A Multiagency Emergency Response Plan Assignment

A Multiagency Emergency Response Plan - Assignment Example This work presents a multiagency emergency response plan. Also, each agency is given a task according to the area of its specialization. This multiagency response plan to terrorism and natural disasters will make use of the service of local police department, local residents, FBI Counterterrorism Division, fire and rescue, health department, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The last agency to be included is the local area administration. Each of these organizations has an important role to play in this plan. First of all, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, n.d.), a potential crime scene often contains fire and various other hazards. The same is true about natural disasters too. In such cases, it becomes necessary to utilize the help of trained people. Here, the service of fire and rescue service will be useful. Secondly, in the case of a terrorist threat, entering into the area requires special expertise as the weapons of terror range from explosives, poison, chemicals, radiological dispersal devices, and biological weapons. That means it is necessary to have well-trained people to enter the area. Here, the service of FBI Counterterrorism Division (CTD) will be useful (FBI, n.d.). Another important point is the collection of evidence. As FEMA states, physical evidence is the most solid evidence. In order to collect physical evidence in the most appropriate way, it is again necessary to have the service of FBI-CTD. The third important component is the health department. Any terrorist attack or natural disaster will leave a large number of people wounded. That means it becomes necessary to ensure immediate medical assistance. The inclusion of health department ensures that the injured are properly taken care of in time. This is all the more important in the case of a natural disaster. Another important agency is the local police. According to

Standards and Standardization Research Paper Essay

Standards and Standardization Research Paper - Essay Example The international method and schemes that are used are applied to the methods and processes used for the creation and maintenance of content, the specific tools used for content creation and maintenance and the interoperability of the contents. The implementation of international standards and other standardization procedures has the effect of reducing the risks that may be met as well as improving the quality of goods and services that may be offered consequently improving an economy as well as the welfare of the society as a whole. Economists propose a mode of categorization of standards that can be based on the economic effects that come across that is useful in the analysis of both the economic forces that determine standardization as well as the impacts of the standardization. Therefore, it can be authoritatively argued that any standard enhances trade as they reduce asymmetries in information, show the consumers that there is quality and create a common basis of discussion for the partners involved in trade that has an effect in the reduction of costs incurred in transaction (Estevadeordal, Suominen and Teh 2009, p.251). International standards can be used to facilitate trade in terms of imports while national standards are essential in protecting domestic suppliers from competition from foreign markets and through this; consumers are protected as well as reduced costs for companies. In addition, due to the fact that industries rely more on a network of suppliers and differentiated value chains, international standards are an important element in the assessing the quality of products and the reduction of risks to both consumers and the suppliers. Swann (2010) states that there is a positive relationship between international standards and standardization of exports or imports whereby for national standards, the results are inconclusive while internationally it affects trade and the economies depending on their design and mode of implementation (Swann 2010 , p.6). Standardization is a voluntary, consensus-driven activity carried out by all interested parties and along with the code of mutually recognizing others, it plays a noteworthy role in the in the proper running of both the internal and international markets. Harmonization of standards helps ensure that there is a free movement of merchandises within the national and international markets thus making the businesses or enterprises to be more competitive in the market (Chrisdoulaki 2010, p.5). The standards set up by different criteria of standardization has got the beneficial effect of protecting the health and the safety of consumers of the products offered in the market place whether locally or internationally as well as the protection of the environment in which we live in. National/international Product Certification schemes Canadian Standards Association (CSA) The Standards Council of Canada whose main task is to improve and promote efficient as well as effective standardiza tion procedures for products and services used within Canada and internationally has accredits the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). It conducts both standardization and certification after which it awards the CSA certification mark when products meet the required safety and performance levels in its fifty-seven areas of operation. Within the arm bit of CSA group is the CSA International that tests

