Global Justice and The Poor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Worldwide Justice and The Poor - Essay Example TWO PERSPECTIVES ON POVERTY: There are a wide range of points of view on neediness. The two that will be talked about in the paper are that of Bill Gates and that of Thomas Pogge. It is fascinating to examine the point of view of Bill Gates on neediness. He has developed as an extremely effective individual in the field of business and innovation and now his prosperity as a social obligation champion has made him a figure to be considered for his perspectives on neediness. His perspectives on destitution are very not quite the same as the typical perspectives that are predominant in the market today. His plans to a serious degree are questionable and in this manner make an intriguing report. Despite the fact that he is exceptionally new to the field his perspectives merit considering on the grounds that he has distributed an aggregate of 38.7 billion dollars to support the social reason and help improve this world a spot to live. Thomas Pogge is viewed as one of the most known figure s on the planet on the subject of Global Justice and destitution. He has numerous explores to his name and is likewise the writer of the most popular distributed book World Poverty and Human Rights. The perspectives on neediness and the potential things that hamper decrease of destitution, things that cause destitution and furthermore what are the answers for destroy destitution are for the most part altogether different and differentiating and accordingly make a fascinating examination. Non?Maleficence v. ... Truth be told, Pogge has obviously referenced in his compositions that as he would see it World Trade Organization has opened the market pretty much nothing and this is a contributing variable to neediness. Entryways and Pogge both accept that the expanding worldwide riches imbalances help in explaining the issue of neediness. The two of them again concede to the way that neediness is an exceptionally squeezing issue and ought to be managed viably and productively. The distinctions in their points of view turns out to be clear when we see that Gates accepts that value is the manner in which we can decrease neediness and Pogge is of the supposition that to diminish destitution we should be non?maleficence. This is one differentiating highlight as they would see it of presence of neediness and hence it turns into the base of the various ways which they will worker to diminish destitution. Doors has recommended that we can lessen destitution viably and in a dependable manner, by being p rogressively kindhearted. This assessment of his obviously recommends that he isn't hoping to dispose of neediness totally. His practical assessment is that destitution can most likely be decreased yet it can't be disposed of totally. His supposition nonetheless, not the slightest bit shows that he needs individuals to stay poor. In a differentiating supposition Pogge accepts the worldwide institutional request ought to be framed again as it never really diminish destitution yet in actuality advances it. In Pogge’s assessment neediness is a difficult that has been made in light of the issue of worldwide equity and he accepts that organizations dispense hurt on one another and this ought to be halted. He accepts that to decrease neediness worldwide, foul play ought to be diminished alongside financial destitution. He likewise accepts that the detachment that

The wars affect on civilization :: essays research papers

This paper is about stuff I think minimal about. I'm eally simply riting this so I can get some stuff for myself. I plan on making commitments to this site sometime in the future. With respect to now, I will simply type this in order to access the site. As you hav saw I put one space after each finish of sentence period, albeit most regular composing books instruct you to utilize two. That is a lot of hooey. Well I don't have the foggiest idea what number of words I have however I need my report detail cuz it's expected tomorrow. In this way, with no further ado, I end my phony paper by saying, farewell. What's going on with this paper? Didn't I put enough words in it? It appears as though culture and society are words I can use to make my enlistment complete. It might be that it is excessively short. Or on the other hand I probably won't use words like investigation or news coverage. Some different things it could be are they realize this whole report isn't genuine. So in this manne r, two out of three isn't awful. Thusly I will make this long as could reasonably be expected. Evidently you are not really hitched. Hold up! I state. This paper must be 250 words or more. I don't get it. This is the third time I had a go at sending it and amazingly it's not long enough. What more would i be able to do? It's intense composing expositions like this man.The correspondences connections of the Internet are likewise claimed and kept up in a similar anarchic manner as the hosts. Every proprietor of an Internet have is answerable for finding and paying for an interchanges interface that will get that have connected to in any event one other host. Correspondences connections might be as basic as a telephone line, a remote information connection, for example, cell computerized parcel information, or as confounded as a rapid fiber optic connection. For whatever length of time that the correspondences connection can utilize TCP/IP or UUCP, it can fit into the Internet. In this manner the net develops with no general coordination. Another proprietor of an Internet have need just get authorization to integrate with one correspondences connect to one other host. On the other hand, if the supplier of the interchanges connect chooses this host is, for instance, a safe house for spammers, it can cut this â€Å"rogue site† off of the Internet. The maverick website at that point must snooker some different interchanges connect into integrating it with the Internet once more.

