teaching qualification equivalent to a UK degree). The number of employment-based programme places is limited and a great deal of competition exists. (Careerguide.com 2010) There also will be training requirement throughout the person career. It can depend on what the person needs help on. Government Policies and Issues One current issue that the teachers are facing is the abolishing of the SATS. There have been talks about how the government wishes to get rid of the year Six SATS. In the Teachers Nut magazine Dec 09, it gives an article about how the teachers wanted to boycott the Sats as they felt that the children are given too much pressure. An article written by Sarah Lyons in Nut magazine 09, shows a survey where they found the latest teacher workload and how much they are tackling it. The survey looks at the different ranges that the teacher must do. One of the common problems that arose was that the teachers had excessive workload and that there was a limit of 48hrs and that the teachers were going well above to fit all of these. Also there was an issue of amount of task that they were given to fit and try to get the student to do. Every Child Matters 2004 (ECM) is a green paper which shares programmes to help support and improve the outcomes of young children from the ages 0-19 years. With this it provides how the child should be treated in schools and make sure that they are safe wherever they are. Although it is a law paper, it is really useful as it can help contribute the relationship between the teacher and student, because if the child is feeling insecure it can encourage the child to talk to the teacher. In the journal written by Johnston 99, the number of males entering the primary teaching field has decrease compared to female. They explain that the male are more pressure to be seen in a more masculine field as the teaching field is more feminine, as the teaching field need more of a caring environment which tend to be more female This make the males feel that they have to compete for a position which they must show that they can be caring as a female. The journal explains how men feel pressured into more masculine roles as teaching has been stereotyped as a female field. As a result these cause men to feel that they have to compete for the position, which they must need to show that they are caring just like women. Curtis, 2009 explains that the head teachers of primary schools are asking parents to not believe the league tables as it is it is not reliable. This is because the table shows some of the children potential. Primary teachers are complaining that the children are not being shown their full potential. It also shows the difference between schools and undermine their child education as other students would resort to bullying when they find that the student go to a bottom school. The media is putting pressure on the teachers as they are complaining that the students are not doing well. They are making the teachers feel that they are not given the students the best and are only there to make money. Because in the Daily Mail 2010, an article explained that the teachers are having to put up with more children as the classrooms are really small and that the teachers are having problems looking after more then 30 children in a class, which then makes it creates more issues as the teacher is finding it more difficult to teach as they will not be able to help the child to their full potential as different child will need different help. Conclusion Why is teaching primary school a good profession when there are so many issues and many policies to learn? Teaching is a good professional field to go into as it gives a person something to give back. Becoming a teacher means that you will be able to challenge yourself and make use of all the skill you have learnt throughout your years. It also means that you will be able to express yourself and will learn to work together with teams. Becoming a teacher will help you become focus and make you independent. Becoming a teacher will help you be proud of your student, when you see them giving you smiles when they have achieved something. Also as a career, there are opportunities that can mean that you can move up the ladder. Also, the pay rate increases as you move up and the starting rate is from ÂÂ £20,000 per year and moves onwards. Another reason why this is a good professional is that as a teacher you will be able to learn new development and policies, that it will be very handy and you will be contently constantly learning training new things to improve your skills. Becoming a teacher will mean that you will have a job security and will be able to travel the world and help teach other students as well, also it will make you feel younger and livelier with the children. You also get the summer term and any other main holiday as well. And also teach new subjects that you may have not known about. Becoming a teacher is fun and will make you enjoy your life. It will also make you please that you are able to teach others and make them feel proud of themselves.