A Multiagency Emergency Response Plan Assignment

A Multiagency Emergency Response Plan - Assignment Example This work presents a multiagency emergency response plan. Also, each agency is given a task according to the area of its specialization. This multiagency response plan to terrorism and natural disasters will make use of the service of local police department, local residents, FBI Counterterrorism Division, fire and rescue, health department, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The last agency to be included is the local area administration. Each of these organizations has an important role to play in this plan. First of all, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, n.d.), a potential crime scene often contains fire and various other hazards. The same is true about natural disasters too. In such cases, it becomes necessary to utilize the help of trained people. Here, the service of fire and rescue service will be useful. Secondly, in the case of a terrorist threat, entering into the area requires special expertise as the weapons of terror range from explosives, poison, chemicals, radiological dispersal devices, and biological weapons. That means it is necessary to have well-trained people to enter the area. Here, the service of FBI Counterterrorism Division (CTD) will be useful (FBI, n.d.). Another important point is the collection of evidence. As FEMA states, physical evidence is the most solid evidence. In order to collect physical evidence in the most appropriate way, it is again necessary to have the service of FBI-CTD. The third important component is the health department. Any terrorist attack or natural disaster will leave a large number of people wounded. That means it becomes necessary to ensure immediate medical assistance. The inclusion of health department ensures that the injured are properly taken care of in time. This is all the more important in the case of a natural disaster. Another important agency is the local police. According to

An IPO for Twitter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

An IPO for Twitter - Essay Example An IPO is an acronym that stands for Initial Public Offering which refers to the first sale of stocks by a privately owned company to the public. IPO’s are often used by younger and smaller companies to expand their business but are also used by privately owned large companies to become publicly traded (Investopedia, 2911). When Twitter makes the decision to go public along with their new commercial accounts and advertisement programs, it is best for Twitter to use an auction – based IPO to acquire and bring more profit to the company. Auction – based IPOs utilize the internet to open the bidding of their stocks to interested investors. In order to underwrite the IPO, Twitter will need an investment bank. This would cost less compared to the traditional IPO underwriting process. A road show would be provided to educate investors about the company’s offerings and the company itself. Additionally, this type of IPO is beneficial for Twitter because auction â €“ based IPOs open the bidding of their stock through the internet allowing a larger set of investors to participate. Lastly, and most importantly, Twitter would have a share price closer to the market value as opposed to the share price in traditional IPO; this would mean there will be a higher return of profit for Twitter (Kadam, 2009). While in the traditional IPO, Twitter would designate a specific investment bank to underwrite the IPO. ... The true market value would be discounted from what Twitter and the investment bank came up with because this acts as the investment bank’s commission from Twitter. For this reason, Twitter would have a lower cost on the auction – based IPO for the underwriting process. After identifying the number of shares that can be offered and the share price of the IPO. In the same way as an auction – based IPO, a road show would be given to the investors to educate them about the offering and about the company itself. Once the road show is completed, shares are then allocated to investors. The advantage of using a traditional IPO is stocks are much higher than the initial price when the trading begins (eSSORTMENT, 2011). There are disadvantages with these types of IPOs. In an auction – based IPO, it would cost them less capital if the company and the investment bank overestimate the value of the stock. If this occurs, the company would not meet their target capital, which translates in a shortage of funds for the company’s expansion. Also, there would be less return of investments for investors because the share price in this form of IPO is close to the market value allowing the profits to flow in the company’s favor (eSSORTMENT, 2011). Another example of a risk in using the auction – based IPO is when the system gets hit by a virus after opening the stocks for bidding to the interested investors. This occurrence would violate the state and federal security laws of the investors. This obstacle can really happen because the opening of the shares is through the use of the internet making it very possible to get hit by the said virus (Hildreth, n.d.). The disadvantage in a traditional IPO is investment banks take