Earn a Doctorate Degree Online

Procure a Doctorate Degree Online Procuring a doctorate qualification online can improve your winning potential and qualify you for an assortment of lofty vocation choices, all while gaining from the solace of your own home. As the most noteworthy degree feasible in the United States, a doctorate qualification can set you up to work in administration positions, college level residencies, or other exceptionally talented callings. Be that as it may, how would you pick a doctorate qualification online program? How much work does an online Ph.D. require? Furthermore, what installment choices are accessible for online doctorate understudies? Peruse on. Who Should Earn a Doctorate Degree Online? Acquiring a doctorate qualification online requires a noteworthy responsibility of time and cash. The best understudies are the individuals who can put aside consider time every day and offset their examinations with family and work obligations. Since most online doctorate qualification programs are perusing and composing centered, doctorate understudies ought to be exceptionally proficient. They ought to have propelled explore aptitudes, be expressive, and can appreciate complex writings. Furthermore, understudies ought to act naturally spurred and ready to work autonomously. Remember that winning a doctorate qualification online may not naturally improve your compensation. Most occupations requiring a doctorate qualification offer a respectable pay and a specific measure of renown. Notwithstanding, numerous scholarly employments, for example, residencies may pay not as much as occupations in the non-scholastic part. When mulling over winning a doctorate certificate on the web, inquire about your future business alternatives to decide if another degree in your field will be justified, despite all the trouble. Online Doctorate Degree Program Accreditation Numerous confirmation factory schools offer the guarantee of â€Å"quick and easy† online doctorate degrees. Don’t succumb to their stunts. Acquiring a doctorate certificate online from an unaccredited school will be useless. Numerous previous recognition plant â€Å"students† have lost their positions and their notorieties by posting a confirmation factory school on their resumes. Since the doctorate is a finishing degree, legitimate accreditation is particularly significant. While choosing an online doctorate qualification program, your most solid option is to pick a school certify by one of the six territorial accreditation associations. These are similar associations that certify trustworthy block and-engine schools. In the event that your school is licensed by one of the local associations, your degree ought to be acknowledged by most businesses and your credits ought to be transferable to most different schools. What Else to Look for in an Online Doctorate Degree Notwithstanding choosing a certify program, study potential online doctorate projects to figure out which suit your requirements. How are classes held? Are there sight and sound segments? Must the degree be finished in a specific measure of time? Will you be relegated a guide to help you through the troublesome years ahead? Make a rundown of inquiries and meeting an agent from each online doctorate program. Notwithstanding finishing courses, doctorate programs by and large expect understudies to go inside and out topic tests, compose an exposition, and protect their thesis in a gathering with college staff. Before trying out an online doctorate program, request a rundown enumerating the college’s explicit graduation prerequisites. Kinds of Doctorate Degrees Online Not all doctorate degrees can be earned through the web. Some preparation, for example, that got by clinical specialists, must be exceptionally directed. Be that as it may, numerous other doctorate degrees can be earned for all intents and purposes. Probably the most mainstream online doctoral degrees incorporate Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Public Health (DPH), Doctor of Psychology (Ph.D.), and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). Online Doctorate Degree Residency Requirements Most online doctorate qualification programs expect understudies to invest energy taking classes or going to addresses on a genuine grounds. Some online projects require just a restricted residency, requesting that understudies go to a couple of end of the week talks or gatherings. Different projects, be that as it may, may require a year or a greater amount of nearby residency. Residency prerequisites are for the most part non-debatable, so be certain that the online Ph.D. program you select has prerequisites that fit your timetable. Paying for a Doctorate Degree Online Gaining a doctorate certificate online can cost many thousands. While numerous physical schools offer doctorate understudies paid showing cooperations, online understudies are not managed this extravagance. On the off chance that your new doctorate qualification will assist you with being a superior representative, you may approach your boss to pay for a bit of your doctorate certificate costs. Many alumni understudies meet all requirements to take out government-sponsored understudy advances with lower-than-normal loan fees. Moreover, private understudy advances are accessible from banks and loaning foundations. Your online school’s monetary guide counsel can assist you with figuring out which alternatives are directly for you. Don’t Give Up Gaining a doctorate certificate online can be a test. Be that as it may, for the correct understudy, the prizes are certainly justified, despite all the trouble.

How To Write Essays - Common Essay Topics That You Will Have To Cover

How To Write Essays - Common Essay Topics That You Will Have To CoverFences essay topics are subjects that students are going to have to write a paper about. Writing a paper about a particular topic is really quite easy, but it is certainly not the easiest thing that students could ever accomplish.The first thing you need to know about writing this type of essay is that it is a very difficult subject. In fact, not only is it difficult to write about, but students have to spend a lot of time and effort working on it. They may even spend a few months on this essay. This is because they must truly think about every word that they write and then write the essay.In addition to the difficulty that students must work on, there are also a lot of different topics that students must cover. The essay topics that are required for each grade level will differ slightly, but most will require at least one topic. This means that there will be a lot of different topics to consider in order to write t he best possible essay.The first thing that you need to know about choosing an essay topic is that there are not that many subjects that will require the use of multiple words in order to explain them. Students who write essays must write a sentence or two per paragraph, which makes for a lot of topics. It also means that students need to write about a variety of subjects in order to cover all of their writing subjects, so they will have a problem with ideas.Although there are a lot of different essay topics to choose from, students will find that the most difficult ones are always the essays that require a great deal of thinking. For this reason, students have a lot of difficulty when they write these types of essays.Because of this, it is important for students to spend the most time possible on the essay topics that are most difficult. If the essays that students write are able to be written in as little as five minutes per topic, then this will be well worth the effort that stud ents put into it. Unfortunately, a lot of students feel that their essays are just too hard, so they write fewer essays.Regardless of whether or not students have to write the essays that they are assigned to write in order to get good grades, students need to spend the most time possible on the essay topics that they are assigned to write. Many times, this is simply not enough. So it is important for students to spend more time on essays.

