Department of Justice Essay Example for Free

Department of Justice Essay There seems to be major issue in the case of United States v. Viktor Kozenzy. The specific legal question is whether Viktor Kozenzy, Frederic Bourke, Jr, and David Pinkerton had conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Travel Act. There are many facts that support this claim. Viktor Kozenzy, Federic Bourke Jr. and David Pinkerton paid and also caused to be paid bribes to Azeri Officials. They all became shareholders of Oily Rock. Oily Rock invested in Azeri privatization vouchers. They also became part of Minaret as well. Mineret was a party to the co-investment agreement between Oily Rock and the co-investors. There seems to be lots of more facts in this case. The defendants made many corrupt payments, promises, and offers to Senior officials of the Government of Azerbaijan. They all seemed to have conspiracy to bribe and there are evidence of wire transfers and direct cash payments. They also promised two-thirds of the profits of Oily-Rock and receive two-thirds of Oily Rock vouchers. There are was also much jewelry exchanged in excess of $600,000 to Azeri officials. The source of my facts came from Justice.gov, it is the official United States Department of Justice’s website. It is very credible and accurate. There seems to be relevant laws and regulations such as Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Travel Act. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act made it unlawful to bribe officials. It was passed in 1977. I believe that the court reached the decision by the substantial evidence. There were documented evidence that shows the money laundering, stock options, and wire transfer to foreign officials. I think that the court was correct that the defendant did indeed conspire to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Travel Act. This situation could be easily avoided if the government officials had personal watching over them or checking the bank accounts. Many of the officials should be watched closely after and monitored. Works Cited The United States Deparment of Justice. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa/cases/kozenyv.html

Sharks Essay examples -- essays research papers fc

SHARKS There are more that 250 species of sharks, ranging from the harmless whale shark to the ferocious great white. I will describe the feeding habits and localities of the three greatly known to mankind: the great white shark (Carcharodon Carcharias), the tiger shark (Galeocerdo Cuvieri), and the bull shark (Carcharhinus Leucas). The great white shark, known as Carchardon Carcharias, feeds regularly on marine mammals, such as seals, sea lions, otters, dolphins, and whales. Samuel Gruber in Discovering Sharks writes that the great white consumes marine mammals when they come across a deceased one. Even though the great white has the reputation of a man-eater; they attack thinking that the diver or surfers on a short board are part of its natural prey. The San Francisco area is known as the great white capital, because of the â€Å"Red Triangle.† The red triangle is the breeding ground for its natural prey, seals and sea lions. The triangle’s boundaries are north of Tamales Point, south of Monterey Bay, and west of the Farallon Islands, states Rodney Steel in the book Sharks of the World. The sharks also are found in quiet, shallow waters, along with in Australia. The tiger shark, known as Galeocerdo Cuivieri, feeds regularly on marine mammals also. Tiger sharks do end up with curious articles in their stomach like license plates, lamps, and sheep. The tiger shark is a cannibalistic shark, which means it will attack its own kind when needed. Tiger sharks will feed on anything th...

