The Criminalization Of Knowingly Transmitting AIDS Essays - HIVAIDS

The Criminalization of Knowingly Transmitting AIDS Table of Contents Brief history of AIDS and the criminalization of knowingly transmitting it.......................................3 Interviews concerning the issue............................4 Reasons for the criminalization of knowingly transmitting AIDS..................................................5 Reasons against the criminalization of knowingly transmitting AIDS.....................................7 My position and conclusion.................................8 Brief History of AIDS and the Criminalization of Knowingly Transmitting It Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The virus was discoverd independently in France in 1983 and in the United States in 1984. In the United States, it was initially identified in 1981. In 1986, a second virus, now called HIV-2, was also discovered in Africa. HIV-2 also causes AIDS. AIDS is transmitted in three ways: From sexual contact without protection, from the mixing of ones blood with infected blood, and from an infected pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection can occur from blood transfusions of infected blood, or sharing 'dirty' needles. (Needles already used, in this case, by a HIV positive person.) The criminalization of intentionally spreading AIDS has been a big issue recently, and still remains so. As of September, 1991, legislation criminalizing AIDS transmission has been passed in 24 states. Among these states are California, Idaho, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, and South Carolina. Under these current laws, it is a crime to knowingly transmit the virus through sex, sharing needles, donating infected blood, organs, or skin tissue. The first person to go to court under these laws in Michigan was Jeffrey Hanlon. Hanlon was a gay man who infected another man from Michigan while he was in New York. The American Civil Liberties Union, who agreed to take the case, agrued that the AIDS disclosure law is unconstitutional. Privacy of those with AIDS is what they were worried about. Opponents argued that "they're [those with AIDS] killing people. It's like rape." The maximum sentence Hanlon could have recieved was four years in prison and a $2000 fine. In addition, under the current New York State law, which dates back well before June, 1987, the knowing transmission of a venerial disease is a felony. However, at that time, and currently, AIDS was not classified as a venerial disease. Interviews Concerning the Issue Most people believe that the willful transmission of AIDS to others it virtually murder. I have interviewed **name** and **name**. Both of them feel that intentionally passing AIDS on to another person is murder. The recipient of the virus will, in almost every case, die rather quickly of an AIDS related disease. **name** feels that "if someone knowingly transmits AIDS to another person, it's like committing murder. He or she should be punished to the full extent of the law." In addition to personal interviews, I have found the opinions of Governor Cuomo and former President Ronald Reagan. On June 1, 1987, Cuomo revealed that state lawmakers would consider making the transmission of AIDS a crime. He was quoted at the time as saying: "If you know you have AIDS and you pass it on to someone who is not aware, that should be regarded as a very serious offense. I'm not talking about sins and morality; I'm talking about a sin against the community, a crime. We should look into that." However, nothing was proposed at the time. Former President Ronald Reagan called for "routine" AIDS testing of prisoners, marriage license applicants, immigrants, and possibly some hospital patients. His purpose was only to identify carriers of the disease; no comment concerning the criminalization of the transmission of AIDS was made. Reasons for the Criminalization of Knowingly Transmitting AIDS There are not many reasons for the criminalization of knowingly transmitting AIDS. However, they are very convincing arguments. The first and one of the most convincing arguments is because it will help stop the propogation of the virus. Ideally, if people know that it is a crime to transmit the virus, then they will not. The only way that AIDS will remain an epidemic is if it is continually spread. This is because those with AIDS will in most cases die rather quickly of an AIDS related disease. If they do not spread it, then the number of people with the virus will decline steadily without fail. Another reason is that someone who is intentionally transmitting the disease is doing it for their own satisfaction and/or to hurt others. Such is the case with a drug pusher. Many magazine articles have made reference to the analogy "a drug pusher is the same as an AIDS pusher." Their argument is that if drug pushers are treated as if they commit criminal acts, then