What Was the Sixth-Century Plague

The plague of the sixth century was a devastating epidemic that was first noted in Egypt in 541 C.E. It came to Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium), in 542, then spread through the empire, east into Persia, and into parts of southern Europe. The disease would flare up again somewhat frequently over the next fifty years or so, and would not be thoroughly overcome until the 8th century. The Sixth-Century Plague was the earliest plague pandemic to be reliably recorded in history. The Sixth-Century Plague Was Also Known As Justinians Plague or the Justinianic plague, because it struck the Eastern Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Justinian. It was also reported by the historian Procopius that Justinian himself fell victim to the disease. He did, of course, recover, and he continued to reign for more than a decade. The Disease of Justinians Plague Just as in the Black Death of the 14th century, the disease that struck Byzantium in the sixth century is believed to have been Plague. From contemporary descriptions of symptoms, it appears that the bubonic, the pneumonic, and the septicemic forms of the plague were all present. The progress of the disease was similar to that of the later epidemic, but there were a few notable differences. Many plague victims underwent hallucinations, both before the onset of other symptoms and after the illness was underway. Some experienced diarrhea. And Procopius described patients who were several days along as either entering a deep coma or undergoing a violent delirium. None of these symptoms were commonly described in the 14th-century pestilence. The Origin and Spread of the Sixth-Century Plague According to Procopius, the sickness began in Egypt and spread along trade routes (particularly sea routes) to Constantinople. However, another writer, Evagrius, claimed the source of the disease to be in Axum (present-day Ethiopia and eastern Sudan). Today, there is no consensus for the plagues origin. Some scholars believe it shared the Black Deaths origins in Asia; others think it sprang from Africa, in the present day nations of Kenya, Uganda, and Zaire. From Constantinople it spread swiftly throughout the Empire and beyond; Procopius asserted that it embraced the entire world, and blighted the lives of all men. In reality, the pestilence didnt reach much farther north than the port cities of Europes Mediterranean coast. It did, however, spread east to Persia, where its effects were apparently just as devastating as in Byzantium. Some cities on common trade routes were nearly deserted after the plague struck; others were barely touched. In Constantinople, the worst seemed to be over when winter came in 542. But when the following spring arrived, there were further outbreaks throughout the empire. There is very little data concerning how often and where the disease erupted in the decades to come, but it is known that plague continued to return periodically throughout the rest of the 6th century, and remained endemic until the 8th century. Death Tolls There are currently no reliable numbers concerning those who died in Justinians Plague. There arent even truly reliable numbers for population totals throughout the Mediterranean at this time. Contributing to the difficulty of determining the number of deaths from plague itself is the fact that food became scarce, thanks to the deaths of many people who grew it and transported it. Some died of starvation without ever experiencing a single plague symptom. But even without hard and fast statistics, it is clear that the death rate was undeniably high. Procopius reported that as many as 10,000 people a day perished during the four months that the pestilence ravaged Constantinople. According to one traveler, John of Ephesus, Byzantiums capital city suffered greater numbers of dead than any other city. There were reportedly thousands of corpses littering the streets, a problem that was handled by having enormous pits dug across the Golden Horn to hold them. Although John stated that these pits held 70,000 bodies each, it still wasnt enough to hold all the dead. Corpses were placed in the towers of the city walls and left inside houses to rot. The numbers are probably exaggerations, but even a fraction of the totals given would have severely affected the economy as well as the overall psychological state of the populace. Modern estimates — and they can only be estimates at this point — suggest that Constantinople lost from one-third to one-half its population. There were probably more than 10 million deaths throughout the Mediterranean, and possibly as many as 20 million, before the worst of the pandemic was through. What Sixth-Century People Believed Caused the Plague There is no documentation to support an investigation into the scientific causes of the disease. Chronicles, to a man, ascribe the plague to the will of God. How People Reacted to Justinians Plague The wild hysteria and panic that marked Europe during the Black Death were absent from sixth-century Constantinople. People seemed to accept this particular catastrophe as just one among many misfortunes of the times. Religiosity among the populace was just as notable in sixth-century Eastern Rome as it was in 14th-century Europe, and so there was an increase in the number of people entering monasteries as well as a rise in donations and bequests to the Church. Effects of Justinians Plague on the Eastern Roman Empire The sharp drop in population resulted in manpower shortages, which led to a rise in the cost of labor. As a result, inflation soared. The tax base shrank, but the need for tax revenue did not; some city governments, therefore, cut salaries for publicly sponsored doctors and teachers. The burden of the death of agricultural landowners and laborers was two-fold: the reduced production of food caused shortages in the cities, and the old practice of neighbors assuming the responsibility of paying taxes on vacant lands caused an increased economic strain. To alleviate the latter, Justinian ruled that neighboring landowners should no longer bear the responsibility for deserted properties. Unlike Europe after the Black Death, the population levels of the Byzantine Empire were slow to recover. Whereas 14th-century Europe saw a rise in marriage and birth rates after the initial epidemic, Eastern Rome experienced no such increases, due in part to the popularity of monasticism and its accompanying rules of celibacy. It is estimated that, over the course of the last half of the 6th century, the population of the Byzantine Empire and its neighbors around the Mediterranean Sea declined by as much as 40%. At one time, the popular consensus among historians was that the plague marked the beginning of a long decline for Byzantium, from which the empire never recovered. This thesis has its detractors, who point to a notable level of prosperity in Eastern Rome in the year 600. There is, however, some evidence for the plague and other disasters of the time as marking a turning point in the development of the Empire, from a culture holding on to the Roman conventions of the past to a civilization turning to the Greek character of the next 900 years.