The Workplace and Title Seven Essay -- essays research papers

The Workplace and Title VII The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the catalyst in abolishing the separate but equal policies that had been a mainstay in our society. Though racial discrimination was the initial focal point, its enactment affected every race. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in housing, education, employment, public accommodations and the receipt of federal funds based on certain discrimination factors such as race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or religion. Title VII is the employment segment of the Civil Rights Act and is considered one of the most important aspects of legislation that has helped define the employment law practices in this country. Prior to Title VII, an employer could hire and fire an employee for any given reason. Title VII prohibits discrimination in hiring, firing, training, promotion, discipline or other workplace decisions. (Bennett-Alexander-Hartman, Fourth Edition, pp 85) Though it applies to everyone, its enactment was especially signifi cant to women and minorities, who until its passage had limited recourse in harassment based discriminations in the workplace.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency that enforces the federal laws, policies and regulations as it relates to employment discrimination. Over the course of years, Title VII has been amended to reinforce its prohibitions to include pregnancy as a type of gender discrimination, jury trials, compensatory damage and punitive damages. Its amendments have also strengthened the enforcement policy of the EEOC. An employer and employee need to be aware of those areas that are and are not covered by Title VII. It applies to employers, unions, joint labor and management committees as well as employment agencies whose functions include referral and training decisions among others. It applies to all private, federal, state and local governments who employ 15 employees or more. An employer with less than 15 employees is not required to comply with the guidelines set by Title VII. Title VII covers all levels and types of employees. In 1991, t he act was further extended to include United States (U.S.) citizens who are employed outside of the U.S. for American employers. Non U.S. citizens are also protected as long as they are employed in the U.S. Title VII however, does not a... ...overlooked in the workplace. Title VII has changed the pre-employment process in that the interviewer must be careful in the questions that are posed to the interviewee. The interviewer should not ask questions that can be deemed discriminatory. A rule of thumb is to limit questions that have to do with a person’s private life. As an employer, it must be made clear that discrimination will not be tolerated in the workplace. Employers and employees need to become familiar with what constitutes discrimination. Employees need to be informed of the employer’s position as it relates to workplace discrimination. An employer should adopt policies that address this issue in the form of employee handbooks and/or in house training for all employee levels, including what steps will be taken for violations. If the employer and employee work together to prevent these forms of discretions, it can help curtail some of the litigiousness surrounding this issue. References Anheuser-Busch, Inc., v. Missouri Com’n on Human Rights, 682 S.W.2d 828 (Mo.App. E.D. 1984) Bennett-Alexander-Hartman, Employment Law for Business, 4th Edition, 85, 95, 97, Griggs v. Duke Power, 401 U.S. 424 (1971).

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Anti Mining Essay

I. Exordium (opening) â€Å"Where you stand on this issue is determined by the question: do you love this country? If you do, you’ll fight for it..† â€Å"Mining is a search-and-destroy mission.† II. Salutation: Member of the Board of Judges, my worthy opponents, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. III. Definition: According to Meriam-Webster’s Dictionary, mining is the excavation of materials from the Earth’s crust, including those of organic origin, such as coal and petroleum. Modern mining is costly and complicated. First, a mineral vein that can likely produce enough of the desired substance to justify the cost of extraction must be located. Then the size of the vein or deposit is determined, and mining engineers decide the best way to mine it. Most of the world’s yearly mineral production is extracted by surface mining, which includes open-pit mining, strip mining, and quarrying. For ore bodies that lie a considerable distance below the surface, underground mining must be considered. In both techniques, excavating and extracting mineral substances involve costly combinations of drilling, blasting, hoisting, and hauling, as well as measures for health and safety and reduction of environmental impact. IV. Team Split I shall discuss the Necessity aspect while my team mate, 2nd speaker shall discuss the Beneficiality and the 3rd speaker shall discuss the Practicability aspect of the proposition. V. Argument I VI. Argument II VII. Argument III VIII. Closing/Conclusion Haribon Foundation features women in the book â€Å"STORIES from the MINES of struggle, sisterhood and solidarity† released by Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM); these are the women â€Å"who continue to campaign for human dignity, biodiversity conservation and sustainable communities†. Natividad Nagutom or Naty, 61, is a resident of Barangay Magapua, Mogpog in Marinduque. She is married to Julio Nagutom and a mother of eight children. She is a member of Marinduque Council for Environmental Concern (MACEC) for over 13 years. Now, she is the chairman of MACEC chapter in their barangay. Her involvement in MACEC had developed her to become a tough advocate of human rights and a safe and peaceful community. Like most members of MACEC, Naty has her own share of struggles with the impact of mining in their town. In 1993, the