Electronic civil disobedience Essay

Civil disobedience has been a large part of societies and the past generations that have existed. With the further dawning of the information technology era, civil disobedience has taken another form—electronic civil disobedience (ECD). Though ECD takes a rather non-violent means in advancing the interests of certain groups and positing challenges to the status quo of several institutions, ECD has nevertheless remained a crucial force in shaping the image of mankind in general and will remain to be a contributing element in the coming years—and beyond. A look into electronic civil disobedience: comparisons and analyses In contrast to computer criminality, electronic civil disobedience is a means merely designed to â€Å"attack the institutions† whereas the former is more inclined to obtain profit from â€Å"actions that damage an individual†. This standing distinction contests the probable argument that there is no solid, or at least an ideal difference between the two and that both are the same means in putting down the strength of an institution or of an individual. However, while computer criminality is, by the name itself, a crime punishable by existing and applicable laws under the jurisdiction of certain states, resistance via electronic means—the most common of which is through cyberspace—is deemed to be a means to challenge the existing authority, for instance, in pushing forth necessary changes that are being sought after by individuals. This measure is, apparently, still within the borders of the law and are, hence, legal. Electronic civil disobedience (ECD) is oftentimes carried out in a manner that is not violent or, at the very least, in ways that do not involve direct physical contact (â€Å"Electronic Civil Disobedience†). Although there can be indirect physical consequences that can be attributed to the means and ends that are involved with ECD, a large bulk of the essence of ECD rests on its forefront—resistance through the maximum utility of the intangible resources available. These resources are largely comprised of electronic information and invisible systems in cyberspace that do not require physical contact among the individuals that seek to advance their interests in the face of another individual or an existing authority. Though by and large much of the past generations—and even a considerable number of the present generation of citizens—have been closely attached to the physical means of civil disobedience such as in the literal sense of â€Å"taking-up the streets†, a shift in the manifestation of civil disobedience is greatly felt in the electronic realm. Since information technology’s presence has increasingly grown over the past few decades and since its developments have been continuous and have been exponential in refinement, the impacts of electronic civil disobedience has also risen in levels proportional to the booming of the information technology industry. As recent developments in the field of cyberspace expand abruptly, so are the probable means in which ECD can make itself successful in achieving it’s goals or, at least, in making its presence and mission felt across territorial boundaries of states (Cleaver). Moreover, this growth in information technology (IT) has also started to break down the physical barriers as well as the invisible fences that hold back attempts at pushing forth civil resistance or disobedience. The physical institutions that seek to eradicate or lessen the probability of occurrence of these civil resistances have slowly diminished its grip on its capability to harness barriers and put up defensive mechanisms that strain the success of resistance from citizens. At the height of the development communication tools, effective communication has spread like wildfire from among various areas in the globe. Cellular phone technology has amassed for the people easier means to effectively transmit messages across wide distances, thereby instituting a smoother flow of information relay. Group organization and mobilization is held at a unifying pace that easily penetrates the state borders and geographical barriers. This leads us to the notion that the as the advent of electronic communication—the internet and cellular phone technology to name a few—the expected rise in the efficiency and effectiveness of group mobilization and organization in the face of electronic civil disobedience is within reach. However, the abuse of ECD as in the case of civil disobedience (CD) is always a possibility to the extent that legal measures have also to be taken by the proper authorities so as to dismantle probable grounds for violent and unlawful measures in furthering the interests of several groups. ECD, for the most part, can be a ploy utilized by extreme groups that do not only seek refuge in the non-violent methods encapsulated within the essence of ECD but also seek unlawful ends through violent actions that spring forth from the devices and advantages brought up by the electronic media. Terrorists, for example, can opt to start their large scale plans of wreaking havoc in a populated society by getting a good hold of the electronic resources available almost everywhere. The September bombings of the World Trade Center in New York has devastated a number of lives and even up to this day the damage done can still be felt not only by those who were directly affected but also by the millions of people who fear the havoc of terrorism, especially in contemporary times where ECD is not something new. It would be interesting to note on the delimiting strands that segregate those that are purely in the form of ECD and those that hid behind layers of terrorist ploys. For the most part, ECD remains today as a growing tool used as a means in contesting the status quo by oppositional forces. This brings us to the security issues posited by the ECD that confront the targeted institutions by modern-day activists. Although security measures have been reinforced throughout the years with the further advancement in technology, cyberspace remains an open territory for civil activism—and hackers. Though there may be inconclusive findings that seek to establish a connection or an alliance between hackers and ECD groups, there remains the possibility that an actual connivance may actually exist, only that the alliance is hidden beneath the rubrics of the intangible world of technology. It may be an extreme thought to dwell on such a possibility. Nevertheless one cannot entirely dismiss its factual occurrence. In the context of the general population that subscribes to the established groups that further ECD, certain identifying marks have to be made so as to pinpoint the possibility of having a hacker among the number of activists that attempt at penetrating the electronic defense mechanisms of institutions. However, the rapid growth of the electronic resources and its availability prove to be one hefty factor to surmount by the institutions. Activism is all the more fueled by this growth and, thus, the efforts of the institutions are to be doubled or thickened accordingly if ECD is to be diminished. Quite on the other hand, ECD may not be diminished at all, nor can it be totally dissolved especially when the generation we have of today is one that is teeming with the abundance of electronic wealth (Wehling). It must be further realized that such an (ever increasing) abundance in the electronic resources found in cyberspace provides a fertile starting point for extreme organizations that might utilize ECD as an initial step towards electronic violence and as a front for the extensive damage that can be instigated through system crashes and data hostages. The person adept at information technology and electronic systems will readily convey that the probable damage of system crashes as well as data hostages are devastating in the sense that they do not only shaken the virtual foundations of institutions but also destroy the intangible interior foundations that build the electronic core of the institutions. Reparations may be met, though, but the time to successfully recover or at least partially get back on track is yet another factor that must be considered. Hence, security measures are as equally significant as the protection of the interests of these institutions, if not even far more important. Conclusion The impacts of ECD have been felt in many ways. As the growth in cyberspace continues to expand and exceed the standards set forth by previous generations in their attempt to resist the institutional forces and further the specific aims for taking up civil disobedience, ECD continues to be a driving force in directing the path of the electronic world. The presence of ECD in contemporary times will eventually stretch through time for as long as there remains a continued expansion in the domain of cyberspace and for as long as the interests of people are not met and properly addressed.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Regional Trading Blocs