The Giver by Lois Lowry Essay Example for Free

The Giver by Lois Lowry Essay Using specific examples from the book compare and contrast Jonas world with your world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jonas lives in a peaceful and structured community where people follow rules and instructions without hesitation (p.1). Most instructions and reprimands are transmitted over the loudspeakers that are placed around the community (pp.2, 22-23, 37). In Jonas world, children are born to Birthmothers (pp. 21, 53) and are raised in the nurturing center with other newborn infants. Children are given a name and a number and are assigned to couples (p. 13) who are only allowed to have two children, a male and a female (p.8). Underweight infants (pp.148-150), maladaptive citizens (p.7), people who break rules (pp.2 and 9) and the elderly people (pp.7, 28, 31-32) are released from the society. Children are well behaved and they are not allowed to ride the bicycle until they turn nine (p.13). From eight to eleven years of age, children are required to do volunteer work (pp.26 and 45) and at twelve, they are given their assignments or careers as new adult members of the community (pp.53-60). People in the community cannot see colors (p.95) nor feel pains (p.110) and love (p.126-127) because they chose sameness (p.95). In our world, we have the liberty to choose our professions and our spouses. Parents nurture and give birth to their own children. Couples can have as much children as they want. We are open to diversity and we accept individual differences. The law in our society does not permit the practice of euthanasia on children with congenital abnormalities as well as the elderly people. Although we are governed by laws, we are not expected to behave in a structured manner. Most people have the capability to see the colors of our environment, to experience joy, sadness, love and pain. How does the author Lowry use imagery to describe snow and war?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In describing the snow, Lois Lowry use imagery that relates to the visual, tactile and kinesthetic sensation of the body, e.g. sight of a bright, whirling torrent of crystals in the air (p.81), feeling of cold air and snowflakes on Jonas skin and tongue (p.80-81, 92), and the sensation of going downhill on a sled (pp.81-82, 92). Since Jonas has received so many memories in the past, he was asked to share the painful memory of war that was too much for the Giver to endure (p.118). The imagery used by Lowry in describing war is more detailed. The images appeal to our five senses the sight of several groaning men on the field (p118), a boy in uniform glistering with wet, fresh blood (p.119) and witnessing men and animals die (p.120); the scent of the foul-smelling place (p.118); the sense of hearing the thud of cannons and people begging for water (p.119-120); and the sense of touch or feeling as Jonas hold the metal container of water and feel the excruciating pain in his arm (p.119).