Albert Einstien Essay - 905 Words

Albert Einstein nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;My report will be about Albert Einstein and what his life was about. Also what kinds of theories he thought about. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Albert Einstein lived between the years of (1879-1905). His life began when he was born in Prinstone, New Jersey in 1879, March 14. Albert Einstein was born with bright brown eyes, round cheeks, and a little bit of black hair. Albert Einstein started school when he was five years-old. Albert Einstein was Jewish, but still went to a Catholic Elementary School. The name of Albert Einstein parents were Herman Einstein and Pauline Einstein. Alberts parents were not strict with him. Alberts parents were scared because Albert was not†¦show more content†¦2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;After high school, Albert Einstein enrolled in Polytechnic Institute in Zurich, Switzerland when he was seventeen years of age. Albert studied mathematics and physics which the professor did not like. However, Albert continued to study very hard while he attended college. In 1900, Albert graduated from college, and was asked to join the physic department but Albert denied the request. After college, Albert moved to Switzerland where he became a citizen. He stayed in Switzerland for three years where he met Mileva Maric. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In 1903, after they got very well acquainted, both decided to get married. His marriage produced to sons. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;World War I caused Alberts separation from his family. With time on his hands, Albert began to write his theories in the local paper. One of his first theories was the theory of relativity which proved the rapidness of motion, the speed of light, and many other phenomenas. Later he started thinking of making inventions. Some of his inventions were a new camera, and improvements of the quot;Popgunquot; (a gun). However, this did not mean that he was through with physics. He was hoping to get Ph.D. from the University of Zurich. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sometimes when he would think of an invention, he would get a scrap paper and write his ideas down. After time past, Albert received the Noble Prize for his TheoryShow MoreRelatedAlbert Einstien: The Smartest Man in History Essay898 Words   |  4 Pagesfamous scientists. Not only that, you may know Albert Einstein as the man with crazy hair or the man on the bicycle. Whatever you remember of him, he will always go down as one of the smartest men in history. Albert Einstein has forever changed American history. In this essay, you will read about Alberts early life, family and marriage, his miracle year, his scientific career and theory of relativity, US contributions, and his later years. Did you know Albert Einstein failed an exam in his school yearsRead MoreEssay on Albert Einstein985 Words   |  4 PagesEducation The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education -Albert Einstein Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Germany to a Jewish couple. While having initial complications with a misshapen head during child birth, he grew normally. However it was commented by Albert Einsteins relatives that he was a little slow. Einsteins lack of intelligent was shown by his late age of learning how to speak. His first formal education (besides the private education he receivedRead More Albert Einstein Essay829 Words   |  4 Pages Albert Einstien (March 14, 1879 - April 18, 1955) was a physicist who first proposed the theory of relativity. He was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize for his explanation of the photoelectric effect quot;and other contributionsquot;; however, the announcement of the award was not made until a year later, in 1922. His theoretical work suggested the possibility of creating an atomic bomb. His discovered equation, E=MC2 is well known as one that changed the world. Einstien was born March 14, 1879 atRead MoreIs Time Travel Possible? Albert Einstein975 Words   |  4 Pagespeculiar direction, pointing from the things that already happened in the past to the things that might happen in the future. Albert Einstien’s theories of special and general relativity have a significant influence on the ideas of time travelling. He showed that time is no longer invariable and that different observers in relative places measure different time. Einstien first developed the special theory of relativity in 1905. It is based on the two postulates: 1. Velocity of light is c (300,000Read MoreNuclear Weapons During World War II1622 Words   |  7 Pagesit. Nuclear weapons were used to end World War II, and they could very well be used if WWIII occurred, it may end also using nuclear weapons, which could destroy us. Albert Einstein once said, â€Å"I know not what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones† (â€Å"I know not†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Einstein, Albert). Einstein was implying that WWIII would set humanity to the Stone Age. Our country and the rest of the countries with nuclear weapons need to get rid of them beforeRead MoreSpeec h on God vs. Science1147 Words   |  5 Pagesexistence. Me personally , i m a believer in the all mighty god. But also i am a logical person that accepts the innovations and the arguments that science puts forward. Finally i would like to end the day with this great quote by a great person ALBERT EINSTIEN he said Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind. Thank you!Read MoreSpeech on God vs. Science1157 Words   |  5 Pagesexistence. Me personally , i m a believer in the all mighty god. But also i am a logical person that accepts the innovations and the arguments that science puts forward. Finally i would like to end the day with this great quote by a great person ALBERT EINSTIEN he said Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind. Thank you!Read MoreThe Leadership Styles - Reflection1361 Words   |  6 Pagesintroduce Albert Einstein. In my personal opinion, he s more of an intellectual leader than anything, but he does fit in this category with a bit of wiggling. Einstien s known for his fundamental work in the study of space, matter, and time. Now, what makes him a visionary leader was his unwavering belief in the scientific community, despite criticism from other scientists. He was also a key figure in the development of nuclear weapons in the US, however he later decreed against their use. Albert EinsteinRead MoreBiological And Humanistic Concepts Of The Maslow s Hierarchy Of Needs1364 Words   |  6 Pageshumans are born with a healthy mind and soul, compared to Freud’s beliefs. Carl Rogers Carl Rogers (1902 - 1987) created his theories of self-actualization, as well as Maslow based many of his ideas on the accomplishments and writings of Albert Einstien. He believed the self-actualized person is â€Å"really-centered† as well as comfortable being alone and in social situations. He reasoned that the way that each person’s needs are fulfilled are just as important as their fulfillment, both definingRead MoreThe Police State in World War II1708 Words   |  7 Pagesseized. * They interfered with the research of Universities, sometimes showing that they did not understand at all about the importance of this research. Some physicists left Germany during the 1930s including Albert Einstien. * Complaining about the Government in your own home was outlawed * Anti-Nazi jokes were completely banned * Anti-Hitler jokes carried the death penalty NAZIS AND RELIGION It was Hitlers long-term aim to destroy