Maguila-guila Siltation Dam of Marcopper Mining Corporation collapsed and caused a flash flood that gushed to the Mogpog River. The heavy surge of water and mine spill had shaken their house and almost drowned them to death. Naty and her husband tied themselves with their eight children, so that they can support each other and avoid drowning. That traumatic experience drove her to be involved in the campaign against mining in their community and the entire province. She actively participated in many seminars, trainings, and mobilizations in and out of the province which are usually sponsored by MACEC. With support from MACEC and other organization, she took the lead in filing the case against Marcopper Mining Corporation. In 2005, she attended a Mining Conference in Baguio City organized by Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center. In the conference, she shared her experience during the 1993 flash flood and her contributions to the anti-mining actions. The participants felt her struggle; almost all of them cried after realizing that they were not alone in the fight for justice. That experience made her an even stronger advocate. Her integrity was challenged by the attempts of mining company to buy off her stand and discontinue. But she never thought of withdrawing the case even though sometimes it frustrates her to think that it is moving slow. But they cherish victories and milestones in their campaign—the 50-year mining moratorium in the province is one. To Naty, mining is a destructive industry that causes people to live in fear and exposes them to so much threat. For her, mining has no place now in Mogpog and in the entire province of Marinduque. THE IMPACTS OF MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES The problem of the issue is the negative environmental and health impact of mining.   Statement of Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, 1998. Mining poses tremendous risks to life and limb, not only to miners but to the community as well. Countless accidents have happened and have affected thousands of miners in our country, directly or indirectly caused by hazardous mining operations. There is a very high social cost of mining and the impact on the society is immeasurable. Occupational health hazards posed by mining to workers are exposure to intense heat, poor ventilation, vibration, dust, fumes, repetitive stress injury (RSI), intense noise, manual handling (e.g. lifting) of heavy machinery and biological and chemical hazards. Due to the nature of underground mining, miners are constantly exposed to intense heat while hydration is very limited. Miners usually have fluid and salt deficiency due to constant sweating, increased stress on the heart, heat stroke, opacity of the lens and reduced fertility due to high heat. Poor ventilation robs the body of needed oxygen causing the brain to malfunction and leads to many deaths especially in underground operations. Vibration on the other hand can cause permanent damage to bones and vibration syndrome or â€Å"dead finger† syndrome can lead to gangrene in the hands and fingers. It can also cause digestive problems due to constant shaking of the internal organs, heart problems and disruption of the nervous system. Mines exposes workers to different types of airborne particulates, making them vulnerable to systemic toxic effects due to the absorption of lead, manganese, cadmium, zinc and other toxic material. Fumes are emitted by chemicals being used or by the machines being employed during mining operations. Coupled with poor ventilation, this can trigger accidents and cause death to workers. RSI being a soft-tissue disorder is caused by overloading of particular muscle group from repetitive use or maintenance of constrained postures. Miners who suffer from RSI complain of weakness of the affected muscles, heaviness, â€Å"pins and needles† sensation and numbness. Noise or irritating and hazardous sound can cause hearing impairment and/or disrupt body functions like blood circulation and hormone imbalance. Deafness and hearing loss can become irreversible and other non-auditory effects are increased blood pressure and peptic ulcer due to increased gastrointestinal motility. Manual lifting of materials causes back troubles leading to acute pain. A large percentage of the workers suffer sooner or later from this disorder caused by their type of work. Because most mines in the Philippines extract gold, the use of sodium cyanide for leaching gold from finely ground ore is frequent. The use of liquid mercury to create gold-amalgam is also wide-spread. Cyanide blocks the transfer of oxygen from the blood to the body tissues. Signs of acute poisoning include rapid breathing, gasping, tremors, convulsions and death. Effects of sub lethal poisoning include headache, dizziness and thyroid enlargement. A Fact-Finding Team composed of human rights and environmental experts from the United Kingdom which looked into the impact of mining on the environment and peoples’ livelihoods in the Philippines highlighted the occurrence of mining-related human rights abuses affecting local communities especially indigenous people; extrajudicial killings of persons protesting against mining; corruption in the mining sector; political pressure on the judiciary resulting in pro-mining decisions; and environmental impacts. The team observed that the record of mining companies with regard to environmental protection, disasters and post-mining clean-up in the Philippines is widely acknowledged, even with the government, to be very poor. As of 2003, there had been at least 16 serious tailing dam failures in the preceding 20 years and about 800 abandoned mine sites have not been cleaned up. Clean-up costs are estimated in billions of dollars and damage will never be fully reversed. It warned that water contamination from mining poses one of the top three ecological security threats in the world. Many mining applications in the Philippines are in water catchment areas close to the sea, and pose major threat