Corporate Rescue Mechanisms of Judicial Management

Corporate Rescue Mechanisms of Judicial Management Two new insolvency processes was introduced by the Companies Act 2016 which are corporate rescue mechanisms of judicial management and corporate voluntary arrangement. These mechanisms aim to facilitate rehabilitation of company in the event of corporate insolvency to allow companies to restructure its debts and at the same time able to continue with its business as opposed to the only way of winding up under the old rule, subject to some conditions. Judicial management Judicial management as the name suggests is an order granted by court by way of application by the companys creditor or director. From the time an application is made, and for the duration of any judicial management order made, a moratorium will be in force.[1]Once order is granted, an insolvency practitioner or judicial manager will based on powers vest him,take charge of companys assets for over a period of six months which the order is in force and could be extended for another six months. The said insolvency practitioner or judicial managerwill first make a restructuring proposal for creditors approval which will be obtained by the creditors meeting and voting[2]. A majority approval of 75% of present creditors is required and the effect of restructuring proposal being approved is the proposal becomes binding on all creditors. Judicial management will not be available to institutions regulated by Capital Markets and services Act 2007 and Central Bank of Malaysia.[3] Besides that, judicial management order will only be granted if in applicant successfully show that there is a possibility of rehabilitation and by allowing such order creditors interest will be protected better than winding up process will. Corporate voluntary arrangement Corporate voluntary arrangement may be carried out betweencompanies with their unsecured creditors with minimal courts intervention. It will not be available to company with charge over its properties, public companies and similar with judicial management, institutions regulated by Capital Markets and services Act 2007 and Central Bank of Malaysia. Application for corporate voluntary arrangement could be made by companys director or judicial manager to the court which moratorium commences from this moment onwards. Application is to be supported with an insolvency practitioners statement on his opinion that the arrangement should be approved or disproved based on whether companys funds allow it to continue with its business. Unlike judicial management, under corporate voluntary arrangement there is a time limit to moratorium. After application to court an automatic moratorium kicks in for twenty eight days during which no legal action may commence against the said company[4]. Approval and the subsequent effect is the same as required under judicial management and the creditors meeting should be done within this moratorium period, upon which the moratorium ends. It could be extended for another sixty days by majority approval during said creditors meeting. The Companies Act 2016 also implemented added security feature by way of an insolvency test under s 112[5] to protect rights of parties trading with the company and rights of the creditors. Different solvency test applies for different circumstances but in overall, directors are to sign a solvency statement to declare that the company is solvent for the purpose of declaring dividend, share buyback and redemption of preference share, reduction of share capital or financial assistance. Insolvency-related amendments Companies Act 2016 has also incorporated some insolvency-related amendments, with the strengthening of the laws on receivership, winding up and schemes of arrangement. Receivership The receivership provisions in the CA 2016 substantially expand on the existing provisions in the Act. Section 375 and section 376 of CA 2016 set out the manner of appointing a receiver or a receiver and manager under an instrument or by the Court. S. 375(2)(a) of CA 2016 expressly sets out the agency status of a receiver appointed under a power conferred by an instrument. On part of receivers liability, section 182 of CA 1965 provides receiver to be liable for debts incurred by him in the course of the receivership or possession. The same is incorporated in section 381 of the CA 2016. Further to that, section 382 imposes personal liability on the receiver. Section 383 codified express powers of a receiver which are set out in the Sixth Schedule of the CA 2016. Presently, a receiver would have to derive his powers which expressly or impliedly conferred by Court. Winding up On the changes of winding up related sections, it can be noted that petition for winding up under section 218 CA1965 is generally presented subsequent to a final judgment. In the CA 2016, petition may also be presented without a judgment but after service of a s.218equivalent to section 466(1)(a) Notice of Demand pursuant to specifying the debt. In CA 1965, there is no time limit to file petition to wind up a company after the issuance of the statutory notice under s. 218(2)(a). CA 2016 in s. 466(2) now requires a petition to be filed in Court within six months of the statutory notice. This imposes time limitation for s.218 notice in order to curb abuse and to set useful timelines for potential settlement processes. Presently s.218(1)(m) and (n) permits the Court to order a winding up if a company is being used for unlawful purposes or any purpose prejudicial to national security or public interest or incompatible with peace, welfare, public order, security, good order or morality in Malaysia. S.465(2) of CA 2016 provides that, a finding by the Registrar that a company is being used for such purposes shall be received as prima facie evidence until proven otherwise. The effect is to reverse the burden of proof which then place on company to disprove the existence of the state of affairs said to exist by the Registrar in commencing the winding up action Section 218(2) has given minimum statutory amount for which a company may be presumed to be unable to pay its debts is RM500. Section 466 CA 2016 provides the amount now is to be prescribed by the Minister. Under the present s.223 CA 1965, all dispositions made after the commencement of the winding up by the Court are void unless the Court otherwise orders. Whereas s.472 CA 2016 provide exception to allow exempt dispositions which are defined as dispositions made by a liquidator, or by an interim liquidator,pursuant to a power conferred on them by the Act or rules of the Court that appointed them or by an order of the Court. This may facilitate the liquidators in carrying out their function as part of winding up process to liquidate the assets of the company as part of the without having to seek validation orders each time a disposition is made. S.493 CA 2016 is a new provision giving the Court power to terminate the winding up process. Currently termination of a winding up order is by way of a permanent stay under s.243which given court power to stay winding up. The same section is also used to seek a stay of winding up proceedings pending an appeal and this has continued to cause confusion. Cessation of a winding up as the power to stay in s.492 and the power to terminate in s.493 are clearly segregated. Twelfth schedule of CA 2016 sets out both the powers of a liquidator requiring the authority of the Court or a committee of inspection and powers which may be exercised independently of the same.Notable changes on s.236 CA1965 include the power to carry on the business of the company which increase from four weeks to 180 days after the date of the winding up order, to compromise debts not exceeding RM10,000which currently RM1,500 under s.236(2)(b) due to the company without approval of the Court/COI. This would enhanced the roles of liquidators to facilitate the smooth process of liquidation. Further, CA 2016 also provide more protection to employees as unsecured creditors under s.292(1)(b). The upper limit for the payment of wages or salary in the distribution of a companys property increased from RM5,000 to RM15,000 under s.527(1)(b) of CA 2016 Scheme of arrangement The scheme of arrangement provisions remains largely the same except for two of the more significant changes. In s.367 of CA 2016, upon application, the court may appoint an approved liquidator to assess the viability of a proposed scheme and prepare a report for submission to the meeting of creditors and members. This would enable an independent professional in the field of insolvency to determine the viability of the scheme and take into account the interests of all the stakeholders. Currently under s.176(10A) CA 1965 the court may grant a restraining order for not more than 90 days. Under s.368(2) CA 2016 the restraining order may be extended by court for not more than 9 months upon application to court. Further, s.176(10D) CA 1965 provides company disposes or acquires any property, other than in the ordinary course of its business, without leave of the Court, liable for monetary punishment of RM1 million. In CA 2016, the amount has increased to RM3 million as provided in s.368(7). [1]Malaysia: New Malaysian insolvency laws (2016) Available online http://restructuring.bakermckenzie.com/2016/11/06/malaysia-new-malaysian-insolvency-laws/ (Accessed on: 19th January 2017) [2]Malaysias New Insolvency Regime (2016) Available online http://www.klgates.com/malaysias-new-insolvency-regime-07-05-2016/   (Accessed on 20th January 2017) [3]Reform in the Malaysian Corporate Landscape Key Highlights under the New Companies Act (2016) Available online https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/my/Documents/tax/my-tax-espresso-reform-in-the-malaysian-corporate-landscape.pdf   (Accessed on 20th January 2017) [4] Corporate voluntary arragement (2016) Available online http://www.chooi.com.my/pdf/Chooi_Companies_Act_2016_corporate_voluntary_arrangement_975866_1.pdf ( Accessed on 21st January 2017) [5] Companies Act 2016, s 112