Essay Sample on the South African Land Reform Process

Essay Sample on the South African Land Reform Process South Africa is a wonderful place. Ask the thousands of Nigerians going to Joburg. Those already there may have a different story however. Nevertheless, it’s a wonderful place, on TV at least. Like every other country, South Africans have their own problems. Take land distribution for example. About 15% or less of the population own 85% of the best arable land, leaving the poorer, arid soils to the remaining 85% of the population. This equation may sound unbalanced, but what if the lucky 15% feeds the whole country and still have a whole lot left over for export, contributing to the growth of the South African economy? Theoretically, that is what happens, thanks to advanced technological approaches to agriculture, but lets take a closer look. The lands owned by the 15% of mostly white farmers were seized decades ago by force, trickery or economic manipulation. It is a history we are all familiar with. This, in a continent of communal land ownership, practiced from time immemorial. The acquired practice of individual land ownership has over time, reduced productivity, and created landless serfs and a hapless pool of farm workers desperate enough to accept whatever is thrown to them as handouts. It does create wealth-for a few landowners that is. It is thus not strange how this few have maintained their stranglehold on the mechanisms of production with all the resources at their disposal. This is aside government policy deliberately fashioned to favour white landowners and directly oppress the poor black majority and dispossess them of whatever land they had left. What is extremely strange is the way the present South African government is trying to play ‘Mr. nice guy’ with the South African land reform process . It has suggested a buyback process where the white farmers are refusing to sell and the marginalized people are too poor to buy. It is not surprising that it has been a resounding failure so far. Why the present government insists on protecting the so called property rights of people who acquired land through decades of killing, oppression, cheating and economic manipulation is baffling. These rights were not legally acquired in the first place-legal here means morally right, not a title deed signed by a tribal chieftain who couldn’t read or understand what he was signing, or one acquired from an irreprehensible governing system such as apartheid after people had been forcefully ejected from their lands and homes. Thus the issue of financial compensation should not even arise; they never really owned the land in the first place. The South African agricultural scene is economic exploitation at its triumphant best. While the rich farmers sell their cash and food crops to the highest bidders at home and abroad, majority of people the people are marginally poor in their homeland, without jobs or in low paying jobs, economically exploited and oppressed by a country that lost its apartheid tone only in the colour of the flag, the skin of the president and the constitution of the sports teams. It’s not as if the white farmers use up all their land. Most of the land lays waste in fallow or is unutilized due to mechanical constraints. Lappe and Collins (1984) in their book, ‘Food First’ showed, with data collected from different reliable sources and countries looks at this literal waste of valuable land by large land holding interests. A study of land use in Latin America showed that farmers who owned up to 10 acres cultivated 72%of their land, but farmers with over 86 acres cultivated only 14% of their land.495 was used for pasture and 37% was left idle. Similarly, a 1968 study of Ecuador showed that farmers with more than 2500 acres used a little over 25%. Such atrocious waste is probably true of South Africa. How the government proves it is serious with land reforms while poor marginalized South Africans witness this spectacle beats me. If South Africa is serious about land reforms, they should do it the proper, morally right way. First, all land should be seized and properly redistributed. Not Zimbabwean style, where redistribution was to party cronies who had no desire to work the land, fueling famine, but to cooperative communities composed of farmers who have shown seriousness in developing the land. These farmers should include landless, marginalized citizens who will be willing to invest time and energy in producing crops for local consumption and export in return for the profits and benefits that accrue from such shared ownerships. Forced collectivism should not be encouraged, as it has been shown to be counterproductive. In the early 50s, Yugoslavia and Poland had to abandon a top- down approach to creating agricultural cooperatives. (Bergman, ‘Farm Policies in socialist countries-Lexington, Mass.: Heath, 1975 pp 129ff). The redistribution of land has to be democratic-not democracy of those with the fi nancial muscle to hijack the process as practiced worldwide today-but real democracy, where the ideas of the people forming the cooperatives will be allowed to germinate into a healthy enthusiasm that translates to practical, workable actions that will foster development for the nation and create genuine wealth for the thousands of landless poor south Africans who are looked on as a liability by their government and a class of   elite landowners who shoot at them for trespassing on private property. This is not a call for a bloody revolution. If properly carried out, a sensible agreement can be reached between all parties. Lappe and Collins (1984) noted that seldom, if ever, have land distribution triggered the wholesale liquidation so frequently feared by most capitalist entities. But land distribution is not enough if food production and wealth creation is to be increased. Access to tools, credit, agricultural inputs and necessary infrastructure has to be facilitated by the gove rnment for the cooperatives if this venture is to succeed. Land distribution is useless if these essential tools are left in the hands of greedy, exploitative middlemen. So, South Africans, get talking and start something for the sake of future South Africans. This is a sample Law essay written by one of our academic writers. If you want to order a custom written essay, term paper, research paper, dissertation, thesis contact our company now to get professional academic writing help.