Both advantages and disadvantages can be found in regional trading blocs. I am going to discuss about it, taking into consideration as it has been suggested the context of the Europian Union, since it is an interesting example of regional trading block. Governments impose tariffs with the aim of protecting their economies and to control the prices. They intervene in trades for two main reasons: the first one is economic whereas the second one is political. As far as the economic explanation is concerned, the aims are to prevent the unemployment, to promote the industrialisation and to protect the infant industry. On the other hand the political reason is related to the goal of regulating trades with unfriendly countries and preserve the national identity. The EU was created after the Second World War to prevent the continent from future wars and to promote free trades of some goods between the member States. Unfortunately during the 70s, due to some international events, the trades between the participants became harder. None the less after this time of instability free trades between the countries got back. However it is only from 2002 that the EU definitively achieved is goal of free trade. The EU trade policy should be seen in the context of two current realities. The first is the importance of the Union itself as the protagonist the world stage. The second concerns the way in which globalization is changing the International context. The EU is the largest economyShow MoreRelatedAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Regional Trading Blocs Such As The Eu1446 Words   |  6 Pagesgeneral the advantages and disadvantages of regional trading blocs such as the EU. Discuss the benefits that UB may now enjoy after acquiring a stake in the Nigerian firm, AP. Regional trading blocs are when a group of countries that lie within a similar geographic area protect themselves, through a form of economic integration, from imports from non-members. To explain briefly, there are several stages of economic integration. A political union represents the potentially most advanced typeRead MoreRegional Integration Is An Agreement Between Countries With Other Countries Essay835 Words   |  4 PagesRegional Integration Regional integration is an agreement between countries enhancing cooperation to achieve political and economic goals. â€Å"In order to achieve integration, governments must be willing to enter agreements and create policy in favor of investment and trade with other countries. Regional integration may occur between nations because of common cultural backgrounds, geography, or historical links† (Background, 1995). Regional integration has also led to the existence of institutionsRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of The European Union1123 Words   |  5 PagesQuestions: 1. Discuss in general the advantages and disadvantages of regional †¨ trading blocs such as the EU. Discuss the benefits that UB may now enjoy after acquiring a stake in the Nigerian firm, AP. United Biscuits (UB) manufactures its products in factories throughout England, Ireland, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. The advantages and disadvantages of regional trading blocs such as the European Union (EU), since its creation with the Treaties of Rome in 1957, the European Union has shownRead MoreAdvantages and Disadvantages of Regional Integration in Business1200 Words   |  5 PagesAdvantages and disadvantages of regional integration Introduction The chosen trading bloc is the EU. Spain is a member of the European Union. The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 member nations which are located in Europe. The EU was formed the Maastricht Treaty in the year 1993 and it operates through a system of a common market and customs union for the member states who also share a common currency the Euro. The EU is at the sixth and penultimate stage of economic integrationRead More The European Union (EU) vs the North American Free Trade Agreement2961 Words   |  12 Pagesthe most important destination for merchandise exports from 39 of the 50 U.S. states. Relevant Sections Trading Blocs Trade bloc activities have political as well as economic implications. For example, the European Union, the world’s largest trading block, has harbored political ambitions extending far beyond the free trading arrangements sought by other multistage regional economic organizations (Gibb and Michalak 1994: 75). Indeed, the ideological foundations that gave birth to the EURead MoreEu vs Nafta1729 Words   |  7 Pagesgain for both the blocs. However in some areas, â€Å"peaceful co-existence† and some form of â€Å"stricter ties† between the EU and NAFTA would prove to be beneficial for both. Introduction The NAFTA and the European Union comprising of 27 countries comprise the biggest blocs in the world. The two trade blocs are also highly interdependent through foreign direct investment. In 2007, stocks of FDI in the NAFTA were 1.25 trillion euros while relevant figure of the NAFTA in the EU bloc was about 1.15 trillionRead MoreImpacts Of The Regional Trading Blocs1192 Words   |  5 PagesWorld War II, the creation of regional economic blocs has become an essential political remedy that gathers countries and nations rather than divide. Essentially, the creation of the economic regional blocs aims to minimize the obstacles between nations that share the same geographic border and to facilitate the circulations of goods and services. In fact, the regional trading blocs differ in terms of political structure and economic objectives, but the rapidity of trading goods and services within theRead More Trading Blocs Essay1876 Words   |  8 PagesTrading Blocs Nowadays, the world is increasingly divided into trade blocs. Two types of trading blocs are recognized by the WTO : the free trade areas, where member states have removed all tariff barriers between them but where each member states can set its own tariffs on imports from non member countries ( EFTA, NAFTA, ASEAN, APEC) and the customs union, where countries agree on common tariffs from non members and remove all trade barriers between them ( like the EU, the Southern CommonRead MoreThe Worlds Main Regional Trading Blocs1755 Words   |  8 Pages3. The World’s main regional trading blocs Middle East and North Africa (MENA): is a regional economic integration bloc that includes the Middle East and North Africa. The population of the MENA region is about 381 million people, about 6% of the total world population. Map 1: Middle East and North Africa geographical map North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): is a regional economic integration bloc that includes the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. NAFTA represents 450 million people producingRead MoreRegional Trading Blocs2360 Words   |  10 PagesINTRODUCTION : A regional trading bloc is a group of countries within a geographical region that protect themselves from imports from non-members. Trading blocs are a form of economic integration, and increasingly shape the pattern of world trade. In general terms, regional trade blocks are associations of nations at a governmental level to promote trade within the block and defend its members against global competition. Defense against global competition is obtained through established