to valuable marine resources. The severe pollution of the Taft river system in Eastern Samar as a result of the mining activities in Bagacay is a vivid example. The report also emphasized the very high geo-hazard risks in the Philippines. In the Philippines, over half of the active mining concessions and two-thirds of exploratory concessions are located in areas of high seismic risk where earthquakes are likely. The Philippines is considered as the hottest hotspot in the world in terms of threats to its mega diverse biodiversity. Thus there is an urgent need to properly manage its natural resources. It is estimated that 37% of Philippine forests may be exposed to new mining. We have to be concern with the past experiences where human rights were disregarded in pursuit of the mining operations. Likewise, our country is facing with the diminishing and restricted natural resources. Our government may be in need of revenue, but sacrificing the environmental management, such as the agricultural land, water and forests, which are more essential, sustainable and economically practicable. The exploration, development and utilization of mineral resources contend with the present day realities of global warming, pollution, and food shortages. One thing to consider is the dangers posed by earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic eruptions. Protecting the environment is avoiding risk and disaster; hence the acts of provincial board members are laudable. The bill in Congress banning all mining exploration and operation in Carigara Bay shows how Leyte 2nd district Representative (Rep.) Sergio Apostol, principal authored, with Leyte 3rd district Rep. Andres Salvacion and Biliran lone district Rep. Rogelio Espina, co-authors, seriously are concerned with the lives of the people and to protect the environment. Sangguniang Panlalawigan action on mining ventures in the province show they are not sleeping on their jobs. Their concern on the effect of mining is a great service to humanity, especially for Leyteà ±os. A negative impact on the environment, not only during its operations, but will continue even after long years of its cessation. Thus, the vital action of the government either from the national or local authorities imposing regulations to moderate the negative effect of mining in a locality is necessary. Our country has extremely poor mining reputation compared from other parts of the world. Abandoned mines and even those still operating have affected the livelihoods of thousands of lesser fortunate Filipinos. Mining has a negative effect for Filipino source of livelihood. In the case of the farmers in MacArthur wherein Leyte 2nd district Board Member Anlie Apostol is alarmed, because the Nicua Mining Corporation’s mining award may be against the spirit of the Agrarian Reform Law. Some 40 hectares were bought with option for the farmers to buy back the land may have violated the provision that the farmer-beneficiary could not sell the land within 25 years. Unless the land is no longer productive and approved by the Department of Agrarian Reform in accordance with the rules in conversion or exemption. At present we have some 800 abandoned mines in the country that have caused immense environmental damage. Some of which have records of human rights abuses. Abandoned mines have left the affected residents to undergo economic difficulties. How long will Nicua operates the mining? It is worthy to note that some mining companies have failed to comply with national law and international standards, according to Clare Short, a member of parliament from Birmingham, United Kingdom. As the stand taken by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) when they publicly opposed the 1995 Mining Act. Leyte 1st district Board Member Roque Tiu is correct in his contention that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and the Provincial Government of Leyte are not in contradiction over the Mining Act and the Local Government Code (LGC). It is true that licenses for mining operation is issued by the national government, however, the LGC provides: â€Å"Section 27. – Prior Consultations Required. – No project or program shall be implemented by government authorities unless the consultations mentioned in Section 2 (c) and 26 hereof are complied with, and prior approval of the Sanggunian concerned is obtained. Provided that occupants in areas where such projects are to be implemented shall not be evicted unless appropriate relocation sites have been provided, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. â€Å"Section 26. Duty of National Government Agencies in the Maintenance of /Ecological Balance.- It shall be the duty of every national agency or government-owned or controlled corporation authorizing of involved in the planning and implementation of any project or program that may cause pollution, climatic change, depletion of non-renewable resources, loss of cropland, rangeland, or forest cover, and extinction of animal or plant species, to consult with the local government units, nongovernmental organizations, and other sectors concerned and explain the goals and objectives of the project or program, its impact upon the people and the community in terms of environmental or ecological balance, and the measures that will be undertaken to prevent or minimize the adverse effects thereof.† In one of the rulings of the Supreme Court, it states: â€Å"Congress introduced Sections 26 and 27 in the Local Government Code to emphasize the legislative concern â€Å"for the maintenance of a sound ecology and clean environment.† These provisions require every national government agency or government-owned and controlled corporation to hold prior consultations with the local government unit concerned and to secure the prior approval of its sanggunian before implementing â€Å"any project or program that may cause pollution, climatic change, depletion of non-renewable resources, loss of cropland, rangeland, or forest cover and extinction of animal or plant species.†