Lazy Word Choice

Lazy Word Choice Lazy Word Choice Lazy Word Choice By Maeve Maddox Thanks to today’s instant communication, words used by one blogger or celebrity catch on at an astounding rate, spilling over into advertising, entertainment, and website comments. One evening I became aware of two television ads airing back to back. One was for a telephone service; the other for a car. Both hammered the word crazy to describe features of their products: â€Å"crazy, crazy generous, crazy efficient, crazy protection.† This mindless kind of usage strips words of meaning. It wastes the power of words that have more appropriate uses. Take this headline, for example: Daylight Saving Time Is Americas Greatest Shame Shame can be used in more than one sense, including a fairly meaningless social convention: â€Å"It’s a shame you couldn’t join us for dinner.† Used as it is in the headline, however, shame is a strong word, calling up images of the Indian removals known as the Trail of Tears, the WWII internment camps for U.S. citizens of Japanese descent, and the Tuskegee syphilis experiments that used untreated black Americans as a control group. Daylight Saving Time may be a fraud. It may be annoying, unnecessary, disruptive or any number of disagreeable things, but is it really â€Å"America’s Greatest Shame†? Sometimes the intended purpose of a piece of writing calls for deliberate misuse of words. Advertising and political speeches come to mind. We live under a constant verbal barrage. It’s impossible to ignore the catch phrases of our culture. They enter our minds and speech. If we are writers, they creep into our first drafts. Happily, we can replace poorly chosen words as we revise. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of LanguageBroadcast vs Broadcasted as Past Form75 Synonyms for â€Å"Hard†

Issues of Faculty Training for Online Courses Research Paper - 1

Issues of Faculty Training for Online Courses - Research Paper Example Second, the approach provides a window of opportunity for innovation (Noor, 2008). Third, the method can be perfectly suited for studying novel and rare phenomenon (Seidman, 2013).  Finally this method is good for challenge (Bogdan & Biklen, 2007). The disadvantages include the following; first, the approach is difficult to derive a definite cause effect inference (Lichtman, 2006). Second, the method is hard to generalize from a single a case and finally it is possible to get biases in data collection and interpretation (Merriam & Merriam, 2009).   The study shall employ semi structured interviews during th process of data collection as they are characterized by topical guidance that contain main questions that are used in a similar manner in every interview. Further, the sequence of the questions is intended to be also following a similar pattern. The choice of semi structured interview had been arrived at due to the fact that there were certain elements within the topic in relation to the sample to be chosen that this researcher might have grasped. Nonetheless, since this is a novel inquiry, the study shall be allowed to take its own course and the questions shall not be imposed upon the participants as a way of imposing the meaning as consequence. Interviews are also comparatively cheaper if done on a relatively small

Trends Executive Memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Trends Executive Memo - Essay Example Further, technology will assist in the collection of evidence for use in courts, and in surveillance of correction centers to reduce the breakout incidences that have been on the rise. This is a major step into the future which ought to happen soon. However, serious planning and strategizing is necessary before taking the steps (NRC-US, 2002). Partnership between the state and private security agencies will be enhanced. This will ensure that security information is shared as received from the public and actions taken in a team fashion. The correction department in the country has experienced a number of challenges. Besides the increased breakouts, it has been noted that many inmates get connected to the outside ‘friends’ through the help of the wardens (Gingrich & Worthington, 2013. Pg. 365). This has to stop. Every correction center must have installed surveillance system to monitor activities within (Priest & Arkin, 2011, pg. 76). These systems, from all centers, will be channeled to the head office surveillance department in real-time. The future of the security is that collaborative units will work together to ensure that the public is secure. Further, technological innovations will replace the manual entries and surveillance making the work easier to execute and monitor (Evans, Martin & Poatsy, 2005. pg. 245). Each of the departments will, therefore, perform their mandate with connectivity and collaboration rather than