Reproductive Health Bill free essay sample

After 14 years of struggle, the Reproductive Health Bill has finally been passed into law! Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino III quietly signed the bill into law last December 21, 2012, four days away before Christmas – for me the best Christmas gift for Filipino women and youth especially us RH advocates who were tireless in our efforts to lobby, dialogue, march on the streets and campaign for the passage of the RH Bill into a law. The new law will now be called as Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health of 2012. Owing to the controversy of the law, the Office of the President only confirmed it today after persistent rumors were circulated widely in the internet. The road for passing the RH Law was not easy. Strong opposition coming from the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines has long delayed the passage of the law. Way back then, legislators from Congress and Senate under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were dominated by conservative Anti-RH representatives. We will write a custom essay sample on Reproductive Health Bill or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A few like Representatives Edcel Lagman and Janette Loreto-Garin in Congress and Senators Pia Cayetano and Miriam Defensor-Santiago have continued the fight despite of the overwhelming hostility of their peers to the RH Bill. Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo herself promoted an abstinence-only program during her 9-year tenure as president. Ever since I was involved with RH advocacy back in 2009, I have observed that our movement has grown bigger and stronger. Young people have become more involved and have since been in the forefront of the movement. Women especially mothers have aired out their concerns of having a limited options for them in status quo. The deaths of 11 Filipino women a day due to pregnancy and child birth complications according to UNFPA makes the bill a necessity if not urgent. Celebrities like Tony Award winning actress Lea Salonga, singer songwriter Jim Paredes, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, reality-show actors Tom Rodriguez and Princess Lieza Manzon, and even enlightened Catholic priest like Fr. Joaquin Bernas have lent their name and prestige in promoting awareness and discourse on the issues of the RH Bill. The administration of President Aquino bolstered our hopes that the bill will become a law when at the very start of his election campaign; he promised that he will support the RH Bill. Although there were times when he seems to be bowing to the pressure of the Catholic Church, his determination to deliver his election promises equaled with our vigilance to hold him accountable to his promises triumphed at the end of the day. It would be the second time in Philippine history that the government defied the Catholic Church since the Rizal Law which makes me feel happy that a government like President Aquino can stand up for the general good and welfare of the Filipino people. Not talking about the Anti-RH does not give justice to the struggles and the gain we had right now. I admire their equal eagerness for the RH Bill NOT to become a law. They have their own reasons to oppose the bill and I respect it. Some of it may sound absurd just like how Senator Sotto reasoned out that â€Å"since we ban plastics, why are we legalizing condoms†. In a controversial measure like RH Bill, we have expected a lot of opposition to it. Although opposition to the bill can be a major obstacle, we welcome them because it sparks discourse and intellectual discussion which benefits the people at the end of the day for it guides them in making their own informed decision. Women willpower: RH sponsors Rep Janette Garin (1D, Iloilo) and Sen Pia Cayetano hold a copy of the reconciled version of the RH BILL following the latter’s adoption by the bicameral conference committee on the last day of session last week. Photo taken on December 19, 2012 at the Senate plenary. Courtesy of Senator Pia Cayetano’s Facebook Page. At the end of the day, an inevitable showdown of numbers happened. Last December 12-13, the members of the House of Representatives having reached a quorum decided to vote on whether or not to terminate the Period of Amendments for the bill and pass it for the Second Reading. Pro-RH gained the needed 109 votes to pass the bill for second reading during the first round of voting. A close fight ensued as the second round of voting was declared. With 113 votes for the RH, 104 against, and 4 abstain the bill was passed for Second Reading. Finally, on December 17, both Senate and House of Representatives voted in their respective chambers with 13-8 in the Senate in favor of the bill and 133-79-7 in the House of Representatives in favor also of the bill. Then a Bicameral Conference Committee convened to reconcile the RH Bill versions of the two chambers of Congress. After its ratification, it was presented to the President for his signature. At this point, even if Mr. Aquino does not sign it, it will become law after 15 days. By the way, it may not be the perfect RH Law that one aspires about because of some compromises that it had to give such as teaching Comprehensive Sexuality Education not compulsory in private schools among others but hey, it is still an achievement. Priority is given to teaching it to public schools where the bulk of students go to get their education. We can remedy that. What is more important right now is to be involve in crafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the RH Law which will serve as guide on how the law will be implemented and of course, the full implementation of the law when it take effect. After celebrating our RH Law victory, let’s move forward and act for the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill and the Freedom of Information Act in the Philippines! Belmonte to SC: Voiding RH law a veto on peoples will APPEAL. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr warns the SC against declaring the RH law as unconstitutional. File photo by Rappler MANILA, Philippines – Declaring the reproductive health (RH) law as unconstitutional would be a veto against the will of majority of our people. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr issued this statement on Tuesday, February 11, amid reports that the Supreme Court law is likely to declare the RH law unconstitutional. The SC decision on the case â€Å"would have deep and far-reaching implications for the country, Belmonte warned. â€Å"Remember that we have 289 House members who are individuals representing a broad spectrum of society,† the Speaker said. â€Å"They are representatives directly elected to articulate what majority of their constituents want. Therefore, the resulting law is a product of this painstaking process and is a democratic compromise. The controversial measure took over 13 years to pass. After rigorous debates that lasted until the late hours of the evening, Congress finally approved the historic bill in 2012 despite lobbying from the Catholic Church. Soon after President Benigno Aquino III signed it into law, a total of 15 petitions questioning its constitutionality was lodged before the Supreme Court by mostly Catholic groups. Justices ended oral arguments for the RH law in August 2013, but Belmonte said the arguments raised during the SC debates had already been addressed in the debates in Congress. â€Å"Each of these views have already been openly taken up numerous times before enactment and yet [the measure] has now become a law. Therefore, the anti-RH argument is now a minority view. We must therefore respect the desire of the majority which is to exercise their freedom of choice, Belmonte said. (READ: SC ends RH law arguments; what happens now? ) The two biggest debates in the Supreme Court over the RH law revolved around two questions: Are contraceptives abortifacients? And, is there a need for the law? Belmonte said the law clearly states that having an abortion is illegal, noting that the final decision on the issue must be based on legality and not on morality. â€Å"We must remember that Congress is tasked not with being judges of morality, but with safeguarding the legal rights of our people,† he said. Hontiveros to SC: Dont let families wait IMPLEMENT RH LAW. Raquel Villanueva, one of the mothers who supported the passage of RH law, said the SC should not stop its implementation. MANILA, Philippines A senatorial candidate asked the Supreme Court on Monday, March 25 to lift the status quo ante order it issued stopping the implementation of the controversial reproductive health law. Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros who is part of the senatorial slate of the Liberal Party filed a motion for reconsideration on the status quo ante order, which would take effect for 120 days, or 4 months. The SC voted 10-5 on March 19 to stop the government from implementing the RH law, which funds the distribution and promotion of contraceptives. Hontiveros filed the motion days before the derailed RH law was supposed to take effect on March 31, or on Easter Sunday. Lawyer Ibarra Gutierrez III, Akbayan nominee for partylist representative in the 2013 midterm elections, said the RH law should still be implemented even as the SC has yet to rule on its legality. He said Republic Act 10354 or the RH law like any other law passed by Congress enjoys the presumption of constitutionality. DONT LET US WAIT. Risa Hontiveros (center) asks SC to lift status quo ante order on the RH law implementation. He stressed that in the case of the RH law, it took 15 years before Congress passed it in 2012. Hontiveros said that the implementing rules and regulations of the law were also crafted in consultation with different civil society groups and stakeholders. It is respectfully submitted that these Implementing Rules and Regulations must be taken into account by this Honorable Supreme Court in determining whether the Status Quo Ante Order is appropriate at this time, Hontiveros said in the motion. Gutierrez added they are ready to face the SC when it conducts the oral arguments on the case on June 18. Hontiveros said that contrary to the arguments of the anti-RH petitioners, RA 10354 does not limit the free exercise of religion. Stopping the implementation of the RH law based on religious beliefs alone would in fact lead to the imposition of the same beliefs on everyone else, she said. (READ: SC stops RH law implementation) She added that the RH law also does not undermine the Filipino family. In fact, by giving Filipino families, whatever their circumstances and economic status, the ability to make informed choices about their family life as well as the ability to act on those choices, RA 10354 strengthens the family as a basic, autonomous, social institution, she said in her motion. She said the petitioners also ignored the fact the RH law does not legalize abortion. The text of the law even expressly prohibits it. The motion also noted that the SC only acts on actual controversies. Hontiveros said the petitioners have yet to show that they were adversely affected by the law. (READ: Spiritually pro-RH) On the contrary, she said the suspension of the law will cause a permanent and lasting harm to mothers and children. The suspension can cause irreparable harm to a vulnerable section of our population. As reported by the Department of Health, lack of access to reproductive health services is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. This harm cannot be reversed, she said. Supreme Court: Order vs RH law stays IMPLEMENT RH LAW. Raquel Villanueva, one of the mothers who supported the passage of RH law, said the SC should not stop its implementation. MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) The Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 2, junked a motion that sought to have the controversial reproductive health law implemented despite unresolved legal questions over its constitutionality. The SC, voting 10-4, denied for lack of merit a motion filed by former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros which asked for the lifting of the status quo ante order issued by the High Court on March 19 against the law. (Read: Hontiveros to SC: Dont let families wait). The 10 justices who voted to dismiss Hontiveros motion are: Presbitero Velasco Jr, Teresita Leonardo De Castro, Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama Jr. , Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza, and Bienvenido Reyes. Those who agreed with Hontiveros are Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, and Justices Antonio Carpio, Marvic Leonen and Mariano del Castillo. On leave is Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe. The SC voted 10-5 to stop the government