Lawsuits and the End of Sanity in America :: Exploratory Essays

Lawsuits and the End of Sanity in America Not having experienced much of the past is a mixed blessing. What's grotesque, shocking and unheard of to older Americans might seem normal, perhaps just a bit curious, to younger Americans. For example, last year New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial brought suit against gun manufacturers to recover carnage costs in his city. This January, Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell met with his advisors to consider whether the City should sue gun manufacturers for creating a public nuisance since guns were used in Philadelphia's 400-plus homicides. The City would seek to recover the cost of everything from cleaning up after bloody murders to the costs of court and social workers for victims. Mayor Rendell's imagination has also led him to discover a new liability for tobacco companies: since some of Philadelphia's fires have careless smoking as their origin, why not sue tobacco companies to recover the city's fire losses? Decades ago anyone suggesting bringing lawsuits against gun manufacturers for homicides, or tobacco companies for fires caused by careless smoking would have been considered a prime candidate for a lunatic asylum. If one generalizes from the lawsuits brought against gun manufacturers because people use their product to commit murder and mayhem, and against tobacco companies for smoking illnesses and fires caused by careless smoking, he would conclude that people are not to be held responsible for anything they do. It is the inanimate object, while incapable of acting, that is responsible. That is, a gun is responsible for murder, not the gun's user. A cigarette is responsible for a fire, not the careless smoker. That being the case, it "logically" follows that manufacturers of the offending inanimate object are culpable. After all had the manufacture not produced the gun or cigarette there would be fewer homicides, smoking-related illnesses and fires caused by careless smoking. This it's-not-my-fault principle could be broadened to include just about anything. If a scantily clad young lady is prancing along the street, distracts my attention, and I have an automobile collision, the it's-not-my-fault principle would hold the young lady liable for my accident. But she might make the case that it is the manufacturer of her mini-skirt who is really liable. If we Americans were to carry the it's-not-my-fault principle to its logical conclusion, we would virtually guarantee poverty. There would be little production. Why should I manufacture irons if I could be held liable for anything a person might do with the iron, including assault or leaving the iron unattended thereby causing a fire.