Identifying QUALCOMM Intellectual Property :: essays research papers

Report on Identifying and Protecting QUALCOMM Inc. Intellectual Property Introduction QUALCOMM Incorporated is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on the Company's CDMA digital technology. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM has boasted more than 3,000 patent portfolios in wireless industry and has licensed its essential CDMA patent portfolio to more than 125 telecommunications equipment manufacturers worldwide. Under the protection of those IP, QUALCOMM continues to enable the enterprise, network operators and manufacturers, developers and wireless end-users by providing technology innovation and leadership in the telecommunications industry worldwide. This paper will give you a brief analysis on the key forms of QUALCOMM IP, the potential threats and also a general framework to effectively address the intellectual property issues and manage the legal IP risks. QUALCOMM originally made its name known through pioneering and commercializing its CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) digital wireless technology, is now one of the leading enablers of 3G wireless products and services. QUALCOMM spearheads the evolution and growth of 3G wireless by developing CDMA2000Â ® 1X, 1xEV-DO and WCDMA (UMTS) chipsets and end-to-end solutions for network operators and equipment manufactures, as well as other participants in the wireless value chain such as applications developers, publishers and content providers. CDMA works by converting speech into digital information, which is then transmitted as a radio signal over a wireless network. Using a unique code to distinguish each different call, CDMA provides excellent voice capacity and data capability by enabling many more people to share the airwaves at the same time---without static, cross-talk or interference. Because of its advantage, CDMA serves as the foundation for 3G services worldwide. QUALCOMM’s major products and services are generated by three categories of technologies. First is CDMA2000 1x & CDMA2000 1xEV-DO chipsets and solutions, which provide voice and data capabilities within a standard 1.25 MHz CDMA channel for outstanding spectral efficiency and flexibility. Developed as a direct evolution from the previous generation of proven CDMA systems, QUALCOMM’s CDMA2000 technologies provide the easiest, most cost-effective path to 3G services for CDMA operators. The second product the company supplies is Wideband CDMA (UMTS) chipsets and solutions, an approved 3G standard that uses 5 MHz channels for both voice and data. In the area of WCDMA (UMTS) development, QUALCOMM developed the world’s first commercially available, fully integrated WCDMA (UMTS) chipset solutions and now offers complete solutions to support high-speed WCDMA (UMTS) networks worldwide.