from implementing the RH law, which funds the distribution and promotion of contraceptives. Its a landmark law that took more than a decade of congressional debates to pass. The order will take effect for 120 days. The SC is set to hold oral arguments on the case in June. Hontiveros who is part of the senatorial slate of the Aquino government said the RH law should be implemented already, however, as every legislative measure passed by Congress enjoys the presumption of constitutionality. Hontiveros told the Court that contrary to the arguments of the anti-RH petitioners, RA 10354 does not limit the free exercise of religion. Stopping the implementation of the RH law based on religious beliefs alone would in fact lead to the imposition of the same beliefs on everyone else, she said. Reacting to the Courts latest decision, Hontiveros said: â€Å"It is disappointing. I still maintain that the immediate implementation of the law does not pose any concrete damage to the constitutional rights of any individual. The suspension, however, reinforces a status quo where 11 women die everyday due to lack of access to reproductive health services. She added: â€Å"The RH law is a tool against ignorance, one that causes death and exposes our youth to various risks. We could have stopped this climate of ignorance that has imperiled our youth for several generations now. The law is staunchly opposed by the Catholic Church, which is leading a campaign against lawmakers who support the law and are running for senatorial and local posts in the May mid-term elections. Reproductive Health Law Enacted in the Philippines It is with great pride that we at the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) shares with you the newly enacted Reproductive Health Law in the Philippines, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10354, AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. As we celebrate the passage of the RH Bill into law, we would like to congratulate Hon. Cong. Edcel Lagman, principal author of the bill, Deputy Secretary General of AFPPD and Chairman of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development. The AFPPDs National Committee in the Philippines, PLCPD with its active member legislators, untiringly championed the passage of the RH bill in the last 14 years. On behalf of the regional network of National Committees on population and development, AFPPD warmly commends PLCPD for this milestone. We also recognize the invaluable contribution of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) whose support to parliamentarian advocacy has strengthened and empowered Parliamentarian champions in the Philippine Congress. And lastly, our sincere gratitude to all the Members of Parliament in the Asia-Pacific region, partners, CSOs and other stakeholders who have been with us in this quest. The enactment of the RH Law is a huge leap of the Philippines towards achieving its commitment to the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD PoA). Many families, women and children in the country will now have a better quality of life. Philippines’ reproductive health law here now what? MANILA, 20 mars 2013 (IRIN) After a publicly contentious 14-year battle, legislators quietly signed the Philippines’ first reproductive health law in late December. It was expected to take effect by the end of March, but on 21 March the Supreme Court halted its implementation, issuing a 120-day status quo ante to review court challenges. â€Å"We were already expecting these petitions, but not the status quo ante which is equivalent to a TRO [temporary restraining order],† Edcel Lagman, a parliamentarian and one of the chief authors of the law, told IRIN, echoing activists’ realization of just how difficult it will be to roll out reproductive health services. On 8 March in the capital at the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Reproductive Health Law (IRR-RH), 16-year-old Michelle Custodio said she had suffered two miscarriages in the last two years. If it were not for the free birth control pills she received from a local women’s centre, she would â€Å"surely have gotten pregnant again† she said. In Manila, the country’s largest city with nearly two million residents, a local ordinance banning condoms, birth control pills and other forms of contraception was passed in 2000. Since then public health clinics have promoted only what is known as â€Å"natural† family planning, which calls for abstinence during a woman’s peak days of fertility, and for avoiding any drugs or sterilization to prevent pregnancy. â€Å"If I can enjoy this [reproductive health] service for free, then all women should be able to. Now that the RH [reproductive health] law has been passed, RH will be the right of every Filipino, especially those who are poor,† Custodio said. The promise of the hard-fought law is free access to reproductive health services including contraception for all, but the reality, Custodio and other activists fear, is that honouring that pledge will take more time than women and their families can afford. Youth provision questioned During recent public consultations convened by the Department of Health, RH advocates’ sense of accomplishment was overshadowed by what they saw as the law’s imperfections, and continued resistance to the law. Youth leaders questioned a provision that requires minors to present written parental consent before receiving public RH services. â€Å"What teen would ask their parents’ permission to get RH services? That would be tantamount to admitting they are sexually active,† said Alexis Sarza, founder of BALUTI, a local NGO that provides RH counselling and services to mostly abandoned street children. â€Å"These are the kids who are prostituted or are sexually active. What do we do then for them? † he asked. But Junice Melgar, executive director of Likhaan Women’s Health Care and a member of the IRR drafting committee composed of both governmental and non-governmental members, said access will be unhampered. â€Å"The provision does not apply to RH information, which can be freely given [and applies] just to services in public healthcare clinics. Patients can be referred [by public healthcare officials] to private institutions and NGOs,† said Melgar. Other groups expressed concern that the search for discreet care will slow efforts to lower the country’s teen pregnancy rate, which increased by 65 percent from 2000-2010, according to the government’s most recent Family Health Survey. The survey attributed the increase to the lack of adolescent-friendly RH services and information. Unmet contraceptive need As early as 2009, local health experts predicted the country’s Millennium Development Goal of lowering the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to 53-55 per 100,000 live births was unachievable. With a reproductive law now in place though stalled Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona is more optimistic. â€Å"We should see an impact on MMR already by end of the year. By 2016, we are targeting that MMR will be lowered to 53 per 100,000,† Ona told IRIN. However, family planning funds are â€Å"meagre† and only a fraction of what is needed, said NGO director Melgar and IRR drafting committee member. The DOH 2012 budget for family planning supplies was about US$13. 