Sport Corruption!

Most of the world enjoys practicing and watching sports, for this reason I would like to give a brief introduction to the increasing problem of corruption.

Since sports involve many money, there is corruption. But today this problem is evolving as it is the second most corrupted sector in the world. Soccer, rugby, cricket, tennis, football, baseball...any sports involve some corruption.
Some of the various way to be unfair are:

• pay players and referies to to fix games

• kickbacks for player's transfer demanded by club owners

• betting crimes

• use of doping drugs

Some researches have said that only by gambling and illegal betting people have reached hundreds of millions of euros. It is now a serious fact because the reputations of sports professionals and associations are becoming worst, plus it is become a worldwide threat involving money used for illegal things.
Some solutions to stop or decrease sport corruption are: 

• openness in policies and decisions

• government help for sports association

• big amount of money to pay if cought

• control bids 

With the strength of our love for sports and the government's help it will be possible to end corruption in sports. 

Resources:
1)http://www.transparency.org/topic/detail/sport
2)http://www.transparency.org.uk/our-work/corruption-in-the-uk/sport
3)http://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Corruption/Integrity-in-Sport

Alarm: Facebook's dependence


What is Facebook?
Facebook is a social network created by Marck Zuckenberg in 2004. It has initially been concieved as a progress netowrk that could enablee people to communicate with others with who was difficult to keep in touch with.

Unfortunately, with time passing a huge problem has been seen and analyzed: its dipendence.

Frequent studies have explained that this social Network can be defined as a "drug". More than 60 million people have a Facebook account, and an estimated 85% of the users are prooved to be addicted.

Scientists say that the maximum daily access should be around 30 minutes. Addicts, instead, spend around 2-3 hours a day.

It is said that young woman between the age of 12 and 19 are the users that spend the most time on Facebook, by posting photos, adding comments and searching for news to say between friends.

Spending much time over the computer in addition, creates psychological disorders and a greater chance to have stomach aches, sleeping problems, anxiety or even depression.

The only way to stop this addiction is to limit the internet connection or if strong enough cancel your account.

How much time do you spend online? Try and time yourself to understand whether you are an addict and get some preventions.



Sources:
1)http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/04/05/the-true-costs-of-facebook-addiction-low-self-esteem-and-poor-body-image/
2)http://news.oneindia.in/2011/08/09/tech-negative-positive-effects-of-facebook-part-1.html

ALCOHOL ABUSE BETWEEN TEENAGERS



Another developing negative habit between teenagers is drinking alcohol.

Alcohol is not always a negative thing, but everything depends on how it is used. It can be pleasurable to drink a beer with friends during vacations or to drink a glass of wine for dinner once in a while. But things start to become a bit exaggerated when it becomes a daily habit and the quantity drank is way more than expected.

Teenagers represent the largest part of drinking people as they describe it "cool" to be drunk. In all the world, alcohol is considered a public health problem. This because of various surveys and results reported.

It is proven that the average age at which teens start drinking daily is at 15. In addition, millions of youngs are completely addicted to alcohol and are not able to stop. This brought today an estimation of 30,000 medical treatments for students after the overdose of alcohol.

Some of the many effects alcohol has over the human body are:
liver disease
memory loss
damage to the brain
nerve paralysis
difficulty in muscle coordination

Just as if this was not enough, when drunk, teenagers tend to have unprotected sex. This is the main reason that cause teenagers to become parents. In conclusion, between the age of 15-21 the 3 principle causes of death are: automobile crashes, suicide and homicide. All three of them are factors of alcohol.

Sources:
1) http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/79-86.htm
2)http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-teens-and-alcohol

Cyberbulling...Let's stop this!


There has always been a stronger person who had fun playing with other people feelings. With the evolution of internet and networks such as Facebook or Twitter, this nasty phenomena named bullyism has diffused more and more until it became known as cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, tease or target another person. Usually speaking, cyberbullying refers to childrens or teenagers between the age of 8 and 17 years old. If the person is over 18, it is illegal and the consequences can be drastic. 