College: The Greatest Decision You Can Make Essay

â€Å"In the United States today, there is no more certain investment than a college education†(Carnevale and Melton). Education has always been a major component of American society. One can only go so far without an education, and the more education and knowledge someone has, the better their chances of being successful. Some people believe a high school education is enough, and it is, enough to land a job at a fast food restaurant. I speculate they feel this way because they feel school is not for them, or maybe they just do not want to go far in life. To get far in life people must go above and beyond, and learn things that others do not know to make them stand out in job interviews. College helps develop skills that are necessary for life, and gives them an education that will enhance their future; and despite its few drawbacks, college is worth it. Americans today tend to believe that college is four years of partying and fun while earning a degree, and there is validity in that belief, but one must also include the four years of learning and hard work. One benefit of college is all of the fun activities that there are to take part in. These activities that college students take part in give the students two important things in life: stress management abilities and connections. Students work hard all week and then finally get the chance to relax and do something they enjoy on the weekends. That â€Å"down time† is spent relaxing, and trying to figure out a non-stressful way to complete all homework and projects and still go out for fun. The stress management relates to time management, as students want to do work in a logical time frame that keeps life easy. These two skills relate to life after college because once someone has a job they have to manage the stress of the job and complete tasks in a timely manner. On May 16, 2011, Paul Taylor and his research team from Pew Social & Demographic Trends in Washington DC conducted surveys and asked people if college was worth â€Å"it†. In reference to jobs â€Å"55% [said] it was very useful in helping them prepare for a job or career†. The data from the study supports my assertions of what college provides students with, which is a strong foundation for joining the work force. College also gives students connections. While taking part in activities students make friends and meet people with all kinds of goals for the future. These connections make life easier after college. Students meet friends that have connections to internships, jobs, summer programs and with the help of their friends, students can find themselves in one of these if not more resume building opportunities. Meeting new people and participating in activities make students appear very diverse in turn, more appealing to employers. Another benefit of college is the education that one receives. Not only does one learn about a specific field that other people only have general to no knowledge about, but they essentially become a specialist in a few areas. College forces people to pick their main interests and focus on them. The further they take their education, the more knowledgeable they become in particular fields. Picking a major and minor (sometimes double major and double minor) narrows choices when employers are seeking workers because they want people with a specific skill set, and specific knowledge. Most degrees can give students the opportunity to obtain high paying jobs. Now, while it is true that right out of college students obtain low paying jobs, it also has to be taken into consideration what field the former student is seeking a job in, and the level of their education. For example, if a student obtains a B.A. in management he/she will likely make less money because management is a large field with many people in it. The more people a certain field or job has, the less they will get paid because in the employer’s eyes they are not special, and more people with the exact same degree and qualifications can be found. Now, rewind, and say that same student has a B.A. in biology with a concentration in microbiology. With microbiology being a smaller and more competitive field, a student has the chance to make more money. The amount of jobs available for people with that special knowledge is limited. Employers would pay more because they do not want to lose someone with those rare skills and knowledge to another company. In addition, low paying jobs are not guaranteed to new college graduates, but are still a possibility. However, Anthony Carnevale and Michelle Melton claim that â€Å"rising demand, coupled with the persistent undersupply of college-educated workers over the last 30 years, has driven up relative wages for these workers†. Carnevale and Melton assert that there is a high demand of college-educated workers and that due to the lack of workers, wages are actually increasing. Though I concede that low wages are a possibility for college graduates, I still insist that the wages are higher than what they used to be, and the students could most likely earn more money by continuing there education on through graduate school. In addition, it is believed by the NPR staff writers that most of the low wages and the lack of jobs is due to the current recession. When the benefits and costs and drawbacks of college are compared, it is obvious that the benefits outweigh the problems. According to NPR, â€Å"..every college won’t always be worth it but, he says â€Å"the long-term trends about the average value of a college degree are very strong.† And he says a college degree is still in demand.† The biggest mistake someone can make is not going to college, and that is a decision that they will always regret. Works Cited Carnevale, Anthony P, and Michelle Melton. â€Å"Major Differences: Why Undergraduate Majors Matter.† Presidency Fall 2011: 30-33. Academic Search Premier. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. The authors, Director of Georgetown University Center, Education and the Workforce and a research assistant, use information from their own school and statistics of wages of college graduates. They are credible because they add depth to the argument of what major a person decides on and how that decision effects their salary in the future. They discuss how not all degrees hold the same economic value and encourage students to not only think if college is for them, but what major is best for their future. Cohn, D’Vera. â€Å"Is College Worth it?† Pew Research Center. N.p., 16 May 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. . This source is from the Pew Research Center, in other words a place dedicated to finding facts. This source is credible because it is not opinionated and it is a broad survey of over 2000 people. This source also covers both sides of the argument. There are statistics that add to my argument and help to provide a counter argument for what is cited by Carnevale and Melton state in a separate source. The counter argument provided by this allows me to make my argument stronger and more concrete. Making Headlines Since The ‘70s: Is College Worth It?. National Public Radio. 18 June 2011. http://www.npr.org/â€Å'2011/â€Å'06/â€Å'18/â€Å'137257390/â€Å'making-headlines-since-the-70s-is-college-worth-it. Web. Transcript. 23 Jan. 2012. This broadcast/â€Å'article is a credible source because it is an unbiased source. NPR (National Public Radio) broadcasts to all demographics and is unbiased in its broadcasts. The staff writers point out how most people take the worst cases of college graduates and use them to stereotype all of them, when th at is not the case. They take a logical viewpoint on the issue and show that when the recession ends things will go back to normal. This source is in agreement with the Pew source because both state that college is rather expensive and may not be for everyone.