4 million. â€Å"If you compare it to the unmet need for contraception, we need a budget of $75 million to provide for the contraceptive needs of 10 million women,† said Melgar, referring to a 2009 estimate from the US-based reproductive health centre, Guttmacher Institute, of the number of Filipinas who need contraception, but cannot get it. Tangle of local laws With the country’s decentralization of governance, implementation of national laws is the responsibility of the village level under the supervision of autonomous local government units (LGU). When the RH law had yet to be passed, LGUs such as Manila drafted their own local RH ordinances, which promoted only natural family planning. While the new national RH law, when enacted, will repeal such local ordinances, women’s groups are uncertain how long it will take to phase out restrictive, contradictory local laws. â€Å"I think the first step is to go back to the communities and really educate the women about the RH law. They need to know what their rights are under this law,† said Beth Angsioco, chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP). One of those rights is to report any violations of the RH law which may be penalized by imprisonment of one to six months and a fine of up to $2,500. Catholic Church And, then there is the Catholic Church, which has long opposed the RH law and continues to do so. In Cebu, the second largest city after Manila, churchgoers are being asked to sign an anti-RH pledge as part of a voter education campaign for the upcoming May local elections. Photo: Ana Santons/IRIN Signed, sealed just not delivered In the southern province of Bacolod, the local diocese has hung tarpaulins outside their churches pitting anti-RH against pro-RH legislators, calling the former â€Å"Team Life† and the latter â€Å"Team Dead†. Lagman, the law’s co-author, said he will file a petition for intervention so he may defend the law’s constitutionality before the court. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on a dozen petitions filed by religious and faith-based groups questioning the law’s constitutionality, arguing that it undermined the family as the fundamental social unit (as described in the constitution) and that public funds should not be used to buy contraceptives. â€Å"I’m very firm that the RH Law is constitutional. We won this battle in both the senate and congress. The four-month wait is temporary. Advocates waited 14 years for this law to be passed. We will get through another four months,† Lagman said. Oral arguments are scheduled to begin on 18 June three months too late for Pia Cayetano, a senator and sponsor of the law. How many lives will be lost during this period? How many more mothers will die of birth complications? While we wait, it is the poor who will suffer,† said Cayetano. Reproductive Health Law in the Philippines: A Conclusion to a Decade-long Crusade Finally in 2012, the controversial Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill) has been resurrected and made into a law after ten to fourteen years of being stuck in legislation. The crusade has thrust like a sword in the heart of Philippine society. Naturally, opinions were divided as binary opposites again: on the one side, conservatives mostly coming from the Christian society; and on the other, liberals and leftists. It was the first time in more than a decade that the RH Bill legislation has re-gained its infamous limelight. Hospitable, happy-go-lucky and conservative – these adjectives are the stereotypical descriptions to refer to Filipinos. When the RH Bill legislation was again revitalized last 2012 in congress, it was like the bomb that has paralyzed Manila during the Second World War. Philippine society, as the world knows it, is the home to extreme conservatives of the Roman Catholic orientation. The periods of colonization that slaughtered yet strengthened the country has imbibed the need for a religion that will manifest material salvation. Of course, the advanced capitalist stage has allowed cultural changes in the country – and by that younger generation has adapted popular culture from capitalist countries such as the United States, Great Britain, and Italy with their Asian counterparts such as Japan and South Korea. But religious fanaticism is an indispensable framework that cannot be eliminated as of the current politico-economic stage. By that, the revitalization of the RH Bill has divided opinions around the country. It is out of the question that conservatives deny the provision, as Judas has denied Jesus in the Bible, because of the threat that abortion may become legal. The pro-RH Bill defenders claim that the provision is only pro-choice in child-bearing, especially from the point of view of women. The RH Bill has been made into a law, as signed by President Benigno Aquino III last December 21, 2012: â€Å"The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012† or the Republic Act No. 10354. The essential gist of the provision aims to provide a legitimate venue or a Rule of Law in which a typical Filipino family may access basic social services, choices in child-rearing and information. In a feminist point of view, this law is passed to protect and promote the rights and welfare of women on family-rearing. The essence of the RH Law is pro-choice, pro-family, pro-poor and pro-women’s rights. Unlike the claim of the conservatives, the RH Law is not made to legitimize abortion. Ironically, it prevents the situation when abortion may be possible. It is the lack of a pro-choice law that creates the series of abortions in the country, coupled with the loosely-conservative thinking in child-bearing. Notwithstanding the advantages of the RH Law, there are cautionary measures in this rookie of a law – one in which is the danger of contraceptive commercialization that may occur had the current administration not provide public spending for the concrete implementation of this law. For instance, because of the Public-Private Partnership paradigm that the current administration adapts, there is a danger that capitalists may invest on the contraceptives, thereby limiting public access especially for the poor. This would defeat the objectives of the RH Law altogether. In other words, the real challenge is the actuality of the RH Law. The twists and turns of its implementation is only child’s play. The rougher road has only begun.