The effects of cyberbullyism may bring the victim to: violence, juvenile delinquency, depression, mental disorders or even suicide instincts. It is not obvious whether or not a child is cyberbullied, but some aspects that could help understand it are: change in behavior, stop eating, terror of people, isolation and scholastic grades decrease.

Just as the Social Network listed above grew in size and popularity, this sort of bullyism became more stronger. As a matter of fact, scientists proved that 1 teen out of 3 and 1 preteen out of 6 are victims of this dangerous phenomena.

Some preventions can be taken which psychologists encourage to adopt. First of all block the bully, then limit access to technology, do not give personal facts online, ask for help to parents or to the school or try to avoid any situation/conversation that may involve insults. 

Sources: 

1)http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/take_action/take_a_stand_against_cyberbullying.html

2)http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cyberbullying.html#

Respect to each individuals!

 In the 21^st century racial discrimination, a serious social problem still exists in America and all around the World. It occurs when a person is treated unfairly because of race, color, and nationality, ethnic or national origin. It is a deep social problem in US because there is a lot of minor ethnic groups are living in the American society.

Race discrimination covers four areas:

l   Direct discrimination: treating someone less favorably because of their actual or perceived race, or because of the race of someone with whom they associate

l   Indirect discrimination: can occur where there is a policy, practice or procedure, which applies to all workers, but particularly, disadvantages people of a particular race.

l   Harassment: when unwanted conduct related to race has the purpose or effect of violating an individual's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual

l   Victimization: unfair treatment of a worker who has made or supported a complaint about racial discrimination.[1]

 

            In Martin Luther King’s well know speech:” "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal’ … I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." [2]

This anti-discrimination campaign is not only the business of black people in America, but becomes the all world’s sounds of heart and was heard by throughout the world.

            Without him, everything cannot be changed.

            The key to fight with this problem is education. Even though it will take a long time but gradually racism will disappear.

           In my opinion, the key word is to respect! Respect people also their background and be proud that you are not racist.

---

[1] "Acas - Race discrimination." Acas - Home. http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1849 (accessed February 11, 2013).

[2] Jr.&, the time of Martin Luther King. "Martin Luther King Jr. | Facts Summary Information." History Net: Where History Comes Alive - World & US History Online. http://www.historynet.com/martin-luther-king-jr (accessed February 11, 2013).

Animals in danger of extinction

Do you like animals? Well, in the case your response is a "yes", you should be worried of seeing some animals only in photo in the future. 

There are many reason for which animals species are in danger. Some of the main ones are the habitat and the hunting problem. 

Pollution together with destruction literally kill both habitats and animals. As a matter of fact, a minimum of 50 animals are killed throughout 1 deforestation. In addition to this, 50% of wood, 50% of marshes and 95% of meadows have disappeared.

After the habitat, hunting has a great negative influence over animals. Man has always hunted, but at the beginning of human species, hunting was not perceived as a game but a way to survive. Unfortunately, the last few generations have fun by killing animals. 

Many possible things or preventions could be taken to help animals in danger. Some examples are: stop animal fur trading, opening more national parks, stop hunting over animals in extinction, stop pollution and plant new forests.

There are at least 56 animal species in danger today that really risk to disappear or to be seen just in the zoo. 

Sources:

http://www.animalport.com/Animals-In-Danger.html

POLITIC ELECTIONS IN ITALY 2013

Elections for deciding the prime minister of a county is the most fundamental political event of all. For example, in Italy, people take elections very seriously. As s a matter of fact, the 24^th and 25^th of February, the Italians will have to vote for a new prime minister, even because of Mario Montis’s failure. In addition, Monti’s government was established 14 months ago because Berlusconi was unfortunately too criticized by people in order to continue his job as Italy’s prime minister. As a consequence, the  five main candidates for the presidency  are: Silvio Berlusconi, Pierluigi Bersani, Beppe Grillo, Antonio Ingroia and Mario Monti. Under these circumstances, the thing that accomunates all of the five politicians, is that they are promising almost “impossible”  bonus money or reduction of taxes to the Italian population, that they will not actually be able to concede to Italians because the statistics say no one of the five will be elected with a a great majority that allows the prime  minister to have almost absolute powers. Therefore, in order to be voted, these politicians have had to  find the best  strategies,  but this is not an easy job. As an example, a genial politic strategy to gain a few points in the elections is to make happy a few thousand of people. In other words, if you have the opportunity to own a soccer team, like Silvio Berlusconi, buying one of the best soccer players in the world is a good starting point in gaining votes. Bringing the forward Mario Balotelli to AC MIlan, gave the opportunity to Berlusconi to be voted from more than 400,000 Italians. In the final analysis, whoever will be elected prime minister, will have the honor and responsibility to lead a county like Italy out from the economic crisis and will need to try his best to help our country to be respected  more around the world.

1) "IL MESSAGGERO". Italian newspaper. http://www.ilmessaggero.it

2) "IL GIORNALE". Italian newspaper. http://www.ilgiornale.it

Marijuana. Should it be Legal?

Marijuana. Should it be Legal?

 

First of all, what is drug? A drug is a chemical substance, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, that effects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often forming addiction.

 

Marijuana, is one of the lightest and most natural drug that is produced world wide.

It is not a chemical substance, it is a naturally grown plant, just like a rose or any other flower.

The commonly known marijuana that is smoked is made up of the buds, seeds, and leaves of the hemp plant, cannabis sativa.

The component of Marijuana that gives you the “high” effect is called THC.

Marijuana is legal in quite a few states, for example Amsterdam and France. This drug has become legal because of different reasons, it can cure some glaucoma symptoms. It is an inelastic product and thus can be sold at any price and will flourish the economy.

Although is it right to make it a legal product? Besides these last two positive facts. Marijuana has causes:

·         Rapid heart rate

·         Increased blood pressure

·         Increased rate of breathing

·         Red eyes

·         Dry mouth

·         Increased appetite, or "the munchies"

·         Slowed reaction time

·         Distorted sense of time

Other short term symptoms:

• Paranoia
• Magical or "random" thinking
• Short-term memory loss
• Anxiety and depression

Under these effects people are very vulnerable. They risk any kind of death, also the least expected like being run over by a car. Falling in to the water and drowning. It also as long term effect on the brain functions.

In my opinion Marijuana has too many negative effect in contrast with its positive. Therefore it should not be legalized and people should not buy it. Fortunately it is illegal in many of the states, but the selling of the plants seeds is legal. Laws should be made also to prohibit the selling of the seeds. Jeff t.W

Source: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/marijuana-use-and-its-effects

Illegal Weapon Trade

One of the bigger and most devastating illegal trades are the buying and selling of weapons, a big market that is worth billions of dollars each year.

There are huge operations involving planes and ships that are carrying thousands of weapons from Belgium, Ukraine, Russia and South Africa mainly to Nations from Africa to Afghanistan. These operations are created by this “gun runners” or “war lords”.

The weapons transported by the “war lords” are mainly small weapons such as: assault rifles, machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, and ammunitions.

This illegal war trading is the cause of more than 500,000 deaths and millions of injuries every year.

Smaller weapons are the “gun runners” dream, because they are easily transportable and occupy less space than bigger weapons. They can be dropped from planes into waterproof sacks and attached into the bottom of boats or easily brought by foot and trucks.

They are even preferred by Armies, rebel forces and terrorists because they are cheaper, easy to use and light weighted.

Unlike the drugs, that are strictly illegal in almost every country, the arms aren’t illegal. But is the act of selling them to banned buyers that is illegal.

The illegal selling of weapons has an atrocious consequence besides all the deaths. It has the capacity to ruin economies and separate families and communities.

The UN’s 2005 Human developing report, explains that arms conflicts remains “one of the greatest obstacles to human development, and is both a cause and consequence to mass poverty.”

Sources:   

http://www.fas.org/asmp/campaigns/smallarms/IssueBrief3ArmsTrafficking.h...

http://www.fas.org/asmp/library/articles/SchroederLamb.pdf

http://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/conflict-and-natural-disasters/control-a...